Created in 2009, the Centre for Community Research CfCR is an independent not-for-profit social enterprise, a company limited by guarantee whose founded members include Birmingham Voluntary Services Council, Hanover Housing Association, Birmingham Race Action Partnership, Newman University College, Birmingham Youth Action Network, the health consultancy practice PMA, and Jane Slowey OBE, Chief Executive of the Foyer Federation.
CfCR has a dedicated operational base provided within M·E·L Research’s Science Park offices, and aims to build the capacity of the expanding Third Sector through provision of training, research, publications and organisational development support.
We seek to encourage inventive and imaginative ideas and build the research skills and critical thinking that reflects the key role communities and active citizens can play in fostering equality, cohesion and social justice.
In addition to exploring these ideas of identity, neighbourhood and citizenship, the Centre promotes the value of research, information analysis and policy development in voluntary and community settings. We believe that the voluntary and community sector is a vital part of a healthy and cohesive society and provides a way for individuals to come together and express their creativity and solve many of the problems they face. But if we are going to capture the true voice of communities and nurture the skills that often go unacknowledged and unused, we think community organisations need to be able to call on better support in developing research and analysing the outcomes of that research.