What Works Scotland closed but resources still available

What Works Scotland concluded its formal programme of work at the end of December 2019 but our resources will still be available.

This blog and the What Works Scotland website, which holds all our publications, videos, resources from events and other content will be available online, for several more years. 

For several year Policy Scotland, a research unit at the University of Glasgow, continued to look after the What Works Scotland legacy. 

Policy Scotland was discontinued in 2021 and the legacy is now managed by the College of Social Sciences at the University of Glasgow.

You may find it useful to get bulletins from the Glasgow Social Sciences Hub for updates on continuing work related to public service reform in Scotland.

In search of effective collaborative challenge for a more equitable society

James Henderson, Research Associate with What Works Scotland, considers the final reflective learning report from the Aberdeenshire case site and the challenges of 'putting Christie into action'.

Tackling inequalities by supporting 'enterprising' communities

As part of What Works Scotland community sector inquiry work, Pauline Hinchion, Director of Scottish Communities Finance, returns to the Christie Commission's report to consider the fundamental challenge of empowering low income communities and the potential for asset-based approaches to work alongside public services.

Community-led activity: time to invest in expansion

As part of What Works Scotland community sector inquiry work, Ian Cooke, Director of the Development Trust Association Scotland – one of the advisory group for What Works Scotland’s community anchor organisation research and report – analyses the current context for community place-making and calls for a commitment to investing in the significant contribution anchors can make to building community infrastructure. 

Extending the community sector inquiry through a cross-sector learning community?

James Henderson, Research Associate with What Works Scotland (up to December 2018) and now working on the Smart Urban Intermediaries project, reflects on the potential for further shared inquiry work on the community sector role in public service reform and social change. 

He links his thoughts with three blogs generated by the community sector inquiry – from Ian Cooke of the Development Trust Association Scotland, Pauline Hinchion from Scottish Communities Finance, and Aidan Pia, Director of Senscot.