Can social enterprise provide an alternative organisational model to enhance local Christian social action? A Practitioner Action Research Study
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Barron, Valerie. 2022. Can social enterprise provide an alternative organisational model to enhance local Christian social action? A Practitioner Action Research Study. Doctoral thesis, Goldsmiths, University of London [Thesis]
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Text (Can social enterprise provide an alternative organisational model to enhance local Christian social action? A Practitioner Action Research Study)
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Abstract or Description
For the last eight years I have worked as a community practitioner in the Durham Diocese, in North East England. Living and working in low-income communities since the 2008 recession, I have witnessed the violent consequences of austerity in a region that has consistently had some of the highest poverty rates in the country. The Christian groups I work with have stepped up to respond to the challenges in their communities, as they have across the United Kingdom, providing support such as foodbanks, debt relief and holiday clubs, predominately through a charitable model of service provision.
The United Kingdom has seen a rapid growth in the numbers of social enterprises established to support their communities. Despite a substantial body of research into both Christian social action and social enterprise, the intersection of these two practices has been the subject of scarcely any exploration. This research aims to address this and has been conducted by, with, and for Christian community practitioners.
The research adopted a combination of grounded theory and action research. Layers of data were gathered through open ended in-depth interviews, focus groups and, the primary research site, an ethnographic study located in a community project in North East England.
The key findings are that the Christian social enterprises were created from a belief in a more just society and aimed to make the market economy fairer, more inclusive, and environmentally friendly. Therefore, the social enterprises provided an alternative response to charitable amelioratory approaches as they sought to tackle the causes, not just the symptoms, of oppression. The emerging organisations typically aim to provide spaces of belonging where participants feel valued, empowered, and able to share and develop their talents and passions.
The origins of social enterprise have been evident since the sixteenth century as part of the history of Christian response to need. This research provides a new model to enable practitioners to reengage with this radical asset-based practice.
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Item Type: |
Thesis (Doctoral) |
| Identification Number (DOI): |
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| Keywords: |
Social Enterprise, Christian social action, Faith Based Organisation, Poverty, United Kingdom |
| Departments, Centres and Research Units: |
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| Date: |
31 December 2022 |
| Item ID: |
33020 |
| Date Deposited: |
09 Jan 2023 13:25 |
| Last Modified: |
09 Jan 2023 21:11 |
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URI: |
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