The European economy, both eurozone and national economies, remain under significant stress. National Governments have been forced to re-evaluate the size and scope of the public sector, leading to significant changes and in many cases reductions to services aimed at supporting the wellbeing of citizen’s. This project will seek to contribute to the re-assessment of the sector by exploring the role of and contribution made by the 3^rd sector to the overall economy of Northern Europe.

The project will bring together 3 separate but interrelated policy concepts to show that the public sector can develop in a way that brings service users and communities into the wider mix of service planning and delivery. The project will bring a strategic analysis of the role of:

• Social Capital - the pattern and intensity of networks among people and the shared values which arise from those networks.
• Core Economy - the economy of home, family, neighbourhood and community
• Co-Production - individuals, families and communities working together with social welfare staff and professionals to achieve desired outcomes

The project will explore, through a series of pilot interventions focussed on services for an ageing population, how these key ideas can be successfully turned into a new vision of public services. A public sector focussing on a different style of partnerships between national, regional and local government agencies with citizens and communities, mediated through community based organisations.   

This project will require a broad based set of partners from Local and Regional Government, Higher Education/Research Institute and 3^rd Sector organisations.