My name is Oliver Holtaway, and I am studying what happens when things move from private to community ownership
WHAT'S THISÂ ABOUT?
My PhD project explores how local groups come together to take privately-owned community assets (e.g. pubs, football clubs, theatres, shops, music venues) into community ownership. It's partly inspired by own experiences working with others on a community takeover of my local football club Bath City FC.
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I am fascinated by how people with different backgrounds, different histories, and different ideas of what community and community ownership mean are able to come together to make community takeovers happen.
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To learn more about this, I hope to spend time watching and taking part in the work of local groups who have taken or are trying to take something that's important to them into community ownership.
WHAT'S THE ASK?
If you're reading this website, there's a good chance that I've approached you about taking part in the study.
In short, I'm hoping to spend time with your team as you either move towards your goal of achieving community ownership or manage and run an existing community-owned asset. Most of the time you'll barely notice me, but I can chip in on occasion with (hopefully) helpful observations.
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Before you decide whether to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. I've prepared a more detailed Participant Information Page to help explain this.
If you think you might be interested in having me along for the ride, please read it carefully and let me know if you have any questions. You may also want to discuss this with other people in your group.
CONTACT ME
holtaway.research [at] gmail.com