Introduction

This chapter explores how the concept of social capital can be adapted and used as a tool for participative evaluation of community-based work. The chapter draws on our experience of working with the Nottingham Social Action Research Project (SARP) as an example. (Parts of this chapter draw on material published recently; see Boeck and Fleming, 2002.) Within SARP, we facilitated a process of learning and the development of ideas and concepts. We worked with the local workers and community members to increase their capacity to evaluate their work, particularly around social capital enhancement.

This chapter briefly sets out some of the criticisms of the social capital framework as a neoliberal concept. However, its main focus is presenting how, when informed by the principles and processes of social action, it can be adapted and used for evaluation in a way that people can find meaningful and empowering. It is our experience that the projects found social capital an excellent framework for evaluation: in addition to quantifiable information, it allowed people to demonstrate the wide impact of their work with communities and inform their own practice and project development.

The Nottingham Social Action Research Project (SARP)

The Social Action Research Project (SARP) was an action research project that aimed to explore if social capital can be built within communities. The SARP was funded by the Health Development Agency (HDA) for three years to consider the relationship between inequalities, social capital and health. Two areas were chosen for detailed study – Nottingham and Salford. The Nottingham SARP was managed by a Partnership Board made up of representatives from the funding bodies, the Assistant Chief Executive of the City Council, the Director of Public Health and representatives from the HDA. The Nottingham SARP worked with groups made up of local workers and people in the two localities chosen to be the focus of work in Nottingham.

In 1999, a baseline survey was carried out to identify levels of social capital in each area. Following the survey, SARP worked with local partners who wanted to explore how their work could contribute to the building of social capital in their communities. The SARP provided funds for groups who wanted to increase social capital as part of the work that they were doing and SARP staff offered consultation and practical support.