Who we are
The Local Level consultancy was established in 2005. We work with a range of associates, always seeking to offer the optimum combination of expertise to meet specific demands, as well as expert backup in case of sudden unanticipated need.
Kevin Harris
Kevin Harris has 25 years' experience in community development with a particular emphasis on how people communicate, share information, and interact at local level.
He has worked with community groups at neighbourhood level, carried out research for a wide range of agencies, and contributed advice to government on various issues including community online networks, social inclusion, public libraries and communities, and citizen participation.
Kevin is an experienced facilitator and has developed creative workshop techniques for various clients. He has published several books, chapters and articles, online articles for the Guardian, and reports to government. He is an associate consultant to the Community Development Foundation, an associate of the Centre for Intergenerational Practice, and co-founder of Networked Neighbourhoods. He was previously a British Library Research Fellow.
He has worked with community groups at neighbourhood level, carried out research for a wide range of agencies, and contributed advice to government on various issues including community online networks, social inclusion, public libraries and communities, and citizen participation.
Kevin is an experienced facilitator and has developed creative workshop techniques for various clients. He has published several books, chapters and articles, online articles for the Guardian, and reports to government. He is an associate consultant to the Community Development Foundation, an associate of the Centre for Intergenerational Practice, and co-founder of Networked Neighbourhoods. He was previously a British Library Research Fellow.
Martin Dudley
Martin has worked in partnership with Local Level since its inception. With expertise in
analysis and problem solving, project planning and development, workshop
and conference planning and delivery, research and service evaluation, he has worked for community, research, government and regeneration
organisations.
Martin worked for 25 years in local government libraries delivering services, introducing ICT and planning service development at a senior level both locally and nationally. He also produced in-house research reports on a wide range of service oriented library issues. He was a member of the former Library and Information Commission's Research Committee.
As a community leader, he established a rural technology access centre and a volunteer village scheme to restore the civic and environmental value of public and private spaces.
Martin has also developed and run a community web site found at http://www.bishopthorpe.net
Martin worked for 25 years in local government libraries delivering services, introducing ICT and planning service development at a senior level both locally and nationally. He also produced in-house research reports on a wide range of service oriented library issues. He was a member of the former Library and Information Commission's Research Committee.
As a community leader, he established a rural technology access centre and a volunteer village scheme to restore the civic and environmental value of public and private spaces.
Martin has also developed and run a community web site found at http://www.bishopthorpe.net
Alison Gilchrist
Alison’s particular areas of expertise are community development, empowerment, equalities, social inclusion and networking. She worked for many years as a community development worker in inner-city neighbourhoods in Bristol and has been active in various local and national networks, including the Community Development Exchange (CDX).
Alison worked for the Community Development Foundation between 1999 and 2009, responsible for CDF’s work with regional levels of government and for practice development. In April 2009 she embarked on a freelance career as an independent consultant offering skills in research, training, group facilitation, organisation development and policy advice.
For eleven years she taught community and youth work at the University of the West of England and during this period undertook doctoral research into the value of networking for community development. This became a well-received book: The well-connected community: a networking approach to community development, published by The Policy Press in 2004 with a 2nd edition published in July 2009.
Visit Alison’s site.
Alison worked for the Community Development Foundation between 1999 and 2009, responsible for CDF’s work with regional levels of government and for practice development. In April 2009 she embarked on a freelance career as an independent consultant offering skills in research, training, group facilitation, organisation development and policy advice.
For eleven years she taught community and youth work at the University of the West of England and during this period undertook doctoral research into the value of networking for community development. This became a well-received book: The well-connected community: a networking approach to community development, published by The Policy Press in 2004 with a 2nd edition published in July 2009.
Visit Alison’s site.
Hugh Flouch
Hugh is the founder of Networked Neighbourhoods, an organisation using technology-based approaches to work with communities and organisations to strengthen neighbourhoods and create opportunities for the more efficient delivery of public services. Within the scope of this project he established the award winning Harringay Online, one of the UK’s most successful citizen-led online neighbourhood networks.
In 2010, Hugh worked with Kevin Harris on a research programme for London Councils to understand the true impacts of citizen-led local websites and their implications for local authorities. Hugh's other work includes developing online neighbourhood networks in lower income areas and a range of projects with the local government and social housing sectors harnessing these networks to improve service delivery.
Previously Hugh built up 20 years’ experience of consulting to organisations around leadership, selection, communication and organisational culture. Working both in the UK and internationally, Hugh’s clients included a wide range of organisations in both public and private sectors.
Networked Neighbourhoods
In 2010, Hugh worked with Kevin Harris on a research programme for London Councils to understand the true impacts of citizen-led local websites and their implications for local authorities. Hugh's other work includes developing online neighbourhood networks in lower income areas and a range of projects with the local government and social housing sectors harnessing these networks to improve service delivery.
Previously Hugh built up 20 years’ experience of consulting to organisations around leadership, selection, communication and organisational culture. Working both in the UK and internationally, Hugh’s clients included a wide range of organisations in both public and private sectors.
Networked Neighbourhoods
Bev Carter
Bev Carter is an experienced community development worker with particular experience in the housing and youth sectors. She has worked in the charity and statutory sector since 1994, and been a volunteer in different organisations and charities since 1991.
As an Associate Consultant with Partners in Change, Bev worked with the Havelock Independent Residents Organisation in Southall, west London between 2005 and 2007.
Bev has worked as an Environmental Education Development Officer and co-ordinated numerous events and initiatives involving schools, colleges and voluntary organisations in developing projects, from youth councils to conservation and community garden improvements. In this role she twice won the BT National Environment Week award.
Bev was previously Tenant Participation Officer for Watford Borough Council and a qualified ‘Recogniser’ for the Chartered Institute of Housing. She managed a national telephone conferencing network for the Quest Trust Charity in Bath.
Bev is currently working as Participation Manager for East Sussex Children's Services.
As an Associate Consultant with Partners in Change, Bev worked with the Havelock Independent Residents Organisation in Southall, west London between 2005 and 2007.
Bev has worked as an Environmental Education Development Officer and co-ordinated numerous events and initiatives involving schools, colleges and voluntary organisations in developing projects, from youth councils to conservation and community garden improvements. In this role she twice won the BT National Environment Week award.
Bev was previously Tenant Participation Officer for Watford Borough Council and a qualified ‘Recogniser’ for the Chartered Institute of Housing. She managed a national telephone conferencing network for the Quest Trust Charity in Bath.
Bev is currently working as Participation Manager for East Sussex Children's Services.
Tony Breslin
Dr. Tony Breslin is a public policy analyst, specialising in education, participation and the third sector. He is Chair of the charity Human Scale Education, Director of the consultancy Breslin Public Policy Limited and Visiting Research Fellow at Birkbeck, University of London. He is also a member of the National Community Cohesion Panel, a Trustee of Speakers Trust, a Non-executive Director at Arc Theatre for Change, and former Chair of the Association for the Teaching of the Social Sciences.
Between September 2001 and August 2010, Tony was Chief Executive at the Citizenship Foundation, the independent education and participation charity, and prior to this, he was General Adviser, 14-19 Education, in Enfield, North London. A teacher by profession, he has taught and held leadership roles in schools in Haringey and Hertfordshire. Tony has published and spoken widely, in the UK and overseas, on education and participation issues. His latest book, Teachers, schools and change was published by Trentham in 2011 and follows Developing citizens, a collection of essays co-edited with Barry Dufour, published by Hodder Education in 2006.
Tony is currently embarking, with colleagues, on an edited collection that critically explores the concept of the big society from a progressive perspective and is working on the establishment of a new education think tank and consultancy, Transform Education, and a practitioner network, Creative Forum.
Between September 2001 and August 2010, Tony was Chief Executive at the Citizenship Foundation, the independent education and participation charity, and prior to this, he was General Adviser, 14-19 Education, in Enfield, North London. A teacher by profession, he has taught and held leadership roles in schools in Haringey and Hertfordshire. Tony has published and spoken widely, in the UK and overseas, on education and participation issues. His latest book, Teachers, schools and change was published by Trentham in 2011 and follows Developing citizens, a collection of essays co-edited with Barry Dufour, published by Hodder Education in 2006.
Tony is currently embarking, with colleagues, on an edited collection that critically explores the concept of the big society from a progressive perspective and is working on the establishment of a new education think tank and consultancy, Transform Education, and a practitioner network, Creative Forum.
Sarah Clow
Sarah has worked in local government since completing her MSc in Urban Regeneration in 2007. Through her roles in Housing Strategy and Sustainable Communities, she has gained experience and skills in project management, research, consultation, policy analysis, and partnership working.
Sarah has undertaken training with the Consultation Institute, has completed an urban design course through Leeds Met University, and is an accredited Building for Life assessor. Her particular areas of interest include social and financial inclusion, urban design, the links between housing and health, and the impacts of the government's Localism agenda and its welfare reforms.
Sarah has contributed to several Local Level contracts, including workshops on neighbouring and older people, and with Shipley Street Reps.
Sarah has undertaken training with the Consultation Institute, has completed an urban design course through Leeds Met University, and is an accredited Building for Life assessor. Her particular areas of interest include social and financial inclusion, urban design, the links between housing and health, and the impacts of the government's Localism agenda and its welfare reforms.
Sarah has contributed to several Local Level contracts, including workshops on neighbouring and older people, and with Shipley Street Reps.
Linda Constable
Linda Constable is a library and information consultant and has worked in the cultural sector for over 30 years with strategic management experience at a regional and local authority level. Linda has a particular interest in community engagement, staff development and IT with a focus on developing and transforming services in partnership with staff and users.
Linda is Vice Chair Chartered Institute of Library and Information (CILIP) Community Services Group and Chair of CILIP Libraries Change Lives Judging Panel. Linda is also an NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Practitioner. Linda worked as a Local Level Associate on the MLA Local Living Library Project working with local authorities in Bournemouth, Bradford, Kent and Staffordshire. She is currently Senior Manager Customer Services, Dorset Libraries.
Linda is Vice Chair Chartered Institute of Library and Information (CILIP) Community Services Group and Chair of CILIP Libraries Change Lives Judging Panel. Linda is also an NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Practitioner. Linda worked as a Local Level Associate on the MLA Local Living Library Project working with local authorities in Bournemouth, Bradford, Kent and Staffordshire. She is currently Senior Manager Customer Services, Dorset Libraries.
Tola Dabiri
Tola Dabiri has worked in the cultural sector since 1995. During her career, Tola has worked to combat social exclusion and increase participation in cultural activities and develop the skills and knowledge in staff.
Tola managed library and archive services in public libraries, where she developed leadership, mentorship and project management skills. Tola joined MLA South East in 2007, later transferring to MLA Council, where she was responsible for workforce development and equality and diversity policy. As a consultant in the cultural sector, Tola specialises in project management, workforce and service development, equality and diversity meeting and discussion facilitation.
Tola managed library and archive services in public libraries, where she developed leadership, mentorship and project management skills. Tola joined MLA South East in 2007, later transferring to MLA Council, where she was responsible for workforce development and equality and diversity policy. As a consultant in the cultural sector, Tola specialises in project management, workforce and service development, equality and diversity meeting and discussion facilitation.
Jan Steyaert
Jan is professor of 'Social infrastructure and technology' at the Fontys university of professional education in Eindhoven (the Netherlands) and research fellow at University of Bath, UK. He has published on the application of technology in human services as well as on the dynamics between technology and social quality of society. His work focuses on research and development projects for local agencies, local and national government (city of Eindhoven, Dutch ministry of welfare, ministry of the interior, ministry of housing, ministry of economy) and international work for the European Commission.
His publications can be downloaded from http://www.fontys.nl/ and http://www.steyaert.org/jan/
His publications can be downloaded from http://www.fontys.nl/ and http://www.steyaert.org/jan/
