Beyond the Civic University. Unlocking the anchor’ resources to deliver a new approach to social research and innovation.

Beyond the Civic University. Unlocking the anchor’ resources to deliver a new approach to social research and innovation. A case study of the Migration Friendly City programme (www.mifriendlycities.co.uk).  

The programme aimed to tackle barriers to integration of Migrants Refugees and Asylum Seekers by adopting a grassroots social innovation approach to support integration in three cities in the West Midlands, UK. The programme was awarded £4.3m from the European Commission’s Urban Innovation Action to rapidly prototype and demonstrate the approach.  The University implemented Citizen Social Science research, Social enterprise catalyst programmes, community maker spaces and other actions including the final guidebook resource for other European cities.