This book explores the ways in which communities are responding today’s society as government policies are increasingly promoting privatisation, deregulation and individualisation of responsibilities, providing insights into the efficacy of these approaches through key policy issues including access to food, education and health.

1. Islands of Hope in a Sea of Despair: Civil Society in an Age of Austerity 2. The North East of England: Place, Economy and People Part 1: The Public Sector and Civil Society 3. The Public Sector and Civil Society: Introduction 4. Innovation Outside the State: The Glendale Gateway Trust 5. The Byker Community Trust and the ‘Byker Approach’ 6. Café Society: Transforming Community Through Quiet Activism and Reciprocity 7. ‘Computer Says No’: Exploring Social Justice in Digital Services 8. Drive to Thrive: A Place-Based Approach to Tackling Poverty in Gateshead 9. City of Dreams: Enabling Children and Young People’s Cultural Participation and Civic Voice in Newcastle and Gateshead 10. Are We ‘All in This Together?’: Reflecting on the Continuities Between Austerity and COVID-19 Crises Part 2: The Civic University 11. The Civic University: Introduction 12. Reinventing a Civic Role for the 21st-Century: The Cathedral and the University 13. Realising the Potential of Universities for Inclusive, Innovation-Led Development: The Case of the Newcastle City Futures Urban Living Partnership Pilot 14. Future Homes: Developing New Responses Through New Organisations 15. The Good, the Bad and the Disconcerting: A Week in the Life of University Project Based Learning for Schools 16. The Containment of Democratic Innovation: Reflections from Two University Collaborations 17. Citizen Power, the University and the North East 18. So What is a University in Any Case?: A Grass-roots Perspective on the University and Urban Social Justice 19. Conclusion: Hope in an Age of Austerity and a Time of Anxiety

This book will fill a publication gap by providing real world, applied examples of practices from different organisations that are discussed in the context of policy and current theoretical debates in an accessible style.