Ray Lees

What was the significance of community action to the Labour movement in Britain during the 1980s? Ray Lees and Marjorie Mayo explore this question in Community Action for Change (first published in 1984), arguing that the Labour movement needed to revitalize its strength in response to the growing dominance of the New Right. They propose that this renewal could be achieved by developing social values rooted in the social needs often expressed through community action. Through a series of case studies focused on local community resource centres, the authors examine the contributions, challenges, and limitations of this approach. These case studies address key issues such as employment and unemployment, housing, planning and tenants’ activism, as well as information campaigns. Lees and Mayo’s analysis of these activities remains highly relevant for shaping future community interventions and broader campaigns, particularly in light of the political climate of the 1980s under a Conservative government.

Applied social research has long been recognised as essential in the field of social work and welfare, though its value is not always immediately apparent. The Seebohm Report and the reorganisation of personal social services in the 1970s emphasised the importance of identifying social needs before designing programs and evaluating their effectiveness. In response to these priorities, social workers, local authorities, and academic researchers sought practical guidance on the challenges of conducting meaningful social research. First published in 1975, Research Strategies for Social Welfare provides such a practical account by examining application and experiment to social work practice. The book examines various research strategies that can be employed by local agencies and introduces action research models for future development. Drawing on case studies to illustrate challenges in methodology, values, interests, and the utilization of findings, Ray Lees offers a realistic discussion of the possibilities and limitations of the action research approach. This volume will appeal to administrators, practitioners, and researchers in social welfare agencies, as well as anyone interested in the historical relationship between social science, practical application, and social action.