Collaboration has long been a defining strength of Clackmannanshire’s third sector. Organisations across the area regularly support one another, share ideas and work together to address local needs, contributing to a community landscape built on trust and partnership. As we continue to celebrate collaboration, CTSI is pleased to highlight a new piece of work beginning this year that aims to deepen our understanding of these connections.
Dr Nic Dickson, Research Fellow at the University of Stirling, has now begun her role as a community‑embedded researcher with the Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness (C4). Nic will be spending the year working closely with CTSI and community organisations, getting to know the people, relationships and experiences that shape daily life in Clackmannanshire.
C4 is guided by values centred on people, relationships and shared learning. Its work prioritises openness, respect for lived experience and the belief that communities themselves should lead the conversation. These values complement CTSI’s longstanding commitment to supporting a confident, connected third sector. Nic’s embedded role brings these principles into practice in a way that is grounded, relational and shaped by local voices.
Understanding Collaboration in Practice
Nic brings extensive experience in community‑led research and a thoughtful approach to working with groups of all sizes. Her work focuses on building trust, listening carefully and creating space for organisations to reflect on what helps collaboration happen, and where it becomes difficult. By spending time with people where they are, attending community gatherings and following the rhythms of the sector, she is able to develop a nuanced understanding of what strengthens or strains local relationships.
In January, Nic attended the CTSI Community Breakfast, where she created visual notes as part of the discussion around food and community wellbeing. These visual summaries – just one part of her wider toolkit – offer an accessible way of reflecting back the ideas and challenges raised by participants, helping groups see the bigger picture of their shared conversation. Nic will continue to use clear, engaging ways of documenting insights as the work progresses, ensuring that discussions remain visible and useful to the organisations involved.
Looking Ahead
Throughout the year, Nic’s presence in Clackmannanshire will help illuminate the everyday connections that already support collaboration. Much of this work lies in noticing the informal relationships that underpin the sector: the ways groups quietly support one another, respond collectively to shifting needs, or share knowledge through long‑standing local networks. Understanding these patterns will help CTSI and its partners recognise what is already working well, while identifying small opportunities to strengthen collaboration further.
This research contributes to CTSI’s broader vision of a thriving, resilient third sector. By gaining a clearer picture of the strengths, pressures and priorities across the area, Nic’s work will support planning and decision‑making that is firmly rooted in local experience. The role is designed not to extract information, but to build a shared understanding that benefits the whole community.
Although the project is still in its early stages, collaboration is already central to it. By working alongside organisations rather than observing from a distance, Nic aims to help create the conditions for stronger partnerships – where people feel heard, supported and able to shape the future of their communities.
Over the coming months, Nic will continue visiting organisations, attending events and meeting groups across Clackmannanshire. She welcomes conversations with any organisation interested in sharing experiences, exploring challenges or reflecting on what collaboration looks like in practice.
The Centre for Collaboration in Community Connectedness is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as part of its work to create opportunities and improve outcomes.
