In the second of two episodes looking deeper at empowering communities to change the places they live, we talk spaces, places and relationships with experts in the field of social capital and social infrastructure.

In this episode, we speak to Dr Sophie Yarker, a research associate at the University of Manchester about the role of social infrastructure and the benefit it brings to building age-friendly communities and researcher Susanne Martikke about how the third sector can use social capital theory to both demonstrate value and better service their communities, as well as the dangers of social capital, as well as its benefits.

A transcript of this podcast is available at www.ambitionforageing.org.uk/podcast

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Further reading

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· Sophie’s report, Social Infrastructure: How shared spaces make communities work argues that to reduce social isolation, we need a diversity of social infrastructure to ensure chance social encounters with a diversity of people.

· During the episode, Sophie mentions Klinenberg’s, Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy Of Disaster In Chicago, which pinpoints race, inequality and isolation as causes of death during the 1995 Chicago Heatwave.

· Ray Oldenburg's concept of Third Spaces entered the lexicon through his 1989 book The Great Good Place.

· Camden’s work on Starting conversations with older men on the street in order to increase engagement is mentioned during the episode.

· The Centre for Ageing Better showcased Camden’s work in their blog How services can reach older men.

· Susanne’s overview of Social Capital gives an excellent introduction to the concept for VCSE organisations.

· The first of three researchers mentioned by Susanne, Putman’s Bowling Alone introduction to the concept of social capital.

· Coleman’s theory of a rational choice approach to social theory is the second of three researchers mentioned by Susanne

· Bourdieu arguments that social exchanges are not purely self-interested is the third research referenced by Susanne

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Ambition for Ageing is a Greater Manchester-wide cross-sector partnership aimed at creating more age-friendly places and empowering people to live fulfilling lives as they age. Ambition for Ageing is part of Ageing Better, a program set up by the National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK. Ambition for Ageing is led by Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation, the voluntary community and social enterprise sector support and development organisation covering the Greater Manchester city region. The theme tune for this podcast is Air by Iliya Troyanov, and any indents this season are taken from his track Tide. Both are used under a creative commons license from his album Fugue. For more information about Ambition for Ageing and the work we do, visit ambitionforageing.org.uk.

How can we work with communities to build capacity? (Episode 3)