Duncan Fuller

Institutionalising Future Geographies of Financial Inclusion: National Legitimacy Versus Local Autonomy in the British Credit Union Movement

This paper provides a critical overview of recent developments in British credit union development, and contributed to the broader analysis of alternative financial/economic spaces and (the geographies of) alterity. The paper was underpinned by a wide range of local, national and international conference presentations including the National Association of Credit Union Workers, Birmingham, 2001; Combating Financial Exclusion, Salford, 2001; Association of American Geographers, New York, 2001, New Orleans, 2003; Alternative Economic Spaces, Hull, 2005; and discussions with local user communities throughout the UK (including through non-academic publishing, such as SCCD news and New Start articles).

Public geographies II: Being organic

This second report on ‘public geographies’ considers the diverse, emergent and shifting spaces of engaging with and in public/s. Taking as its focus the more ‘organic’ rather than ‘traditional’ approach to doing public geography, as discussed in the first report, it explores the multiple and unorthodox ways in which engagements across academic-public spheres play out, and what such engagements may mean for geography/ers. The report first explores the role of the internet in ‘enabling conversations’, generating a range of opportunities for public geography through websites, wikis, blogs, file-sharing sites, discussion forums and more, thinking critically about how technologies may enable/disable certain kinds of publically engaged activities. It then considers issues of process and praxis: how collaborations with groups/communities/organizations beyond academia are often unplanned, serendipitous encounters that evolve organically into research/ learning/teaching endeavours; but also that personal politics/positionality bring an agency to bear upon whether we, as academics, follow the leads we may stumble upon. The report concludes with a provocative question — given that many non-academics appear to be doing some amazing and inspiring projects and activities, thoughtful, critical and (arguably) examples of organic public geographies, what then is academia’s role?

Consulting the community : Advancing financial inclusion in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to highlight the multifaceted nature of financial exclusions, the range of potential needs that require addressing via financial inclusion policy and grounded initiatives, and emphasise that future “new models of affordable credit” must be framed by, and embedded in local communities.Design/methodology/approach – Documentation and analysis of an innovative participatory consultation that explored the perceptions and financial needs of a local population through use of participatory appraisal is used, one of a growing family of participatory approaches that is recognised as taking a “whole community approach” to conducting action research.Findings – Provides evidence of the range of services actually available to the “financially excluded” in a so‐called disadvantaged area, reasons for their use (or lack of), and the needs, wants, and/or desires to be fulfilled by any local “ideal” form of financial service provision.Research limitations/implications – The research ...

Capacity-building and community control of local economic assets

This paper explores the major changes and challenges confronting British credit unions, and highlights some of their implications in relation to notions of capacity-building. The paper’s key themes were presented at a wide range of local, national and international conference presentations including the National Association of Credit Union Workers, Birmingham, 2001; ESRC ‘Capacity building: learning for community economic development’ seminar series, ‘Seminar Three: Capacity-building and community control of local economic assets’, Salford University, 2001; Alternative Economic Spaces, Hull, 2005; and via discussions with local user communities throughout the UK (including through non-academic publishing, including SCCD news and New Start articles).