Partnership working has been a key aim of the project since its inception. In addition to the institutional collaboration the universisites involved in the project have also been working with public sector organisations, voluntary organisations, community groups and individuals to contribute to the economic and social regeneration of urban areas in the North of England. This project has worked with more than 600 organisations and an additional 1000 individuals.

The creation of a collaborative partnership approach has helped demonstrate the added value that universities can bring in delivering the UK’s economic and social regeneration. Some partners reported that university involvement was critical to the success of their projects. Others reported that the independence of the university – as perceived by those who were interviewed during research strands of the project – helped to capture information more readily.

Partner organisations: The types of organisations assisted include*:

• Police (Greater Manchester, North Yorkshire, Cheshire constabulary, South Yorkshire),
• Fire services (Cheshire, Greater Manchester),
• Pupil referral units
• Social services
• Education organisations (including schools, childrens services, and carers projects),
• Charities (including North East Regional Alcohol Forum – NERAF, the alzheimers society, national autistic society)
• Councils (Crewe and Nantwich borough council, Newcastle city council, Salford city council, Leeds city council, Lancashire county council, Liverpool City Council, Trafford metropolitan council, Rochdale metropolitan council, Oldham metropolitan council, Sheffield city council, Birmingham city council, Warrington borough council, Manchester city council, Preston city council, north Tyneside Council, Cheshire county council)
• Older people partnerships boards (Newcastle, Manchester, Salford),
• Social enterprises, development trusts and community land trusts (Seedley and Langworth Trust, New Start trust, Headingly CLT, Coalfield regeneration trust, Brabins Trust, Ouseburn development trust
• Sports clubs and organisations (community cycling organisation, rookie sports, Narca and Thorncroft sports federation, Spiral dance, Angling development company, Blackpool tiggers, Chorley rugby club, Chorlton velo, deans youth and ladies FC, Helsby Community sports club)
• Business organisations (pendle and lancashire united business companies, Asian business foundation, education business connections, Bolton business ventures, )
• Small and media sized enterprises,
• Local health and Primary Care Trusts (Salford PCT, Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT, Manchester PCT, Manchester Community Health, Bolton PCT, Get Active Programme, Manchester Public Health Development Service, Cumbria & Lancashire Public Health Network, East Lancashire PCT, Salford City Council, West end health resource centre)
• Community arts practitioners and companies
• Community and faith groups (The Catholic church, Polish assosciation in Warrington and Crewe, Polish social club, Salford community group, Rochdale community group, African women’s group, Liverpool arabic centre, Burnley community group, Sunderland African integration, Somali umbrella group, Alraham mosque, Salford Jewish community projects)
• Housing organisations and residents associations (Wulvern housing, Mill lodge residents association, South central neighbourhood management scheme, great places housing association, Arena housing group, housing hartlepool)
• Youth offending teams (calderdale and salford)
• Youth groups (Muslim youth group, 24/7 young carers project, youth voice, manchester beaver scout colony, Winsford youth forum, Crewe YMCA, Information centre for young people – Crewe)

* this list does not include all of the organisations worked with, merely a selection of them.