Centre for Information Management member, Dr. Gillian Ragsdell guides joint project with Charnwood Connect, which recently won first prize in the international Knowledge Management and Intellectual Capital Excellence Awards.

The collaboration designed to promote joint working between voluntary and public sector organisations was presented earlier this month at the European Conference on Knowledge Management in Barcelona. The project beat, amongst other finalists, both NASA and the European Patent Office to win the prestigious award.

Charnwood Connect is a two-year partnership project which received £346,000 from the Big Lottery’s Advice Services Transitions Fund to strengthen and improve access to local advice and information services.

The project ran from October 2013 – September 2015, managed by Charnwood Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) with lead partner The Bridge (East Midlands), as well as Charnwood Borough Council, Human Rights and Equalities Charnwood, Living Without Abuse, Falcon Support Services (formerly Youth Shelter), Proactive Community Endeavours (PACE), John Storer Charnwood, and the University.

It resulted in the development of a community resource for local people seeking help with issues such as welfare rights, benefits, housing and homelessness, domestic violence, immigration, discrimination and debt.

Dr Gillian Ragsdell, Reader in Knowledge Management, was an advisor on the project. She is the coordinator of the Knowledge Management Research Interest Group, based in the School of Business and Economics, and a leading academic in the field of knowledge management.

Discussing the award, Dr Ragsdell said:

“I am absolutely delighted that Charnwood Connect has gained international recognition - I was very aware of the originality and pioneering nature of this knowledge management project when I entered it in the competition. We are so proud that its impact has been appreciated by such a respected audience.”