Understandings of success for groups managing leisure facilities through Community Asset Transfers

In: Voluntary sector review: an international journal of third sector research, policy and practice, S. 1-17

Abstract

Community Asset Transfer (CAT), where voluntary community groups form to manage local facilities in replacement for local authorities (LAs) has increased. This paper discusses how successful management of the facilities is understood. Factors for this success involve community capital and these capitals underpin understandings of successful CATs. The study reveals perspectives of successful CAT by examining qualitative case studies of two cases of CAT of leisure facilities. Both involve social enterprises forming to conduct the CAT. Interviews with local authority staff, board members, staff, and volunteers within the community organisations reveal the perspectives on successful CAT and what successful asset management involves. Two findings are explored; success concerning outcomes of CATs benefitting residents; and this not being understood across cases. The paper is useful for LAs responsible for CATs and for community organisations considering pursuing a CAT.