Starting from Values – Introducing a legacies project, Hoover, Elona, ed.,

Starting from Values - Evaluating Intangible Legacies was a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. It is one of seven projects investigating the legacies of the Connected Communities theme. Contributers included: Gemma Burgord, Marie Harder and Louise Dredge. The work presented in this booklet has been carried out in the context of research funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), through the Connected Communities theme which focuses on funding and supporting community-engaged research. We set out to explore the following question: ‘what difference have Connected Communities projects made: what are their legacies?’ Community-engaged research tends to be evaluated in research terms. This does not reflect the broader legacies for all partners and participants. ‘Starting from values’ re-sets the balance and provides a mechanism for understanding and valuing different perspectives. It also gives space and a language to articulate less ‘tangible’ aspects of project legacies. A values-based approach to understanding the legacies of community-engaged research can unearth ‘new’ legacies and a deeper understanding of ‘known’ legacies; enhance existing legacies; create confidence to articulate broader and deeper aspects of legacies; and enhance collaborative working within partnerships.