Joint Enterprises in Social Services: The Cresset Project

The Cresset Project was an action research project initially funded by the Department of Health and Social Security to undertake research to inform the creation of models to facilitate contributions to community mental health and the integration of the physically handicapped and elderly with the able-bodied. The Cresset was a multi-purpose community centre which brought together commercial activiites, leisure and recreation facilities, day centres for the elderly and handicapped, housing and community worker offices, and other community centres.

The first stage of the project was a preliminary study through interviews with those involved with, and attending, the Cresset in order to ascertain the variables to be investigated in a later fuller study. Following the initial report on the Cresset, the project was expanded to incorporate research more generally on the potentials and issues of joint service delivery. The Tavistock institute, represented by Eric Miller, Michael Norris, and John Friend, were awarded a grant by the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Trust in order to carry out the second stage of the project.