Dr Claire Bynner (MA, MA, PhD)

Lecturer in Social Justice and Community Action

Biography

Background

Claire Bynner is a Lecturer in Social Justice and Community Action. Her  research examines the interplay between people, places, and public systems, with particular interests in place-based initiatives; leadership and capacity within the voluntary and community sector; participatory and collaborative governance; and the lived experiences of super-diversity and social cohesion. She is also engaged in research on climate resilience and adaptation, sustainability, and the just transition, investigating how local communities navigate, shape, and respond to major societal transformations.

With more than 25 years of experience spanning policy, research, and practice—including serving as Lead Researcher on place-based approaches at What Works Scotland, and Children’s Neighbourhoods Scotland - Claire specialises in qualitative, participatory, and collaborative action research, evaluation, and realist evidence synthesis. Across her work, she is committed to co-producing knowledge that supports the development of more inclusive, resilient, and equitable communities.

Qualifications

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) (2025) Awarded in recognition of attainment against the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and learning support in higher education.

PhD in Urban Studies, University of Glasgow (2016) Thesis: Social contact and trust: a study of a super-diverse neighbourhood Funding: ESRC 1+3 Scholarship

MRes Public Policy Research (Distinction), University of Glasgow (2011) Dissertation: Access to public services – The influence of locality and superdiversity

MA Geography (First Class Honours), University of Glasgow (1997)

Responsibilities & affiliations

Academic Cohort Lead - MSc Social Justice and Community Action

Academic Cohort Lead - MA Learning in Communities

Co-lead Community Education Research Group (CERG)

Undergraduate teaching

Course Organiser and Lecturer  - Domains of Practice 2 MA Learning in Communities

Postgraduate teaching

Course Organiser  and Lecturer - Dissertations (Social Justice)

Course Organiser and Lecturer - Community engagement: co-constructing knowledge with communities

Course Organiser and Lecturer  - Theories and Politics of Social Justice

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Areas of interest for supervision

Areas where I am interested in supervising PhDs:

  • Participatory and collaborative governance

  • Participatory democracy and community engagement

  • Place-based and community-led approaches

  • Voluntary and community sector research

  • Climate adaptation, community resilience and just transition

  • Super-diversity, neighbourhood change and social cohesion

  • Participatory and collaborative action research

  • Realist evaluation and theory-based evaluation

  • Public service reform and local decision-making

Current PhD students supervised

Jelle van Aanholt, Title of dissertation: Lost in translation? Behind the scenes of participation in urban development, PhD Political Science (visiting from University of Amsterdam)

Past PhD students supervised

Craig Orr, Title of dissertation: Navigating collaborative networks: Reflections on collective impact, PhD Education (University of Glasgow)

Research summary

  • Place-based initiatives, voluntary and community sector
  • Participatory democracy, participatory and collaborative governance
  • Neighbourhoods, super-diversity, social cohesion
  • Climate adaptation, sustainability, just transition
  • Participatory and collaborative action research, theory-based evaluation, realist evidence synthesis, evidence to action and knowledge mobilisation

Current research interests

My research examines participatory democracy, community engagement and social justice, with a particular focus on participatory and collaborative governance. I am interested in how place-based initiatives, the voluntary and community sector, and neighbourhood contexts shape super-diversity, social cohesion and community wellbeing. Methodologically, my work draws on participatory and collaborative action research, theory-based evaluation and realist evidence synthesis. I’m currently exploring how public services can reform decision-making and use of AI in frontline administration and through community-led, climate-resilient centres that strengthen local wellbeing and resilience.

Past research interests

My earlier research focused on neighbourhood change, super-diversity and public service reform, with particular attention to social cohesion, intergroup relations and the experiences of marginalised communities. I worked extensively on place-based and locality-based approaches to governance, undertaking collaborative and participatory action research with community practitioners and local authorities. This included examining local decision-making, access to public services and the integration of empirical, technical and practical knowledge in policy processes. These strands of work informed my longstanding interest in how inequalities are shaped by local contexts and how collaborative approaches can support more inclusive and effective public services.

Knowledge exchange

My research has informed policy and practice in areas including participatory governance, place-based approaches and community wellbeing. I work closely with local authorities, third-sector organisations and national bodies to co-produce evidence that supports decision-making and service improvement. This includes contributing to government advisory work, providing training in facilitative leadership and public engagement, and developing practical tools to support community participation. My work has influenced approaches to public service reform, strengthened local collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic and supported community-led initiatives that address inequality and climate-related challenges.

Project activity

I lead and contribute to research on participatory democracy, place-based approaches, community wellbeing, and public service reform. I was the Lead Researcher on Place for What Works Scotland, directing collaborative action research with community practitioners and policy officers. I have served as Co-Investigator on several externally funded projects, including the Scottish Government–funded Innovation and Creativity in the Third Sector in response to COVID-19 Rapid Realist Evidence Synthesis, and previously led the research and evaluation strategy for Children’s Neighbourhoods Scotland. My work has been supported by funding from the Scottish Government, Nuffield Foundation, British Academy, Carnegie Trust, local authorities and third-sector organisations. I also develop interdisciplinary grant proposals, support international collaboration, and undertake consultancy that strengthens community participation, evidence-informed policy, and local governance.

Current project grants

Springboard Fund, University of Edinburgh. 'Community Centres of the Future'

Past project grants

Innovation and Creativity in the Third Sector in response to COVID-19: A Rapid Realist Evidence Synthesis — Co-Investigator, Scottish Government

Embedding Well-being in Northern Ireland — Consultant, Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council

Leadership and Engagement for Community Planning — Consultant, Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland

Dialogue and Deliberation Training — Consultant, Fife Voluntary Action

ERASMUS+ Staff Mobility (McGill University) — Principal Investigator, Erasmus+

What Works in Local Decision-Making? — Principal Investigator, Perth & Kinross Council

U21 Early Career Researcher Workshop: Interculturality and Multiculturalism — Universitas 21

What Works in Community Profiling? — Principal Investigator, West Dunbartonshire Council

Engaging Local People in Community-based Culture and Leisure Services — Consultant, Glasgow Life

Conference details

I have contributed to a broad range of national and international conferences, presenting research on participatory governance, place-based approaches, super-diversity, community wellbeing and public service reform. My work has been presented at major academic conferences, including IRSPM, ICPP, ECPR, PSA, IMISCOE, RC21, ESPANet and the Council for Europeanists. I have also convened panels, organised symposia and chaired seminars, supporting dialogue across disciplines and sectors.

Invited speaker

Selected Invited Talks

  • Scottish Government Academic Roundtable on Public Service Reform (2024) – invited expert contributor convened by Professor Linda Bauld, Chief Social Policy Adviser.

  • Glasgow Social Recovery Task Force (2021) – invited presentation on lessons from COVID-19 research.

  • Barnardo’s UK: Participative Democracy and Children (2020) – invited speaker.

  • Policy Scotland “New Normal” Series and Scotland’s Third Sector Research Forum (2020) – invited speaker on community responses during COVID-19.

  • Glasgow Centre for Population Health (2019) – invited seminar on participatory democracy and new mindsets for public engagement.

  • Rethinking Engagement Workshop, Belfast (2018) – keynote speaker on citizen engagement and participatory democracy.

  • International Conference on Government Public Policy, Madrid (2018) – invited speaker on public participation and accountability in local governance.

  • Place Standard Alliance Event, NHS Health Scotland (2016) – keynote speaker on community empowerment and the Place Standard.

  • Public Health Information Network Scotland (PHINS) Conference, Glasgow (2016) – invited speaker on place-based approaches to tackling poverty.

Organiser

  • Co-convenor of panel: Public participation in local governance: the implications of COVID-19 – Interpretive Policy Analysis conference, online (28 June 2021).

  • Co-Convenor of panel: New forms of solidarity and exclusion in the Brexit-Trump era: Conviviality, Everyday Multiculturalism and Racism – IMISCOE Annual Conference, 2018.

  • Co-convenor of workshop for ECRs: New Directions in Research on Multiculturalism, Interculturality and Migration – including keynote and panel with research partners, 16 January 2018.

  • Convenor of panel: Housing in Transition: Sustainable Urban Development – Council for Europeanists Conference, University of Glasgow, 2017.

  • Convener of panel: New forms of solidarity and exclusion in the Brexit-Trump era: Conviviality, Everyday Multiculturalism and Racism – RC21 Conference, Leeds, UK, 2017.

Papers delivered

Selected Conference Papers Delivered (Thematically Organised)

Participatory Governance and Collaborative Public Services

  • Facilitation and public participation: developing mindsets and skills for participatory governance, International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP4), Montreal (2019).

  • Participatory governance in Scotland: negotiating processes of power sharing between communities and elected representatives, ECPR General Conference, Hamburg (2018).

COVID-19, Public Service Reform and Local Democratic Processes

  • A rapid realist evidence review of community and voluntary sector responses to COVID-19, International Research Society for Public Management (IRSPM), Budapest (2023).

  • ‘Knowing the system’ – the relationality of public administration during the pandemic, International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP5), online (2021).

Super-Diversity, Neighbourhoods and Social Cohesion

  • Super-diverse neighbourhoods and public participation: difficult dialogues and local hierarchies, RC21 Conference, Leeds (2017).

  • Intercultural dialogue in a super-diverse neighbourhood, U21 Early Career Researcher Workshop, Santiago, Chile (2017).

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