In 2008, Mind in Bexley received a research development grant from the Big Lottery Fund and a training grant from Bexley Care Trust to empower service users to participate and contribute to a pilot research project. The project aims were to work with, develop, train and support service users as researchers, in order to record the narratives of service users who have common experiences of mental health distress and treatment. The research development project set up an advisory group, created and developed a partnership with the University of Kent and provided workshops and training sessions to explore some of the principles of research and ethics. In addition, the group undertook a preliminary literature review, developed and refined a research questionnaire and piloted interviews with six service users. Many issues were raised and lessons learned during the planning and conduct of the project. This paper discusses the process and reflects on aspects of the project's design and delivery. In addition, this paper highlights some of the difficulties in undertaking service user research and suggests recommendations as to how to overcome some of these complex issues.

For decades South Africa's mining sector has been profiteering while neglecting mining communities' development needs. Most of these communities now have social problems. Recently, forces outside the sector - globalisation, the government, the communities themselves - have pressured the mining organisations to become corporate citizens; that is, to take on social responsibilities and work towards sustainable development in their areas. However, this study revealed a gap between policy and practice: social responsibility and real sustainable development do not reach the communities. This article suggests some critical underlying factors that must be dealt with to close this gap: acculturation stress, power relationships, communication and priorities, and identifying who takes responsibility for various facets of development. The article is based on a study of how stakeholders view community development needs. It makes two main recommendations: a process approach to corporate social responsibility and development rather than 'quick fixes', and proper community engagement initiatives.Community engagement, corporate social responsibility, social development, sustainable development, mining communities,

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within the extractive industry is a relevant and contentious issue globally. Issues pertaining to equality, human rights and sustainable development are pervasive throughout the economic, social and environmental arenas of the extractive industry. There is still not consensus on the definition of CSR regarding the measurement of performance or impact, or how to determine which of the various ‘developmental’ components of the concept – namely economic, social or environment – takes precedent over the other where there are competing interests. This article on CSR in the Zambian Copperbelt uses the experiences of mining communities as stakeholders who have gone through three types and eras of CSR practices within a generation. The Zambian Copperbelt has a history of operating under colonial rule, nationalisation and privatisation. The aim is to interrogate the CSR practices of the three identified eras in the history of the Zambian Copperbelt. The article is based on the findings from a mainly qualitative research approach. The research employed the survey procedure through focus groups, personal interviews and inputs from key informants. The findings are presented by a selection of narratives of CSR experiences from the Zambian Copperbelt mining communities. Consequently, an in depth discussion and analysis reflecting the effects of a CSR enabling environment in the three eras as experienced by community members follows. The paper concludes with a brief overview of the lessons learnt throughout the three eras. Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Development, Mining Sector Opsomming Korporatiewe Sosiale Verantwoordelikheid (KSV) binne die ontginningsindustrie is ‘n relevante en omstrede kwessie wêreldwyd. Kwessies met betrekking tot gelykheid, menseregte en volhoubare ontwikkeling is universeel ooglopend binne die ekonomiese-, sosiale- en omgewingsarenas van die mynsektor. Daar is steeds nie konsensus oor die definisie van KSV rakende die meting van prestasie of impak daarvan nie, ook nie hoe om te bepaal watter een van die verskillende “ontwikkelings” komponente van die konsep (naamlik die ekonomiese, sosiale of omgewingsaspek) bevoordeel moet word bo die ander, waar daar mededingende belange is nie. Hierdie artikel oor KSV in die Zambiese Koperstreek gebruik die ervarings van myngemeenskappe as belanghebbendes wat deur drie tipes en tydperke van KSV praktyke gegaan het, binne ‘n generasie. Die Zambiese Koperstreek het ‘n geskiedenis van die bedrywighede onder koloniale heerskappy, nasionalisering en privatisering. Die doel is om die KSV praktyke van die drie bogenoemde eras te ondersoek deur die geskiedenis van die Zambiese Koperstreek. Hierdie artikel is gebaseer op die bevindinge van ‘n hoofsaaklik kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering en het gebruik gemaak van fokusgroepe, persoonlike onderhoude en insette deur sleutel informante. Die bevindinge word aangebied deur ‘n seleksie van verhale rakende die KSV ervarings van die Zambiese Koperstreek myngemeenskappe. Daarna volg ʼn in-diepte bespreking en ontleding rakende die gevolge van ‘n KSV bemagtigende omgewing, in die drie eras soos ervaar deur lede van die gemeenskap. Die artikel sluit af met ‘n kort oorsig oor die lesse wat geleer is oor die drie eras. Sleutelwoorde: Korporatiewe Sosiale Verantwoordelikheid, Ontwikkeling, Mynsektor

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