Making Partnerships Work: a practical guide for the public, private, voluntary and community sectorsby Andrew Wilson and Kate Charlton (Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 1997, ISBN 1 899987 39 8, £9.95 [£12.91 inc p & p*] I have just recently finished reading one of the most useful guides I have come across in quite some time. In just 60 pages, this practical five step plan with case studies covers a lot of ground and whether you have been instrumental in developing a partnership, are a member of a partnership or simply wonder what partnerships are all about then I would suggest this book has something for you. Wilson and Charlton have made a study of 12 cross-sectoral partnerships from across the UK that address a broad range of issues. Whilst none of these has an arts bias, do not be put off as the book clearly illustrates the principles of working in partnership, providing valuable practical advice from setting up a partnership to developing an exit strategy which are applicable across all sectors. I found the 'key lessons' at the end of each section very helpful and I particularly liked the 'model for partnership development' as an aide-memoire for the more experienced cross-sectoral partnership worker. There is also a nice little section which concerns understanding the different motivations and overcoming sectoral stereotypes in partnership working. If you are about to embark on a partnership initiative I would advise you to head for this section first. This book will not answer all your questions on partnership ' particularly those concerning constitution, so expect to do some associated reading - but it does gives clear advice drawn out of real examples written in accessible, jargon free, language.
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