Welcome to Alba

Alba provides research and consultancy to the public and third sector. We are practical in our approach and committed to producing work that can be used to guide and develop policy and services.

Alba is motivated by some core principles: we operate with integrity; are committed to producing useful results; provide value for money; and enjoy collaboration. We get satisfaction from working on projects that make a difference to the quality of people’s lives, in particular those living and working in disadvantaged and diverse communities.

Alba is led by Julia Stafford, an experienced researcher and consultant who draws on over 20 years' experience of managing and delivering high quality services. On this website you will find more about the services we provide and how we work.

Open Space

Open Space is a participant-led process where groups identify the issues critical to them, voice their passions and concerns, learn from each other, and take collective responsibility for finding solutions. It is an empowering process that creates ownership and energy for change. It is flexible and adaptable as a process to many situations, and can be used for processes such as community planning, strategic direction setting, conflict resolution, morale building, and consultation with stakeholders. Julia is a trained Open Space facilitator, and has worked with colleagues to offer workshops for others interested in using Open Space in their work. If you would like to know how Alba can use Open Space to help you, contact us through this website or email .