Desistance and Substance Use: An Exploration of the Support in the Community for Service Users on Probation with a Particular Focus on Alcohol Use

This thesis is an examination of how effective support for substance use and desistance from crime, was within Staffordshire and West Midlands Community Rehabilitation Company (SWM CRC). This thesis provides insight into positive practice and identifies possible areas for change. Furthermore, with SWM CRC being a newly formed part-privatised element of the probation service at the time fieldwork being undertaken, it provides a unique insight into how support works within a part-privatised service. There is limited information from those receiving or delivering provision, on the level and effectiveness of substance use and desistance support, and the experiences of delivery, in Staffordshire and the West Midlands. Additionally, despite the legality of alcohol and its link to violent behaviour, the focus is often on generic substance use rather than alcohol. This research therefore intended to understand the service users’ and practitioners’ perspectives and experiences of what works, and what areas may need to change. Additionally, this thesis acts as a piece of contemporary history in acknowledging the experiences and challenges that can come from a part-privatised probation service, and therefore provide a basis for the future. The study adopted a qualitative approach, drawing on semi-structured interviews with 8 service users on probation, and 10 practitioners. The data collected was analysed using Hermeneutic Phenomenology (van Manen, 2016). There was a general positivity felt by service users regarding their probation provision, however there was a clear desire shown for less outsourcing, and development in the delivery of substance use support. Practitioners shared issues regarding the delivery of provision, particularly of supporting service users with treatment requirements, and the challenges of working within a part-privatised service

Entanglements with the fireside and responses to low carbon heating transitions: analysis using Actor Network Theory

This paper sets out early findings from the UK component of a European project seeking to establish a social and cultural history of home heating, in order to distil lessons for a more socially conscious shift from fossil fuelled to low carbon heating systems. Here we share findings from 30 oral histories of home heating (from 1945 to present day) gathered in the former coal mining town of Rotherham in the North of England. By analysing the findings through the lens of Actor Network Theory (ANT), we reveal the coal fire (or coal fired range) as a powerful actant shaping domestic life in the decades following the end of the second world war. We argue that relational-material entanglements with the fireside endure, despite many decades of gas central heating in the UK, and have implications for current policy efforts to transition to more abstracted and technological low carbon heating systems, such as heat pumps. These entanglements with the fireside hold important implications for the sensitive handling of the current heating transition

A Systematic Review Study on Lived Experiences of People Living with Hepatitis B (PLHB)

Background: Hepatitis B (HB) is a serious "silent infection" with an infection rate of around 325 million worldwide, with an expected death rate of 1.14 million in 2035. Chronic HB is a burden and a threat to People Living with Hepatitis B (PLHB), and it is predicted that the situation for PLHB will become even worse by 2030 if nothing is done to reduce its prevalence and eliminate it. Objective: To determine the lived experiences of PLHB and their impact on their quality of life. Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Protocol was used as a guide to systematically search four electronic databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, published in English from 2000 to 2022 with adult volunteers aged 18 years and above. The data screening and selection process was facilitated by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) 2020 flow chart, and the methodological quality of the studies selected was evaluated using the JBI Critical Assessment Skill Program (JBI CASP). Data analysis and synthesis were done using the JBI qualitative meta-aggregation approach. Results: Five themes emerged: informational needs, socio-cultural issues as barriers to treatment and care, health system challenges as barriers to healthcare and follow-up, coping strategies to overcome the challenges, and impacts of HB on the psychological, social, spiritual, and physical domains of life. Conclusion: HB burden is a global burden affecting PLHB caused by several factors such as lack of knowledge, healthcare-seeking behaviors, barriers to healthcare, and healthcare system challenges and policy making. To address these challenges, policymakers and stakeholders are to commit funds for HB health education and the awareness creation, free screening for all, creation of HB clinics for early diagnosis and treatment, as well as subsidizing HB treatment and health insurance subscription at the district levels. More healthcare workers should be trained as professional counselors to address and improve the well-being needs of PLHB

Introducing cyber-loafing as a coping mechanism for suicidal ideation resulting from social isolation, and domestic violence, among employees

Cyberloafing, commonly viewed as the misuse of the internet at work, results in significant financial losses estimated at about $85 billion annually. Workers engage in cyberloafing, spending approximately two hours daily on non-work-related internet activities, which is traditionally seen as counterproductive. However, recent studies suggest that cyberloafing might also yield positive workplace outcomes, particularly in mitigating negative emotions and behaviors that could lead to suicidal ideation. This study explores the potential of cyberloafing as a coping mechanism in contexts of social isolation, and domestic violence, as contributors to suicidal thoughts. Utilizing a cross-sectional quantitative design, the research involved 467 participants from a mental health and rehabilitation center, assessed via closed-ended questionnaires. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the data. Findings indicate that social isolation, and domestic violence, significantly contribute to suicidal ideation, cyberloafing negatively moderates the relationships between both social isolation, domestic violence, and suicidal thoughts. These results highlight a complex perspective on cyberloafing, suggesting that it could be strategically used to alleviate negative emotional states. The implications are substantial for organizational management, providing a nuanced understanding that could inform strategies to harness cyberloafing's potential benefits, thereby reducing counterproductive behaviors and enhancing employee wellbeing

Same shit, different crisis? Feminist activism against period poverty during the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK

Moments of crisis, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2007 financial crisis, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis in the United Kingdom, create unique opportunities and challenges for feminist activism. Despite increased awareness, little is known about how organisations engaged in menstrual activism responded to the increased demands of tackling ‘period poverty’ during the pandemic. This article addresses this gap through interviews and survey responses with representatives from such organisations. Findings reveal that period-poverty initiatives (1) constitute a continuation of feminist anti-austerity activism, (2) highlight the triple jeopardy faced by women, and (3) create possibilities for feminist activism that address gendered inequalities. By applying an intersectional feminist ethic-of-care lens, this article provides original insights into the challenges and opportunities organisations faced during the Covid-19 pandemic. The research underscores the necessity for policy interventions that integrate feminist principles to support period-poverty initiatives, ensuring sustainable and equitable solutions. This article contributes to the burgeoning literature on period poverty in the UK, offering implications for feminist activism, organisational practice, and policy development to mitigate gendered economic and social disparities

The Mediating Role of Customer Satisfaction in the Relationship between Service Quality and Customer Loyalty in Multi-Channel Retail Banking

This study examines the interrelationships among service quality (SQ), customer satisfaction (CS), and customer loyalty (CL) in the context of multi-channel retail banking. While customer satisfaction measures a customer’s present evaluation of service, customer loyalty reflects their long-term commitment to an organisation. Service quality assessment involves comparing perceived service delivery against customer expectations. Convenience sampling was used to obtain 466 responses from bank customers. Using structural equation modelling, this research analyses primary data from 466 bank customers in Durban, South Africa using a self-administered questionnaire to investigate these relationships. A refined model demonstrates that service quality indirectly affects customer loyalty through customer satisfaction, reinforcing the importance of customer experience in multi-channel banking. Furthermore, the results show that satisfied customers demonstrate stronger bank allegiance in a multichannel banking environment. Unlike previous studies that focus on traditional banking models, this research investigates multichannel banking environments where customers interact across multiple platforms. This study contributes new insights into the mediating role of satisfaction in the service loyalty relationship, highlighting the importance of integrating service strategies. The findings provide actionable insights for banks aiming to enhance service quality across multiple channels

Historical musicology in European universities, research organisations and scientific academies: a preliminary survey

Survey on the state of historical musicology in universities and research institutions in EU (2015-present), commissioned as part of the COST EarlyMuse Actio

Muslims are leaving football, they think ‘what is the point?': A qualitative study on Islamophobia in grassroots football in England and Wales

This paper explores Muslim players’ experiences of Islamophobia at grassroots football. It employs Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a theoretical framework to interpret Islamophobia as a form of anti-Muslim racism in football. The paper considers the complexities of intersectionality in terms of race, religion, gender, and the ‘space’ where Islamophobia is manifested, both online and offline. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 40 British Muslim footballers, findings show that Islamophobia in football is intersectional, yet it is normalised and understood as ‘part of the game’. Participants’ race coupled with religion was also a key trigger for the hate that they received both online and offline. It will be concluded that grassroots football could be understood as a ‘racial project’ whereby Muslims are stigmatised, oppressed and excluded. To this end, grassroots football becomes a mirror of Islamophobia in wider society

Custodian entrepreneurship: an examination of entrepreneurial activities in English country houses

English country houses are unique institutions that form an essential fabric in the country’s landscape. They highlight British history and are a significant element in the country heritage sector. The literature on country houses has examined various facets of them but there is a scarcity of literature about the type of entrepreneurial activities that are being undertaken at the houses. By examining 68 English country houses, this paper explores their entrepreneurial activities and determines that they can be organized according to physical areas, products and services, users, stakeholders and tactics. A typology depicting the entrepreneurial activities of these houses has been developed. This study makes an original contribution to both theory and practice by introducing the innovative concept of “custodian entrepreneurship” and opening discussion about entrepreneurship in this distinctive part of the UK’s heritage sector

Less is more: Designing Wearable Vibrotactile Wristbands for Blind and Visual Impaired Creatives

Previous research has shown that blind and visually impaired music producers benefit from wearable vibrotactile feedback technologies. Keyboard-based interactions become more accessible, particularly when using Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) applications. This study examines the optimal location and number of motors to display spa- tiotemporal patterns. We review existing literature to understand how vibrotactile technologies are integrated into wearable designs. We identify the hand as the most effective body location for keyboard interaction and survey existing systems to pinpoint design gaps in the literature. We designed and evaluated a wearable armband featuring five motors in different locations. Participants could identify the exact location of the vibration stimuli, achieving a 71% success rate regardless of the hand location. The study was repeated with three motors, achieving a success rate of 97%. In addition, results can potentially be influenced by age and body mass when using five motors. We propose the use of three motors around the hand for displaying spatiotemporal patterns