Keeping the Faith. Partnerships between faith groups and local authorities during and beyond the pandemic

We report here on research which has been undertaken across the UK to explore the changing contours of partnership between local authorities and faith groups and faith-based organisations in the context of responses to COVID-19. The research examines the types and amount of joint activity that has emerged since the pandemic began. It also identifies how new experiences of collaboration and partnership point towards changing relationships and mutual perceptions between local authorities and faith communities, and what the implications might be for future policy

Fine motor skills predict maths ability better than they predict reading ability in the early primary school years

Fine motor skills have long been recognised as an important foundation for development in other domains. However, more precise insights into the role of fine motor skills, and their relationships to other skills in mediating early educational achievements, are needed to support the development of optimal educational interventions. We explored concurrent relationships between two components of fine motor skills, Fine Motor Precision and Fine Motor Integration, and early reading and maths development in two studies with primary school children of low-to-mid socio-economic status in the U.K. Two key findings were revealed. First, despite being in the first two years of primary school education, significantly better performance was found in reading compared to maths across both studies. This may reflect the protective effects of recent national-level interventions to promote early literacy skills in young children in the U.K. that have not been similarly promoted for maths. Second, fine motor skills were a better predictor of early maths ability than they were of early reading ability. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that fine motor skills did not significantly predict reading ability when verbal short-term memory was taken into account. In contrast, Fine Motor Integration remained a significant predictor of maths ability, even after the influence of nonverbal IQ had been accounted for. These results suggest that fine motor skills should have a pivotal role in educational interventions designed to support the development of early mathematical skills

Vers les élections,et plus loin encore:Rapport de la visite du Groupe Parlementaire interpartis APPG en République Démocratique du Congo.

Document collected by the University of Texas Libraries from the web-site of the Reseau Documentaire International Sur La Region Des Grands Lacs Africains (International Documentation Network on the Great African Lakes Region). The Reseau distributes "gray literature", non-published or limited distribution government or NGO documents regarding the Great Lakes area of central Africa including Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.UT Librarie

Prostitution policy, morality and the precautionary principle

Purpose: This paper explores the contemporary regulation of sex work in England and Wales, placing this in the context of debates concerning morality, evidence and the efficacy of policy. Design/methodology/approach: This brief paper is based on reflections on the authors’ research and contribution to policy debates over the last two decades. Findings: This paper presents prostitution policy as morality policy and suggests that this discounts evidence in favour of a precautionary approach based on the idea that prostitution is sinful and hence must be inherently harmful. Practical implications: The paper makes a strong case for evidence-based policy in an area where morality tends to promote a more partial and selective reading of evidence. Social implications: It is argued that the dominance of a particular policy approach to sex work perpetuates stigma for those in the sex industries and exacerbates risks of harm. Originality/value: The drift towards the criminalization of sex work in England and Wales mirrors that in many other nations, but this is not informed by academic evidence. This paper argues for a more balanced assessment of evidence and the consideration of data rather than a privileging of particular moral standpoints

What are the required elements needed to create an effective visual art intervention for people with dementia? A qualitative exploration

Background: This paper aims to advance understanding of ‘what works’ in visual art interventions from the perspective of key stakeholders’, including people with dementia, their family members and visual art professionals. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 participants, exploring their perceptions on barriers, facilitators, perceived benefits, experiences of delivering/attending a visual art intervention, and any recommendations for implementation. Results: Five factors were identified within the interviews that indicated important considerations for intervention structure and implementation, including: benefits of group work, a skilled facilitator, participant choice, artistic ability, and activity content. Whilst art therapists expressed a clear protection of professional boundaries, the success of all of the visual art interventions was largely attributed to the supportive facilitator who possessed certain core values such as empathy and compassion and had knowledge in both artistic practice and the impact of living with dementia. It was clear the group dynamic was valued, and it was important to provide enjoyable, failure-free activity content with a strong focus on the creative process. Conclusion: These findings offer a direction for evidence-based practice when implementing visual art interventions

Minority women, activism and austerity

Based on their study of minority women’s activism in the context of the economic crisis in Scotland, England and France, the authors question how well third sector organisations, policy-makers and social movements have responded to minority women’s perspectives and needs arising from austerity and racism. Apart from being disproportionately affected by the cuts, minority women are also undermined by dominant discourses which can (mis)represent them as either ‘victims’ or ‘enterprising actors’. There appears, from the excerpted interviews, to be a disconnect between minority women’s experiences and analyses of their precarity, their desire to take radical action and the compliant and domesticating projects and programmes that are currently being offered by some of their third sector ‘allies’

Awareness and understanding of dementia in South Asians: A synthesis of qualitative evidence

Hossain, M., Crossland, J., Stores, R., Dewey, A., & Hakak, Y. (2020). Awareness and understanding of dementia in South Asians: A synthesis of qualitative evidence. Dementia, 19(5), 1441–1473. Copyright © [2020] (The Author) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177%2F147130121880064

Non-clinical community interventions: a systematised review of social prescribing schemes

Abstract Background: This review focused on evaluation of United Kingdom social prescribing schemes published in peer-reviewed journals and reports. Schemes, including arts, books, education, and exercise ‘on prescription’ refer patients to community sources of non-clinical intervention. Method: A systematised review protocol appraised primary research material evaluating social prescribing schemes published 2000-15. Searches were performed in electronic databases using keywords, and articles were screened for evaluation of patient data, referral process, assessment method and outcomes; non-evaluated articles were excluded. Results: Of 86 schemes located including pilots, 40 evaluated primary research material: 17 used quantitative methods including six randomised controlled trials; 16 qualitative methods, and seven mixed methods; 9 exclusively involved arts on prescription. Conclusions: Outcomes included increase in self-esteem and confidence; improvement in mental wellbeing and positive mood; and reduction in anxiety, depression and negative mood. Despite positive findings, the review identifies a number of gaps in the evidence base and makes recommendations for future evaluation and implementation of referral pathways

Play in Middle Childhood: Everyday Play Behaviour and Associated Emotions

Children’s reports about their play in middle childhood and the emotions they associate with play have received limited research attention. Using focus groups, this study asked 38 children in the UK about what, where and with whom they played. They were also asked how play made them feel. Children reported a wide range of play behaviours, with outdoor and traditional games being just as prominently mentioned as play with electronic devices. The emotional importance of play in middle childhood was apparent, with children associating play with strong positive emotions, and not being able to play with negative emotions and anxiety