Evaluation of prisoner learning: Initial impacts and delivery

The aim of the research was a process and impact evaluation of prisoner education. Looking specifically at the impacts on post-release reoffending, employment, benefit dependency and learning outcomes amongst Offender Learning and Skills Service learners in phases 3 and 4 (OLASS3 and OLASS4), as well as changes made to service delivery under OLASS4 (which started in August 2012)

Factors holding back small third sector organizations' engagement with the local public sector

In many developed countries there has been a shift from grants to contracts as a source of local public sector funding of the third sector. Smaller third sector organizations may struggle to compete for this funding due to the complex process of accessing and maintaining this funding and conveying their capabilities to funding providers. This study utilizes data from the UK to determine what factors increase these administrative and communication barriers for smaller organizations. Resources in terms of income and volunteers affect perceptions of the process of obtaining funding. A solution may be standardization of evaluation and monitoring, but this may lead to isomorphism and loss of variety of provision. Better two way communication may allow local authorities retain variety in public service provision through improved knowledge of their partners

Achieving positive change for children? Reducing the length of child protection proceedings: lessons from England and Wales

Court decisions are required to remove children, compulsorily, from their families, and approve permanent care arrangements which restrict or terminate parents’ rights. The children involved are mostly young, have experienced serious abuse or neglect and may require permanent placement away from their parent(s) for their remaining childhoods. In England and Wales, justice to parents has dominated the rhetoric about these proceedings; this has resulted in lengthy proceedings, long periods of uncertainty for children and reduced placement options. In order to reduce delays, reforms in England and Wales have set a time limit for the completion of care proceedings. The Children and Families Act 2014 limits proceedings to 26 weeks; approximately 60% of care proceedings are now completed within this period. This article will discuss the impact of these reforms on decision-making for children, questioning whether they achieve both good decisions for children and justice for families. It uses the findings of an ESRC-funded study: ‘Establishing outcomes of care proceedings for children before and after care proceedings reform (2015–2018)’

Public engagement with marine climate change issues: (Re)framings, understandings and responses

Climate change impacts on marine environments have been somewhat neglected in climate change research, particularly with regard to their social dimensions and implications. This paper contributes to addressing this gap through presenting a UK focused mixed-method study of how publics frame, understand and respond to marine climate change-related issues. It draws on data from a large national survey of UK publics (N = 1,001), undertaken in January 2011 as part of a wider European survey, in conjunction with in-depth qualitative insights from a citizens’ panel with participants from the East Anglia region, UK. This reveals that discrete marine climate change impacts, as often framed in technical or institutional terms, were not the most immediate or significant issues for most respondents. Study participants tended to view these climate impacts ‘in context’, in situated ways, and as entangled with other issues relating to marine environments and their everyday lives. Whilst making connections with scientific knowledge on the subject, public understandings of marine climate impacts were mainly shaped by personal experience, the visibility and proximity of impacts, sense of personal risk and moral or equity-based arguments. In terms of responses, study participants prioritised climate change mitigation measures over adaptation, even in high-risk areas. We consider the implications of these insights for research and practices of public engagement on marine climate impacts specifically, and climate change more generally

The planning system and fast food outlets in London: lessons for health promotion practice

This article considers how health promotion can use planning as a tool to enhance healthy eating choices. It draws on research in relation to the availability and concentration of fast food outlets in a London borough. Current public health policy is confining planning to local settings within a narrow framework drawing on discourses from social psychology and libertarian economics. Policy is focusing on behaviour change, voluntary agreements and devolution of the public health function to local authorities. Such a framework presents barriers to effective equity-based health promotion. A social determinant-based health pro-motion strategy would be consistent with a national regulatory infrastructure supporting planning

Public Attitudes to Animal Research Survey, 2016

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Public Attitudes to Animal Research Survey, 2016 was conducted between 4th March and 4th April 2016 with a representative sample of the adult population (aged 15+) of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). It was commissioned by the Office for Life Sciences, a joint body that is part of the UK Government's Department of Health and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The aim of the survey was to understand changing public awareness of, and attitudes towards, the use of animals in research in the UK. It covers topic areas including public awareness of animal research, public knowledge of what is permitted in the UK, views on regulation of the sector as well as public interest in finding out more about the use of animals in research. This is the second wave of a tracker survey that initially ran in 2014, which was also conducted by Ipsos MORI. Both waves were conducted using Ipsos MORI's face-to-face 'Capibus' survey vehicle. The 2014 survey was based on a long-term trend survey covering the same topic, which ran from 1999 until 2014 (the earlier surveys are not currently held by the UK Data Service). For further information, see the Ipsos MORI Attitudes to Animal Research in 2016 webpage. Main Topics:The public's perception and knowledge of the use of animals in scientific research in the United Kingdom

Ahead of the Game Survey, 2009-2010

<p>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</p>The Ahead of the Game campaign explored the use of targeted interventions at football grounds as a means of raising the awareness of the causes and symptoms of cancer. The target audience for these interventions was primarily male football supporters aged over 55. In order to investigate this, Ipsos MORI conducted two waves of survey research amongst men aged over 40 at the five football clubs where the interventions have taken place (Blackburn Rovers, Brighton and Hove Albion, Norwich City, Portsmouth, and Scunthorpe United), using the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM). The reason that men over 40 were interviewed instead of just men aged over 55, was to assess the impact on those approaching the most at risk age group, to compare the impact of the interventions on the different age groups, and to inform decisions on future campaigns targeting the younger group.<br> <br> Supporters were recruited face-to-face in and around the clubs on match days and contacted by telephone to complete the survey. The pre-intervention survey developed a 'baseline' that was compared with the post-intervention survey to measure any change in awareness. Some clubs had started to conduct their interventions when the pre-intervention wave of research was in field, so some respondents may have been influenced by the interventions before they were interviewed. During both waves 1,000 supporters were interviewed in total (200 per club) creating an overall total of 2,000 responses (400 per club).<br> <br> Further information about the Ahead of the Game campaign can be found on the <a href ="http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/our-schemes/ahead-of-the-game/" title="Ahead of the Game">Football Foundation's</a> web page.<br><B>Main Topics</B>:<br>The CAM questionnaire addressed the following topics:<ul><li>public awareness of cancer symptoms</li><li>public knowledge of cancer risk factors</li><li>reasons for patient delay before contacting doctor</li><li>public knowledge of common cancer types in men and women</li><li>public awareness of cancer screening programmes</li><li>demographic variables</li></ul

National Evaluation of the New Deal for Communities Programme: Household Survey Data, 2002-2008

<p>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</p>The <i>National Evaluation of the New Deal for Communities Programme</i> (NDC) surveys began in 2002. To begin the programme, MORI Social Research worked with CRESR at Sheffield Hallam University, on behalf of the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit. The first phase of the programme took the form of a large-scale project comprising base-line household surveys in each of the 39 NDC areas in England in 2002, and follow-up interviews in 2004. The follow-up survey had a longitudinal element, combined with a new cross-sectional survey, and was designed to track changes over time (including direct changes), by following up residents who were interviewed in 2002, and also those who had moved out of NDC areas.<br> <br> The next survey in the NDC programme was conducted in 2006. In October 2005, Ipsos UK and MORI had combined to become Ipsos MORI. GfK NOP collaborated with Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute on the 2006 survey, as on previous waves (see documentation for further details). <br> <br> The fourth survey conducted among NDC residents was completed in 2008. The survey was designed to track change overtime, including direct change by following-up residents who were interviewed previously.<br> <br> A comparator survey was also undertaken in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 for a sample of deprived wards in the same local authority districts as the NDCs, but not in wards bordering them. This national deprived area survey aimed to help understand how NDC areas differ from other deprived areas. Furthermore, following the design of the main survey, it aimed to identify differences in how these areas change over time, via follow-up and longitudinal surveys. A key aim of the evaluation survey is to help establish the degree to which change in NDC areas is unique, or whether it is mirrored elsewhere. Users should note that the comparator survey is described in the documentation, but has not yet been deposited at the UK Data Archive.<br> <br> Work was done with each of the 39 NDC area partnerships to design questions relevant to local issues, and to gauge level of awareness of projects. Ipsos MORI was also involved in a number of activities with the partnerships, designed to help them gain maximum value from the research at a local level. These included training local residents as interviewers to work on the survey, and a series of training sessions for partnerships. A survey 'extranet' site has also been established for partnerships, to encourage wider dissemination and use of the data.<br> <br> Further information about the research can be found at the CRESR <a href="http://ndcevaluation.adc.shu.ac.uk/ndcevaluation/Home.asp" title="NDC National Evaluation">NDC National Evaluation</a> web site.<br> <br> For the third edition (February 2010), data and documentation for 2008 were added to the study.<br><B>Main Topics</B>:<br>The survey questionnaires were designed to cover each of the theme areas of the NDC programme, and thus included questions on housing (satisfaction with housing and future plans), quality of life and views on living in the area, involvement in the local community, experience of crime, household demographics, work status and employment details of household members aged 16 years and over, educational qualifications and satisfaction with education services, bringing up children in the area and involvement with children's education, personal health and views on health services, financial circumstances, and refugee status.<br> <br> Standard Measures:<br> Where possible the questions used in the survey were made comparable with those used in other large-scale government surveys, in order to provide national benchmark data. A list of questions with their basis in existing questions/surveys is included in the documentation