Building social capital through breastfeeding peer support: Insights from an evaluation of a voluntary breastfeeding peer support service in North-West England

Background: Peer support is reported to be a key method to help build social capital in communities. To date there are no studies that describe how this can be achieved through a breastfeeding peer support service. In this paper we present findings from an evaluation of a voluntary model of breastfeeding peer support in North-West England to describe how the service was operationalized and embedded into the community. This study was undertaken from May, 2012 to May, 2013. Methods: Interviews (group or individual) were held with 87 participants: 24 breastfeeding women, 13 peer supporters and 50 health and community professionals. The data contained within 23 monthly monitoring reports (January, 2011 to February 2013) compiled by the voluntary peer support service were also extracted and analysed. Results: Thematic analysis was undertaken using social capital concepts as a theoretical lens. Key findings were identified to resonate with ’bonding’, ‘bridging’ and ‘linking’ forms of social capital. These insights illuminate how the peer support service facilitates ‘bonds’ with its members, and within and between women who access the service; how the service ‘bridges’ with individuals from different interests and backgrounds, and how ‘links’ were forged with those in authority to gain access and reach to women and to promote a breastfeeding culture. Some of the tensions highlighted within the social capital literature were also identified. Conclusions: Horizontal and vertical relationships forged between the peer support service and community members enabled peer support to be embedded into care pathways, helped to promote positive attitudes to breastfeeding and to disseminate knowledge and maximise reach for breastfeeding support across the community. Further effort to engage with those of different ethnic backgrounds and to resolve tensions between peer supporters and health professionals is warranted

Kelan etuudet kehitysvammaisille henkilöille 1962–1998

Tavoitteenamme oli selvittää Kansaneläkelaitoksen (Kelan) etuuksien vaikutusta vuonna 1962 pienois-Suomi-otoksen 57 kunnasta vajaamieliseksi diagnosoitujen 2-64-vuotiaiden henkilöiden psyykkisiin ja sosiaalisiin tekijöihin sekä etuuksien yhteyksiä heidän käyttämiinsä palveluihin vuosina 1962-1998. Kehitysvammaiseksi määritellyistä henkilöistä (n = 2 340) 48 % on saanut jotakin Kelan etuutta, erityisesti työ-kyvyttömyyseläkettä, vuosina 1970-1997. Sukupuolella ei ollut yhteyttä etuuksien saantiin vuonna 1997. Lievästi kehitysvammaiset henkilöt olivat saaneet etuuksia vähemmän kuin vaikeammin kehitysvammaiset. Etuuksien alkamisikä on selvästi alentunut: vuoden 1940 jälkeen syntyneillä se oli keskimäärin 16-17 vuotta. Kelan etuuksilla ei ollut yhteyttä kehitysvammaisten henkilöiden kokemaan sosiaaliseen huono-osaisuuteen eikä syrjäytymiseen. Kelan eläkkeitä saaneet olivat psyykkiseltä ja fyysiseltä toimintakyvyltään lähes samantasoisia kuin etuuksia ilman olleet. Rekisteritietojen perusteella etuuksia saaneet ja niitä ilman olleet erosivat hyvin vähän palveluiden käytössä.7,70 euro

Die Prinzipien des Genossenschaftswesens in der Gegenwart Festschrift fuer Prof. Dr. Vesa Laakkonen

With 18 contributionsSIGLEBibliothek Weltwirtschaft Kiel A 165227 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

Typisierung von Funktionstraegern in Genossenschaften Am Beispiel der Landwirtschaftsgenossenschaften in Finnland

Bibliothek Weltwirtschaft Kiel A 159,104 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

Educating Students and Their Future Employers to Minimise Environmental and Climate Impacts Through Cost Effective Environmental Management Strategies

Traditionally, internal views from UK businesses expect the maximisation of profits and delivery of value for the customer; the external view expects realistic profits and provision of employment. However, this view is changing, with customers increasingly demanding products and services that also demonstrate environmental responsibility and minimise climate impacts. Although the cause-effect relationship between business operations, negative environmental impacts and climate change is well established there is now an enhanced appreciation that environmental challenges are systemic, interlinked and cannot be addressed in isolation. Despite the proliferation of ‘low cost’ or ‘no cost’ technological and behavioural opportunities, businesses struggle to realise opportunities that address these interlinked challenges, demonstrate environmental responsibility and minimise climate impacts, as they are embedded in economic systems in which improvement equals investment. Environmental improvement interventions have become synonymous with cost consumption rather than cost saving; frequently at odds with corporate financial strategies. In an attempt to change this view, support the mitigation of climate change through the reduction of environmental impacts and develop successful employment-ready graduates skilled in effective environmental improvement techniques, an innovative Environmental Strategy Module engaging postgraduate students in environmental management strategy design is taught at Coventry University. This offers students a more financially accessible approach to environmental improvement: a self-funding environmental management strategy created through the Environmental Value for Money Framework. This paper presents a conceptual study of the Environmental Value for Money Framework and its engagement of students as future employees in creating self-funded, economically viable environmental management strategies. It also offers this framework as a mechanism to encourage businesses to engage in carefully planned and economically viable strategic environmental improvements