Community-based performing arts and young people’s transitions into adulthood: developing policies for young people

This paper draws on the experiences of young people aged 16 to 25 years who participated in performing arts programmes run by community-based organisations. It argues that policies which have prioritised an instrumentalist position and conceptualises performing arts as a route to further education, training and employment has served to undermine supporting community organisations in ways that are most valued by, and of benefit to, young people during their „transitionary‟ years

Community Computers: The success of the Flexible Learning Centre in South Leytonstone

This report documents an investigation into the use of South Leytonstone’s Flexible learning Centre (FLC) which is located in an area with higher than average unemployment, where some residents find it difficult to obtain suitable work and many would like to learn, and improve, their ICT skills. Managed by the local authority’s Libraries and Cultural Services Department the FLC opened in 1997. It aims to attract women and minority ethnic residents in particular, and works closely with the local Job Bank and colleges. The project provides computer based learning packages, IT courses and internet facilities. Students have the opportunity to search for jobs, receive careers guidance and assistance with CV preparation. All the facilities are provided free of charge and students can learn at their own pace. The report found the centre was well used and successful. Since April 1998 1,055 students have registered with the Centre and 281 have obtained work as a result (27 per cent). The majority found the project useful for finding jobs. Almost three quarters (74 per cent) said that they had gained in confidence as a result of attending the FLC and the majority felt more confident about their future job prospects. Some planned to find employment (29 per cent), whilst others planned to go on to further education (15 per cent) or change jobs (11 per cent). A high proportion of students are women and minority ethnic residents

The Fight for Peace Academy UK: An Independent Assessment

FFP has a strong ethos informed by clear values and goals, a robust organisational structure including a culture of monitoring, self-evaluation and a vision about how FFP model can be replicated. As a result implementation failure is less likely and successful replication in other locations achievable

Towards Integrated Participation: Involving Seldom Heard Users of Social Care Services

Using information from interviews with forty-one service users and thirty-two staff from eight organizations, a practice model is developed to show how those typically excluded from user participation be included into everyday participation to develop services and policies. The practice model outlines the processes necessary to promote and institutionally embed participation. The uncertainties and tensions that arise from these activities are also discussed. The value of the findings presented in this paper is that they provide information about how service user participation may be achieved

Young People Out Of Work In South West Newham: Two Years On

This research project presents findings from a follow-up study of 500 young people who were out of work in South West Newham in 1997/8. Three hundred and thirteen of these young people agreed to participate in the second survey. In July 2000 275 of the young people who participated in the original survey were contacted and 120 were interviewed. The findings provide information on the effect of the training and employment programmes on the lives of these young people and information about their life styles and aspirations. The survey findings show that Canning Town SRB, and other initiatives within Newham, have successfully enabled young people to access training courses and that young people are obtaining jobs at a greater rate than the national average

Developing Robust Approaches to Evaluating Social Programmes

Using ‘evidence’ to falsify rather than verify patterns in data and searching for alternative explanations enables a better understanding of the circumstances that explain why and how a social programme works or does not work. An analysis of the extent to which a programme is meeting its aims and objectives to find out if it provides a solution to the policy problem, is more rigorous. The roles researchers adopt influence the quality of an evaluation; facilitating a better understanding of the theories embodied in programmes enhances an evaluation while being a ‘broker of compromise’ can limit access to information. Researchers have a valuable role in promoting learning. A robust evaluation framework integrates strategies for generalizing at the outset and identifying mechanisms of change or causal mechanism is a way forward. Examples are taken from recent evaluations conducted by the author and colleagues to illustrate the arguments

The 2012 Olympic Games at Stratford: the latest East London regeneration initiative considered

This paper considers these questions by discussing the plausibility of the assumptions which underpin the Olympic project and the governance structures that are intended to secure benefits for East Londoners. This approach enables us to strip away some of the hype that is typical of mega sporting events which use powerful and persuasive narratives and images to portray their ‘legacy’ (see for example MacRury 2011). The 2012 Games are no exception and slogans such as ‘the power of the Games to inspire lasting change’ and ‘transformative momentum’ exemplify this idealism. But what practical arrangements are in place to make this rhetoric a reality for those living in East London? This paper traces the reality of regeneration initiatives that have populated Stratford since the 1980s and questions how much learning from previous regeneration initiatives has been incorporated into the theoretical propositions that underpin the Olympic regeneration experiment. A problems perspective is used to inform the discussion, the characteristics of successive regeneration initiatives implemented at Stratford reviewed, and the Olympic regeneration approach described to suggest that the outcomes for the most disadvantaged are likely to fall well-short of what could be achieved

'Don't Shake the Baby': Towards a Prevention Strategy

This paper reports on the findings of a study on the extent to which carers felt like shaking, and shook, their babies and young children and the circumstances surrounding the feelings and/or actions of shaking. The research was designed to inform a 'Don't Shake Your Baby' campaign planned by the prevention sub-committee of the London Borough of Newham's Area Child Protection Committee. The main findings from interviews with 83 mothers, and self-completion questionnaires completed by 152 secondary school students, are discussed. Recommendations for a prevention programme are suggested in light of the findings

Summary Report of the Haringey Children’s Fund Programme, 2001-2008

This summary report synthesises the implementation, development and outcomes of the Haringey Children’s Fund Programme (HCF) between 2001 and 2008. The report draws on previous UEL reports, programme monitoring and financial data, observations and minutes of meetings and events, interviews with young people, service deliverers, partners and core HCF staff, HCF reports, and education and Youth Offending Service data. The data analysis identifies discernible changes over the seven-year period of the HCF in terms of delivery, structure, projects, profile of attendees and impact on educational attainment and youth offending

'Don't Shake the Baby': Towards a Prevention Strategy

This paper reports on the findings of a study on the extent to which carers felt like shaking, and shook, their babies and young children and the circumstances surrounding the feelings and/or actions of shaking. The research was designed to inform a 'Don't Shake Your Baby' campaign planned by the prevention sub-committee of the London Borough of Newham's Area Child Protection Committee. The main findings from interviews with 83 mothers, and self-completion questionnaires completed by 152 secondary school students, are discussed. Recommendations for a prevention programme are suggested in light of the findings