The PFI Sustainability Evaluation Tool: A methodology for evaluating of sustainability within PFI housing projects

In the UK there is a need to provide more housing in order to meet increased demand. The problem is particularly acute in the social housing sector. There is also a drive to reduce CO2 emissions from housing, whilst addressing issues of social sustainability. Accordingly governments have sought to combine the goals of sustainable development with housing policy in order to provide not just more housing, but more sustainable housing. In a time of public sector expenditure restraint the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) has been used as a means to procure social housing using private money, however sustainability within PFI housing projects has received little attention. This paper introduces a methodology for evaluating sustainability within PFI bids. Developed and tested during the procurement stage of a large PFI housing project in the North East of England, results suggest that the introduction of clear, transparent and robust evaluation criteria can enhance sustainability

Climate change and variability, energy and disaster management: produced risks without produced solutions: rethinking the approach

Accelerated climate change and increasing climate variability is the single largest threat to the international goals of sustainable development, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and disaster risk reduction. Global discourses recognise the need for effective and sustainable responses tso produced climate risks. The risk types likely to occur are known, but only in broad terms - their scale, severity, longevity and frequency are not known. The challenge for policymakers is developing an effective framework within which sustainable responses can be formulated. To address the problems of produced risks a comprehensive approach to risk management is necessary. The mechanisms within the climate change, sustainable development and disaster risk reduction discourses are not sufficiently effective or integrated to respond to this challenge. Fundamental reform to current modes of risk reduction is needed, but this can only be achieved through a shift in the dominant perspective on formulating sustainable responses. This requires a shift to an enabling policy framework that encourages bottom-up resilient responses. Resilience is argued as a tool for policy development that can enhance adaptive capacity to current climate risks and shape energy policy to respond to mitigate future climate risks

Country & Western music lovers at an Irish festival

Black and white photograph, mounted on paper and laminated, showing three men and two women, some in country and western outfits, sitting on a picnic rug in a park. Photograph by Joanne O'Brien, Copyright Joanne O'Brie

Learning Irish at an evening class, Lewisham

Black and white photograph, mounted on paper and laminated, showing men and women sitting at desks in a classroom. Photograph by Joanne O'Brien, Copyright Joanne O'Brie

On the Holyhead train to London

Black and white photograph, mounted on paper and laminated, of two people asleep in their seats on a train. A holdall, shopping bag, opened drinks cans and a box of chocolates are arrayed on the table in front of them. Photograph by Joanne O'Brien, Copyright Joanne O'Brie

Changing for a hurling match, Brent

Black and white photograph, mounted on paper and laminated, showing a group of men on a playing field changing into their sports kit and smoking. Photograph by Joanne O'Brien, Copyright Joanne O'Brien

Tackling poor mental health and self-harming tendencies among students: Indicative evidence of the effectiveness of a novel partnership-based approach to intervention

Poor mental health and self-harm are becoming increasingly common in student populations. Strategic partnerships between universities and NHS mental health services can ensure that students have access to appropriate support. The current paper reports on a pilot service evaluation of a brief therapy service for students who have recently self-harmed, namely University-Community Outpatient Psychotherapy Engagement (U-COPE) service. The aim of the pilot evaluation was to ascertain the efficacy of the U-COPE service as well as offer insights around partnership working between university and NHS mental health services in relation to the design, implementation, and delivery of the U-COPE service. Students completed measures of psychological distress before and after the intervention, as well as across the four therapy sessions. There was a reduction in psychological distress between assessment and discharge. Psychological distress also reduced significantly between the first and final therapy session. Most students (93%) continued their programme of study from the year in which they had accessed the U-COPE service to their next year of study. The provision of brief, relational psychotherapy to students presenting with self-harm related difficulties is a novel approach to intervention. The success of this approach illustrates how multiple organisations play a role in supporting student mental health, bringing a blend of diverse skills and expertise together. Although the U-COPE service shows promise as a brief intervention for students who self-harm, these findings should be treated with caution due to the small sample size. Further investigation of this brief intervention is warranted to ascertain whether U-COPE has a long-term impact on difficulties and distress-related behaviours.</jats:p