Evaluation of collaboration between the VCS, NHS and local authorities
In early 2023 I evaluated a collaboration between the VCS and statutory services in City and Hackney. Through various joint meetings and working groups, this programme aims to support co-production of local health and care services and solutions to match the diverse population, especially minoritised ethnic and other groups who face poor health outcomes, but how are also less well served by existing services.
Evaluation of Public Health collaboration with community groups to support mental health
Over 2022 I worked with Bristol University to evaluate a collaborative, community health initiative in LB Haringey – ‘Community Protect’ – to support mental health. With funding from OHID, Haringey Public Health funded local VCS working with diverse, marginalised groups severely affected by COVID-19 and least likely or unable to access statutory services. The evaluation found that even modest grants could be put to good use by community organisations, in touch with and responsive to their communities’ needs.
Evaluation of COVID-19 community information programme
Over 2021 -22, I evaluated the collaboration between City and Hackney Public Health and local voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations. Through targeted funding, this programme helped deliver bespoke services and support to disadvantaged communities and groups, at higher risk of suffering severely from COVID-19 .
The evaluation found that working through the VCS enabled Public Health to reach more diverse and marginalised communities as the VCS were more embedded and trusted, often because of years of work and responsiveness. On modest grants, VCS organisations made information more accessible, for example by translating materials into over 24 local spoken languages, delivered direct information and advice and increased access to vaccines and mental health and social support. This collaborative programme generated a great deal of learning, not least the precarious funding situation of many small VCS .
Training young people from Great Ormond Street and Moorfields Hospitals as peer researchers
Together with participation and clinical staff from GOSH and Moorfields, I developed and delivered training for young people so that they could help advise on research and evaluation projects and help conduct research fieldwork . The training covered ethical and methodological considerations, including how to run qualitative interviews, ongoing consent and confidentiality.
Training children and young people as researchers – resource pack.
Researchers and non-researchers can use this toolkit and guidance to recruit, train and support children and young people as researchers. It includes step by step guidance and sample resources, such as recruitment forms, templates and PowerPoint teaching slides on relevant topics.
Literature review on how young people access money advice ( 2021)
This rapid literature review for the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) explored where and how young people look for information and advice on money matters. The evidence indicated that young people rely heavily on family and friends, find it hard to navigate or judge the trustworthiness of online information and are largely unaware of specialist or reliable sources. The review calls for more and better financial education for children, young people, families and relevant professionals; and greater provision of individualised, one-to-one guidance, in person, when a young person needs it.
Our social Networks evaluation
Mencap Cymru’s pioneering project – Our Social Networks (OSN) collected 40 oral histories from 59 adults with learning disabilities. As well as illustrating the importance of friendships and relationships, these narratives highlight the immense obstacles faced in securing basic human rights. OSN shared the poignant personal stories and key themes with the public, policy makers and service providers through exhibitions, films, social media, events and other innovative ways.
Volunteer support for families families
This literature review explored available data around deploying volunteers to support vulnerable families. Volunteers were found to work in a wide range of formal and informal roles. Being effective required good skills, training, personal experience, establishing rapport and expert supervision and coordination. Families were found to value knowledge, reassurance, trust and accessibility.
SRA Ethical Guidance
I am joint author of the revised Social Research Association’s ethical guidance, published 2021.
Training
Each year I design and deliver about 8 public and bespoke training courses for the Social Research Association (SRA) on planning and conducting research and evaluation with children and young people and on involving the public in social research. Over recent years we adapted and delivered this course in-house for the ONS, Action for Children, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, Sustrans, Ipsos Mori and others.
Due to Covid-19 we converted and now deliver these courses online .
Other
I am an approved research associate for the Department of Education, Barnardos, NCB, LEAP, the Centre for Aging Better and others.
I am a member of the SRA Ethics Forum, which advises members on ethical dilemmas.