Research projects

Here is a list of my current and past research projects.

2020–24

Evaluation of Strengthening Voices, Realising Rights initiative for Trust for London.

2019–22

Evaluation of Neighbourhood Networks in Leeds, with CRESR at Sheffield Hallam University, for the Centre for Ageing Better.

2019–21

Evaluation of Home-Start UK projects funded through the Big Lottery Fund.

2019–21

Working with Waverley Care in Scotland to help them set up and run their own research ethics committee.

2018–21

Member of Academy of Social Sciences team for PRO-RES project to build a research ethics and integrity framework for non-medical research in the European Union.

2018–19

Research and evaluation support for The Mothership Project in the Republic of Ireland.

2018

Scoping an evaluation of Leeds Neighbourhood Networks for the Centre for Ageing Better.

2017–18

Research to support the preparation and implementation of Jisc’s Research Data Shared Service pilot for UK higher education institutions.

2017

Research and support for Jisc in developing a research data shared service repository for the forensic science community.

Review of quantitative data on diversity of volunteers in general and National Trust volunteers in particular for NCVO.

Web writing for NCVO Knowhow Nonprofit pages on creative research methods.

2016–19

Reviewing research methods case studies for SAGE Publishing.

2016

Researching inclusive curricula, teaching, and learning for Queen Mary University of London.

2014–16

Working with NCVO‘s Institute for Volunteering Research to evaluate the Staffordshire and Wolverhampton Cancer Advocacy and Support Service for Beth Johnson Foundation in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support.

2015

Data analysis and report-writing for Family Action.

2014–15

Independent research adviser to NAVCA Funded Independent Commission on the Future of Third Sector Infrastructure.

2013–14

Building Capabilities scoping study for Big Lottery Fund, with Third Sector Research Centre, University of Birmingham, and Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University.

Participatory evaluation of Heart of England Mental Health Carer Research Reference Group for the National Institute of Health Research’s Clinical Research Network in the West Midlands.

2013

Research into professionals’ views of outcome measurement for children and adults with severe learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges services, for the Hesley Group.

Researching and writing case studies for the FUSE partnership in Sheffield.

National research into the role and strengths of third sector infrastructure organisations, for Children England.

Transforming Local Infrastructure Evaluation for the FUSE partnership in Sheffield, with Dr Rob Macmillan of the Third Sector Research Centre at Birmingham University.

Review of quality assurance standards and quality assurance/management systems used by third sector organisations, particularly those working with children, young people and families, for Children England.

2012–13

Evaluation of work funded through Coalfields Regeneration Trust for Chase CVS.

2010–12

Evaluation of G:XL, a BASIS-funded project to improve support for the children’s and young people’s voluntary sector across the West Midlands.

2011

Researching the impact of daycare provision for vulnerable children delivered through private, voluntary and independent settings, for Staffordshire County Council.

Evaluation of work funded through Coalfields Regeneration Trust for West Chadsmoor Family Centre.

2010

Evaluation of national advocacy support project for Beth Johnson Foundation, with Mercian Research Associates.

Researching dementia services for Staffordshire Link, with Mercian Research Associates.

Researching and drafting family support strategy for Staffordshire County Council.

Feasibility study and recommendations about successor activity for a BASIS-funded project run in partnership by three CVSs in Burton-on-Trent, Lichfield and Tamworth.

2009–10

Research into why some of the poorest families don’t engage with services, for Staffordshire’s 0-7 Partnership Project, with Mercian Research Associates.

Service mapping and community consultation for the extended schools service in north Dudley.

2009

Impact evaluation of lottery-funded volunteering project at Burley Lodge Community Centre run by Better Leeds Communities in Leeds.

Research into the range and impact of services offering Family Support and Parental Outreach services in Phase 1, 2 and 3 Children’s Centres in Staffordshire, for Staffordshire County Council, with Mercian Research Associates.

Research into childcare information sources for parents and carers of BME origin and/or with children who have a special need or disability, for Staffordshire County Council, with Mercian Research Associates.

2008–09

Research support for extended school cluster consultations in Dudley.

Equalities impact assessment for Stafford Borough Council, with Mercian Research Associates.

2008

Researching the approach of charities to environmental responsibility for the Charity Commission.

Evaluation scoping for G:Up, a regional network of VCS children’s, young people’s and play services in the West Midlands.

Research and consultancy support for the Community Sector Partnership for Children and Young People, and consultancy support for the Community Matters national youth programme.

2007–08

Research support for children’s centres consultation and development in Dudley.

2007

Research support for children’s centres implementation in Staffordshire.

Research into childminding for Staffordshire County Council’s Early Years Unit, with Mercian Research Associates.

2006–07

Equalities impact assessment for Staffordshire County Council’s Early Years Unit, with Mercian Research Associates.

Evaluation of Weston Spirit Staffordshire.

2006

Consultancy support for the Children’s Workforce Development Council, helping CWDC to establish its own research and evaluation programme.

Desk research into models of care for Task Group Four of the Government’s Options for Excellence Review Board.

2005–06

Consultative evaluation for Bushbury Children’s Centre in Wolverhampton, using photo-elicitation – click to download photo essay (PDF, 19Mb).

Evaluation of Change Up project for Growing Up in the West Midlands (G:Up).

2005

Researching Voluntary Sector Complaints Procedures for the Charity Commission.

2004–05

Consultancy support for Staffordshire Early Years Unit in their preparation for children’s centres.

Consultancy support for Dudley Early Years Unit in their preparation for children’s centres.

Research and development of the voluntary and community sector in Walsall, for Walsall Voluntary Action and Walsall Community Empowerment Network, with Mercian Research Associates.

2004

Research into need and provision of accommodation for people with substance misuse problems in Staffordshire, for Staffordshire Drug Action Team and Staffordshire Supporting People (Click here to download a copy of the report).

Electronic document research relating to public participation in the European Union, for the Open University’s Faculty of Social Sciences.

Evaluation of partnership working, and preparation of evaluation strategy, for Sure Start Saltley/Ward End and Sure Start Kingstanding, in Birmingham, with Mercian Research Associates.

2003–04

Feasibility study for the establishment of a voluntary and community sector information point in Uttoxeter, for Uttoxeter Plus, with support from Community Action and Support – East Staffordshire.

Evaluation of partnership working and parental involvement, and preparation of evaluation strategy, for Sure Start East Birmingham and Sure Start Lye, Rufford, Wollescote, with Mercian Research Associates.

2003

Consultation in Dudley with users of substance misuse services and their carers, for DrugScope’s Models of Care Review, with Mercian Research Associates and peer interviewers.

Consultancy support to Sure Start team at Government Office for the West Midlands, supporting Sure Start partnerships across the region.

Consultancy support for various children’s services partnerships:

  • West Berkshire Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership
  • Sure Start Chatham (Kent)
  • Sure Start Mackworth & Morley (Derby)
  • Worcestershire Connexions and Youth Service Partnership
  • The Lock (voluntary sector young people’s substance misuse service in Stoke-on-Trent)
  • Sure Start partnerships across the East and West Midlands
  • Sure Start Blakenall (Walsall)

2000–03

Consultancy support for DfES Sure Start Unit, working with over 20 Sure Start programmes across the East and West Midlands.

2002–03

Building Links: researching ways to build links between Sure Start, Children’s Fund and Connexions, in the south-east region in general and Oxfordshire and Portsmouth in particular, for Government Office South-East, on behalf of:

  • The Children and Young Peoples’ Unit
  • Connexions
  • The Childrens Fund Unit
  • The Sure Start Unit

Research for Regional Action West Midlands into the continuing impact of the foot and mouth crisis on the voluntary and community sector in the region, on behalf of:

Click here to download a copy of this report

2002

Assessing the need for drug and alcohol services within Staffordshire’s black and minority ethnic communities.

Evaluating the first year of the Supervised Treatment of Offenders (STOP) Project in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.

Mapping, and quantifying likely demand for, children’s services in Wolverhampton.

Evaluating complementary therapy project at ADSIS (Alcohol and Drug Services in Staffordshire).

2001–02

Researching young people’s perceptions of drug education for Coventry LEA.

Assisting with research into services for refugees and asylum-seekers in the East Midlands, with Staffordshire University, for AHRB and East Midlands Arts.

Completing dataset, needs assessment and young people’s substance misuse plan for Staffordshire Drug Action Team.

2001

Review of Integrated Drug and Alcohol Service for Staffordshire Drug Action Team.

Researching and drafting eligibility criteria for accessing preventative children’s social services, and making recommendations for their implementation, for Wolverhampton Quality Protects partnership.

2000

Researching and drafting eligibility criteria for accessing preventative children’s social services, and making recommendations for their implementation, for Wolverhampton Quality Protects partnership.

1999–2000

Project management of advanced substance misuse training pilot in four subject areas for Staffordshire Drug Action Team.

Review of Approved Social Worker procedures for Staffordshire Social Services.

Research into ways of increasing levels of user participation for Druglink, Stoke-on-Trent.

1999

Evaluation of Staffordshire’s substance misuse training strategy for Staffordshire Drug Action Team.

Evaluation of pilot scheme for people detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act in East Staffordshire for Health/Social Services.