Past and current research projects

I’m always happy to discuss potential projects with no obligation: please click here to contact me. To read about a typical research project, click here to read a case study: Inclusivity at Queen Mary University.

2017-18

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

Research and evaluation support for The Mothership Project in Dublin

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

Teaching creative research methods and creative academic writing to doctoral students, faculty, and practitioners via the Australian Market and Social Research Society, Birmingham City University, and the National Centre for Research Methods – see Teaching

2016-17

Reviewing research methods case studies for Sage Publishing

2016

Teaching creative research methods and creative academic writing to doctoral students and faculty at Birmingham City University, Ecorys, British Psychological Society West Midlands Branch, RMIT (Melbourne, Australia) and La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia) – see Teaching

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

2015-16

Teaching research methods to postgraduates at Swansea University

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

Teaching research methods to postgraduates and doctoral students at Staffordshire University, the University of Northampton, the University of Stirling, Mount Royal University (Calgary, Canada) and the University of Calgary

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

Facilitating a managers’ awayday for High Peak Community Housing

Training Equality Champions in completing Equalities Impact Assessments for Stafford Borough 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 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

2008-9

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

Facilitation for Halton Neighbourhood Management Partnership

Facilitation and consultancy support 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

2007-8

Support for children’s centres consultation and development in Dudley

2007

Support for children’s centres implementation in Staffordshire

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

2006-7

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

Facilitation of action planning with West Midlands Voluntary Youth Sector Forum

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

2005-6

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

Consultant to Children’s Workforce Development Council working with Tameside, Stockport, Manchester, St Helens, Herefordshire and Nottingham

Evaluation of Change Up project for Growing Up in the West Midlands

2005

Researching Voluntary Sector Complaints Procedures for the Charity Commission

Facilitating staff awayday for Sure Start 4 U, Stoke on Trent

2004-5

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

Consultancy support to Home-Start UK’s senior staff team for strategic and business planning at national level

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)

Researching the World Wide Web for documents relating to public participation in the European Union, for the Open University’s Faculty of Social Sciences

Board awaydays for Sure Start Kingstanding in Birmingham, Sure Start Lye, Rufford and Wollescote in Dudley and Sure Start Darlaston in Walsall

Two programme managers’ awaydays for Sure Start in Sandwell

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

2003-4

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)

2000-3

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

2002-3

Building Links: consultancy support for project 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:

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 children’s services in Wolverhampton

Quantifying likely demand for children’s services in Wolverhampton

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

Preparing complaints, disciplinary and grievance procedures for British Humanist Association Ceremonies Service

2001-2

Consultancy support for Wolverhampton’s Inter-Agency Working Group on Children’s Services

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