Third sector development unit - news
Department of Education funds follow-up research on youth achievement
The Department of Education has announced that it will award UK Youth a grant enabling the charity to expand their Youth Achievement Foundations programme. The Social Futures Institute has been asked to provide on-going impact evaluation on established and new foundations. The research will monitor achievements of the foundations annually. In addition to monitoring student numbers, attendance, attainment and student destinations, the researchers will study the impact on young people’s personal and social skills. The project will identify best practices so that knowledge can be shared. It will also focus on key challenges and offer recommendations to strengthen the development of the foundations.
Project leader Dr Peter van der Graaf, said: ‘This research offers an important opportunity to assess the long term impact of the Youth Achievement Foundations and contributes to development of non-formal education in England.’
The study will be undertaken by Dr Peter van der Graaf, supported by Professor Tony Chapman, Dr Victoria Bell and Emma Dunkerley.
Visualising the Angel
The Angel of the North is an iconic sculpture, recognised across the world. The site boasts 8,000 visitors a week. So what draws visitors to the Angel? Dr Victoria Bell has been awarded a Teesside University Research Fund grant to explore how visitors to the Angel of the North engage with the sculpture. The research will consider how visitors construct and attach meanings to the sculpture and how they then capture their visit by taking photographs of themselves in place. The aim is to find out how ‘public’ artwork may contribute to place identity and how and why people engage with the art on display.
TSDU research evidence submitted to Chair of Education Select Committee
The Education Select Committee, Chaired by Graham Stuart MP, considered the issue of the provision of services to young people. Bill Eyres, Head of Sustainability at O2 gave evidence on the success of the companies recently established corporate social responsibility programme, Think Big. The evidence provided came from research undertaken by TSDU for O2 over the last 12 months. Bill Eyres said that evaluation of the programme was crucial for its development. He said: 'Teesside University provides very valuable feedback on how we can develop the programme to be more effective because they are constantly measuring it with young people.'
Think Big research
Youth Achievement Foundations study published
'Raising Aspirations, Recognising Achievements and Realising Potential: providing non-formal learning to excluded young people', by Dr. Peter van der Graaf, Professor Tony Chapman, Dr. Victoria Bell and Emma Dunkerley has been published. The final evaluation report of the National Pathfinder shows how well the charity, UK Youth, has been able to engage with disaffected young people through a non-formal curriculum. The TSDU report shows that the project, delivered in local partnerships with schools and local authorities, helps young people onto positive pathways towards future success. In 2008 UK Youth received funding from the Youth Sector Development Fund to set up ten sustainable Youth Achievement Foundations (YAFs) over the next three years. A key finding is that young people in the YAFs are taking important steps towards re-engagement with education. The Foundations have engaged young people and helped them to achieve awards and qualifications. It also helps young people take advantage of further opportunities in education, training or employment. This is significant progress compared to starting positions of many students when they were referred to the Foundations.
The action research led to recommendations which helped Foundations progress towards sustainability and develop non-formal learning in many areas. The study contributes to a wider debate about the integration of formal and non-formal education. It shows the importance of investing in young people’s personal development so that they can build self-esteem and social skills. These are essential foundations before academic and vocational educational achievement can be achieved. The research shows that there needs to be more rungs on the accreditation ladder so that vulnerable young people who are at risk of exclusion and becoming NEET can build better futures.
Northern Rock Foundation fund second phase of work
The Northern Rock Foundation has announced that it will fund the Third Sector Development Unit (TSDU) for a second phase of work on its long term Third Sector Trends Study. The research will involve a second phase of fieldwork, revisiting 50 third sector organisations across the North East and Cumbria, as well as a major survey of over 1,000 organisations in 2012.
Project director, Professor Tony Chapman, said: ‘The study offers an unprecedented opportunity to explore the impact of social, economic and political change on the structure and dynamics of the third sector. The study is already making a difference in the region – with its key researchers being asked to help local authorities and third sector organisations with strategy development which is based on findings from our study.’ The study will be undertaken by Professor Chapman, Dr Peter van der Graaf, Dr Victoria Bell and Emma Dunkerley, all from TSDU, and Professor Fred Robinson, from St Chad’s College, Durham University.
Third Sector Development Unit help to take forward the total place agenda
TSDU researchers and associates Professor Tony Chapman, Dr Peter van der Graaf, Dr Victoria Bell, Graeme Oram and Allison Aguis delivered a seminar on the role of the third sector in total place initiatives. The research and event was funded by the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership and the Institute for Local Governance.
The aim of the event was to encourage greater collaboration between relevant agencies, a deeper engagement with citizens and communities, and a genuine focus on place.
The workshop drew on an intensive longitudinal social scientific study on the structure and dynamics of the third sector in North East England by TSDU for Northern Rock Foundation. A final report based on the findings from the seminars will be published in June 2011 by the Institute for Local Governance.
Major new reports from Northern Rock Foundation third sector trends study published
Two major studies chart the strengths and the vulnerabilities of the voluntary sector in the North East and Cumbria. The reports point to the actions organisations will need to consider in order to respond to change whilst facing additional demand and managing an uncertain financial future.
These reports are especially relevant for those parts of the voluntary sector that are particularly vulnerable to public sector spending cuts
Professor Tony Chapman said: 'The speed at which cuts are to be made is likely to hit voluntary and community sector organisations and social enterprises particularly hard. Local authorities, government departments and quangos are eager to protect what they can of their core services.'
Penny Wilkinson, Chief Executive of the Northern Rock Foundation added: 'This research provides an independent and objective insight into the state and nature of the voluntary sector. Its findings might be controversial but the conclusions it draws can translate into practical actions for voluntary sector organisations that will be facing very difficult choices.'
The reports, Keeping the Show on the Road and Forearmed with Foresight, can be viewed on the Northern Rock Foundation website
Third Sector Development Unit welcomes new research assistant
We are pleased to announce that Emma Dunkerley has joined TSDU as a research assistant working on our O2/Telefonica Foundation project. Emma joined the team at the end of September 2010 after having just completed a master's in Criminology at the University of Hull.
She was previously involved in an evaluation of a project on Intergeneration Meetings with East Riding of Yorkshire Council which aimed to challenge older and younger people’s perceptions of anti-social behaviour and promote a more positive image of young people in the community. Emma’s research interests centre on young people in society, including their perceptions of crime and the construction of fear of crime, their use of public space and youth transitions.
UK and Japan social enterprise study continues
Professor Tony Chapman visited Japan in September 2010 to continue with his long-term research collaboration with his colleagues in Tokyo and Yamagata. The visit included a seminar at the Consumer Cooperative Institute of Japan hosted by CCIJ Director Akira Kurimoto.
Whilst in Tokyo, Tony visited a number of social enterprises in the neighbouring cities of Yokohama and Yokosuko with Dr Tomohito Nakajima. In Yamagata, social enterprises were visited in Tsuruoka City and its surrounding areas. During the visit, plans were made for the publication of results from the four years study of social enterprise in Japan and the UK which has involved two visits to Yamagata and two visits to Tees Valley. Advanced discussion on grant applications for the next stage of the research have also moved forward.
During the trip, meetings were also held at the British Council to discuss and share knowledge on social enterprise development in the UK and Japan.
Papers presented at NCVO/VSSN annual conference
Dr Victoria Bell, Research Associate in TSDU, presented papers at the NCVO/VSSN annual conference at Leeds University. This was the main conference for the UK voluntary sector research community. Now in its sixteenth year, the conference brought together academics, practitioners and policy-makers.
Professor Fred Robinson and Dr Bell presented a paper based on one of the working papers for the Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends Study: What makes a Third Sector Organisation tick? This was part of a panel session titled: Exploring change through time – qualitative longitudinal research on the third sector.
The session also included presentations by Dr Rob MacMillan and Dr Andri Soteri-Proctor of the Third Sector Research Centre in Birmingham, and Professor Bren Neale, Director of the Timescapes ESRC Qualitative Longitudinal study, Leeds University.
Dr Bell also presented a paper using data from the Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends Study titled: Crossing Boundaries: Exploring life-work trajectories of the third sector workforce. This paper focused on the motivations, aspirations and values of people who lead organisations in the third sector.
TSDU appointed to evaluate major corporate social responsibility programme
The Social Futures Institute has won a major contract by O2/Fundación Telefónica to undertake a social audit of a new social initiative to help young people make a contribution to their communities. The O2 Think Big project aims to challenge negative stereotypes held about young people in the wider population.
This is O2’s main corporate social responsibility programme over the next three years and involves a multi-million pound investment in young people’s futures. The O2-led project will be run in partnership with two national youth charities - UK Youth and National Youth Agency. Led by Professor Tony Chapman, the University’s role is to assist in the development of the project and to measure its positive social impact over time.
Youth workforce development study published
Supporting and Developing the Integrated Youth Support Workforce in Hartlepool, by Jonathan Roberts, Dr. Peter van der Graaf, Sarah Cardew, Sean Murphy, Robert Crow, and Professor Tony Chapman, was published on 19 February 2010. A key finding of the study is that there is considerable movement between jobs by members of the young people’s support workforce in the area of study. This means that the benefits of investing in training and learning is carried through to young people even if the workforce is relatively mobile between employers and sectors. Under-qualified members of the workforce show a keen interest in developing their skills and are prepared to take steps in learning available at all levels in the National Qualifications Framework.
The researchers made a number of recommendations. Firstly, to build on individual’s previous learning and workplace or volunteering experience when choosing their next opportunity for learning. Secondly, to ensure that there are independent assessment tests for learning achievement and a willingness to assess the impact of learning on practice. The study contributes to wider debates about the youth workforce and lends support to ministerial commitment and CWDC led programmes to improve opportunities to learn new skills and knowledge and accredit achievement in workforce development.
Working paper from third sector trends study is published
What makes a Third Sector Organisation tick? Interactions of foresight, enterprise, capability and impact, by Tony Chapman, Fred Robinson, Judith Brown, Robert Crow, Victoria Bell and Emma Bailey was published on 19 February 2010 by Northern Rock Foundation. The report presents a radically new way of measuring the foresight, enterprise, capability and impact of TSOs. The new methodological appraoch will be used over seven years to assess the impact of external and internal changes on organisational well being.
Key findings include - local third sector organisations (TSOs) have higher management capacity than is sometimes thought, and are clearly focussed on their mission and the needs of the people who use their services. But TSOs are less good at communicating their strengths, and the value and impact of their work - which means their significance and role is under-estimated.
A summary and the full report are available to download
Latest books presented at prestigious launch
Dr Peter van der Graaf and Jonathan Roberts, of the Third Sector Development Unit, presented their latest books at a special book launch at Waterstone's bookshop. The event celebrated the publication of works by six members of the Social Futures Institute.
Peter’s book, titled Out of Place? (University of Amsterdam Press, 2009) conceptualises the emotional ties of residents to their neighbourhood and researches how these ties are affected by urban renewal. Jonathan’s new book is entitled Youth Work Ethics (Learning Matters, 2009). It provides an essential educational tool for youth work students, teachers and practitioners. Professor Cliff Hardcastle, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise), congratulated the researchers on their achievement, contributing to the Institute’s mission to grow high quality research and enterprise around the key theme of society.
Vision Not Division Conference
Professor Tony Chapman attended a three day conference at St George’s House, Windsor Castle, from 16 to 18 November 2009. The event was hosted by UK Youth, Future Lab and the Royal Society of Arts to discuss non-formal learning. It included participants interested in young people’s issues from political parties, faith groups, charities, government departments and universities.
The event represents the start of a major new initiative to increase awareness of and political commitment to non formal learning in the UK. The conference dinner was joined by HRH Princess Anne.
More about the conference, including Tony Chapman’s contribution
Japanese Third Sector research colleagues visit Teesside
Professors Tomoaki Shibukawa and Tokohiko Takatani visited colleagues in TSDU for a second time from 31 August to 2 September 2009. This study trip focused specifically on provision for black and minority ethnic groups, with a particular emphasis on asylum seekers and refugees. The trip included visits to several Third Sector and local government organisations in the Tees Valley, including Stockton International Family Centre, Middlesbrough Council’s Asylum and Refugee Team, Harmony House Chinese Centre, Tees Valley Living and Middlesbrough Black and Minority Ethnic Network.
Dr Victoria Bell joins TSDU
Victoria joined the team in October 2009 after working on a UK-wide evaluation of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at The University of Northampton. The research looked at the impact of doing a personal development programme, such as the Duke of Edinburgh, on young people’s lives. This is closely linked to the YAA project and the current YAF project being carried out here which concentrate on the benefits and outcomes of non-formal learning for young people. Victoria is working on both the YAF project and the Northern Rock Foundation Third Sector Trends study.
International Sociological Association Conference, Brazil
Dr Peter van der Graaf gave a paper at the 2009 International Sociological Association, organised by Research Committee 21, on Sociology of Urban and Regional Development in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 22 to 25 August 2009. His paper, titled ‘The Lost Emotion: Feeling at Home in Sociology’ argued that Sociology has neglected places, particularly in emotional theory and that this has led to an under appreciation of Feeling at Home as a significant social emotion. His research on Feeling at Home has been published by Amsterdam University Press in a single authored book (Van der Graaf, 2009) and in a book chapter for ‘Cities in Sight’ (Duyvendak, et al., 2009), which highlights the latest urban research in the Netherlands.
More about the conference
UK youth dinner at the House of Lords
Professor Tony Chapman gave a speech after a private dinner on behalf of UK Youth at the House of Lords on 14 November 2009. The dinner welcomed participants from both Houses, together with representatives from a range of organisations concerned with policies surrounding the non-formal education of young people. Tony spoke on the TSDU evaluation of the Youth Achievement Award and current work on the development of Youth Achievement Foundations.
Japanese collaboration with Social Futures Institute
Following a visit to Social Futures Institute in September 2007 by Professors Tomoaki Shibukawa, Tomohito Nakajima, Tokihko Takatani and Takahiro Aoki, a team of researchers was invited to a return visit to Japan in June 2008 to deliver research papers and undertake study visits of social enterprise in Tokyo and Yamagata Prefecture. This generous and fully funded invitation for Professor Chapman and researchers Judith Brown and Beth Baxter provided the basis for longer term collaboration between the Graduate School, Tohoku University of Community Service and Science and Social Futures Institute at Teesside University.
Read the full story (pdf - 2521kb)
Social enterprises in Italy
Judith Brown, Head of SoFI’s Third Sector Development Unit, recently went on a study visit and conference hosted by the Italian development partnership, as a delegate with the UK development partnership – Inspire. The five day visit took in a number of social enterprises and also included a two-day conference.
The study visits included the Meals Production Centre of Villa Perla Service where food is prepared and delivered to schools across the region.
The study visits were then followed by a two-day conference with partners, looking at the potential of replicating and franchising social enterprise models. The conference also focused on tools and methods social enterprises can use to market themselves effectively. Judith delivered a paper entitled: ‘To what extent should social enterprises be marketing their social objectives: does the customer really care?’ The paper focused on social enterprises as an unique alternative business model using trading as a way of furthering, promoting and financing their social objectives. But how relevant are these social objectives to the customer? In other words, do customers actually care about the social objective of a social enterprise?
Using data to illustrate the rise in consumer demand for ethically sourced, organic and fairtrade products, Judith argued that social objectives have become an important selling feature for social enterprises. They provide a unique selling point. However, they must adopt up-to-date marketing methods and tools to convey their social objective effectively and efficiently in a way that is easily and quickly interpreted by the customer.
Commenting on her visit, Judith said, ‘This was a great opportunity to see some excellent examples of successful social enterprises operating in new business areas such as school meals. The visit to Italy was particularly valuable for comparing government policy relating to the social enterprise sector in the UK and Italy. The Italian legal system has long supported the social enterprise sector via a constitution which embodies ‘social solidarity’, i.e. the commitment of one person to another and of all individuals to their community’. Finally, Judith noted, ‘the food prepared by the staff of the social enterprise certainly looked more appetising than the meals I used to get when I was at school!’
