Carbon Connections was a low carbon innovation development fund led by the University of East Anglia (UEA). It was one of 11 three-year projects supported by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), under the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) between 2007 and 2009. Educe were commissioned to assess the qualitative impact of the fund, and draw lessons and pointers to inform the strategic development of similar programmes. We provided UEA with an overall evaluation framework, with our research complementing other evaluative data from individual projects and a separate assessment of carbon reduction gains. The evaluation considered, amongst other things, forms of added value generated by the programme, the role of project co-ordinators as brokers/relationship managers, and perspectives from venture capital organisations and private sector partners.
Tag: evaluation
Oct 20 2010
Carbon Connections evaluation
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=250
May 27 2010
Working Neighbourhoods Fund Evaluation Scoping
The Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF) was established by Communities and Local Government and the Department for Work and Pensions in 2008. It replaced the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and the DWP Deprived Areas Fund in allocating to 65 local authorities to help them and their partners tackle concentrations of worklessness.We were members of a team led by the Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, alongside Cambridge Econometrics and the University’s Centre for Housing and Planning Research.
The brief was to provide a baseline and interim evaluation consists of three parts: (a) a top line analysis of labour market conditions in WNF areas; (b) an early assessment of how strategies and approaches to tackle worklessness were being developed in WNF areas; and (c) recommendations for future evaluation of WNF. The research involved a literature review, an online survey of all WNF areas, and depth interviews in 20. Download the Report 
(2,286 KB).
A further output was an assessment of the feasibility of a national evaluation of Working Neighbourhoods Fund. Action on this was negated by the change of government in 2010.
Derrick Johnstone was subsequently asked by CLG as a Local Improvement Advisor to lead a review of progress being made on the implementation of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund in preparations for the 2010 Spending Review.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=245
May 27 2009
East of England Faiths Council evaluation
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=236
May 01 2009
Supporting Evidence for Local Delivery
Key Findings report from our evaluation of the ‘Supporting Evidence for Local Delivery’ programme, introduced by central government in 2005 to promote better use of data, research and evidence in neighbourhood renewal through the provision of technical assistance to Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and neighbourhood renewal partnerships. Published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG).
The research evaluated the quality and impact of four regional pilots and the programme as a whole, and researched analytical skills and skills gaps within partnerships in neighbourhood renewal-funded areas. The key findings emphasised strengthening skills and capacity at all levels, addressing needs within Local Area Agreements and responding to the challenge of the government’s review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration.
Further analysis from the SELD research subsequently featured in the CLG report, ‘Supporting Local Information and Research’, published in January 2009.
Project led by Educe with the Centre for Regional Economic Development (University of Cumbria), CENTRIS and Makesfive Ltd.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=117
Mar 31 2009
Flight of the Flamingos evaluation
The ‘Flight of the Flamingos’ was a training and development programme in Wolverhampton intended to help middle managers bring about change and strengthen partnership working, leading to improved delivery. It was piloted by the LSP’s Health and Well-Being Partnership between October 2006 and January 2007, with follow-ups run on worklessness and on private rented housing. We evaluated the programme on behalf of the Wolverhampton Partnership and the Government Office for the West Midlands.
The programme sought to develop participants’ understanding the service delivery system and their ability to influence within it, with expectations that it would lead to actions in pursuit of priority outcomes and service improvements, especially in making ‘seamless services’ a reality. Knowledge of systems thinking was built into programme design, eg, in:
- making imaginative use of group facilitation techniques to help address some of the common obstacles to effective partnership working, in particular the use of the ‘World Café’
- ensuring the commitment from senior members of the Health and Well Being Partnership, in promoting and engaging with the programme, underlining its importance as ‘champions’/ mentors for individual participants and involving, eg, the Council Leader, PCT Chief Executive and LSP Director in open exchange sessions during the programme
Benefits from the pilot included:
- a challenge to thinking about how services will need to be delivered in future
- new contacts, stronger relationships and greater mutual understanding
- better dialogue between organisations
- opportunities for voluntary organisations and the Library Service to be more central to service development
- application of new techniques to improve partnership processes and service planning
- reassurance for participants about their own strengths, skills and approach
Importantly, the programme has led to participants pursuing joint projects and bids, involving new configurations of partner involvement, such as in developing new primary care and community health facilities. We subsequently produced a case study (
150KB) for the IDeA Partnerships and Places Library, which updated ‘Flight of the Flamingos’, highlighting how the approach – subsequently run across all LSP theme partnerships – led to a more effective and efficient approach for the partnership in tackling the big issues for the city.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=191
Jun 08 2008
National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal evaluation
pdf 773KB) – project to clarify the scope and methodological options to evaluate progress, lessons and impact of the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal (for Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, ODPM) (project led by Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge). Educe inputs included developing content on ‘Characteristics of good strategy evaluation’ (including international best practice) and undertaking interviews with other government departments regarding their policy relationship and relevant data and research activities.Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=208