Research for Change (R4C) #RTconf18 Martin McKee Researcher / R4C Programme Lead Social Value Lab Thursday 01 February 2018 Researching Together, Edinburgh

Format The Research for Change Programme: Overview and Progress Y Sort it: Buddy Up Peer Mentoring

Programme Overview The R4C Programme LCT and SVL partnership Establish and develop a model of quality-assured, participatory research (‘free’ at the point of delivery) 18 month pilot but budgeted for 3 years Organisations supported to identify and develop well-defined, small-scale research projects Aspiring researchers with limited practical experience engage in short-term paid placements with third sector organisations that support CEYP or those Affected by Dementia Successful candidates supported to conduct data-gathering fieldwork to evaluate the social impact or service requirements of organisations

Features & Benefits Win, win, win! For organisations: access to much needed research skills and capacity, help to gather outcomes-focused evidence, extend influence, and improve or sustain their work. Small-scale, short-term research projects or targeted evidence-gathering For researchers: opportunity to gain (paid) research experience, build understanding of the lived experience of people affected by dementia and care experienced young people, make new connections and help build a long-term career For the Life Changes Trust: pioneer an innovative model of research that aligns with their funding remit: builds research capacity and knowledge among organisations in their network; learning and insight; funded activity should have the most sustainable and most positive impact

The Numbers Over 3 years (2017-2020): 1 main funder (LCT) 1 research partner / co-funder (SVL) 60 research projects 50 organisations (CEYP / People Affected by Dementia) 40 researchers

Programme Mechanics How will it work in practice? Expectation LCT informs organisations about opportunities R4C co-ordinator is introduced Conversations to determine support needs and define potential ideas Project support finalised / agreed Researcher matched from pool / sourced from networks (geography) Researcher is briefed, inducted and introduced to the organisation Supported by Co-ordinator, Researcher guided to prepare research materials, co-produced with organisation! (signposting) Researcher conducts the project and writes a summary report of findings Researcher and organisation submit an evaluation Annual Learning Report Expectation Management

Programme Documentation Minimising the burden Organisations progressively squeezed, most now expected to do the same work, offer the same service(s), produce the same or improved results, working with less! (time and capacity) Short forms: Programme Description: overview of the Programme (2 pages) Placement Specification: context and placement information (4 pages) Candidate Application: skills, experience and motivation (3 pages) Placement Agreement: conditions of placement (3 pages) Payment Request: payment and expenses (1 page) Report Template: basic structure and guidance (5 pages) Monitoring & Evaluation: online questionnaire (in development)

The Role Brokering, co-ordination, management, mentoring Effective support, quality control, communication and relationship building are central to the approach Organisations: typically contact via introductions from LCT Researchers: speculative approaches but also via research networks, institutions and relevant departments, careers services etc. Develop a research pool – very fluid Life Changes Trust: maintain a positive relationship with LCT and keep the lines of communication open, regular updates, good project management principles to account for drift or bottle-necks etc Unexpected benefits emerging already: Opportunity for shared learning/knowledge exchange by putting organisations in touch with each other

Currently … 19 researchers and working / in discussions with 7 organisations … Dementia focus Organisation – Impact of an activity programme Organisation / Organisation – Online survey of workshop venues (possible supplementary work) Organisation / Sub-Organisation – Initial conversations Organisation – Initial conversations CEYP focus Y Sort It – Interviews with CEYP peer mentors Organisation / Local Authority – Finalising next week from a few initial options Organisation / Local Authority – Paused

Resources (increasingly squeezed) It doesn't matter how many 'resources' you have Unless they are used most effectively, it will never be enough

Research for Change (R4C) #RTconf18 Gillian Kirkwood Y Sort It, Manager Lyndsey Coleman Y Sort It, Buddy Up Co-Ordinator

Y Sort It Background – about us Support young people 8 – 25 years West Dunbartonshire wide Youth Management Board (Directors) Support over 400 young people a year

Services & Activities What we do Young Carers Service Wrecked & Wasted Substance Misuse Initiative intandem Mentoring Service CreActive Youth Clubs Buddy Up Peer Mentoring

Buddy Up Peer Mentoring Mentees 14 – 26 years A young person who is in care (looked after at home, looked after and accommodated, foster care and kinship care) Mentors 18 – 30 years Care experienced or an understanding of issues faced by those in care

Measuring the Impact Outcomes Collecting Data Opportunity to try new things and experiences CEYP able to spend time with another young person with a shared experience Being able to speak to someone who is non-judgemental, impartial Reliable, positive relationship with someone Collecting Data Information from Mentees Discussions with YP Wellbeing Webs Outcomes and Evaluation Forms

So Far… Experience of Research for Change Responsive Light on admin Efficient, productive and focussed Useful and meaningful for all involved

Going Forward Aims and expectations Small scale research Establishes a manageable framework to systematically collect and record Informing practice and service development Evidencing impact for funding Sharing findings with strategic partners Possibly a later project with stakeholders

THANK YOU! Martin McKee Gillian Kirkwood / Lyndsey Coleman Researcher and Programme Lead (R4C) Manager / Buddy Up Co-ordinator Social Value Lab Y Sort It martin@socialvaluelab.org.uk gillian@ysortit.com / lyndsey@ysortit.com 0141 530 1479 0141 941 3308 @Research4Change @ysortit