Children, young people and families
Qualitative research with Flying Start families
(Welsh Government, 2015-18)
Flying Start provides a programme of targeted support services (including enhanced health visiting and parenting support) to children and families in the most deprived areas of Wales in order to make a decisive difference to the lives of children in the areas in which it is delivered. Arad undertook longitudinal, qualitative research over three years to gather the views of families who access these services, gathering evidence on their engagement with the services and the impact of the services on the family’s well-being.
Development of a Youth Engagement and Progression Strategy
(Cardiff Council, 2016)
Arad provided Cardiff Council with an audit and action plan on youth engagement and the progression of young people in education, training and employment. The work included an audit of youth engagement, a workshop with relevant Council departments and organisations to understand activity and the provision of an action plan making recommendations on the development of the Council’s youth offer.
Formative Evaluation of the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework
(Welsh Government, 2014-15)
Arad, in partnership with ICF, was commissioned to undertake a formative evaluation of the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework. The evaluation included detailed research on the progress made in implementing the framework across local authorities in Wales. Interviews with stakeholders were undertaken in all local authorities in Wales as well as interviews with policy leads and national stakeholders such as the Welsh Government and Job Centre Plus. A review of secondary data was also undertaken as part of the process of developing an evaluation framework for a future impact evaluation of the YEPF.
Evaluation of the Fast Track to Skills project
(Gwynedd Communities First Network, 2014-15)
Arad undertook an evaluation of the Fast Track to skills project. This, three-year Big Lottery-funded project aimed to support young people NEET and at risk of becoming NEET through providing them with opportunities to access short, accredited courses as well as ongoing mentoring support. The evaluation included fieldwork with young people, delivery staff, mentors and referral agencies in Gwynedd as well as a value for money assessment.
Evaluation of Llwyddo’n Lleol
(Gwynedd Council, 2012-15)
Arad evaluated the Llwyddo’n Lleol ESF-funded project across four local authorities in north west Wales – Gwynedd, Ynys Môn, Conwy and Denbighshire. Llwyddo’n Lleol involves a series of innovative activities relating to enterprise aimed at 11—19 year olds in different settings. Llwyddo’n Lleol was designed to develop the skills and confidence of young people; foster a culture of enterprise among young people; and to restore their confidence in the opportunities available to them to live and work in their own communities. The evaluation methodology included a survey of 3,000 participants in workshops delivered as part of the programme.
Evaluation of the Welsh-medium Education Strategy
(Welsh Government, 2012-15)
The evaluation examined the effectiveness and impact of the processes put in place by the Welsh Government and its partners to ensure the delivery of the Strategy’s aims. The evaluation also considered the extent to which the Strategy had realised the outcomes as noted in the evaluation framework. As well as an overall evaluation of the Strategy, the research included a review of educational resources; an evaluation of the Bilingual Champions project; an evaluation of the Sabbaticals Scheme for practitioners; an evaluation of the impact of the Learning and Skills Measure and an evaluation of Welsh second language provision.