Other Research

This section features reports from work we have collaborated on with other funders, or supported through our grants programmes. Reports are shown in order of publication, with the most recent first.

 

Dementia: A North East Perspective, July 2011

Debbie Smith  has produced a report for the Foundation, outlining the state of dementia care in the North East, as of May 2011. The report provides an overview of the work that is being undertaken to support people with dementia and their carers by statutory, voluntary and education sectors. It highlights progress made and gaps in service development and provision; setting this work against the English policy context and the views and experiences of people with dementia and their carers.  The Foundation has worked with Debbie to produce a second ‘Think’ report, which makes some suggestions about what could usefully be done to take forward this area of work in the North East.

We have also included links to two documents that we have referenced extensively. The documents by Michael Jackson provide demographic and service profiles for dementia in the North East. These and other useful documents about dementia in the North East can be downloaded from Public Health Intelligence North East’s website, under the Social Care North East group at: www.phine.org.uk

 

Grantee Perception Report, July 2011

To help us to be more responsive in supporting the organisations we fund, Northern Rock Foundation commissioned the Center for Effective Philanthropy to carry out an independent ‘Grantee Perception Study’ on our behalf. The research, based on an approach tested with more than 250 Trusts and Foundations in the US and UK gave our organisations an opportunity to feed back on how effective our support was and what impact it had on their work. The report summarises how we compared with other funders and makes recommendations for the future.

 

Making an Impact: Measuring and encouraging the progress of individuals in voluntary sector youth projects, July 2010

Dr Kerry Young
Harrington Young

This is a summary of research carried out by Dr Kerry Young of Harrington Young to explore systems for measuring the progress of young people involved in youth projects in the North East and Cumbria. The research was commissioned and funded by Northern Rock Foundation. At the centre of the research was the need to ensure that young people are at the heart of the process of celebrating their achievements.

The research was supported by a steering group drawn from the youth work sector in the North East and Cumbria.

 

An evaluation of a community co-operative for people with learning disabilities in the East End of Newcastle upon Tyne, June 2010

KeyRing set up a project to test a new model of supporting people with learning disabilities in the East End of Newcastle upon Tyne, funded by Northern Rock Foundation and Newcastle Learning Disabilities Partnership Board. The Co-operative piloted some new and innovative ways of working. Unfortunately the Co-operative’s financial model did not work and in July 2009 it closed. This evaluation was funded by the Foundation and was carried out by Housing & Support Partnership. The evaluation seeks to learn lessons from the practice, development and the eventual closure of the Co-operative.

 

Exploring household resilience in Teesside, January 2010

In partnership with a number of other funders The Foundation contributed to a study by The Young Foundation, Sinking and Swimming: understanding Britain’s unmet needs.

As part of this work The Young Foundation undertook a case study: Exploring household resilience in Teesside. To read the case study follow the link below.

 

New migrant communities in North East England and Cumbria, January 2008

A report of a policy seminar held in November 2007 to inform the Foundation’s current and future work, and to facilitate discussion and the exchange of knowledge and ideas.

 

The value and independence of the voluntary and community sector, July 2007

Barrow Cadbury Trust has published research on the independence of the voluntary sector, jointly commissioned with Northern Rock Foundation, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, City Parochial Foundation, Carnegie UK Trust, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The research, by Barry Knight and Sue Robson of CENTRIS, describes the distinctive values of the voluntary and community sector and assesses whether the Government’s service delivery agenda has affected the sector’s independence.

 

The Mental Health Needs of Young People Who Offend, January 2007

The Derwent Initiative has published research, funded by Northern Rock Foundation, and led by Eric Wade of The Open University, that aims to provide a clear picture of needs, priorities and gaps in current arrangements for meeting the mental health and learning disability needs of young offenders.

 

Foundations for organisational development, January 2007

Northern Rock Foundation and the Baring Foundation funded this research by Margaret Bolton and Meg Abdy into how funders are supporting organisational development.