Professor Tony Chapman

Commissioned by North Yorkshire Forum for Voluntary Organisations in 2007 to undertake a quantitative study of the voluntary and community sector (VCS).

The aim of the research was to replicate aspects of an earlier study on the VCS in North Yorkshire and City of York in 2001 by Leeds Metropolitan University to assess the extent to which the shape and structure of the sector has changed over the last seven years. The findings from the survey, which involved over 400 organisations was published in 2008.

Professor Fred Robinson

PRG members completed a scoping study for a programme of University engagement in community regeneration and renewal in County Durham and Tees Valley. This work, which relates to an innovative development of the University’s approach to outreach activity, was carried out for the University, with support from One North East. Implementation of the Phoenix Programme is now underway and Fred Robinson serves as an advisor. Completed in 2007

Professor Tony Chapman

Tony Chapman chaired a study group and provided research support funded by Institute for Ageing and Health, Wolfson Research Centre, Newcastle General Hospital.

The demographic ageing task group was asked to examine the following issues: the evidence base on demographic ageing in the North East; provide key indicators on demographic change 2004-2029; explore the social, economic, cultural and political consequences of demographic ageing; and provide a summary report on implications of demographic ageing for public policy.

The report was published in 2007 and can be accessed here: Report of the Years Ahead Demographic Ageing Task Group November 2007

Professor Tony Chapman

Tony Chapman led an evaluation of UK Youth’s Youth Achievement Awards in 2007, funded by The Drinkaware Trust and JP Morgan Philanthropy.

Youth Achievement Awards were introduced nationally in 1997 and are an activity-based approach to peer education. The awards were designed to help develop more effective participative practice by encouraging young people to take more responsibility in selecting, planning and leading activities that are based on their interests.

The final report, Small Steps and Giant Leaps, emphasised the importance of recognising the value of non-conventional educational practices, especially for young people who had been marginalised or excluded from conventional education. Completed in 2006

Fred Robinson, Ian Stone, Paul Braidford and Gordon Allison

Members of the Policy Research Group advised and supported the Cabinet Office (Office of the Third Sector) on the establishment of a £10m Third Sector Research Centre, producing the scoping document underpinning the process and sitting on the ESRC Commissioning Panel.

This followed PRG’s 2006 study for the Treasury on the growth of successful social enterprises, which examined how such organisations overcome problems they faced at each stage of growth.

Their research demonstrated that pursuit of growth involves few compromises for organisations, in either their social or environmental aims.