Research

Our research allows us to influence public policy and understand the crucial issues facing the most vulnerable and neglected children and young people in the UK.

2013

• Early intervention: decision-making in local authority Children’s Services
  Action for Children commissioned the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) to undertake a study exploring local authority decision making in regards to early intervention. The research found that local authorities are finding it difficult to work towards long-term visions while meeting day-to-day needs, that strategic plans for children’s services typically cover 3-5 year periods yet delivery contracts have to be managed on a much shorter-term basis and the potential to deliver long-term benefits, are limited by short-term funding cycles and national initiatives.

• Roots of Empathy
  An independent evaluation of the classroom based, social and emotional programme, Roots of Empathy, commissioned by Action for Children and carried out by North Lanarkshire Psychological Service. The evaluation found that Roots of Empathy raises levels of empathy amongst pupils, resulting in more respectful relationships and a reduction in problem behaviour in the classroom.
  
  Read the executive summary
  Read the full report

• The state of child neglect in the UK
  An annual review by Action for Children in partnership with the University of Stirling. The research found that neglected children are not getting the early help they need and that everyone, professionals and the general public, can do something to help.
  
  Read the summary and recommendations.

2012

• Evaluation of Supported Training Programmes - Year 3 Report
  In 2009, ekosgen, an independent research and evaluation consultancy, was commissioned to undertake a three year evaluation of our Supported Training Programmes. The first and second years of the evaluation focused exclusively on the Youthbuild project, while the third year has looked at four different projects: Challenge Scotland, Transition Care Leavers, Action Training, and Employability.
  
  See also the Year 1 and Year 2 reports.

• The costs of short break services: understanding the contracting and commissioning process
  This research was commissioned by Action for Children and carried out by the Centre for Child and Family Research, Loughborough University. The aim of the research was to explore the costs of short break services for disabled children and their families. The study also sought to understand the contracting and commissioning process, including the factors that inform decision making processes and the management of budgets.
  
  Please email Emma Scowcroft, Policy Manager for more information.

• The Red Book 2012
  Now into its second year, The Red Book 2012 looks at the impact of the spending changes over the past year and highlights ways in which far more could be achieved for the funding available.
  
  Read the executive summary
  
  
• Review of Child Neglect Final Report
  This project, funded by the Scottish Government and undertaken in
  partnership with the University of Scotland, addresses how many children are currently experiencing neglect in Scotland, how good we are at recognising children who are at risk of, or are experiencing neglect and how well we are helping children at risk of, or currently experiencing neglect.

• In the Eye of the Storm: Britain's Forgotten Children and Families
  This new report conducted by Landman Economics, on behalf of Action for Children, the Children's Society and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) shows how vulnerable families and their children are being most heavily affected by spending cuts and changes to the tax and benefits system. It highlights the need to protect children from the impact of austerity measures and start a national debate on the needs of children.

Read the executive summary
Read the methodological briefing note

• Evaluation of the impact and value of volunteers in Action for Children children's centres
  National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Office of Public Management (OPM) evaluation of the impact and value of volunteers in Action for Children children's centres. It includes economic analysis and key messages to maximise the benefits of volunteering for all involved.
  
  Read the executive summary

• Evaluation of the Action for Children UK Neglect Project
  A four-year (2008-2012) evaluation by the University of Salford of the Action for Children UK Neglect Project which looks at the impact of interventions to improve outcomes for children.
  
  Read the executive summary
  

• Child Neglect Review 2011
  

  Child neglect in 2011 is a review by Action for Children in partnership with the University of Stirling. It enables us to fill in the gaps that presently exist about the situation for, and response to, neglected children across the UK and creates a picture of the current situation. While an understanding of neglect and the terrible consequences it can have is growing, we must accept that most social workers feel "powerless" to intervene and that local authorities are not recording the prevalence of neglect outside of data required for child protection plans. Our aim now is to stimulate a debate on the recording and tackling of neglect, with specific emphasis on early intervention.
  
  2011

• Evaluation of Supported Employment Programmes - Year 2 Report
  In July 2009 Action for Children commissioned GEN to carry out a three year
  process and outcomes evaluation of Youthbuild Supported Employment Programmes operating in Scotland. This is the second report in the evaluation and covers research undertaken between August 2010 and August 2011 relating to Youthbuild programme and to Action for Children's overall approach towards preparing young people not in education, employment or training (NEET/ MCMC in Scotland) for work.

• Action for Children's Red Book
  We set out to understand whether the coalition Government has been able to protect the most vulnerable during this time of unprecedented public spending cuts, radical reform of the welfare state and public service delivery,  and a changing relationship between the individual and the state. The Action for Children Red Book is an in-depth analysis of our services which support nearly 80,000 of the most vulnerable children, young people and families in the UK. We have done this through the eyes of the front-line professionals who work directly with them every day.
  

• Evaluation of the Impact of Action for Children Short break Services on Outcomes for Children - Final Report
  This report examines the findings of a study commissioned by Action for Children to explore the impact that their short break services have on disabled children and their families.
  Click to read research brief
• The economic and social return of Action for Children's Family Intervention Project, Northamptonshire
  This report evaluates the social return created by Northamptonshire Family Intervention Project (FIP) activities. Northamptonshire FIP currently work with 29 of Northamptonshire's most vulnerable families (73 children) for an average of 40 hours a month. These families face multiple issues including; drug and alcohol abuse; anti-social behaviour; domestic violence; being at risk of losing their home; and children at risk of being taken in to care. The FIP team provide intensive, targeted support to the whole family to treat the causes and effects of these issues.
• Evaluation of the Action for Children Supported Housing, Supported Tenancy and Teenage Pregnancy Floating Support Services
  Action for Children had been commissioned by Supporting People in Rochdale to deliver three key services; Supported Housing, Pre-Tenancy Support and Teenage Pregnancy Floating Support to young women who were pregnant and to young parents who had been referred to the service. The evaluation was undertaken to establish the difference that these services had made to the lives and outcomes for young women & their families, including factors that enabled or hindered effective communication and multi-agency working between Action for Children & other community-based services. 
  Click to read executive summary
• Effective relationships with vulnerable parents to improve outcomes for children and young people: final study report
  We know human relationships are core to the delivery of effective services, no matter how programmes and funding may change. We also know that developing effective professional relationships makes a real difference to outcomes for the most vulnerable and neglected children and young people. So we commissioned York Consulting to undertake research to articulate how we develop effective relationships with vulnerable parents, and exactly how these relationships make a difference for the children and young people we support. This is the concluding part of their research: the final study report.
• Children's centres in 2011
  An independent evaluation by King's College London of the impact that Action for Children children's centres have on outcomes for children and how Action for Children achieves this through its service delivery style.
  For executive summary please click here
  For Action for Children briefing please click here
  
• Children and the Big Society (2011)
  A report which examines what the Government must do to ensure the Big Society agenda really means something to the most deprived and neglected in children, young people and families. For the executive summary please click here
  
• Impact Report (2011)
  Research findings from several studies on the difference Action for Children services make to the lives and life chances of the most vulnerable and neglected children and young people across the UK
• Intensive family support report (2011)
  A paper which brings together the Action for Children evidence base on intensive family support services.
  
• HM Prison Service Styal mother and baby unit - an appreciative enquiry (2011)
  An appreciative enquiry to identify and develop good practice in mother and baby units in prison, based on an Action for Children service in Styal. For an Action for Children briefing please click here.
  
• Working outside the box (2011)
  A summary report of the evaluation of short breaks and intensive support services to families and disabled young people whose behaviour is severely challenging. Click here to see the Working Outside the Box Information Sheet. 
  Click here to read an accompanying article in the Journal of Intellectual Disabilites
  For supporting research papers please contact Emma Scowcroft, Policy Manager.
  Perceptions of effective support services for families - Journal article 

2010

• Youth Build Year One Report (2010)
  First year findings of the evluation of supported employment programmes
• Holding the Space and its links to Social Pedagogy (2010)
  A report which examines the congruence between the Holding the Space model and Social Pedagogy.
• 'Black' families for 'black' children? An Evaluation of Action for Children's Practice in Ethnically Matching Black, Asian and Dual Heritage Children for Adoption - Executive summary (2010)
  Final report of the University of Central Lancashire's evaluation of Action for Children's practice in ethnic matching in adoption. You can also view the full report here
• Action for Children Short Breaks Interim Report (2010)
  Interim findings of the evaluation of the impact of Action for Children Short Break Services on outcomes for children.
• Seen and Now Heard - Child Neglect report (2010)
  Large scale poll of over 3,000 children aged eight to 12 years which lifts the lid on the prevalence of child neglect across the country.
• Child neglect frontline report (2010)
  In this report, Action for Children presents evidence on the damaging effects of neglect and the challenges of dealing with the issue as told by the professionals on the frontline.
• Deprivation and Risk the Case for Early Intervention (2010)
  Research about the direct impact of deprivation on the lives of children and their families and the importance of intervening as early as we can.
• Children's centres in 2011 Interim Report
  Interim findings of King's College London's evaluation of Action for Children's children's centres and the impact they have on outcomes for children.
  For Action for Children briefing please click here
  
• Safe and Secure Network: Final Report (2010)
  

  An outcomes evaluation which forms part of a multi-component evaluation of the work of a UK network of eight intervention projects for children and young people who have experienced the trauma of sexual abuse.

• The Social and Economic Value of Short Breaks (2010)
  Research commissioned by Action for Children and the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign. You can find our recommendations in our briefing on the social and economic value of short breaks here.

• Action for Children's Impact Report (2010)
  This report brings together information known about Action for Children services in order to demonstrate the impact of those services on the lives and life chances of children and young people who receive our support.
• Evaluation of UK Neglect Intervention Project - Year 2 Interim Progress Report (2010)
  This evaluation focuses on gathering detailed evidence on the circumstances in which families are referred for intervention to Action for Children, and the wide-ranging assessment of family needs and problems; the interventions applied; and the long-term outcomes for children.
• Safe and Secure Network: Summary Findings (2010)
  This report brings together information known about Action for Children services in order to demonstrate the impact of those services on the lives and life chances of children and young people who receive our support.

2009

• A Meta-Review of Interventions to Support Children and their Families in the Aftermath of Child Sexual Abuse (2009)
  This meta-review gives an overview of the results of research reviews that have evaluated and summarised the effectiveness of interventions offered to children and families affected by sexual abuse. It forms one part of an evaluation being conducted by Canterbury Christ Church University in partnership with a UK network of Action for Children projects which focus on child sexual abuse.
• Safe and Secure Briefing (2009)
  Research update September 2009: Finding new ways to support children and young people who have suffered the trauma of sexual abuse.
• Child Sexual Abuse in the Eastern Caribbean (2009)
  The report of a study carried out across the Eastern Caribbean from October 2008 to June 2009
• Kidulthood: Life as a Pre-Teen in the UK Today (2009)
  By Sonia Sodha as part of the DEMOS Capabilities Programme which focuses on the skills and traits people need to lead a fulfilled and autonomous life and how families, communities and schools can support children and young people in developing them.
• Neglect: Research Evidence to Inform Practice (2009)
  New research into child neglect from Action for Children consultancy services
• Backing the Future: Why Investing in Children is Good for us all
  This research report from nef (the new economics foundation) provides the economic and social case for transforming the way we invest in the future of society through our children. Find out more here
• Holding the Space Research Overview Presentation (2009)
  An evaluation by Canterbury Christ Church University of Action for Children's network of projects to support children and families who have experienced sexual abuse
• Holding the Space Presentation - Outcomes to Date (2009)
  Issues in the measurement of outcomes in evaluating interventions for families recovering from child sexual abuse
• Safe and Secure Project Presentation by Canterbury Christchurch University (2009)
  Presentation by researchers looking at what works in sexual abuse treatment in Action for Children's (CSA) child sexual abuse projects, with a focus on the ethical issues associated with this study.
• Evaluation of Action for Children's Renfrewshire Primary Support Project (2009)
  Research by the Criminal Justice Social Work Development Centre for Scotland and University of Edinburgh looking at the outcomes of intervention by the Action for Children Renfrewshire Primary Support project.
• External Evaluation of Norfolk Children's Centres (2009)
  RMRA and the University of East Anglia found that children's centres managed by Action for Children provide well-targeted and appropriate support to children and their families.
• Evaluation of Action for Children's Pinnacle Project (2009)
  The University of Salford undertook a comprehensive evaluation of the first two years of the working of the Pinnacle project.
• Chance for Change Evaluation (2009)
  The executive summary of an evaluation of our Chance for Change service which is targeted at 7- to 11-year-olds who are experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• Summary: Moving into Maturity: An Evaluative Review of the Action for Children Multi-disciplinary Intervention Service Torfaen Programme (2009)
  A review of our 'wraparound' therapeutic project established in 2004. Read the full report here.
• Summary: Evaluating the Delivery by Action for Children of Targeted Family Support (2009)
  Research by Synergy Research & Consulting that evaluates our targeted family support services. Read the full report here.

2008

• Hear Our Voice! Young People's Views of Policy Priorities for The Scottish Parliament (2008), Young Scot
  This report outlines the main conclusions of the Hear our voice! survey, which focused on what young people consider should be the key policy priorities for the Scottish Parliament. The survey was run by Young Scot and Action for Children Scotland in partnership with Dundee City Council, East Ayrshire Council, Highland Council and Kathleen Marshall, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People.
• 'As Long as it Takes- A New Politics for Children' (2008)
  Our report examines 21 years of policy affecting vulnerable children and young people in the UK.
• Growing Strong - Attitudes to Building Resilience in the Early Years (2008)

  This report, prepared for us by Brand Democracy, investigates what we already know and have learnt about building resilience in early years and uses this to explore the attitudes of parents to the issue of their children's emotional wellbeing. Based on the learning from focus groups run in London, Manchester and Liverpool, the report makes a number of policy recommendations that apply to central and local government, service providers, media and parents.
• Evaluation of Person Centred Planning Pilot (2008)
  Evaluation of the Person Centred Plan pilot at Action for Children's Monskfield project.
• Independent Evaluation of the Kingfishers Project (2008)
  Evaluation of an Action for Children project which provides supported housing and independence training for young adults with learning disabilities.

2007

• Get Happy: Children and Young People's Emotional Wellbeing (2007)

  This report, prepared for us by researchers from the Institute of Public Policy Research (ippr), is the first in a number of research projects we have commissioned around the theme of emotional wellbeing. The research demonstrates the link between emotional wellbeing and social mobility, noting the growing significance of emotional wellbeing in determining life chances and the need to address these issues through proven services.
• Literature Review: The Emotional Harm and Wellbeing of Children (2007)

  This reviews looks at what emotional wellbeing is and the implications for the provision of services to improve outcomes for children and young people.
• Literature review: Resilience in Children in Young People (2007)

  This reviews looks at what resilience is and the implications for the provision of services to improve outcomes for children and young people.
• Going Hungry: the Struggle to Eat Healthily on a Low Income (2004)

  Our research report analysing children's diets.
• 'School let me Down': Overcoming Barriers to Educational Achievement (2003)
  A survey of young people using our services about their experiences of education.
• 'The End of my Tether' (2003)
  Our study identifying a lack of support for families struggling to cope with teenagers. It includes interviews with parents, young people and staff.