UK Youth commissions major research project with Social Futures Institute
Leading youth work charity UK Youth has commissioned the Social Futures Institute at Teesside University to undertake a significant evaluation into the impact of the Youth Achievement Award methodology on the lives of young people.
Dr Tony Chapman, institute Director, will lead on the project which will focus on qualitative research in YAA Centres over 4-5 months commencing in January 2008. The Institute’s work on young people, led by Professor Robert MacDonald, is internationally recognised for its research on the life transitions of young people from deprived communities.
Qualitative work will explore young people’s experience of the YAA intervention and assess changing attitudes across a range of indicators including employment and further study, alcohol and drug use, criminality, family life and personal relationships amongst others.
“We have much anecdotal evidence to support our contention that this approach assists young people to make successful transitions and we looking forward to being able to demonstrate this via the research.” – John Bateman OBE, UK Youth
Over 20,000 young people participate in the Youth Achievement Award programme each year. The YAA is an accredited, non-formal education programme which aims to help young people develop their social and personal skills, and build resilience and confidence. The YAA links to Key Skills and Wider Key Skills acquisition, as well as other accreditations such as COPE (Certificate of Personal Effectiveness).
The programme development is supported by several key funders, corporate supporters and employers. It has been taken up by hundreds of youth groups, projects, schools and other organisations such as the Red Cross, YMCA England, The Children’s Society, Crime Concern, Rainer and NACRO. The YAA has been recognised by government and a wide range of organisations as being a successful way of engaging young people in positive, structured activities. It has been cited as a case study in a recent DCSF/HM Treasury report. The YAA has been chosen by the national youth volunteering body, V, as the key method of accrediting young people’s volunteering.
“Taking part in the Youth Achievement Awards, developing my skills, made me feel like I really had something to offer.” – Alom, YAA participant
UK Youth is delighted to have the involvement of the Drinkaware Trust and JPMorgan, a longstanding corporate supporter for the charity, in financing this independent research project.
“It gives us a great deal of satisfaction to know that we are not only investing in young people’s success but also in the communities of some of the UK’s most deprived areas.” – Duncan Grant, JPMorgan
SOCIAL FUTURES INSTITUTE
Small steps and giant leaps: an evaluation of UK Youth’s Youth Achievement Award
Dr Peter van der Graaf - Professor Tony Chapman - Emma Bailey - Catherine Iles
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