Research

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

2011

• 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. For supporting research papers please contact Emma Scowcroft, Policy Manager.

2010

• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Sure Start Children's Centres Evaluation Interim Report (2010)
  Interim findings of King's College London's evaluation of Action for Children's Sure Start Children's Centres and the impact they have on outcomes for children. You can also view the briefing here.
  
  
• 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.