If you attended the 2014 LARIA conference you might have been at the workshop session run by Tracey Robbins (Joseph Rowntree Foundation) and Angela Browne (Qa Research) on neighbourhood approaches to loneliness. This guest blog from Tracey Robbins marks the publication of the programme evaluation findings today.

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A grass roots approach can make a massive difference to local people experiencing, or at risk of, loneliness, says Julie Wrigley of Qa Research.

My colleagues and I have spent a lot of time over the past two years talking and thinking about loneliness. We found that a grass roots approach really can make a massive difference to local people experiencing, or at risk of, loneliness.

JRF and JRHT’s three-year action research programme, Neighbourhood approaches to loneliness, explored ways of reducing loneliness. It aimed to get people to talk about loneliness, what caused this, and what solutions they might identify and implement. The programme took a participatory approach, engaging community researchers in four varying neighbourhoods in York and Bradford.

While researching our independent evaluation of the programme, it was clear that loneliness touches people of all ages and backgrounds and so many were inspired to join in with the programme – whether by adding their thoughts and comments to researchers, or by becoming community researchers themselves. The programme was able to attract many people who may not usually feel confident to volunteer.

The community researchers have relished the opportunity to make a difference in their communities. They have felt proud and inspired. What’s more, several have made tangible achievements, by starting new training, going to university or getting a new job. Confidence levels, enthusiasm and self-reliance have soared through the roof. Many of the residents are now running preventative ‘loneliness solutions’ in their own communities – playgroups, pop-up cafes, walking groups and cultural markets.

Even the professionals who were involved report that they now have more insight into the effects of loneliness. They say they have changed behaviour in their personal lives to match.

The programme set out to discover whether a neighbourhood approach to loneliness could bring about meaningful change. It adapted to run differently in each of the four areas and there have been benefits for individuals and the wider community in each.

With 7,667 individual comments from almost 2,000 local people there is no shortage of powerful, often highly personal, messages emerging through the programme.

“Busy people can be lonely too.”

This quote came from a young man in an independent supported living scheme. His paid carer suggested that he was not lonely as he went out most days to activities. He said: “But busy people can be lonely too.”

As the programme manager, Tracey Robbins, said: “This hit home hard, not just for those being supported by paid carers but for us all ‘too busy’ to seek out the relationships we want or to look after those we have.”

“Home can be a lonely place.”

Another sad and startling quote that came out from the research.

“I am sure we all know someone, regardless of age, experiencing loneliness or at risk of becoming lonely,” says Tracey. “I am also sure we all can do something to reduce loneliness – our own or another’s.”

Read more about Neighbourhood approaches to loneliness and download our free resource pack.

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Tracey Robbins is the programme manager at JRF. Angela Browne and Julie Wrigley from Qa Research led on the programme evaluation.

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This year’s conference celebrated LARIA’s 40th year, and despite the challenges we undoubtedly face as local researchers there was a strong sense that we have an important role to play in the future of public services.

Highlights for me included the rousing keynote from LARIA’s Honorary President Martin Reeves (we need to focus!), a powerful piece on the problems with outcomes-based performance management from Toby Lowe, and hearing from East Riding of Yorkshire about their qualitative research with leisure centre users. Plus two great workshops – one on ethnography, another exploring the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s action research on neighbourhood approaches to loneliness. Alongside hearing from others, I also had the opportunity to share the Kirklees experience of It’s Time to Talk – a new conversation with communities. And as is often the case, I got as much out of some of the informal connections and conversations as I did from the main sessions.

So as I left a sunny University of Warwick my mind was, as it should be after any good conference, buzzing!

What did you think of LARIA 2014? If you attended you can also take part in the feedback survey

Alison Monkhouse, Corporate Research & Consultation Manager (Kirklees Council) and LARIA Regional Co-Ordinator for Yorkshire & the Humber

Photo: Gerallt Evans-Hughes

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Lancs CC and Lancs Constabulary: Winners of Best use of local area research

Lancashire County Council: Winner of Best use of health research

Manchester City Council: Winner of Best use of public data

Heather Walmsley, Lancs CC: Winner of New researcher of the year

Linda Frost, Manchester City Council (LARIA NW Region): Winner of Volunteer of the year

 Photos: Gerallt Evans Hughes and Linda Frost

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A: Best use of local area research – Sponsored by Opinion Research Services (ORS)

To win this award the successful entrant will show how their research has led to a greater understanding of a local area or an issue that is locally important. This could be based on primary or secondary data analysis. Not only that, but they must also show that this has led to evidence-based decision-making within at least one public sector body. Judges will be looking for submissions that show a well argued methodology, clear reporting of the findings and impact. Ideally the winner will also show strong partnership working, citizen/user involvement/engagement, innovation, and the outcomes that have been achieved locally. In alphabetical order the shortlist is:

• WINNER: Lancashire County Council & Lancashire Constabulary: Improving vehicle security in Lancashire – the anti-theft screw operation
• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Staffordshire County Council (Insight Team): Completing families – finding homes for Staffordshire’s vulnerable children
• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Lambeth Council: Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme 2011-14
• SHORTLISTED: Luton Borough Council: Using waste reduction objectives to improve health and well-being outcomes
• SHORTLISTED: Staffordshire County Council (Insight Team): Special Educational Needs: Analysis & Action

B: Best use of health research – Sponsored by HeRC (Health eResearch Centre)

To win this award the successful entrant will show how their research has led to a greater understanding of a health issue. This could be based on primary or secondary data analysis. Not only that, but they must also show that this has led to evidence-based decision-making within the health sector. Judges will be looking for submissions that show a well argued methodology, clear reporting of the findings and impact. Ideally the winner will also show strong partnership working, citizen/user involvement/engagement, innovation, and the outcomes that have been achieved locally.

The judges decided that there was only one organisation that would be shortlisted and that the entry was very strong. Therefore we are pleased to announce that the winner of this award is:

• WINNER: Lancashire County Council: Long-term conditions in Lancashire: a joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA)

C: Best community engagement/consultation – Sponsored by the LGA (Local Government Association)

To win this award the successful entrant will show how they have successfully engaged with a local community. Not only that, but they must also show that this has led to evidence-based decision-making within at least one public sector body. Judges will be looking for submissions that show a well argued and engaging methodology, clear reporting of the findings and impact. The entry could include a range of techniques, such as public opinion or employee surveys, but they must be shown to have engaged a local community. Ideally the winner will also show strong partnership working, citizen/user involvement/engagement, innovation, and the outcomes that have been achieved locally.

• WINNER: Lambeth Council:  Neighbourhood Enhancement Programme
• SHORTLISTED: Kirklees Council: “The Kirklees Budget Challenge (Sept – Oct 2013) (Phase 2 of our ‘It’s Time to Talk’ Activity)”
• SHORTLISTED: Lancashire County Council: Reducing young peoples’ alcohol and tobacco use in Lancashire by focusing interventions

D: Best use of public data

To win this award the successful entrant will show how they have used secondary analysis of publically available data to lead to a greater understanding of a local area, community or health issue. This could include official statistics such as census, health, economy, labour market or any other publically available datasets such as public opinion, transparency or financial data. Not only that but they must also show that this has led to evidence-based decision-making within the public sector. Judges will be looking for submissions that show a well argued methodology, clear reporting of the findings and data visualisation and real impact. Ideally the winner will also show strong partnership working, citizen/user involvement/engagement, innovation and the outcomes that have been achieved locally.

• WINNER: Manchester City Council: Integrated Data and Network Analysis
• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Cancer Research UK: Using local level data to influence politics, policy and service configuration – How CRUK placed publicly available data in the heart of Parliament
• SHORTLISTED: Lancashire County Council: The Census 2011: using it to shape Lancashire’s intelligence

E: New Researcher of the Year

This award is given to a researcher with under three years of employment in a research field who has made an impact. This could be a person of any age. The entry could be based on a particular project they have led, an innovation they have pioneered or a particularly strong skill set. Their career to date should show a researcher who is able to conduct research that provides insightful analysis, promotes citizen/user involvement/engagement, presents information well, and helps develop evidence-based decision-making in the public sector.

• WINNER: Heather Walmsley, Lancashire County Council

F: Volunteer of the Year

This award is in the gift of the LARIA Council and recognises the work of a volunteer who has progressed the work of LARIA but does not sit on the LARIA Council. The winner this year has contributed throughout the year in terms of local networking events in the North West, promoting greater links with partnership organisations and supporting the 2013 LARIA Conference.

• WINNER: Linda Frost, Manchester City Council

Photo credit: Impact by Nick Southall

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This includes the upcoming LARIA Conference (13th/14th May 2014) and to recognise this we have extended our early bird discount off conference bookings to Thursday 17th April (just before Easter). Book your place now as they are going fast! A place is worth 12 hours accreditation.

The new MRS CPD programme provides all MRS members a framework to demonstrate their achievements, gain recognition for their professionalism and take control planning their careers. We would encourage all LARIA members to consider the wide range of CPD activities that the MRS and other accredited organisations provide.

LARIA itself has developed the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for local researchers, which is incorporated into our conference programme and we will be developing further this year. We are looking to ensure that all local researchers, and the organisations they work for, are able to undertake CPD activities.

We would like to thank the MRS for the accreditation as it is a validation of the training opportunities provided by our conference and other events. We look forward to continued close working relationship with the MRS, who have been very supportive of LARIA over the years, and welcoming their members to our conference.

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This will be LARIA’s 40th anniversary and we are looking for the 2014 conference to be our biggest and most successful yet. We know that the public sector continues to face a challenging financial climate at the same time as a rising demand for services. This conference will be about how local research makes a difference. This follows the challenge set at our 2013 Conference by Martin Reeves, our honorary president. Our speakers will illustrate how we can meet this challenge by showing research that is:

• Fit for purpose
• Rapid and robust
• Include communities and others
• Able to have impact on local services and communities

You can also download a pdf of the conference 2014 programme

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