5 new research projects have been awarded to researchers within CASCADE, covering a range of topics. 

Action for Children’s Serious Organised Crime Early Intervention Service (SOCEIS) Evaluation

A pioneering programme aimed at diverting young people away from a life of serious organised crime has been awarded to Dr Nina Maxwell at CASCADE, Cardiff University by Action for Children.  This project seeks to examine the implementation, delivery and impact of the Serious Organised Crime Early Intervention Service., 

The project offers a bespoke service, identifying the individual drivers and causes of young people’s offending with the aim of empowering young people to make positive change. 

This is supported by three core elements of service delivery. 

1.  Provision of intensive case work such as 1:1 support, peer mentoring and evidence informed approaches. A multi-agency approach will be developed, aimed at system-level change through information sharing, capacity building and developing effective responses to young people on the edge or involved in serious crime. 

2.  Community-based early intervention and prevention with the young person’s wider network to deter and/or divert siblings, peers and associates away from criminality. 

3.  A whole-family approach working with family members and empowering them to support the young person’s journey onto more positive pathways. 

The two-year evaluation began on 1st February 2021.

Embedding a restorative approach in an innovative service providing intensive child and family support and a co-produced community centre

An exciting innovative programme which seeks to embed a restorative approach in an innovative service providing intensive child and family support and a co-produced community centre has been awarded to Dr Annie Williams by the ESRC/CUBE Lottery Fund. 

CUBE is a new multi-agency family support community-based service in one Welsh local authority area. CUBE delivers an evidenced-based, co-productive intensive family support service to and for the community it serves.

There are three ways in which the aims and objectives of the project will be achieved:

  • Planned and ad hoc discussions with staff members and groups who provide the CUBE services 
  • Planned and ad hoc discussions with a range of clients from the community focused on experiences and views of CUBE support. 
  • Observation of the CUBE centre in operation and participation in centre activities and tasks. If this is not possible due to COVID and CUBE policy, researchers will take part in virtual CUBE activities.
Supporting parents to play a meaningful role in decision making: Evaluation of National Youth Advocacy Service Cymru (NYAS) parental advocacy project

Dr Clive Diaz embarks on an exciting research programme to evaluate advocacy services across Gwent. In 2020, The National Youth Advocacy Service was awarded funding by the Welsh Government to provide advocacy services across Gwent.  This project will provide a clear understanding of how the Parent Advocacy Programme (PAP) supports parents and families across Gwent and how it is implemented across different local authorities. 

Supporting Parents in and Leaving Care: #MessagestoCorporateParents

Dr Louise Roberts has been awarded a research grant by ESRC for her Supporting Parents in and Leaving Care: #MessagestoCorporateParents 

The aims of this project is to challenge stigma, discrimination and poor outcomes for young parents in and leaving care. Researchers will work closely with young people and key stakeholders to consider and promote good practice for parents in and leaving care. 

The Future of Unpaid Carers in Wales

Unpaid carers provide vital support and care for ill or disabled family members or friends and are often referred to as a ‘hidden army’ of care staff essential to the functioning of public services. Dr Dan Burrows and Dr Jen Lyttleton-Smith have been awarded a grant by Public Health Wales as the study seeks to assess the social, economic, emotional and relational impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on unpaid carers and considers how such carers can be better supported throughout pandemic conditions and into the future in Wales. 

The findings will form part of a range of studies that will inform the strategy for unpaid carer support in Wales, currently underdeveloped.