• Teaching future Social Workers with the CASCADE Parents Group

    The aim was to provide students with insights into the lived experience of parents working with social services. The session sought to develop their future professional practice through building their empathy. “The parents’ involvement has been invaluable. Their stories and insights offer students a perspective they can’t get from textbooks. It’s a privilege to have… Read More
  • CASCADE 10 Year celebration – Parents Group

    The event featured rounds of short talks on past, current and future research and a specially created video documenting the history and aims of CASCADE. Which included members of our Public Involvement Board and Parents Group speaking about their impact. Dawn Boden from Health Care Research Wales, Wendy Larner the Vice Chancellor of Cardiff University,… Read More
  • 10 Years of CASCADE Voices

    Written by Rachael Vaughan This year is not only the 10-year anniversary of CASCADE the research center, but it is also the 10 year anniversary of the CASCADE Voices Care Experienced Young People’s Research Advisory Group. In fact, I am reliably informed (by those who were there) that the young people’s group was set up… Read More
  • CASCADE – 10 years of Public Involvement

    Written by Rachael Vaughan  The involvement of those with lived experience has always been at the core of CASCADE’s values. Even before its inception in 2014, CASCADE worked in partnership with the care experienced young people at Voices From Care Cymru. As such they are part of the center’s foundations. However, since then, both CASCADE… Read More
  • Learning from parents about ethnic and religious inequality in social services

    Written by Elaine Speyer  As part of a research project looking at ethnic and religious inequality within child and family social services, we have been working with a group of parents, supported by EYST.  The group has been set up to advise on the research project, so that it is relevant, and brings real benefits… Read More
  • Building CASCADE: from concept to impact 

    Written by Professor Sally Holland  It feels like the blink of an eye since we launched CASCADE in May 2014 and quite a few people have asked me how on earth CASCADE got started. Do you just declare a research centre exists? Is there an application process? Did someone ask you to do it?  The… Read More
  • Advice, support and challenge: Co-production in the Evaluation of the Welsh Basic Income Pilot for Care Leavers 

    Written by Professor Sally Holland  CASCADE is leading a large and complex evaluation of an exciting pilot in Wales. This pilot involves over 600 care leavers aged 18 in Wales. They are being paid a basic income that is the equivalent to the living wage for two years between the ages of 18 and 20.… Read More
  • Embarking on a PhD, but not completely saying goodbye to the Public Involvement Team 

    Written by Elaine Speyer  Back at the end of the summer, when I heard that I had been successful in my application and interview for a PhD, I was surprised, excited, and petrified all at once! My start date was not long after, so I didn’t have much time for it to all sink in,… Read More
  • CASCADE VOICES – March 23rd

    By Josie Keam This blog is a summary of the most recent CASCADE Voices Young People’s Advisory Group session which took place in March 2024.   In my second week in my new role as Children, Young People, and Family Involvement Worker, Rachael and myself planned and led the March CASCADE Voices session with the young… Read More
  • Hearing from Young Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers  

    By Elaine Speyer Young people had the chance to meet with an advocate and find out more about the services they provide and how to access them.   We found out that young people enjoy living in Wales and would love to explore more of it. They are keen to make new friends and to learn… Read More