Action for Children: Request for any studies or evaluations of services

Posted: 28 January 2010

Action for Children are working on a project with the Sustainable Development Commission and DCSF. There is a request for any studies or evaluations of services that take a sustainable development approach and which have evaluated the impact of such an approach on outcomes for young people.

The first part of the project is to carry out a literature review around the impact of sustainable development approaches and the impact on outcomes for young people. They are keen to include research evidence around improved outcomes for young people aged 14-19.

If you know of any studies or evaluations of services that take a sustainable development approach and which have evaluated the impact of such an approach on outcomes for young people they would be very interested to hear about them. Studies of services which meet the following criteria would be included:

• Living within environmental limits (Respecting the limits of the planet‟s environment, resources and biodiversity, to improve our environment and ensure that the natural resources needed for life are unimpaired and remain so for future generations).
• Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society (Meeting the diverse needs of all people in existing and future communities, promoting personal wellbeing, social cohesion and inclusion, and creating equal opportunities).

Where a sustainable development approach has been taken they will be looking at evidence of improved outcomes for young people in the following categories that relate to the five aimed outcomes within the DCSF‟s PSA 14 target (increase the number of young people on the path to success):

i. Economic (succeed in education and learning)
ii. Developmental (develop resilience and wider social and emotional skills)
iii. Social (can make a real contribution to their communities and wider society)
iv. Health (are physically, mentally and emotionally healthy)
v. Environment (including 'place') (grow up in a safe and supportive environment)

The second stage of the project will be to draw up and publish case studies based on the practice that the research reveals. For more information, please email Charles Whitehead: cemwhitehead@btinternet.com