NETWORKS

Jayne Francis, Senior Social Research Consultant at M E L Research, is the coordinator of the UKES Midlands Regional Network.

M E L Research is a Birmingham-based independent social research organisation – standing for ‘measurement, evaluation, learning’ – and has been providing evidence-based social policy evaluation, research and consultancy services for 25 years. Jayne has some 20 years experience in social policy research and has worked extensively in the Midlands in the public and third sectors.

Jayne commented: “We are totally committed to sharing knowledge and learning, and have considerable in-house expertise in organising events including, conferences, seminars and workshops. We hope to meet with as many Midland Network members as possible during 2010 and, in particular, welcome discussions with network colleagues regarding regional planning and activities.”

Jayne’s contact details are as follows:

Telephone  0121 604 4664

Email

NWEN began in late 2001 as the Greater Manchester Evaluation Partnership Group, with initial funding from Manchester, Salford & Trafford Health Action Zone’s evaluation work. In April 2003, the group decided to become a regionwide network, and to become associated with the UK Evaluation Society (UKES). A number of UKES-linked regional networks have been getting going around the UK and this is one of them.

The network currently has over 125 members across the North West, based in a variety of organisations - health, local government and other public agencies, voluntary sector, universities – as well as freelance. They are involved in evaluation in fields such as health and healthcare, social work, education, regeneration, employment, and youth work.

• The lack of links between those involved in evaluation in the region: this reduced opportunities for local support and development and also made it harder for those who wanted evaluators to find them.
• The need expressed by many, from both the statutory and voluntary sectors, for support in doing and using evaluation.
   

What is its aim?
To bring together people involved in or interested in evaluation, with a particular value on collaboration, reflexivity, diversity, participation and appropriate (mixed) methods.

When we started, we said we wanted to:

• enable useful linkages – among ourselves and with others
• increase evaluation capability in the area we cover
• advocate for good evaluation practice to funders and commissioners.

How can I join?
NWEN is set up under the auspices of the UK Evaluation Society.  Whereas joining UKES is not obligatory it will allow you access to the full benefits of being part of a professional body, including discounts for paid events, a regular e-newsletter and The Evaluator magazine.

Anyone who attends an NWEN event is put on the email list (it’s easy to unsubscribe from it).

You can also join and find out further information at www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/NW-EVAL-NET.html or by contacting the current e-coordinator and convenor.

Dr. Kath Edgar
Researcher/Director
Substance
kath@substance.coop

You’ll be sent information about events, evaluations needed and other items of interest, you’ll be able to contact others in the network, and you’ll be part of an exciting new development in evaluation in the North West and around the UK!
 

The London Evaluation Network of UKES covers the London Region, although its activities are open to all members and non-members of UKES interested in evaluation. Its aims are to:

• add to the understanding of evaluation in the UK and London Region
• advance the aims of the UKES and increase its membership
• contribute to the professional development of advanced practitioners and develop a new cadre of evaluators
• provide a platform for debate and discussion on critical issues in evaluation theory and practice

If you would like more information on the network, please contact Joy Beishon joybeishon@hotmail.com

Designing and Conducting Impact Evaluations of Social Policies and Programmes

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn about quantitative impact evaluation techniques and tools  
Edoardo Masset, Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies  
 

11th July 2013
3.30pm to 6.30pm (Registration from 3.00pm)
Location: DEFRA, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
 

Book now: places are limited

The object of this UKES London Network workshop is to introduce participants to the techniques and tools used in quantitative impact evaluations of social policies and programmes. Three main approaches frequently adopted in the design and implementation of such evaluations will be presented: (i) randomized trials; (ii) difference-in-difference; and (iii) matching. Their strengths and limitations in diverse settings will be explored through interactive means. The conceptual and practical issues that arise in the conduct of rigorous quantitative impact evaluation studies will be illustrated through practical examples, e.g. school feeding programmes, child development projects, Millennium Village Project schemes, etc.

Edoardo Masset, Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies. Edoardo is a development economist with over ten years of experience in international development in Asia, Africa and Latin America. He has extensive experience in designing and conducting impact evaluations. He has excellent statistical and econometric research skills, and considerable experience in managing local economic development programmes in Honduras and Mongolia. He is currently working on the following projects: impact evaluation of the Malian home grown school feeding programme with the Partnership for Child Development/Imperial College; randomized evaluation of a participatory monitoring programme in the Philippines by ACDI/VOCA; impact evaluation of the Millennium Village Project in Northern Ghana.

Please register your interest in attending with: jack.cattell@getthedata.co.uk Registration is from 3pm with the main session starting promptly at 3.30pm. Booking and confirmation of booking are essential as places are limited. In order to attend, please complete the registration form.

The event is free to UKES members.  There is a charge of £50 for non-members payable by check to the UK Evaluation Society (or cash) at the door. To become a UKES member please click: https://www.evaluation.org.uk/membership

Values in Evaluation with Jennifer Greene

Video of event

The Yorkshire and Humber Network covers the whole of the region and is focused on serving the evaluation needs of the region.  Activities are open to all members and non-members of UKES including those from outside the region and form part of a national programme for networking and training opportunities for members.

We exist to:
 

• Support those in the region working in evaluation or with evaluation evidence;
• Add to the knowledge and understanding of evaluation in Yorkshire and Humber;
• Contribute to knowledge and innovation in evaluation theory, methods and practice;
• Advance the aims of UKES and increase its membership;
• Bring together evaluators, evaluation commissioners and users of evaluation in the region.

We aim to hold at least four network events each year in the region and to offer occasional evaluation training workshops.

Mike Chadwick, m.chadwick@shu.ac.uk or
Sue Richardson, s.richardson3@bradford.ac.uk.

Evaluating dementia care and services from the perspective of people with dementia and their family carers 

Tuesday 25 June 2013, 1pm to 3.30pm and 4pm to 6pm
Heaton Mount Conference Centre, Keighley Road, Bradford, BD9 4JU
 

The UK Evaluation Society Yorkshire and Humber Regional Network in collaboration with the Bradford Dementia Group, University of Bradford

Aims:
• To contribute to knowledge and innovation in evaluation theory, methods and practice for dementia care and services
• To bring together evaluators, evaluation commissioners and users of evaluation of dementia care and services

You are welcome to attend either or both of the distinct sessions on offer

Session 1 Evaluating care from the perspective of people with dementia
Presentations and interactive workshop (1 - 3.30pm)

The afternoon session will provide attenders with an opportunity to consider how they can design studies to include the voices of people with dementia and critically evaluate research with an eye on whether and how the views of people with dementia have been considered.
Two 30 minute presentations will be followed by work in small groups, facilitated by experienced academic evaluators in the field.

Cost
Session 1 is free for UKES members; £20 for non UKES members; £10 for student non UKES members. (The fee to be credited against costs of UKES membership if you join later in 2013).

Session 2 Evaluating care from the perspective of family members
 Yorkshire and Humber UKES regional network event (4 – 6pm)

This early evening session will provide attenders with creative ideas about ways of evaluating family interactions and perspectives. It will consist of two presentations with time for discussion and networking.

Cost
Session 2 is free for members and non-members of UKES.

For full details and a booking form, please contact s.richardson3@bradford.ac.uk  .