Regeneration and community
CRESR has a long standing interest in research and evaluation of regeneration and community. Our staff have national and international reputations in this area, and many act in an advisory capacity to national and local government.
Our work is wide ranging and we seek to understand the dynamics of deprived areas and populations and the drivers and impacts of community involvement and participation. We evaluate programmes and projects that aim to support regeneration and community development and assess their impact.
CRESR recently completed an eight year evaluation of the New Deal for Communities initiative on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government. It was the largest and most comprehensive evaluation of an area-based initiative ever commissioned in the UK.
Evaluation of Measures to Change Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowances in the Private Rented Sector in the UK
Project Director: Professor Ian Cole
Project Duration: 2011-2013
To monitor the impact of the changes to Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowances in the private rented sector introduced by the government in 2010.
Evaluation of the Sheffield Community Network
Project Director: Dr Richard Crisp
Project Duration: 2012-2013
Impact evaluation of the Sheffield Community Network which aims to promote digital inclusion and social enterprises within disadvantaged areas in Sheffield.
The project team also includes Amy Gadd (UK Online Centres).
Impact evaluation of the Volunteer for Stronger Communities project
Project Director: Richard Crisp
Project Duration: 2012-2013
This project will evaluate the impact of 15 projects to promote volunteering that have been funded through the Volunteering for Stronger Communities programme. The Programme aims to use volunteering to improve employability and strengthen in the context of economic uncertainty.
Landmark Art and Community Resilience
Project Director: Aimee Walshaw
Project Duration: 2013
The use of 'landmark' sculptures as a means of commemorating and regenerating communities is an established practice. Anthony Gormley's 'Angel of the North' and Damien Hirst's 'Verity' are prominent examples. There are also many lesser known examples around the country. However, little is known about how they impact on their host communities. A key aim of the research is to compare the intended and actual impacts of a number of landmark sculpture projects in relation to a range of social, educational, physical and health variables in order to learn lessons for future projects of this nature, such as the Man of Steel- a large icon planned to commemorate traditional industries in the Sheffield City Region. The project brings together experts in materials science & engineering, education, inclusion, social work, planning and regeneration from around the University.
The project team also includes: Caroline Hart; Anne Hollows; Hywel Jones; Pat Morton (Sheffield Hallam University).
Switched on Communities: Collective Switching for a Brighter Future?
Project Director: Jan Gilbertson
Project Duration: 2013
Collective switching is a relatively new phenomenon in the UK. Community switching initiatives have the potential to enhance individual and community resilience by empowering consumers and communities to respond to increasing fuel bills through partnership for community action and possibly future sustainable behaviour. The aim of this project is to explore collective switching as an emerging community consumer movement. This is covered by five key objectives:
- Develop a typology of collective switching initiatives
- Understand the 'theory of change' behind local authority involvement in initiatives
- Explore the ways in which the idea of community switching is communicated to various (target) groups and assess the effectiveness of these methods to inform choices of different groups
- Explore how partnership relationships are developed and how the relevant administrative, technical (including data) and financial arrangements are organised in order for switching to be successful
- In what ways does collective switching lead to energy resilient communities through direct and indirect financial and behavioural outcomes/impacts?
Get in touch
For further information please contact Sarah Pearson at s.pearson@shu.ac.uk or call 0114 225 4902.
Key clients
Big Lottery Fund
Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation
Community Fund
Délégation interministérielle à la ville (DIV)
Department for Communities and Local Government
Department for Work and Pensions
Financial Inclusion Services (Yorkshire)
Furness Enterprise Ltd
Groundwork
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
New Deal for Communities Partnerships
Voluntary Action Rotherham
Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council