EUKN - United Kingdom - Independent evaluation of the Saunders Park Partnership Project

Independent evaluation of the Saunders Park Partnership Project

Introduction

The report evaluates the Saunders Park Partnership Project to assess its impact, and to see whether it is achieving its aim of improving the quality of life of the residents.

Description

The project’s activities are outlined, focusing on efforts to promote partnership working and enhance the quality of life. A case study of Community PAYBACK (a scheme for offenders to contribute to the community) shows how the estate co-ordinator supports the project and various initiatives such as painting and decorating, and clearing garden ground.

This has led to improvements in the quality of life on the estate. Other activities include:

partnership working on crime and anti-social behaviour,
delivering improved facilities,
monitoring and working for service improvements,
improving residents’ input into services,
helping access to services,
community-business partnerships,
and developing partnership working to tackle local issues.

Background information

The Saunders Park Partnership was established in April 2005. The members of the partnership include:

Brighton Housing Trust,
Brighton & Hove City Council,
CDHA-Hyde Housing Association,
Downland Housing Association,
eb4U,
James Butcher Housing Association-Southern Housing Group,
Orbit Housing Association
and Saunders Park Community Association.

It aims to improve the quality of life of the residents of the estate. The Project is a two year pilot to assess the impact of employing a part time estate co-ordinators on residents of the Saunders Park Estate.

Methodology

The Priority Estates Project conducted an independent evaluation of the project using the following approach:

a residents’ satisfaction survey;
a survey of partners and interviews with partnership members;
a study of estate co-ordinators’ timesheets;
specific initiatives (case study with PAYBACK), observations at partnership meetings, and interviews with estate co-ordinators.

Conclusions

The value of the work done by PAYBACK is more than the cost of the project. Recommendations are made for refining and extending the PAYBACK model.

Better service monitoring and co-ordination leads to:

improved services,
improved local service provision,
improved community involvement,
and increased satisfaction with the overall appearance of the estate.

The Saunders Park Partnership offers a cost effective model for improving local services and enhancing the environment. Recommendations are made to sustain the Partnership and to continue to employ the estate co-ordinator, and to explore avenues for expansion into other areas.

Contact info

Priority Estates Project Ltd
Unit 22, Chatterley Whitfield Enterprise Centre, Stoke on Trent,
ST6 8UW Staffordshire
Phone: +44 1782 790900
admin@pep.org.uk

Publication date

Project finished

01/10/2006

Researcher

David Gibson

Links

Visit the Priority Estates Project Ltd website

Download the "Independent evaluation of the Saunders Park Partnership Project"(PDF, Eng 890 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Housing

Keywords

Housing management