Social Inclusion Research Unit
Research activity
SIRU research activity centres upon two key substantive areas - families and children, and health-related risk behaviours. These areas are underpinned by three cross-cutting themes: social inequalities; service evaluation; culture and language.
Families and children
Studies underpinned by the crosscutting inequalities theme include: a National Children’s Home (NCH) funded evaluation of a bilingual telephone support service for parents a Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) funded evaluation of free school breakfasts in Communities First and non-Communities First areas; and a WAG funded evaluation of a food co-ops pilot programme. Studies reflecting the cross-cutting theme of service evaluation include: a WAG funded study of Children’s Advocacy Services; a WAG funded evaluation of a Family Dispute Resolution Programme in North Wales; and a North Wales Domestic Abuse Forum funded study of service provision for women at risk. Reflecting the theme of culture and language is a Reaching Higher Reaching Wider funded study of the experiences of migrant workers (and their educational needs) in North Wales.
Risk behaviours
Research underpinned by with the cross-cutting theme of social inequalities, include: two CAIS funded studies of substance misuse interventions; a WAG funded Health Challenge Wales study focusing on health-related behavioural change; and a WAG funded study of a Food and Fitness intervention programme. Reflecting the cross-cutting theme of service evaluation there are: two WAG funded evaluations of: the All Wales Substance Misuse Strategy and dietetic service provision. Reflecting the theme of culture and language is a UNESCO funded scoping study of HIV/AIS beliefs and behaviours in Lesotho, Africa.
More recently SIRU has been awarded three major research contracts: the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) funded study to develop an electronic Common Assessment Framework (CAF) for Wales to assist social care practitioners make holistic assessments of the needs of children and young people and enable agencies to communicate and work together more effectively; the WAG funded qualitative evaluation of the Welsh Smoking Ban and The Duke of Edinburgh Award funded study of delivery and receipt of the DofE in the secure estate.
