Session 4 – 12th April – 10.15 – 11.05

Title of Presentation:           The Evaluation of Communities First

Presenter:                               Helen Bushell

Organisation:                        Social Justice and Regeneration,

                                                Research and Information Unit

                                                Welsh Assembly Government

Summary:

The presentation will outline progress on the Communities First evaluation to date.  In addition to the background and principles of the Interim Evaluation of Communities First, the methodology will be explained in order to illustrate the integral role of the evaluation to the development of the Communities First programme.

Cambridge Policy Consultants were appointed in May 2003 to undertake an evaluation of the Communities First Programme.    In addition to the provision of reports, the consultants are working closely with the Communities First Unit to assist learning from the results of the evaluation as they emerge. 

The presentation will therefore concentrate on the interaction of the consultants with Welsh Assembly Government officials and other stakeholders involved in the Communities First Programme.  As the evaluation is substantially based on the principle of action learning, the presentation will explore and explain the action research process, and illustrate how learning is facilitated through this method.