March 2009

"March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb"

Did you know that the word 'March' comes from the Roman 'Martius'?   It was originally the first month of the Roman calendar and was named after Mars, the god of war.  We changed to the 'New Style' or 'Gregorian' calendar in 1752, so it is only since the 18th century that the year began on the 1st of January.  Now before you start cracking open the champagne and party poppers, I'm certainly not endorsing that this should be a good excuse for an additional New Year's celebration (for old time's sake) in March; but please don't let me stand in your way!   Personally I am far too busy in the springtime to lead a community conga around Portchester Castle.  But not only is it important to understand why events in our calendar, both past and present may be of significance, but also we really need to get into the habit of celebrating more; and extended services are no exception.

However it is not only important to 'celebrate' our extended services and demonstrate what went really well, but it is vital to 'evaluate the impact' of what we are doing.  In other words - how can we measure this success?  And what exactly is evaluation? 

Well like other research, for a good evaluation to take place, data needs to be collected and analysed systematically, and its interpretation considered carefully; such as a maths test before and after a project to assess the degree of change.  Evaluation is assessing the 'value' - or the worth of something - and then taking action.  Therefore what makes evaluation distinctive is that the results of an evaluation are intended to be used.  Keep in mind the popular adage "use it or lose it"; and please believe me that additional funding is no exception!

Now the argument goes "How do we measure the immeasurable, such as enjoyment and smiles"?  But if you think about it, even smiles can be captured effectively in a 'picture diary' or 'graffiti wall' to demonstrate change or impact.  Sometimes we just need to think outside of our comfort box, or 'boxes on paper' when we consider evaluation.  How about popping that paper evaluation in the recycling bin (it's often where they end up anyway) and perhaps consider some of the following methods:

I'm sure there are lots besides.  You may be interested in taking a look at the Evaluation Resource Pack, Paul Hamlyn Foundation (NIACE, ISBN 978-1-905500-17-8) which is full of unusual creative ideas for evaluating your projects.  Also the brilliant NECF Evaluator's Cookbook is available for practitioner's to download below:

The Evaluator's Cookbook

I hope that has sparked some creative methods for measuring the impact of your extended services?  Our new County Extended Services Quality Development Officers are looking at producing a standardised method for measuring impact, but in the meantime please bear in mind that I will be asking project managers for evidence that evaluation will be taking place (see the CAPP grant application form) or has taken place.  If I am still waiting for your evaluation from 2008/09 projects, then please could I ask you to send it through as soon as possible to tie up any loose ends in my 'slightly unorganised' filing system. 

If you require evidence of need to support your applications, put in bids to external funders, produce annual reports, business plans etc. then local reports are available on the Resources Pages of this web site.  It may also be worth taking a visit to the updated and rather useful Hants web site to view the child-well-being statistics at: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/planning/factsandfigures/figures-economics/economic-labour_market_reports.htm

Although it does not contain ideas for evaluation, schools may also find the following document from ContinYou a useful checklist for extended services when filling in their SEF:

Schools Self-Evaluation of Extended Services

Now, I only say 'slightly unorganised filing system' (above) as a 'temporary' state of affairs.  As many of you are aware we have undergone a fairly large upheaval during the month of March.  Community Action Fareham has not only moved to a new location in West Street, but we have been rebranded with a new name and logo (above).  Kind thanks must go to the young sailors who moved all of my boxes while I was at the coordinators networking meeting in Eastleigh, and for our stakeholders patience while I was temporarily without a network connection or telephone following the move.  I am happy to announce that I am fully functional again (no comment about my creaky knees) and I am more than happy to hear from our partners on my usual number and e-mail.   So March did indeed come in like a lion of change; but now that Councillor Woodward has unveiled our plaque and the Mayor has handed over the keys to the building in a big celebration event, I am nicely settled into my new office.  So it is certainly ending in a meeker 'lamb-like' manner.  So, now to the important stuff....

Your Extended Services March Update!

D-Day, Discos and Downloads - the young researchers from Portchester Community School are making amazing progress on our Heritage Lottery funded project.  Despite a temporary break for two weeks' work experience, I have started to notice a subtle change in the young peoples' self-confidence while I've been capturing their activities for our video diary (creative evaluation!)  On Saturday 14th March the research group had a grand day-out at the D-Day Museum in Portsmouth to enhance their understanding of the 1944 landings.  On Saturday 28th March our young researchers took up residence for a couple of hours at Portchester Library to conduct drop-in interviews and audio testimonies.  So if you happen to know anyone who was a teenager in Portchester during the 1940s or during the 1970s, then we would love to hear from  them.  Don't worry if they didn't manage to make it into the library on Saturday - please feel free to pass on my details and I shall contact them to arrange a more suitable time.  The Easter break will be the most significant as the group are now in a position to write the play from the true life stories they have collected. 

Scooter Project - I have been asked many times about how we can tackle the Portchester moped problem; and attended meetings where local residents are understandably very concerned about noise and anti-social driving in such a condensed residential area.   Although we cannot guarantee to attract the mopeds away from Portchester Community Centre, I am happy to announce that the scooter project "The Ped Shed" re-launches on Thursday 2nd April at X-Perience Youth Centre in Fareham with a free BBQ.  But I need to ask for your help at getting our young moped riders across the borough along to the centre.  Please could you download a poster and/or flyers below to display anywhere you feel they can be seen by moped users.

Ped Shed Poster (A4)         Ped Shed Flyer (A3)          Ped Shed Flyer (Mini)

Parenting - Our very first Parenting Practitioners' Forum for Fareham Borough started this month in Portchester.  This is intended for all practitioners working with families and offers a very useful support network; particularly for our newly appointed Parent Support advisors.  It gave me, as a coordinator an opportunity to find out the gaps in parenting provision and how these may be addressed (i.e. if you can't fix it...find someone who can!)  As well as identifying that practitioners are as confused about what is available in their own communities as our poor puzzled parents, I have been asked by Wendy Eves (District Parent Support Officer) to give a short presentation at the next forum to ensure that all parenting practitioners have a full understanding of the extended services agenda.   I feel we now have tangible evidence to produce a handbook or directory for practitioners of all our support agencies working with children, young people and families in Fareham - with a much clearer referral system for agencies.

If you would like to attend the next Parenting Practitioners' Forum then please feel free to contact me for more details and to request an agenda.  Also, just for information there is a small amount of funding available for new parenting projects in Fareham.  So if you have any fabulous ideas then please give me a ring to discuss your ideas and request a funding form.

Action Planning and Capital Fund Applications - I think you will all be aware of my difficulties with producing the Action Plan this year. I had a heart-sinking moment, especially when I had carried my laptop all the way to France on an aeroplane to do some work in the Alps, to find that on my return to England my file was corrupt.  I figured that it was just one of those things that happens in this fast-paced technological world, so there was nothing else for it but to burrow myself away for a week and work like a dervish. During mid-March I attempted to distribute the plan as widely as possible for stakeholders feedback before submission and many thanks for those of you who sent me comments and suggestions, but if you missed out on receiving a copy, then you are welcome to download a copy from the link below:

Extended Services Revised 2007-2010 CAPP Action Plan 

As I mentioned this time last year, the CAPP Action Plan is a 'living document' and will be constantly changing to adapt to local need.  Please could I also take this opportunity to remind schools to send through your invoices for your Extended Services Display Boards as all payments should be claimed by now.

Lazy Summer Afternoon Consultation - Following the success of last year's event, Fareham Borough Council are planning another Lazy Summer Afternoon event at Park Lane Recreation ground (there is also a 'Surf & Turf' event taking place at Hill Park for the Western Wards) during the summer holidays.  We are very keen to find what young people would like from their special event, so please could I ask partners to distribute the consultation as widely as possible to young people by the end of March.  Please get in contact if you would like hard copies and I shall make arrangements to deliver and collect them.  Many thanks to all of the schools and youth centres who have participated to date. 

  Lazy Summer Afternoon Consultation Document 

Summer 2009 Directory - As well as finding out what young people would like from their summer event, this leads me very nicely to our Summer Directory.  I have been holding meetings with Hampshire Families and Fareham Borough Council to ensure that we distribute "Making the Most of Summer" to every parent in Fareham via school book-bags.  This is no small task as you can imagine, especially with some new play schemes still in the planning stages.  However, we need to set a deadline to ensure that our brochures are printed and distributed to every class by mid-June 2009.  Please could I kindly ask that any agencies who are holding events or running a children's play-scheme during the summer break anywhere across the borough, please fill in and return the form below to me before May 15th 2009.  Your help is very much appreciated at distributing this form to as many agencies as possible.

Making the Most of Summer Form

Varied Menu of Activities - this month I have also been looking at ways in which we can increase after-school sporting opportunities, particularly for our youngest age group from Reception to Year 2 and also how to encourage girls to participate in sport; which are the two areas I have identified as a priority for extended services in Fareham East.  This is an ongoing project, but I hope that we can discover an effective way to engage with more parent volunteers who would like to train as sports coaches to cover some of the shortfall in provision.  In the meantime, if you are looking to source of approved coaches and providers, then please take a visit to www.hantssports.org.uk where you can access a database of Hampshire approved commercial providers for physical education and sports coaching.

Finally, please don't forget that we are looking for a new logo for our new partnership.  This exciting CAPP competition shall be announced after the Easter break, so please keep watching this space! 

As you've probably realised by now, I like to leave you each month with something that 'hopefully' our partners will find amusing and not too offensive (I do try to filter out certain unsuitable materials!)  This month is no exception, and as I started with evaluation, then I shall leave you with evaluation.   But rather than evaluating projects... the following may be far more use to those of you who carry out staff/student evaluations:

The Funny Side of Evaluation

May I wish a very Happy Easter break to all of our partners and visitors to our web site

Susie

(For ideas on crafts for the month of March see: http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/march_weather.htm)