Researching the impact of European funding on the Environmental Sector

in the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Objective 1 Area

Need for the project                                                                                                         <<<<back to Ambios

This research project has been formulated through informal discussions between Ambios Ltd and a number of Cornish environmental organisations, which have identified a need for further research into the educational provision for and method of delivery to "the environmental conservation sector".   This need has also been highlighted in a recently published (November 2006) Objective 1 consultation from the Devon and Cornwall Learning and Skills Council (LSC) which stated ‘We have insufficient understanding of the training needs within these areas [Environmental Management/Environmental Conservation]’.  The LSC go on to say there is a requirement to ‘understand skill needs … in view of the future demand.’  This project addresses these concerns.

As the current Objective 1 programme draws to a close there is an opportunity to review and evaluate the activity of the projects that have contained some element of environmental training in order to illustrate best practice, examine different methods of training delivery and, perhaps more importantly, identify any gaps in provision that might highlight the need for new projects that could be brought forward under convergence funding arrangements.   

By reviewing and evaluating the cluster of nine projects we have identified that it will also be possible to see medium-term (defined here at less than two years post-project participation) and long-term (defined here as more than two years post project participation) data on beneficiary successes and final destinations.  Often, medium and long-term data are lost or not recorded due to resource or funding constraints.  Moreover, evaluating the projects will enable potential weaknesses, gaps in activity and sources of match funding to be identified.  

Having project managed and delivered a number of grant aided programmes within the environmental sector and having personnel drawn from a range of scientific, social science and adult education backgrounds, Ambios has the necessary experience and in-house expertise to carry out this project and bring it to a successful conclusion within the timescales required. 

The Aims of the project are to:  

1.       Research the specific training needs of the environmental conservation sector across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

2.       Record and disseminate best practice from past project activity

3.       Identify the most relevant/successful methods of delivery

4.       Identify any gaps or weaknesses in current activity

5.       Identify final destinations of beneficiaries

6.       Propose direction and themes for potential future projects

7.       Identify sources of match funding  

Key Partners and projects to be reviewed  

The first task will be to review the list of projects in consultation with GOSW and the Learning & Skills Task Force in order to take into account the possible inclusion of the Workforce Development project let by the LSC to Environment Kernow and the new Programme 2 contract being let currently by the LSC.  The following projects provide an initial focus and only represent a final list in terms of their total number.   

Methods  

The following table sets out the methods for data capture, number of beneficiaries involved and timescales.  

The use of interviews for data capture will pay particular attention to equal opportunities and may, therefore, require relatively high levels of personnel time input in order to take account of individual interviewee need and not to disenfranchise any potential interviewees.  

Two broad areas of data will be generated:  

Beneficiary data

·         Experience of projects (best thing, worst thing, effects on self confidence)

·         Relevance and quality of training received (qualifications gained and how used post-project)

·         Time, Resources, Funding and Communication issues (highlighting best practice under these themes)

·         Personal outcomes (skills acquired (hard and soft), awareness of transferable nature of employability skills, final destination, reflection on experience of taking part in the project).  

Organisation data

·         How projects initially identified skills needs (what informed their decision to provide the training)

·         Best practice (operational structure/management)

·         Difficulties of delivery (what was good, what went wrong, how to do it next time)

·         Training provision and use/relevance of different qualification frameworks (methods of delivery, perceived ‘worth’ of qualifications gained)

·         Time, Resources, Funding and Communication issues (highlighting best practice under these themes)

·         Views of final destination organisations on the value of the training their newly appointed staff (post project beneficiaries) received  

These data will be analysed via quantitative tables and graphs producing statistical outputs which will be supplemented by the addition of qualitative data in the form of reflections on project activities by both organisations and beneficiaries.    The results will inform the final project report.  

To address the cross-cutting themes of Environmental Sustainability, use of ICT and Equal Opportunities this project will:  

• Reduce resource use by using ICT for data collection, manipulation, analysis and dissemination of research findings

• Minimise waste by recycling office materials used during the project

• Reduce need for travel by using ICT for communications, allowing staff to work from home and encouraging project staff to car share, cycle and use public transport.  (Ambios uses Internet voice communications for ‘virtual’ meetings)

• Practice green procurement by sourcing local and/or fairly traded goods and services, recycled paper for office and publicity uses, energy efficient equipment etc.  (Ambios runs an LPG vehicle)

• Follow the existing Ambios environmental policy and appoint a member of staff to review and monitor the project’s environmental performance.

• Develop a project specific equal opportunities policy and ensure that the most senior member of the project team has responsibility for monitoring and reviewing as necessary

• Ensure all staff working on the project update their equal opportunities training

• Ensure that all research interviews take into account equal opportunities

• Continue the Ambios family friendly working practices e.g. part-time working, working from home

• Ensure that meetings, interviews etc are held in fully accessible premises and ensure that meetings are held at family friendly times

• Make sure that the findings of the project are disseminated in a variety of formats e.g. web based, large print, other languages

 Outputs:  

• 12 past project interviews with participating organisation(s)
• 2 interviews with Cornwall County Council environment staff
• 2 project partner focus groups
• 48 past beneficiary interviews (paper/on line based)
• 120 paper and/or ICT based and/or face-to-face questionnaire interviews with past beneficiaries
• 12 final destination organisation interviews
• 4 dissemination seminars producing 1 seminar resume
• Action plan to allow potential partner organisations to progress towards future funding
• Project report to be disseminated to all participants and relevant parties via email, web, DVD publishing, paper media, press etc.