This part of the website has been developed to help you find relevant research and evidence of what works in regenerating communities and tackling poverty.
Please note that some of these links will take you to other websites. We take no responsibility for the content of these.
Community Regeneration
Working with Local Strategic Partnerships and Local Area Agreements: some lessons from the New Deal for Communities programme
This study, published by the Department for Communities and Local Government, explores the relationship between four New Deal for Community (NDC) partnerships and their Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), and what impact if any this has on the Local Area Agreement (LAA). It assesses the extent to which each influenced the other, identifying what helped and what hindered the development of the relationship, concluding with a summary of the implications for both policy makers and practitioners.
Transforming disadvantaged places: effective strategies for places and people.
This Joseph Rowntree Foundation paper summarises evidence about the underlying forces affecting place-based economic deprivation across Britain, and explores how interventions aimed at both people and places can be strengthened to tackle disadvantage.
The benefits of providing new public transport in deprived areas
An assessment of the value of new transport services to people living in deprived neighbourhoods in England. Published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Review of availability and use of evidence in Regeneration Outcome Agreements: Summary
Review of availability and use of evidence in Regeneration Outcome Agreements: Report
This research was commissioned by Communities Scotland to assess the availability of quantitative and qualitative evidence in the Community Regeneration Fund.
Review of employability in Regeneration Outcome Agreements: Summary
Review of employability in Regeneration Outcome Agreements: Report
This desk-based study commissioned by Communities Scotland assessed the employability content of all 32 of Scotland's Regeneration Outcome Agreements (ROAs).
Evaluation of the implementation of Regeneration Outcome Agreements: Summary
Evaluation of the implementation of Regeneration Outcome Agreements: Report
Evaluation of the implementation of Regeneration Outcome Agreements (ROAs), published by Communities Scotland.
Learning lessons from thematic social inclusion partnerships (SIPs): Summary
Learning lessons from thematic social inclusion partnerships (SIPs): Report
A desk based review of the final evaluations of fourteen thematic SIPs to reflect on the practices emerging within these partnerships. Published by Communities Scotland.
An overview of the social inclusion partnership programme: Summary
An overview of the social inclusion partnership programme: Report
This research was commissioned by Communities Scotland to undertake analysis to provide an overview of the Social Inclusion Programme (SIP) programme. The report identifies key issues and lessons learnt during the delivery of the SIP programme and sets out lessons that can inform the delivery of future regeneration programmes.
Moving On? Lessons from the Boots Airdrie Factory Closure
Working with North Lanarkshire Council and Boots, and supported by a multi-agency steering group, the Scottish Council Foundation has undertaken this study over an 18 month period to consider the impact of the closure decision. It also explores the work of public service agencies to stimulate short and long term reinvestment in partnership with Boots.
Income inequality and poverty
Tackling climate change, reducing poverty
The first report of the Roundtable on Climate Change and Poverty in the UK
Time and income poverty
This Joseph Rowntree Foundation study examines the tension between increasing incomes and maintaining enough time for personal and child care.
What is needed to end child poverty in 2020?
This Joseph Rowntree Foundation round-up draws on the findings of seven reports about how to take forward different aspects of a child poverty strategy; examines the impact of current policy; and suggests what is needed to ensure the target is met.
Monitoring Poverty and social exclusion in Scotland 2008
The 2008 analysis of trends in poverty and social exclusion indicators in Scotland. Published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Monitoring poverty and social exclusion 2008
This report uses official government data from a wide range of sources, and is built around a set of 50 indicators. The analysis covers the full range of issues, including material on low income, work, qualifications, health, housing, and exclusion from services. Published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Parental qualifications and child poverty in 2020
This Joseph Rowntree Foundation report looks at how the anticipated changes in qualifications and in the occupational and sectoral distribution of employment will impact on the incidence of child poverty by 2020
Ending severe child poverty
This Joseph Rowntree Foundation report asks what a focus on severe child poverty adds to our understanding of child poverty and what it may suggest in terms of future strategic approaches and policy solutions.
Addressing in-work poverty
This Joseph Rowntree Foundation report describes how the rise of poverty among children in working-families is undermining the drive to end child poverty as a whole, and what can be done about it
Can work eradicate child poverty?
This report examines the extent to which work can contribute to the eradication of child poverty, and identifies a number of issues that necessarily arise if work is seen as the best route out of poverty. Published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Credit Unions in Scotland
This Scottish Government report summarises what Credit Unions are, how they can be classified, how they have developed in different parts of U.K. and elsewhere, what factors account for successful development; speculates about their future.
The Poverty Alliance Consultation on Behalf of the Scottish Government: Taking Forward the Government Economic Strategy: Tackling Poverty, Inequality and Deprivation
Analysis of Consultation Responses by the Poverty Alliance to Taking forward the Government Economic Strategy: a Discussion Paper on Tackling Poverty, Inequality and Deprivation in Scotland.
Financial inclusion in the UK: Review of policy and practice
This study aimed to identify and evaluate research on forms of financial exclusion; create a database of current work across the UK aimed at those vulnerable to financial exclusion;
appraise relevant policy initiatives, identifying those vulnerable groups left out of current initiatives, either entirely or partly; assess which groups are likely to remain excluded and how policy-makers and practitioners can address their needs. Published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Making Markets Work Phase 2 - engaging with providers
This Scottish Council Foundation study (supported by the Scottish Consumer Council and the Scottish Centre for Regeneration) builds on SCF's earlier report (Making Markets Work Phase 1 - Serving Demand from Low-Income Consumers) which identified the need for a much deeper appreciation of private sector knowledge and assumptions about the barriers to (and opportunities for) market provision to low income households, communities and consumers.
Making Markets Work - serving demand from low income consumers
The Scottish Council Foundation, with support from the Scottish Centre for Regeneration, has explored the market provision of essential goods and services to low-income consumers. This has focused on personal finance, household energy and food retail services.
Employability
The British 'welfare market': Lessons from contracting out welfare to work programmes in Australia and the Netherlands
This report considers how welfare markets in each country operate and how well the systems deliver the benefits that policy-makers anticipate; the risks involved in contracting out these services; and the impact that welfare market delivery has had on services for the most disadvantaged jobseekers and on the non-profit organisations that play a significant role in meeting their needs. Published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Linking Opportunity and Need: Maximising the Regeneration Benefits from Physical Investment: Report
Linking Opportunity and Need: Maximising the Regeneration Benefits from Physical Investment - Summary
Scottish Government research to identify, and explore in detail, good practice approaches taken to connecting the regeneration investment to the needs of disadvantaged areas and groups in the United Kingdom.
Sharing the benefits of growth: linking opportunity and need in North East Scotland: Summary
Sharing the benefits of growth: linking opportunity and need in North East Scotland: Report
The gap between the poorest communities and the average has remained stubbornly resistant to change. This has been the case in the North East of Scotland as in many other areas. This disconnect between economic opportunities, particularly those generating large numbers of jobs, and more disadvantaged communities is a critical issue, and it is this imperative to link opportunity and need (LOAN), which is the focus of the study. Published by Communities Scotland.
Young people, early years and education
Literature Review: Better Outcomes for Children and Young People Experiencing Domestic Abuse - Directions for Good Practice
Review of literature on domestic abuse and its effects on children and young people. Published by Scottish Government.
Young people and territoriality in British cities
An exploration of territorial behaviour among young people in disadvantaged areas of British cities. Published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Communities report - early years framework
Final report from the communities task group for the early years framework. Published by Scottish Government.
Services report - early years framework
Final report from the services task group for the early years framework. Published by Scottish Government.
Health and wellbeing
Health and Housing in the SHARP Study: Qualitative Research Findings
This report outlines findings from qualitative interviews carried out as part of the Scottish Health, Housing and Regeneration Study. The report outlines findings of the impact of moving home on housing conditions, social networks, community outcomes and health and well-being. Published by Scottish Government.
SHARP Survey Findings: Changes in Residential Circumstances
This report outlines survey findings relating to changes in residential circumstances from a longitudinal study of the health and social impacts on tenants which result from moving into new-build socially rented housing. Published by Scottish Government.
SHARP Survey Findings: Mental Health and Well-Being Outcomes
This report outlines survey findings relating to mental health and well-being outcomes from a longitudinal study of the health and social impacts on tenants which result from moving into new-build socially rented housing. Published by Scottish Government.
SHARP Survey Findings: Physical Health & Health Behaviour Outcomes
This report outlines the findings from a longitudinal study of the health and social impacts on tenants which result from moving into new-build socially rented housing. Published by Scottish Government.
SHARP Survey Findings: Social and Community Outcomes
This report outlines survey findings relating to social and community outcomes from a longitudinal study of the health and social impacts on tenants which result from moving into new-build socially rented housing. Published by Scottish Government.
The SHARP study: findings of a controlled study of the effects of housing and neighbourhood change on health and well-being Research Findings 18/2008
Research from a longitudinal study of the health and social impacts on tenants which result from moving into new-build socially rented housing. Published by Scottish Government.
Health and Wellbeing in GoWell and Social Housing Areas in Glasgow
This report presents detailed profiles of: the GoWell areas individually; the area types (transformational regeneration areas, local regeneration areas etc); areas comprising social housing and areas comprising GHA properties
Health and Wellbeing in Glasgow and the GoWell areas: deprivation based analysis
This report describes recent trends in health and wellbeing related factors in the city by Glasgow-specific deprivation deciles; and in doing so, confirms the levels of deprivation within the GoWell areas themselves and, therefore, where the areas fit within the overall deprivation profile of the city.
Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2007: Core Module Report 2 - Subjective perceptions of well-being in Scotland: Summary
Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2007: Core Module Report 2 - Subjective perceptions of well-being in Scotland?
The report summarises the key findings on subjective well-being in Scotland and explores how happy and satisfied people in Scotland are with their lives in general and how satisfied they are with certain domains in particular. Published by Scottish Government.
Health and Regeneration: Shared Premises
Research to identify where and how health and regeneration partners across the UK have collaborated to build or adapt premises and co-locate their services in pursuit of joint outcomes. Published by Scottish Centre for Regeneration.
Service Delivery
Community Facilities in Rural Scotland: A Study of Their Use, Provision and Condition: Report
Community facilities in rural Scotland: a study of their use, provision and condition: Research Summary
Findings and analysis from primary research in 2008 to investigate the provision, condition, management, funding and use of rural community facilities across Scotland and implications for their future. Published by Scottish Government.
Evaluation of the Wider Role Funding Programme: Summary
Evaluation of Wider Roles Funding Programme: Report
An evaluation examining the achievements and lessons from the Wider Role Programme since 2003 and examine its continuing fit within a changing policy landscape. Published by Scottish Government.
Improving Government Service Delivery to Minority Ethnic Groups
This publication outlines findings from research commissioned by the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland. It looked at the importance of mainstreaming, targeting, benchmarking and engagement in delivering services to minority ethnic groups.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT
Community engagement: some lessons from the New Deal for Communities programme
Describes the experiences of New Deal for Communities (NDC) partnerships in developing and implementing their approaches and strategies for community engagement. Looks at the different dimensions of community engagement, including potential types and levels of participation. Discusses the steps involved in developing a community engagement strategy. Describes different approaches, including a focus on neighbourhoods, a focus on target groups, and strengthening the capacity of partners. Identifies pitfalls to avoid. Looks at ways in which the outcomes of community engagement can be benchmarked and the sorts of indicators that can be used to evaluate engagement activities. Published by Department of Communities and Local Government.
Community ownership and management of assets
A review of evidence on community organisations owning or managing assets, including buildings or land. Published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Women and poverty: experiences, empowerment and engagement
A project to empower women in poverty to take part in the policy-making process. Published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Public officials and community involvement in local services
An examination of community involvement in the governance of local services, with an emphasis on the role of public officials. Published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Evaluation of the Impact of the National Standards for Community Engagement: Report
Summary of the Evaluation of the Impact of the National Standards for Community Engagement
Evaluation of the impact of the National Standards for Community Engagement two years after publication. Published by Scottish Government.
Scottish social landlords progress on tenant participation: Summary
The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 (the Act) placed new responsibilities on social
landlords to engage with and involve tenants in their activities. Communities
Scotland commissioned this evaluation to assess the progress that had been made
by landlords since the introduction of the Act. Published by Scottish Government.
Rural issues
Rural Scotland Key Facts 2008: People and Communities, Services and Lifestyle, Economy and Enterprise
Summary of key facts related to rural Scotland. Compares remote rural, accessible rural and the rest of Scotland. Published by Scottish Government.
Monitoring and Evaluating the Effects of Land Reform on Rural Scotland - A Scoping Study and Impact Assessment - Summary
Monitoring and Evaluating the Effects of Land Reform on Rural Scotland: a Scoping Study and Impact Assessment: Report
Findings from analysis of the impacts on rural Scotland of land reform measures since 1997. Published by Scottish Government.
Policies adopted to support a Healthy Retail Sector and Retail Led Regeneration and the impact of Retail on the Regeneration of Town Centres and Local High Streets
The Scottish Government commissioned the Institute for Retail Studies at the University of Stirling to provide a literature review of the policies adopted to support a healthy retail sector and retail led regeneration and the impact of retail on the regeneration of town centres and local high streets. This literature review (which was to focus on literature relating to the UK) was requested to meet three objectives:
- identify what a healthy/vibrant town centre/local high street looks like;
- identify, in the UK, what policies/approaches have been implemented to: (a) Support a healthy retail sector in local high streets and town centres, and (b) Undertake retail led regeneration; and
- explore what impact retail has had on the regeneration (in its widest sense - social, economic and physical) of town centres and local high streets, and how this has impacted on the wider community.
You can also read the findings of this report.
Town Centre and Retailing Methodologies
This Scottish Government report examines techniques that can be used to support planning for town centres and retailing, as outlined in Scottish Planning Policy 8 (SPP8).
Town Centre and Retailing Methodologies: Literature Review
This Scottish Government paper reviews the literature on the range of techniques that can be used to support planning for town centres and retailing.
High Street Britain: 2015
This publication, commissioned by the House of Commons All-Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group, looks at the obstacles facing small shopkeepers and seeks to promote better and fairer laws to help preserve and foster retail diversity. Analyses the evidence concerning the long-term prospects of the United Kingdom's small retail sector.
The effectiveness of the NPPG8 document as an ongoing basis for retail planning guidance in Scotland
The Scottish Executive Development Department commissioned research into the effectiveness of NPPG 8: Town Centres and Retailing in January 2003. The brief was not to review NPPG 8, but to test the effectiveness of the document as an ongoing basis for retail planning guidance in Scotland.
Mixed Use
Rediscovering mixed-use streets
Published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the starting point of this study was a concern to better understand the significance of streets to people as spaces of connection through which they travel, as places to shop, meet and persue other activities and as spaces that contribute to local identity.
How can we unlock the potential of cultural diversity in cities?
This report, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, summarises the outcomes of research exploring the connections between cultural diversity, innovation and thriving, prosperous urban communities. Proposes that the policy emphasis should change from multiculturalism to interculturalism.
Social interactions in public spaces
In town centres and local neighbourhoods, public spaces provide social arenas for all kinds of people - residents, workers, shoppers, visitors, and children at play. This study draws on research by Caroline Holland, Andrew Clark, Jeanne Katz and Sheila Peace at The Open University, with the involvement of community researchers. They observed interactions between people of different ages across one year in Aylesbury, a town in a growth region of South East England
The contribution of local high streets to sustainable communities
This study published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation demonstrates the key part that local high streets play in contributing to the Government's public spaces, social inclusion and sustainability agendas, using three case studies from different English cities. The research investigated the varied functions these streets performed, and the problems that street users experienced
Markets as social spaces
This study, by The Open University, examines the importance of markets as social spaces in towns and cities in England. Fieldwork and observation in eight markets across the country were used to: examine the key factors that make markets work well as social, vibrant public spaces for different groups in the community; identify the main users of markets as social spaces in different contexts; and examine the different kinds of social activity in markets
Urban Design
Turning around downtown: Twelve steps to revitalization - research brief
This publication by The Brookings Institute discusses the renaissance in downtowns across the United States over the past 15 years. It suggests the growth and development of downtowns is testament to the emotional commitment to urban heritage and the demand for walkable, vibrant places in which to live and work.
Regeneration in European cities: making connections
European cities can provide valuable insights into how to tackle deep-seated urban problems, such as the regeneration of run-down industrial areas. This research, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, is based primarily on case studies of major urban regeneration schemes in Gothenburg (Sweden), Rotterdam (The Netherlands) and Roubaix (in Metropolitan Lille in France) and draws conclusions for UK policy and practice.
This way to better streets: Lessons from 10 successful streets (briefing)
Published by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, this report summarises the findings of recent research looking at the design, development, and implementation of streets in England and Ireland. Sets out ten case studies of successful street design projects to illustrate the benefits of integrating street design with the wider built environment.
Small Towns and Rural
Scottish Small Towns Report 2007 - 2013
Compiled by the Scottish Small Towns Task Group which was set up following the South of Scotland Alliance (SoSA) Conference on "Small Towns under Threat" held in September 2004. The Task Group has been supported by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and is administered on behalf of the SoSA by Scottish Borders Council with the involvement of Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Rural communities and economic development
Commissioned by the Scottish Enterprise Rural Group, the overall purpose of this research has been to examine how community-based economic development could be used to best effect in enabling smaller rural communities to become more sustainable and deliver significant economic outputs.
Security and Safety
The Work of the Safe City Centres and Safe Town Centres Initiatives
Published by the Scottish Government, this report sets out the findings of a final evaluation of the Safe City Centres Initiative. The report also provides information about, and a commentary on the early work of, the linked Safe Town Centres Initiative.
The safety and security implications of housing over shops
There is a widespread belief among the police, property owners and residents that houses over shops have some potential to make town and city centres safer places to live. However, research by Sheffield Hallam University and the Empty Homes Agency found that often this potential was not being realised as far as it could.
Community Engagement
Attachment to place, social networks, mobility and prospects of young people
This Joseph Rowntree Foundation study explores how young people's attitudes towards education, training and work opportunities are shaped by their social networks and attachment to place, and looks at how interventions might widen their horizons and improve their prospects.
Local links - developing active networks in local communities
Common Purpose piloted 'Local Links' to improve neighbourhood networking, support, skills development and information sharing for local decision-makers and active citizens in four Yorkshire areas. The aim was to assist them to be better informed, empowered and more effective in their community roles.
Social Issues
Local initiatives to help workless people find and keep paid work
Published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. With concentrations of people disadvantaged in the labour market, disadvantaged areas tend to have high rates of worklessness. But both the kinds of work available and the kinds of people without work vary between areas. Solutions need to be local, reflecting the kind of jobs people are like to be able to get, and the individuals living in the area and their individual problems.
Business Improvement Districts
Review of the role of property owners in Business Improvement Districts
This report, published by Communities and Local Government, investigates whether property owners have successfully been involved in Business Improvement District (BID) schemes, what types of property owners have been involved and whether their involvement has been sustained over time. Considers why the involvement of property owners is key to the initiation, development and success of BID schemes.
If you have any resources which you think may help people in regeneration please contact the SCR.