Evaluations

An evaluation of The Irene Taylor Trust’s Sounding Out programme 2016-2018

Sounding Out is a music traineeship which provides former prisoners with longer-term opportunities upon their release, to bridge the gap between inside and outside prison. The evaluation takes a qualitative approach to explore the views and experiences of participants, staff and family members to understand if and how Sounding Out ... read on →

Authors Laura Caulfield, Andrew Jolly, Rachel Massie (Institute for Community Research & Development, University of Wolverhampton)

Published March 2019

Artform Music

Organisation The Irene Taylor Trust (Music in Prisons)

Participant type Male Adult Ex offenders

Sample size: 10

The Lullaby Project: areas of change and mechanisms of impact

Creative projects and their potential towards positive psychosocial change have been consistently evidenced, particularly with vulnerable groups. The Lullaby Project (developed by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute in New York) has now been implemented in UK through two pilot experiences where the Irene Taylor Trust (who led the initiative), brought ... read on →

Author Sara Ascenso

Published November 2017

Artform Music

Organisations Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Irene Taylor Trust   Project venues HMP Wandsworth, Praxis Community Projects

Participant type Female Adult Migrants, Adult Musicians, Male Adult Offenders

Sample size: 21

Exploring Good Vibrations projects with vulnerable and challenging women in prison

This research involved 26 women who had successfully completed a Good Vibrations project, finding that:

  • for women in prison, taking part in a Good Vibrations project can reduce anger, worry, and levels of unhappiness, and improve social skills
  • reductions in anger, worry, and unhappiness may be sustained in the weeks ... read on →

    Author Laura Caulfield (Bath Spa University)

    Published December 2015

    Artform Music

    Organisation Good Vibrations

    Participant type Female Adult Offenders

  • Evaluation Report: Community Exchange project between detainees at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre and young people at West London YMCA

    The report explores the project’s impacts on participants’ wellbeing and resilience, awareness and understanding, and musical skills. Based on observations, questionnaires, interviews and focus groups, it contains a wealth of detail about the creative process and the experience of participants. The report also looks at the project as an example of ... read on →

    Author Katie Bruce (National Foundation for Youth Music)

    Published July 2015

    Artform Music

    Organisations Music in Detention, Sound Connections   Project venue Harmondsworth IRC

    Participant type Male Adult Detainees, Male and Female Young Young People at risk

    A Narrative-Based Evaluation of 'Changing Tunes' Music-Based Prisoner Reintegration Interventions

    The report explains the results of exploratory research into the work of the prison based charity Changing Tunes, which uses music both within and also outside prison with offenders and ex offenders. Evidence revealed that the pro social impact on the participants came as a result both of participation in ... read on →

    Authors Jo Cursley, Shadd Maruna

    Published January 2015

    Artform Music

    Organisation Changing Tunes   Project venues Eastwood Park, Leyhill, Winchester

    Participant type Male and Female Adult Ex offenders, Male and Female Adult Offenders, Male and Female Adult Staff

    Women at the HeArt Evaluation Report

    Women at the HeArtwas a Thames Valley Partnership project, funded by Arts Council England,  The Monument Trust and Thames Valley Probation, building on the organisation’s experience of using the arts with vulnerable groups. Aims:

  • Creatively empower vulnerable women by offering participatory arts sessions
  • Embed good creative practice into support services ... read on →

    Author Alison Leverett-Morris (Thames Valley Partnership)

    Published February 2014

    Artforms Drama, Mixed Media, Visual Arts

    Organisation Thames Valley Partnership   Project venues Alana House Womens Centre, Crisis at the Old Fire Station, Elizabeth Fry Approved Premises

    Participant type Female Adult Vulnerable women

  • Re-imagining futures: Exploring arts interventions and the process of desistance

    Carried out by Northumbria University and Bath Spa University, this report highlights examples of how the arts can support positive changes linked to personal agency, efficacy and identity, which are linked to the highly individualised journey of desistance from criminal behaviour. Key findings show that participation in arts activities enables ... read on →

    Authors Charlotte Bilby, Laura Caulfield, Louise Ridley

    Published November 2013

    Artforms Craft, Creative Writing, Music, Visual Arts

    Organisation Arts Alliance

    Participant type Male and Female Adult Offenders

    Sample size: 30

    The experience of ‘Journey Woman’ from the perspective of the participants

    Using theoretical frameworks such as CBT, role theory, social learning theory and narrative therapy, Forensic Psychologist Rebecca Day explores women offenders’ experience of  Geese Theatre Company’s one week project ‘Journey Woman’, which was delivered four times at HMP Foston during 2007/08.  read on →

    Author Rebecca Day (Geese Theatre)

    Published January 2013

    Artform Drama

    Organisation Foston   Project venue Foston

    Participant type Female Adult Offenders

    Sample size: 34

    An Evaluation of a Pilot Study of a Literature-Based Intervention with Women in Prison

    This study investigated whether ‘Get Into Reading’, a literature-based intervention, which had been established in other custodial contexts and non-custodial mental health settings in the UK transposed to a female prison; HMP Low Newton, and whether any of the benefits identified in custodial and non-custodial contexts elsewhere were reported by ... read on →

    Authors Josie Billington, Jude Robinson (University of Liverpool)

    Published 2012

    Artform Creative Writing

    Organisations National Personality Disorder Team, The Reader Organisation, University of Liverpool   Project venue HMP Low Newton

    Participant type Female Adult Offenders

    Evaluation report: Music in Detention's work in the community and in Immigration Removal Centres

    This report aims to assess the impact of MID’s Community Exchange programme, and the quality of the participatory music making involved in the case studies presented, as well as case studies and information presented in previous reports evaluating projects which took place between 1st April 2007 – 31st March 2010.  ... read on →

    Authors Hazel Addley, Karin van Maanen

    Published 2011

    Artform Music

    Organisation Music in Detention   Project venue Harmondsworth IRC

    Participant type Male and Female Adult Detainees, Male and Female Child School pupils

    An evaluation of the Artist in Residence at HMP Grendon

    Through observation and interviews with inmates and staff,this report documents the process of developing an artistic residency in a Therapeutic Community prison and provides an evaluation of the impact on those taking part. Based on observations across four prison wings and interviews with sixteen inmates, this report is able to conclude that ... read on →

    Author Laura Caulfield (Birmingham City University)

    Published October 2011

    Artform Visual Arts

    Project venue Grendon

    Participant type Male Adult Offenders

    Sample size: 16

    Stitching a Future - an Evaluation of Fine Cell Work

    An independent qualitative evaluation into the work of Fine Cell Work (FCW) in five prisons across England and Scotland, to identify the key benefits of being involved with FCW, establish why offenders participate and continue their involvement and investigate changes in soft outcomes such as behaviour, feelings about prison and ... read on →

    Published July 2011

    Artform Needlework

    Organisation Fine Cell Work

    Participant type Male and Female Adult Offenders

    Sample size: 22

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