NYAS work with students from across the country who are willing to explore issues affecting care-experienced young people as part of their studies. Their research often gives an insight into particular topics that can be of great use to NYAS and other partners.
The research projects below were facilitated by Interchange, a registered charity who connect voluntary sector organisations with students in higher education looking for research project opportunities. These projects were completed by undergraduate students from the University of Liverpool, in collaboration with NYAS.
2020
Missing Children and Return Interviews – analysis of data in England and Wales
Two students, Jasmine Millard and Jiahao Zhou, researched Wales and England respectively, to gain a deeper insight into the effectiveness of return interviews. Their two reports look at the inconsistency of return interviews in the two countries and reveal comparative differences in legislation and policy.
Read the full England report here
Read the full Wales report here
Mental Health – the links between leaving care, entering adulthood and moving on from CAMHS
In this report, Isobel Hopwood outlines the challenges care leavers face during numerous transitions, and the ways in which stigma is an underlying theme that can exacerbate mental health during that journey. Isobel recommends where future research could shine a light on the specific challenges to mental health caused by stigma and the pressures of entering adulthood.
2019
Care Leavers Policy – transition from children’s to adult services
Penny Rimmer carried out research into the level of support available to care leavers. Penny summarises some of the challenges and opportunities currently out there for young people leaving the care system. Penny concluded that local authorities are struggling to cope with providing services that offer individually centred care and support to young care leavers and those transitioning to adult services.
The Child’s Journey through NYAS’ Contact Centres – considering the significance of the child’s voice throughout the process.
This project evaluated the impact of the voice of the child at the beginning, middle, and end of their contact journey, to uncover any barriers preventing the child from being heard. Hannah Nicholas concluded from her research that NYAS play a fundamental role in facilitating contact where there has been family separation and there is adequate opportunity for the child’s voice to be heard in the early stages of contact.
If you are a student and think that your research could have a place here, please get in touch with Ben Twomey, our Head of Policy and Research at ben.twomey@nyas.net
