EVALUATION OF RESIDENTS AS NEIGHBOURHOOD WORKERS TRAINING PROGRAMME

The purpose of this research was the evaluation of an experimental programme offering employment and training to residents of social housing to become qualified neighbourhood workers, initially in the area where they lived. The research involved discovering through questionnaires the knowledge, expertise and expectations of trainees at the start of the programme and gauging their perceived progress by the end, through questionnaires and discussion. The expectations and experience of the employing organizations were monitored in a similar way. The programme was run unchanged for two periods of 12 months. The evaluation gives very detailed information on the learning achieved and means by which this was accomplished. The evaluation was submitted to the commissioning body, The PEP Trust and has been used by them to judge to what extent the programme has been effective in achieving the objectives of employers, trainees and local residents.