Reducing Re-Offending: Next Steps Test Bed Regions
We received seven expressions of interest to become test bed regions following a process set out here. (DOC, 54 Kb)
An evaluation panel to decide the two test beds met in April and were extremely impressed by the detail and commitment set out, and in the work already underway to take forward this agenda.
It was agreed that many of the bids had made valuable and innovative suggestions, and we are now looking at ways to see how these contributions can be encouraged and rewarded through the establishment of a small innovation fund.
The panel decided that the two test bed regions will be the West Midlands and the East of England. The two test bed regions were formally announced by Phil Hope at the Offenders’ Learning, Skills and Employability 2007 conference on 15th May 2007.
Also in April, the contract for the external evaluation of the Next Steps test bed regions was awarded to the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), which is based in London.
Over the next few weeks, we are looking forward to formalising the test bed evaluation strategy, and commencing fieldwork with NatCen. They will not only inform all regions of the test bed outcomes, but will also seek out promising and effective practice from across all regions to spread nationally as the test beds progress.
For more information please contact: Paul Froggatt on: paul.froggatt@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
