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The cardinal point to note here is that the development (and unfortunately the likely potential) of area policy is intimately related to the actual character of British social policy. Whilst area policy has been strongly influenced by Pigou's welfare economics, by the rise of scientific management in the delivery of social services (cf Jaques 1976; Whittington and Bellamy 1979), by the accompanying development of operational analyses and by the creation of social economics (see Pigou 1938; Sandford 1977), social policy continues to be enmeshed with the flavours of Benthamite utilitatianism and Social Darwinism (see, above all, the Beveridge Report 1942; Booth 1889; Rowntree 1922, 1946; Webb 1926). Consequently, for their entire history area policies have been coloured by the principles of a national minimum for the many and giving poorer areas a hand up, rather than a hand out. The preceived need to save money (C.S.E. State Apparatus and Expenditure Group 1979; Klein 1974) and the (supposed) ennobling effects of self help have been the twin marching orders for area policy for decades. Private industry is inadvertently called upon to plug the resulting gaps in public provision. The conjunction of a reluctant state and a meandering private sector has fashioned the decaying urban areas of today. Whilst a large degree of party politics and commitment has characterised the general debate over the removal of poverty (Holman 1973; MacGregor 1981), this has for the most part bypassed the ‘marginal’ poorer areas (cf Green forthcoming). Their inhabitants are not usually numerically significant enough to sway general, party policies (cf Boulding 1967) and the problems of most notably the inner cities has been underplayed.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus has emerged as a major public health problem in Canada. Although the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes among black people is higher than that of white people in Canada, there is no diabetes prevention programme specifically designed to address the behavioural and sociocultural influences on the development of the disease in the black communities. This paper discusses a proposed conceptual framework for the development and evaluation of a diabetes prevention programme that is culturally relevant and responsive to the black communities in Canada. The research literature and results of a recent pilot study that assessed the programming needs of four black communities provide the basis upon which the proposed framework is developed.

This paper describes the development of an evaluation framework to document the process, impact and outcomes of a community‐based mental health promotion project. This initiative, the Rural Mental Health Project, is concerned with the promotion of positive mental health in rural communities in the Republic and Northern Ireland. As a community‐based initiative, this project involves multi‐component interventions that are implemented with diverse target groups across a range of community settings. Assessing the process of programme implementation is critical in order to capture and document the realities of programme planning and implementation. The evaluation approach adopted in this project is based on a logic model research paradigm (Scheirer et al, 1995). This model gives equal emphasis to process and outcome evaluation and seeks to relate the realities of programme implementation to intended programme outcomes. Project activity is tracked prospectively in order to examine the detail of actual programme delivery and its influence on expected project outcomes. This paper outlines the model as applied in this project and explores the methodological and practical challenges in evaluating complex community interventions.

Community radio attempts to place the power of communication in the hands of community members, particularly the youth, so that they can create and broadcast materials that address local community issues. The purpose of the study is therefore to look into the potential impacts of community radio and the function it plays in youth development.

This study employed a qualitative research approach to investigate the role of community radio in information dissemination towards youth development in Ghana. Two community radio stations were selected for the study, and through the use of semi-structured interview, qualitative data were collected from 42 participants comprising two programme managers, four radio producers and 36 youth. The qualitative research approach enabled in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of the study.

This study found that both community radio stations aired youth-centred programmes that were beneficial to the development of the youth within the stations’ coverage communities. The results further reveal that community radio offers the opportunity and platform for the youth to engage the political authorities for development and also entertain themselves.

The authors consider this study original both in conceptualization and design. The main question being interrogated stems from identified gaps in the literature, and this study intends to fill these knowledge gaps. This study’s originality also stems from the fact that there is a paucity of information on the subject of study in the context of Ghana.

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are acknowledged to provide the most reliable estimate of programme effectiveness, yet relatively few are undertaken in children's services. Consequently, there are few models with a demonstrated impact on child well‐being, leading to a concern not only that services may frequently be ineffective but also that some may be harmful. This article considers how this state of affairs has come into being and discusses potential remedies for improving both the knowledge base and the quality of interventions. It focuses on ‘operating systems’ that link prevention science and community engagement and so help communities, agencies and local authorities to choose effective prevention, early intervention and treatment models. Specifically, it describes an attempt in Ireland to implement a robust programme of research into children's health and development, to rigorously design new services, evaluate their impact to the highest standard (using RCTs)and integrate the results into the policy process. Based on the authors' extensive first‐hand experience of supporting the work, and the advice of international experts, the article reflects critically on the unforeseen challenges and offers lessons for others starting a similar enterprise.

A Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) determined the effectiveness of correctional programmes for women offenders and examined features of programmes providing the strongest outcomes. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Electronic databases and web sites were reviewed to identify literature focused on interventions with female offenders published since 2006, the end point of the last REA conducted in the area. The following retention criteria were applied: participants were over age 18; sample included women and results are reported separately for women; study included an appropriate comparison group; study included recidivism as an outcome measure. Studies’ methodological design quality was assessed using the Maryland Scientific Methods Scale.

In total, one meta-analysis and 22 studies reflecting 17 unique samples, published from 2006 to December 2014, were identified. Overall, the best evidence suggests that the following programmes and approaches have an evidence base: first, substance abuse treatment, in particular in-custody or hierarchical therapeutic community programmes; second, gender-responsive programmes that emphasize existing strengths and competencies, as well as skills acquisition; and third, following in-custody programme treatment with participation in community follow-up sessions. There is also promising evidence for the use of community opioid maintenance among heroin addicted women.

This review demonstrated that since 2006 the number of high-quality research studies assessing women’s correctional outcomes has grown considerably. The results provide guidance to programme designers and administrators on programmes for women offenders likely to be effective in promoting public safety goals and offender reintegration.

This study aims to provide a detailed description of the nurses in the lead (NitL) programme for empowering community nurse leadership in implementing evidence.

The NitL programme is described using the template for intervention description and replication-checklist.

The NitL programme consists of two components. The first component is a systematic approach with implementation steps and tools to empower community nurses in implementing evidence targeted at encouraging functional activities of older adults offered via a Web-based eLearning programme. The second component is training to empower community nurses in enabling team members to change their practice, which focussed on motivational interviewing, influencing behaviour, dealing with resistance to change and coaching delivered as a combination of group training in practice and background theory via a web-based eLearning programme.

Further research is needed to evaluate the feasibility and effects of the NitL programme.

The NitL programme has been developed in cooperation with community nurses to meet their needs in practice and has the potential to develop leadership for the core tasks of community nurses.

The NitL programme has been developed to empower the leadership of community nurses in implementing evidence targeted at encouraging functional activities of older adults. The leadership role of community nurses is key for delivering high-quality care and implementing evidence within the community care setting for encouraging functional activities of older adults to preserve their independence.

Despite evidence showing the benefits of early diagnosis of breast cancer many Australian women delay seeking advice when they find a change in their breast. This paper describes the process evaluation of a national programme to encourage women to see their general practitioner within three months of finding a breast change. The programme used a partnership approach involving different sectors of the community to deliver an inexpensive national programme with sustainable community components. The programme included strategies to promote messages through the news media, television commercials, community meetings across Australia and general practitioner based strategies. This paper reports on a process evaluation of the implementation of the programme; outcome measures will be available at a later stage.

Although community policing is still in its formative stages in the USA, much of the research has been directed to programmes being implemented in large cities where high levels of crime and fear are part of the social fabric. Research on community policing in small cities and towns is still in the preliminary stage. To meet this challenge, the present paper reviews data from a survey of 82 police departments in cities and towns having less than 200,000 inhabitants. Emphasis is directed to the kinds of community policing strategies employed by the departments and the opportunities for community residents to participate in the decision‐making processes relating to community policing. Data reveal that the transition of police departments from a traditional reactive philosophy to one of community policing is an evolving process. Structured strategies that provide resident input into community policing are likely to occur as the programmes evolve over time, and generally follow changes in police deployment and the establishment of working relation‐ships with community agencies, both public and private.

Community‐based treatment programmes serving people with learning/intellectual disabilities face the problem of deciding how and when and under what conditions those in treatment will be able to independently access the community. Given the fact that people with disabilities have difficulties in generalization, knowing that they can practice skills in therapeutic sessions does not mean that they will be able to use these skills in real life situations. A Community Trust programme was first described theoretically in 1996 and this paper aims to present how that programme will work in practice.

From the moment treatment begins, data is collected with an eye to the future wherein individuals will be able to access the community and wherein agencies and therapists will be able to make decisions on that access, based on data not opinion. Two case examples demonstrate the principles of the trust programme.

Community trust for individuals who have engaged in serious, dangerous, or criminal behaviours is a serious issue and therefore must be a well thought out process. It also needs to be data based and decisions must be made not on “opinion” but on objective measures.

The paper demonstrates how community‐based treatment programmes, such as the example considered, give individuals “real life” opportunities to practice skills and thus transfer what is learned in therapeutic sessions to practical application.