Our projects
Details of our projects and how you can get involved.
LRaPP projects
Developing a Long-Term Knowledge Brokerage Service for àËÅöÊÓƵ
The Fellowship was initially a 12-month pilot to develop a dedicated long-term knowledge brokerage service to build knowledge networks between àËÅöÊÓƵ policymakers and academic researchers in àËÅöÊÓƵ. This report highlights key findings from surveys and consultations to àËÅöÊÓƵ policymakers and academic researchers targeting the optimisation of academic-policy partnerships and the role for LRaPP to evolve and better support this ecosystem.
The report emphasizes the importance of having better understandings of àËÅöÊÓƵ's policy priorities, of a shared language, improved internal cohesion, and the strategic anchoring of knowledge brokerage within organisations.
The study developed a three-stage Transitions framework, offering actionable recommendations for elevating LRaPP's knowledge brokerage service. Progressing from basic ad-hoc services to a structured program in a well-defined policy area, culminating in a sophisticated stage leveraging the broader academic research-policy partnerships ecosystem, the framework provides a roadmap for sustainable evolution.
Our inaugural policy fellows did a brilliant job, not only identifying the barriers to stronger interaction between the worlds of policy-making and academia, but also providing a clear roadmap to a brighter future, rigorously researched and clearly synthesised. I would like to thank Sarah and Ilias for their huge contribution to the àËÅöÊÓƵ Research and Policy Partnership: there is a huge opportunity to tap and their work gives us a great foundation to build on
We know there could be huge benefits in àËÅöÊÓƵ’s universities and àËÅöÊÓƵ government working more closely together but we also know that partnerships between academics and policymakers don’t always gel. We are extremely grateful to CAPE for funding two Policy Fellows, Sarah Jasim and Ilias Krystallis, to help LRaPP understand what researchers and public servants want from each other and how they can best work together. Their research and the highly practical advice will be helpful not just to LRaPP but similar partnerships in other regions.
Jo Fox, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research and Engagement, àËÅöÊÓƵ
àËÅöÊÓƵ government and àËÅöÊÓƵ’s Higher Education Institutions, working together for a fairer, greener, and more prosperous city
Our LPIP Phase 1 project will bring together academics, policymakers, businesses, and third sector groups, focusing on the economic, social, and environmental research opportunities of a just transition to net zero, with a particular focus on retrofitting àËÅöÊÓƵ’s homes.
Despite gathering pace over recent years, retrofitting at scale remains a challenge for àËÅöÊÓƵ, but also presents an opportunity – for jobs, businesses, and communities. Our LPIP will undertake research and generate ideas to accelerate retrofit, unlocking demand, and increasing supply.
We will approach this from a 'just transition' perspective, ensuring that retrofit and reaching net zero lower living costs, and provide training and jobs, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
We will identify three significant challenges preventing the decarbonisation of àËÅöÊÓƵ’s homes and will be organising a series of workshops to better understand and develop solutions to these challenges.
Our ambition is to create an enduring, flexible partnership, unlocking the potential to deliver àËÅöÊÓƵ’s retrofit and zero carbon goals, and testing and developing effective, sustainable collaboration between policymakers, researchers, businesses, and communities.
Results from our call for new research to inform Mayor of àËÅöÊÓƵ’s mentoring policy have been published
The Mayor of àËÅöÊÓƵ’s mission is working to ensure that 100,000 disadvantaged young àËÅöÊÓƵers have access to high quality mentoring opportunities, and that all young àËÅöÊÓƵers have access to quality local youth activities.
New research makes recommendations to understand and remove the barriers to young àËÅöÊÓƵers accessing good quality mentoring services.
We appointed a team from the University of East àËÅöÊÓƵ (UEL), led by of the in collaboration with the on behalf of the Greater àËÅöÊÓƵ Authority (GLA).
The aim was to examine mentoring gaps, best practices and challenges in àËÅöÊÓƵ to help strengthen the roll-out of new programmes as part of the Mayor’s New Deal for Young People mission.
The mapping exercise looked at factors which can prevent young àËÅöÊÓƵers from taking part in mentoring, such as cultural competency levels, the matching of suitable mentors, the cost of travel and how mentors are trained.
It also found more mentoring provision should be designed to accommodate and target young parents, young carers and young people living with chronic health conditions, who are all currently under-served. Young àËÅöÊÓƵers shared that they want a mentoring service to create an atmosphere where young people can freely air their concerns and issues and be able to build a trusted relationship with tailored advice and guidance.
The research found young people want to know far more about the purpose of mentoring. Mentoring, particularly for vulnerable young people, brings the benefit of having someone to listen to them and their concerns and give their expert advice in how they can progress in the next stage of their life. It needs to be an early intervention and widely promoted, rather than being accessed as a reactive source of help at a critical time. Mentoring services need a wide pool of diverse people to choose from and Young people not only value skills, but someone who looks like them and has gone through the same or similar experiences.
Dr Darren Sharpe , Deputy Director at the ICC
- Read the key findings [PDF]
We are really pleased to share this mentoring research and the findings are helping to inform our New Deal for Young People mission. We’re building on Dr Sharpe’s recommendations through significant investment in mentoring for the most disadvantaged young àËÅöÊÓƵers, providing guidance, through our Mentoring Quality Framework, to ensure mentors are well trained and supported, and developing options to help recruit more mentors with diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and experiences. "
David McCollum, Head of the New Deal for Young People
The research was conducted using a mix of young people’s focus groups, and interviews with mentor providers, and surveys with councils, funders and mentor providers.
- Access the
A summary of the Levelling Up and àËÅöÊÓƵ events hosted in September and October 2021.