Progress Care wins National Lottery Grant for research project

Lancashire-based Progress Care Housing Association has been awarded almost £476,000 from the National Lottery’s Big Lottery Fund to undertake a unique research project in Leeds.

The research will focus on people in Leeds with mental health needs or learning disabilities who are being re-housed as part of a £60 million scheme, known as the Independent Living Project.

The Independent Living Project seeks to increase the opportunities for these adults to live independently. It will do this by replacing their current hostel accommodation with high quality, purpose built properties across a number of sites throughout Leeds over the next two years.

The research partners are Progress Care Housing Association, Leeds Metropolitan University and Leeds City Council’s Adult Social Care Directorate.

The aim is to see how the move from large, hostel accommodation can lead to more independence, integration into local communities and increased social and employment opportunities for individuals.

The research will be carried out by service users themselves who will be employed to work alongside professional researchers, and who will use research techniques specially developed for the two user groups. They will examine the experiences of fellow service users moving from hostel accommodation to supported living and provide a new perspective, previously not available to professional researchers.

Deputy director of Progress Care Housing Association, Philomena Cunningham said: “As the research progresses, emerging findings will be shared with all individuals and organisations involved in the Independent Living Project’s change process.

“This will enable lessons learned to be put directly into practice, by both the housing and support staff who are working with service users, to promote social inclusion and empowerment.”

The study will chart the experiences of service users, carers and staff and will involve questionnaires, diary-keeping and interviews. It will measure levels of social isolation, social relations and social acceptance both before and after the Independent Living Project changes are made.

The results will be disseminated locally and nationally, in academic journals and at conferences and briefings to improve service provision.