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Research Evaluation Methods to Inform Social Work module (SWK 754
Title of study
Social Resilience: A Transformative
Journey for Lonely Young Persons
Abstract
Context:
The work of a charitable organisation in addressing the needs of young
people is studied. Its twelve-week self-referral, youth-led programme is the
focus of the research. Typically, participants:
• are of at least secondary education age and
• include those who have either abandoned their education or
• left school with minimalist qualifications, or
• are unemployed, or
• struggling with the transition to adulthood, or
• have acute personal problems.
The study examined how the programme sought to develop young people's
wellbeing, with a particular focus on empowerment, resilience and loneliness.
Participants' experiences, opinions and outcomes were solicited as well as
their views about how participation in a youth-led approach influenced their
domestic and community engagements and employability.
Factors including adversity, dignity, relationship building, resilience, selfworth,
social wellness, socio-cultural issues and dealing with traumatic life
experiences provided the wider context for the study.
Methods employed in the research:
An inductive thematic method was adopted to obtain an understanding of
how critical personal issues were addressed by the programme. Persons