Wansbeck evaluation

Background Information
	Social Regeneration Consultants (SRC) has been commissioned by the Wansbeck Life Initiative to carry out an independent evaluation of Newbiggin and East Ashington Life. The Life Initiative has been in operation in Newbiggin since 2003 and East Ashington since 2004. Local communities have been a partner since the project’s inception. The initiative seeks to ensure that under-represented groups are targeted to ensure maximum participation in the project. The Life initiative has developed a strategic plan with partners and the community upon which future development plans will be based and to assist in attracting significant public and private investment. The evaluation is focused upon the following key areas: Assessing the impact upon changes in the living environment in both Newbiggin and East Ashington Identifying the qualitative impacts and achievements of Life projects Assessing the participation and empowerment of previously socially excluded communities Identifying good practice that has emerged from the initiative Considering any lessons learned to date Looking at possible future directions for the initiative
Workplan
	In carrying out this evaluation SRC will be seeking the views of a wide range of beneficiaries, residents and both strategic and local stakeholders through a number of different approaches. The latter two categories will be largely approached via informal telephone or face-to-face interviews.
Timescale
The work started in October and will be completed in the end of December 2007.