PHIRST Evaluations

“Working with University of Hertfordshire, in collaboration with services in Leeds, on this evaluation, has been a unique learning experience. The project is robustly and systematically unearthing the learning from the move to remote service delivery, in drug and alcohol services in Leeds, in a very real-world environment, as these services respond to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings and recommendations will help inform future commissioning, service delivery and, ultimately, how service users experience drug and alcohol treatment, not just in Leeds, but nationally and internationally.”

Dan Burn, Health Improvement Principal, Leeds City Council

“Local authorities have huge opportunities to influence health and health inequalities but without an evidence-base they cannot maximise these opportunities”

Dr Helen Walters, Public Health Consultant Advisor, NIHR

“We are very grateful to be one of the successful PHIRST applicants. Findings will make a big difference to re-commissioning of our Service. This is a new process for us so there is always plenty to learn”

Pegs Bailey, Employment Development Officer, Fife Voluntary Action

“We were thrilled to hear that we were going to have involvement from PHIRST to evaluate our Essex Community Action Site (ECAS) project. We had been running an internal evaluation but having PHIRST involved has added an invaluable layer of academic rigour, objectivity and scope given the added resource. The sandpit workshops were a great way to show PHIRST what we had done and we were all confident that they really understood what we were doing by the end of it. Very excited to see what they come up with!”

Neave Beard- Lead for Strengthening Communities, Essex County Council