CARL Research Reports 2016
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Item An exploration of the benefits of after-school club for children, focusing on their emotional and social development(Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork, 2016-05) Lacey, Terri; Rice, Rachel; Before 5 Family Centre; Civil Society OrganizationThis study is a Community-Academic Research Links (CARL) project managed between Before 5 Family Centre, UCC Applied Social Studies Department and the researcher. The aim of the research is to explore the benefits of afterschool club, focusing on children’s social and emotional development. Through a qualitative approach seven interviews were used to examine and analyse parents, staff and school liaisons officer’s perspectives of afterschool club. Literature reviewed revealed that children attending afterschool programmes reap multiple benefits; some areas of development include increased academic achievement, developing peer relationships and increased self-confidence. This evidenced-based research study found that children attending afterschool club demonstrated a positive change in their behaviour, formed new peer relationships, emotional competence and increased social development. The foundations and most influencing factor to these benefits are the positive interactions and attachments children have experienced with staff. As a social work student this study recognises that afterschool services have potentially a significant role to play in families, schools and community services. It is essential to adopt policy implementation, to ensure quality, better outcomes and brighter futures for children.Item A case study evaluation of a drugs education awareness program delivered by the Togher Link-Up Project to a girls’ secondary school in the south side of Cork city(Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork, 2016-04) Riordan, Robert; Leahy, Pat; Togher Link-Up; Civil Society OrganizationThe focus of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy of a preventative drugs awareness program that has been delivered to an all-girls secondary school in the south side of Cork city over the last six years. The programme has been delivered by ‘Togher Link-Up’, a local drugs awareness and outreach group based in the above-mentioned catchment area of Cork city. It was the group’s hope to evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy of the programme as this year’s sixth years (2016) are the first group to have completed a full-cycle of same. The programme was delivered to students throughout the six years of secondary school, this consistency over a substantial period of time being its unique feature. As such, research with this year’s sixth years presented an invaluable opportunity for evaluating the programme.