Case Study

Evaluation of place-based work in the London Borough of Brent

Since 2019, the Berkeley Foundation has funded Crisis Skylight Brent to develop place-based work. As part of this funding, Campbell Tickell was commissioned to evaluate the success of the place-based work by Brent.

Crisis skylight brent report - A-group-of-buildings-with-a-sign-

The Brief

Campbell Tickell was commissioned to evaluate the success of Crisis Brent’s place-based work.

Place-based work is ‘a long-term approach to identifying, understanding, and addressing social issues rooted in the experiences, expertise and relationships that exist within a recognised geographic area’ (see work from Renaisi on place-based change and approaches). 

The two intended outcomes of this place-based work were:

To increase opportunities to end homelessness in the London Borough of Brent  
To add to Crisis’ learning about how ending homelessness can be delivered locally; and the role Crisis Skylights can play in achieving this.

The place-based approach in Brent included the following activities:

establishment of the Brent Homelessness Forum
community of practice
working groups
task and finish groups
research on homelessness and health
homelessness awareness sessions
development of Built for Zero
opening of new Crisis Skylight Brent premises.

Methodology

Campbell Tickell evaluated the success of the place-based work in Brent by:

01

Interviewing 22 stakeholders in senior and operational roles across 12 organisations from public and voluntary sectors 

02

Interviewing two individuals with lived experience of homelessness in Brent using a visual approach to map their journeys and talk about their experiences  