Research and evaluation

The Tindall Foundation commissions and receives research reports.  Some of these reports are available to download on this website.

The ‘New Beginnings Court’ (Te Kooti o Timatanga Hou) Evaluation

The New Beginnings Court - Te Kooti o Timatanga Hou (TKTH) has been operating as a pilot for the past 2 years at the District Court in Auckland. The Court was initiated by Lifewise as a response to the growing problem of public space offending by homeless people in the CBD.

Background
 Auckland City Mission estimates that there are approximately 100-150 people sleeping rough in the Auckland Central Business District.
 The cycle of homelessness is linked to the cycle of offending.
 TKTH is designed to address the underlying issues associated with offending
 A client-focussed plan is coordinated, implemented, and monitored by TKTH.
 Between October 2010 and August 2012 a total of 54 people were referred to TKTH.

Background

  • Auckland City Mission estimates that there are approximately 100-150 people sleeping rough in the Auckland Central Business District
  • The cycle of homelessness is linked to the cycle of offending
  • TKTH is designed to address the underlying issues associated with offending
  • A client-focussed plan is coordinated, implemented, and monitored by TKTH
  • Between October 2010 and August 2012 a total of 54 people were referred to TKTH

The evaluation was completed with funding assistance from the Tindall Foundation (through Lifewise’s distribution). In brief, the evaluation shows the Court to be working extremely effectively for the participants involved. The Court is also an excellent example of a low-cost successful interagency intervention to solve a problem involving Central and Local Government and the community.

In summary the results indicate:

  • A reduction of 66% in arrest rates for participants, both during their participation in the Court, and in the 6 months following the end of their participation
  • A reduction in prison bednights by 78% during their participation in the Court, and by 60% in the 6 months following the end of their participation
  • A reduction in visits to Auckland Hospital Emergency Department by 16% during their participation in the Court, and by 57% in the 6 months following the end of their participation, and
  • An increase in the number of rough sleepers housed, and an increase in the length of stay in that housing - again all sustained in the follow-up 6-month period
Know Your Neighbours Evaluation

This evaluation explores approaches and outcomes of the Know Your Neighbours community development initiative. Know Your Neighbours grew from a partnership between Takapuna Methodist Church (‘TMC’) and community and social development agency Lifewise. The premise behind Know Your Neighbours is that building better connections between residents can make neighbourhoods healthy, fun and vibrant places to live.

The aim of this evaluation was to look at the difference Know Your Neighbours has made to selected neighbourhoods, and how it has made this difference. To do this, the researchers used a mixed methods study which involved document review and analysis, interviews, neighbourhood conversation groups and observation. The Tindall Foundation supported this initiative through a one-off donation of $40,000 to carry out the evaluation in order to better understand its impact.

Know Your Neighbours Evaluation Report September 2012

Know Your Neighbours Evaluation Executive Summary September 2012

Social lending

The Tindall Foundation and ASB Community Trust jointly commissioned Glen Saunders to look into the emerging field of social lending and investment overseas, and prospects for developing this in New Zealand.  This report was produced in October 2009 and is now publicly available.  You can download a short summary and the full report below.

Social lending - think-piece (4 pages, 200 KB PDF)

A new funding paradigm: Prospects for social lending and investment by foundations in New Zealand (400 KB PDF)

 

Conduct Problems - Best Practice

The Advisory Group on Conduct Problems (AGCP) provides cross-departmental advice to government officials on the identification, treatment and management of childhood conduct problems.  The group, including childhood specialists Professors Richie Poulton and David Ferguson, has recently completed Conduct Problems - Best Practice Report 2009.  This report sets the background for policy relating to childhood conduct problems, goes on to look at programmes and interventions to manage these problems, and then examines issues arising in the translation of evidence into policy.

A summary has been written for internal use by The Tindall Foundation.  A more complete understanding of these issues can be had by reading the full report: Conduct Problems - Best Practice Report 2009.

The earlier Inter-Agency Planreport claimed to be 'the first step towards a more comprehensive and effective cross-government approach to conduct disorder/severe anti-social behaviour' and led to the compilation of the Best Practice Report 2009.

Conduct Problems - Summary (34 KB Word doc)

Conduct Problems - Best Practice Report 2009 (460 KB PDF)

Inter-Agency Plan for Conduct Disorder/Severe Anti-Social Behaviour 2007-2012 (895 KB PDF)

 

School-Based Education on Alcohol and Drugs and Mental Health Promotion

School classroom-based alcohol, drug and mental health programmes have been popular in New Zealand, but how effective are they?

A research project was initiated and funded by The Tindall Foundation and several other funders concerned about the effectiveness of externally provided programmes in schools.  The research was undertaken by Massey University's Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation (SHORE).

SHORE aimed to discover 'best practice' principles for the delivery of effective alcohol and drug education and mental health promotion to young New Zealanders.  They found that most of these programmes focused on learning outcomes with the assumption that behavioural change would follow.  However, the majority of evidence suggests that classroom-based teaching alone will not necessarily improve health and safety in later years.  Recommended directions included:

  • Adopting a 'whole school' approach, including connectedness with home and wider community initiatives
  • Cross-sector community-wide action limiting supply and marketing of alcohol and drugs

Download a four-page summary think-piece on the research, dialogue and findings:

A Review of School-based Education on Alcohol and Drugs and Mental Health/Suicide Prevention

 

Grassroots Voices

In February 2009, the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) published the Grassroots Voices research report.  This research, funded by The Tindall Foundation, focused on the experiences of people receiving family support services from Christian social services and government agencies throughout New Zealand.  The report outlines findings in the areas of effective practice, poverty and housing, and collaboration, and highlights a need for an overarching 'Family Support Strategy'.  For more information on NZCCSS, go to: www.justiceandcompassion.org.nz

Grassroots Voices (full report) (2.43 MB PDF)

Summary of Grassroots Voices research (729 KB PDF)

 

Microfinance

This research report, by Glen Saunders, presents strategies for the financial sustainability of members of Ethical Investment Aotearoa (EIA) - a grouping of community loan and microfinance funds in New Zealand.   It provides valuable insights for funds and funders into the opportunities and challenges they face in achieving sustainability.

Microfinance Funds in New Zealand (349 KB PDF)

 

Making things simpler for fundseekers

In 2008, a number of New Zealand funders employed Adrian Feasey to research ways to make applications and monitoring reports more user-friendly for fundseekers.

Making things simpler for fundseekers(4 pages, 194 KB PDF)

Funder Collaboration Research & Scoping Project (68 pages, 5 MB PDF)

 

SCOPE

The SCOPE capacity building pilot evaluation reports and 'legacy document' are available to download on the main SCOPE page. 

 

Business Social Investment Activity in New Zealand

This research project was carried out in 2005, jointly by the Institute of Public Policy at AUT University (Auckland) and McKinlay Douglas Ltd, funded by The Tindall Foundation. The purpose was to identify ways of encouraging and supporting cross-sector collaboration betwen business and community organisations with the aim of achieving better social outcomes. The project was action-oriented and included case studies of innovative collaborations. The research covered international and New Zealand experience and the role of brokers in cross sector collaboration.

Business Social Investment Activity in New Zealand: A Scoping Report (451.64 KB PDF)