Following the successful launch of its Research Unit earlier this year, ARC England (Association for Real Change), the only membership organisation dedicated to supporting learning disability and autism service providers, is delighted to announce a new Research Fund to raise funds for its important and ambitious strategic research programme that aims to achieve a step change in the understanding and appreciation of the sector by delivering more and better data for the sector. All donations will be used to support and fund this research.
The ARC England Learning Disability Research Unit is supported and guided by a Research Steering Group of leading care providers and sector stakeholders that met for the first time in August to approve major new research projects including a large-scale sector audit to fully understand the size, dynamics and structure of the sector and a quarterly ‘CEO Confidence Index’ that will use a range of different key indicators to provide regular feedback on the ‘health’ of the sector. This research will be used to influence policy-making, improve planning and share best-practice ideas. The Steering Group provided the core funding to make this important initial research possible. Now, ARC England is now looking to raise a further £50,000 from organisational and individual donations to bolster, sustain and extend its important research agenda.
ARC England Director, Clive Parry, commented:
“I have been hugely encouraged by the sector’s reaction to the creation of our new Research Unit and grateful to our Steering Group for their support and guidance that has been key to the development and launch of our new strategic research initiative. ARC England has ambitious plans for future research that includes working to create a single measure of wellbeing for people with a Learning Disability, Autism or both and developing a series of best practice guides that will help showcase the fantastic work undertaken across our sector. To support this research and enable a long-term future for the Research Unit, it is imperative that the Research Unit receives further resources. I would urge any organisation or individual that cares about the future our sector and the vulnerable people it supports to make a donation to our Research Fund, no matter how small. All funds received will go to supporting our important research agenda and will give the sector the powerful voice that it has missed for far too long.”
Organisations and individuals wanting to make a positive difference to the lives of people with a learning disability, autism or both can donate via the link on the ARC England Learning Disability Research Unit Fund webpage.
All donors can choose to receive free copies of all ARC England research publications, acknowledgement as a Research Donor on the ARC website and a free monthly Research Briefing summarising key developments from across the sector.
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NOTES TO EDITORS:
About ARC England:
ARC England (Association for Real Change) supports knowledge development, improves practice and influences policy in health and social care for the benefit of people with learning disabilities or other support needs such as autism, mental health problems, sensory and physical disabilities. ARC England is the only membership organisation specifically for learning disability and autism providers.
ARC England Research Steering Group members:
Current ARC England Research Steering Group members include: Community Integrated Care, Windward Day Services, Real Life Options, Macintyre, Wilf Ward, National Autistic Society, Lifeways, Linkage, National Care Forum, Learning Disability England, Digital Social Care, ARC England, VAT Solutions, Ridouts, Marr Procurement, nGAGE and Log My Care.
For more information and interview enquiries, contact Liz Collins at the ARC England Press Office on 01246 555043 or email [email protected].
Twitter @ARCEngland