Based at the Didsbury campus of the Manchester Metropolitan University, the Community Audit and Evaluation Centre (CAEC) uses and offers training resources for participatory auditing and evaluation techniques.
Mission and Purpose
The Community Audit and Evaluation Centre (CAEC) undertakes participatory research and evaluations of services and organizations, including local authorities, Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) partnerships, health care trusts, and private and voluntary sector organizations.
Origins and Development
Organizational Structure, Membership, and Funding
The centre is based at the Didsbury campus of Manchester Metropolitan University. However, the focus of the centre is on community-based participatory research. Therefore, the majority of audit and evaluation work is carried out in local communities and agencies.
The centre is comprised of university researchers and lecturers experienced in facilitating audits, evaluations, and training. They work in conjunction with qualified field workers (including youth and community workers) who are experienced in participatory research methods and act as audit workers/facilitators for audit teams. The CAEC supports and facilitates research and takes responsibility for producing written reports.
Specializations, Methods and Tools
What the Centre Offers
- Contact point for groups wishing to gain access to the university’s training, resources and facilities;
- Facilitation of Large and small scale audits and evaluations;
- Training and accreditation in participatory audit and evaluation techniques;
- Professional seminar series and workshops.
- Conflict Resolution Training
The CAEC uses participatory/action research and community auditing methods. In general, this means that members of the community are involved throughout the process, from planning and design to implementation and evaluation.
Participants usually receive training and accreditation (sometimes expenses, depending on budget) for their involvement. This process allows for the sharing and developing of skills in and through the community through audit teams.
Differing approaches are devised with the participants in order to be appropriate to them as well as to respect, recognise, and celebrate diversity and difference. The centre specialises in a variety of group work methods, such as focus groups, workshops, and forum theatre.
Evaluation
The CAEC aims to support evidence-based practice by undertaking the evaluation of service provision and targeted initiatives, specialising in formative process and outcome evaluation projects, using inventive assessment tools e.g. parent identified 'protective factors' in the evaluation of young peoples drug intervention programmes.
Major Projects and Events
Analysis and Lessons Learned
Publications
See Also
References
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External Links
Community Auditing and Evaluation Centre website
CAEC: A Baseline Assessment of Young People's Health Needs in Old Trafford and Gorse Hill
CAEC Report of an evaluation of the N’Gage Project
