Social Justice

at Dartington

The Social Justice ProgrammeDartington

“At the start, it was an act of faith on our part totake over an old estate in a rural area, being atthat time rapidly depopulated, and to believethat we could transform it into an active centreof life. And life with many facets. For we neverintended to make Dartington an economic experiment merely, concentrating mainly onfarming and forestry and rural industry. Fromthe beginning we envisaged something more – a place where education could be continuouslycarried on and where the arts could become anintegral part of the life of the whole place. Webelieved that not only should we provide for thematerial wellbeing of our people here but fortheir cultural and social needs as well. And inour dream of the good life we counted on thehuman values of kindliness and friendship tobind the community together. We hoped that inthis way a certain quality of life and human relationships would emerge, relatively free fromfear and competition.”

Dorothy Elmhirst (1887-1968)

The Dartington Hall Trust started in 1925 as ‘The Dartington Experiment’ using the newly restored rural estate to found a place of invention, education and creativity throughwhich new answers to the problems of the timescould be explored and developed.

Our founders, the Elmhirsts, set out a vision ofthe ‘good life’ based on a rounded view of whatthe human experience should be about – onethat avoided simplistic distinctions betweenmeeting the economic, social and cultural needsof all people.

From establishing one of the first shelteredhousing sites to hosting the discussions centralto the birth of the NHS – Dartington has a longhistory of addressing the social challenges ofthe times.

originsPromoting social

justice has

always been at

the heart of

Dartington’s work . . .

today, the Social

Justice Programme

is fundamental to

Dartington’s mission

– nationally

recognised, its

impact reaches right

across the country.

Introducing the Social Justice Programme

“Inequalities are a matter oflife and death, of health and sickness, of well-beingand misery.” The Marmot ReviewFair Society, Healthy Lives2010

We believe

social justice matters . . .in a fair society everyone should have the opportunity to live fulfilling lives

working creatively and collaborativelywith others matters . . . in order to do more than we could alone to drivethe social change we want to see

‘Learning, Doing, Sharing’ matters . . .we need to find out what works, test new ideas inthe real world, and share our findings

Introducing the Social Justice Programme ethosDartington can play

a special role in

helping to build

more resilient,

creative and healthy

communities, both

locally and

nationally.

Today, there are three main strands to the work of the Social Justice Programme at Dartington.

They overlap but help to describe how we make a difference.

Improving the knowledge and skills of others to deliver highquality projects and services to tackle disadvantage and improve people’s lives

Delivering flagship community projects on the Dartington Hall Estate

Promoting new ideas and debate to encourage the next generation of solutions to social problems

Throughout the programme we work with the other departments at Dartingtonincluding property, arts and sustainability. The rich diversity of resources andactivities at Dartington strengthens our work and allows for innovative collaborations across and beyond the organisation.

Introducing the Social Justice Programme

approach•••

A set of three established enterprises are at the heart of the work of theSocial Justice Programme at Dartington.

Improving the Knowledge and Skills of Others

Research in Practice

Research in Practice for Adults

Dartington School for Social Entrepreneurs

Each of these enterprises provides practical support to others so they can more effectively improve people’s lives and drive social change. They are national centres of excellence, leading the way in their fields.

“The support provided by Research inPractice is critically important in helping to navigate through changeand uncertainty but equally to provide the opportunities for us tocome together as a sector to learn,share and challenge as we strive toimprove the outcomes for children.” Andrew Webb Partnership Board Chair and Association of Directors of Children’s Services President2013/14

“Without Research in Practice I wouldfind my job so much harder. On myown, I know I could not meet thelearning needs of our staff – but Iknow I can go to Research in Practiceand then will have what I need. It is ahugely useful resource.” Bilkis Hirani, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

With close on 400,000 of our country’s children officially inneed, the number of children in care rising, child poverty increasing and children’s services under financial pressure,now more than ever there is a need to ensure that organisations working with children make a difference, workwell with others and use robust evidence to guide their work.

Research in Practice, established in 1996, supports organisations working with children, young people and theirfamilies, enabling safer decision-making and more child-centred practice. It is the largest such service in the UK.

By bringing together evidence from academic research andprofessional experience, Research in Practice improves howorganisations work – from helping build frontline social workexpertise to supporting strategic decision-making, through tailored support, topical publications and learning events.

It also encourages and facilitates organisations and individuals across the sector to share knowledge and expertise – fostering a lasting culture of evidence-informedpractice and sector-led improvement.

Improving the Knowledge and Skills of Others

Research in Practice is a

membership network with over

80 Partner agencies, primarily

local authorities and national

children’s organisations, who

work with the most needy

children in the country.

Research in Practice

In current times it is absolutely critical that organisations know that the services they deliver are aseffective as possible and offer the best value for money.

In response to this pressing need, Research in Practiceand Research in Practice for Adults set up the Research,Evaluation and Analysis Support Network (reason) inpartnership with the National Foundation for Educational Research.

reason works with organisations in the social care, education and health sectors to support their ability toundertake robust evaluations and demonstrate the effectiveness of their services. It also supports organisations to make decisions based on evaluationevidence and to share learning about what works well.

The success of Research in Practice led to a direct request forDartington to set up a similar network to support agenciesworking in adult social care. As a result, Research in Practicefor Adults was established in 2005.

Like its sister organisation, Research in Practice for Adultssupports organisations to identify and make use of the available evidence about what works. Its services increase theconfidence and ability of frontline workers and the overall effectiveness of organisations, ultimately improving outcomes for adults needing social care help.

Research in Practice for Adults works closely with its Partneragencies, mainly local authorities, to address their prioritiesand to be responsive to their needs. And, like Research in Practice, it uses its experience and expertise to inform bothnational policy debates and frontline practice.

Research in Practice for Adults

Improving the Knowledge and Skills of Others

“Recent times have been particularly challenging for our sector and there is no doubt thesepressures will continue to be felt forsome time ahead. However, what isclear is that by sharing knowledgeand using evidence to inform ourpractice we can achieve great success. The work Research in Practice for Adults undertakes andits model of sector-led support,knowledge exchange and co-production is a vital part of ourefforts to build capacity for improvement within adult socialcare.”

Peter Hay Partnership Board Chair and Association ofDirectors of Adult Social Services President2011-12

“Everyone has the capacity to be remarkable.” Michael Young(Lord Young of Dartington)Founder of the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE)

“The Dartington School for Social Entrepreneurs hasprovided a challenging but essential programme of activities, which have provided an essential back-bone for shaping a successful and sustainablestart-up enterprise.”Katherine Ford, 2012 Dartington SSE Start-Up Fellowship Fellow

Dartington SSE

provides training and

opportunities that

enable people with

entrepreneurial ideas

to achieve positive

change in their

communities.

Dartington School for Social Entrepeneurs (SSE) waslaunched within The Dartington Hall Trust in January 2010and is one of eleven schools in the UK and abroad.

The SSE approach is centred on the individual and theirproject. It shapes the learning opportunities according tothe visions and needs of the people who come through itsdoors. These people are personally committed to making a difference within their communities and in their society:people whose objectives are about more than profit. SSE’slearning process is powered by action and reflection and is far removed from more traditional educational and learning programmes.

Dartington SSE’s reach has expanded well beyond the Dartington Hall Estate, and now delivers programmes in Bristol, Plymouth and Torbay supporting a range of newprojects – from community based education projects inDevon to international disaster relief initiatives.

Dartington SSE is increasingly focused on working with disadvantaged and ‘harder to reach’ individuals who wouldotherwise miss out on opportunities for support.

Improving the Knowledge and Skills of Others

School for Social Entrepreneurs

Alongside our work enabling others to more effectively drive changeand improve people’s lives, the Social Justice Programme also deliversprojects on the Dartington Hall Estate designed to meet local community needs and to test new approaches to issues of national importance.

We focus on priority themes where we can make the biggest difference.

Our current priorities:

Living life well in older age – the challengesand opportunities presented by an ageing population in the UK

Reducing reoffending – the challenge of moreeffectively reintegrating offenders into communities and breaking the cycle of offendingand reoffending

Flagship Community Projectscom

munity projects

“The project has the potential to bringa wide range of benefits to the area,not least helping to meet our aspiration to provide high quality andaffordable accommodation for the increasing number of older people,who live in the area. This is turnshould improve life chances of peopleliving at the new community with associated benefits for local publicservices.”Richard Sheard, Chief Executive, South Hams District Council

Abundant Lifeliving life well in older age

Nearly 20% of the UK population is now over retirement age, whichmeans for the first time in recorded history, there are more pensioners in the UK than there are under 16s.

In a culture that has too often viewed older people as a drain on resources, this emerging demographic challenges us to think differently about older age – looking at the very real opportunitiesavailable to make a valuable contribution to existing communities.

Dartington is working to develop a flagship residential communityfor people over the age of 55, on the site of the old Dartington Hallschool.

Residents, whatever their income and needs, will play an importantpart in the local community with support to keep active, busy andfull of purpose.

Dartington wants to help shape thinking and provision for older ageliving, just as it did for schooling and education in the past.

Flagship Community Projects

Based on the Elmhirsts’ philosophy that ‘an abundantlife is a happy life’ and followingthe long Dartington tradition ofexperimentation.

. . . the Abundant Lifeproject is Dartington’s response to the changing demographyof the UK.

“If you’ve only ever been told in lifethat whatever you do is rubbish, then ifsomeone comes along and says, ‘wow,that’s really good’, possibly for the firsttime, then that’s very big. DartingtonLandWorks will be that someone”. Chris Parsons Dartington LandWorks Manager

“The Dartington LandWorks rehabilitation scheme, with its aim ofproviding a supported route back intoemployment and community life, offers a potentially excellent pathwayfor prisoners on release. I wish youevery success.”Matthew Hancock MPMinister for Skills

Reoffending is a big problem. Official figures show that almost half of all adultswith a custodial conviction in England and Wales go on to be reoffend within ayear. Action to reduce reoffending is in everyone’s interests.

A major factor is that it is extremely difficult for offenders to gain employmentupon release. Unable to find a job and a steady income – either because employers are reluctant to hire them or because they lack skills and experience – offenders soon fall into difficulties and into old habits. More needs to be done to support offenders into employment and to stabilisetheir lives.

Dartington LandWorks started in 2013, providing training and skills for people in and coming out of prison. Based around a landscaping and construction social enterprise, it provides support for offenders to put crimebehind them.

Training in practical skills goes hand in hand with developing social skills, encouraging responsibility and building confidence and self-worth.

LandWorks is run by a small staff team alongside many volunteers and supporters and it will test an innovative approach to reducing reoffending inrural settings.

Flagship Community Projects

LandWorks

Reducing Reoffending

Dartington

Dartington has alwaysbeen a place of discussion and debate –where new ideas are developed, exploredand tested.

This tradition remainsstrong within the SocialJustice Programmetoday.

From hosting public debates and innovativefestivals to our involvement informingnational policy discussions, the SocialJustice Programmeworks to promote newideas and encouragethe next generation ofsolutions to social problems.

Promoting New Ideas and Public Debatepublic debate

The Care Inquiry

Research in Practice joinedseven other specialist charities (Adoption UK, British Associationof Adoption & Fostering, FamilyRights Group, The Fostering Network, TACT, The TogetherTrust and The Who Cares? Trust)to undertake an inquiry into howbest to provide stable and permanent homes for children inEngland who cannot live withtheir birth families. A series ofevidence sessions were held toexamine the research and gatherthe opinions of children andtheir carers. The result was a series of recommendations tochallenge current policy aroundchildren in care so that stableand loving homes that build positive futures for our most vulnerable children are achieved.

Interrogate!In 2011, Dartington establishedthe first ever Social Justice Festival – Interrogate! – on thetheme of Income Inequality.This was followed by the themeof Happiness in 2012.

By combining performance,workshops, comedy and debate the Festivals have explored key social issues in anew and interactive way.

The largest organisation in England & Wales dedicated to providing evidence-informed support toorganisations working with children, young peopleand their families

Direct support to over 14,000 social care practitionersand managers with a range of tailored, practical resources

Over 6000 social care professionals participate inlearning opportunities each year

Over 60 new social enterprises supported to start-up

125 organisations supported to demonstrate the effectiveness of their services

The first rurally based intensive training and employment scheme for ex-offenders in the SouthWest

Over 800 people registering their interest in living inan innovative scheme for living a fulfilling life inolder age

The first ever Social Justice festival in the UK

impact

We are only succeeding

if we make tangible

differences to people’s

lives.

We are proud of our work

but always conscious

that we can only be

successful by working in

genuine partnership –

with other professional

organisations, with

community groups, with

entrepreneurial

individuals and with the

general public.

We will continue to develop and expand our established enterprises – Research in Practice, Research in Practice for Adults, and the DartingtonSchool for Social Entrepreneurs – providing excellent support and guidance to people dedicatedto making a real difference in theircommunities.

We will continue to take forward projects tostrengthen the local community and test new approaches to national issues.

We will continue to find innovative ways to promotepublic engagement and to develop new ideas to address social challenges.

futureWe are ambitious for the future

We are always open tonew ideas and collaborations that canpromote social justiceand meet real community needs.

If you are interested insupporting, partnering orhosting new activity atDartington or finding outmore about our work thenplease do talk to us

about a fairer society . .

.

The Dartington Hall Trustwww.dartington.org

Social Justice at Dartington+44 (0)1803 847003

www.dartington.org/social-justice

Research in Practice+44 (0)1803 867692

ask@rip.org.ukwww.rip.org.uk

Research in Practice for Adults+44 (0)1803 869753

help@ripfa.org.ukwww.ripfa.org.uk

Dartington School for Social Entrepreneurs+44 (0)1803 847066Dartington@sse.org

www.dartington.org/sse

Abundant Life+44 (0)1803 847214

abundantlife@dartington.orgwww.dartington.org/abundant-life

Dartington LandWorks+44 (0)1803 847214

landworks@dartington.orgwww.dartington.org/landworks

contactsdesign : sue snell

photography : © Luke Ball, Alistair Begley, Alice Carfrae,Harmit Kambo, Kate Mount

Celia AthertonDirector of Social Justice

The Dartington Hall TrustThe Granary Dartington HallTotnes DevonTQ9 6EE

01803 847031Celia.Atherton@dartington.org

The Social Justice Programme is a department of the Dartington Hall Trust registered in England as a company limited by guarantee and a charity.

Company number 1485560

Charity number 279756