The Final Well Newcastle Gateshead Evaluation Report
The Well Newcastle Gateshead (WNG) initiative was designed to be a place-based intervention with the intention of improving the wellbeing and life chances for people in four disadvantaged areas of Newcastle and Gateshead. It aimed to work with local assets, people and buildings and provide the evidence that with resources and expertise local people are more than capable to make positive changes within their communities. Working closely with the 76 projects and thousands of participants, WNG devised specific evaluation methodologies that were relevant to them and this data formed the basis for the independent full programme evaluation report.
The Well Newcastle Gateshead Project Analysis Tool
To support the full summary evaluation report, Well Newcastle Gateshead worked with independent evaluator, James Turner, to produce an online dashboard and directory of funded projects. This online tool allows users to delve into the information presented in the full report in more detail.
Data can be filtered and sorted covering the full breadth of projects funded through the WNG programme, including details of funding awarded, numbers of beneficiaries, geographic location of projects and the types of activities supported. This allows you to produce charts and tables focused on the funding you are most interested in. The directory of funded groups provides more detail about each individual project, including a summary of the purpose of the project, details of activities and beneficiaries supported through our funding and links to projects’ own evaluation reports.
Well Newcastle Gateshead Final Project Evaluation
In March 2022, James Turner was appointed by Blue Stone Collaborative to carry out the full programme evaluation. The work comprised the following main stages:
Review of background documents and WNG funding management information
Review of project evaluation reports and digital stories
Interviews with 13 projects and a further five interviews with WNG staff and stakeholders
Along with the online project evaluation tool and online directory of funded groups (above), a report was produced to include a detailed analysis of funding awards, key themes and learning points from programme delivery and project evaluations, to be accompanied by a summary version of that report.
The Well Newcastle Gateshead (WNG) evaluation research was commissioned by the WNG Steering Committee and aimed to explore the lessons from the WNG model on two themes:
What lessons does the WNG model hold for multi-sector partnerships aimed at mobilising arts and creativity for wellbeing?
What are the pathways to impact of arts-based interventions on health and wellbeing?
The research was commissioned in June 2019, was conducted from September 2019 to December 2020, and was completed in April 2021. Prepared by embedded researcher Mihirini Sirisena, it involved qualitative research methodology and consisted of two parts.
Phase 1 used qualitative research methods to engage with key stakeholders and explored lessons from the WNG model for multi-sector partnerships aimed at mobilising arts and creativity for wellbeing.
Phase 2 focussed on three community projects funded by WNG as case studies and entailed observations and semi-structured interviews with local organisations and community members involved in the community projects. This report presents the analysis and findings from the research, and suggestions for consideration when planning similar initiatives.
Exploring the Model: Well Newcastle Gateshead Evaluation Research
As part of the Well Newcastle Gateshead project evaluation, several short films were also commissioned from local videographer Nat Wilkins, of Canny Productions. These capture the creativity, passion and enthusiasm of the projects Well Newcastle Gateshead funded. You can see the full film on our home page, summarising the activities and achievements of the whole Well Newcastle Gateshead programme over the past five years. The 4 place based films can be viewed via the areas tab of this website.
So what have we learned from this approach that may be useful to others:
A VCSE organisation can be a successful and responsible accountable body for delivering a targeted place based grants programme.
Much of the success was based on the development of a relational trust based approach between WNG, the local community and the arts organisations. This was demonstrated particularly strongly during the Covid pandemic when both projects and communities had to adapt to doing things very differently.
Engagement in community led arts and cultural activities can reduce social isolation and improve feelings of wellbeing. It can also improve sense of pride in place.
More thought needs to be given to how we sustain programmes like this in our disadvantaged communities who are least likely to access standard cultural venues such as theatres, galleries and museums.
— Professor Chris Drinkwater CBE, FRCGP, FFPH (Hon) Vice-Chair & Blue Stone Lead for Well Newcastle Gateshead
(Picture credit Pelaw Bowling Club, public bench unveiling event.)
“I would however like to pay particular thanks to Mark Mulqueen our Programme Director from the very start and to Rachael Jones our Project Officer. They have worked tirelessly to develop and deliver the programme and have become past masters at overcoming obstacles and building relationships. I should also like to thank our two Directors of Public Health, Eugene Milne and Alice Wiseman who have given us the freedom to get on with things. Finally I should also like to thank Public Health England and the Well North Team led by Lord Andrew Mawson following the sad death of Aidan Halligan.”
- Professor Chris Drinkwater CBE, FRCGP, FFPH (Hon) Vice-Chair & Blue Stone Lead for Well Newcastle Gateshead
(Picture credit: Ella DM Photographer, Felling celebration event)
“I hope you’ve found this website interesting and a good source of information. While the data it contains is an important part of the Well Newcastle Gateshead legacy it must remembered that this project was about people and their aspirations. I believe its achievements represent the value placed on building care and trust in communities to develop relationships and connections with a diverse range of people.”
— Mark Mulqueen, Well Newcastle Gateshead Programme Director
(Picture credit: Chilli Studios’ Kitchen Garden project)
(Below) Messages of thanks from Scotswood Garden’s Early Explorers
