School Transition to Adult Responsibilities & Services (STARS) & Project Connect

Invitation to tender

Orchardville is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced

evaluator to carry out an evaluation of two projects which have similar

themes revolving around the transition of young people from school to

adult life.  Details of both projects are below:

1.Title of Project     School Transition to Adult Responsibilities & Services (STARS)

Funder:                     Erasmus+ :    Strategic Partnerships

Lead Partner            Orchardville Society

Budget:                     Euro 7,500    

Duration:                  2 years

Project Summary:

The STARS Project is an Erasmus+ funded programme which will commence on the 1st October 2018 and finish 30th September 2020.  Orchardville as lead partner is responsible for appointing a suitably experienced evaluator to oversee the quality and outcomes of the project during the two year period.

2.Title of Project:    Project Connect

Funder:                     Big Lottery Fund -  Empowering Young People

Budget:                     £5000

Duration:                  2 years

Project Summary

Project Connect is a Big Lottery Fund - Empowering Young People project which commenced in September 2016.  Each year 70 young people with learning disability are supported with the transition from school to further education, employment and training.  This includes facilitating training, work placements and 1-1 mentoring to build confidence and skills.  The project is entering the final two years and an evaluator is required to oversee the quality of project outcomes, learning from the project as well as the recommendations for future funding streams.

Timescales:

• Tenders should be submitted by the 28th September by email to Laura Higgins, Head of Corporate Services at laura.higgins@orchardville.com

• The project evaluation committee will decide by 8th  October 2018 based on a scoring matrix however an interview may also be required.

• The external evaluator should be available to start from 1st November 2018 but will be required to attend a meeting in Belfast on the 26th October with project partners in relation to the STARS project.

• An interim report for both projects is required by 30th September 2019

• A final written report f or both projects  is required by 31st August 2020

Method of Application

Written Proposal, submitted by E-Mail addressing the selection criteria as detailed below:

Selection Criteria

• Skills and experience of the organisation / individuals involved (including CV)
• Experience of evaluating or managing European Funding Programmes and/or other funders eg Big Lottery Fund, Children in Need etc
• Availability and Accessibility for the duration of both projects. Please note in relation to the STARS project there will be three meetings in Northern Ireland with project partners that the evaluator will need to be available to attend for part of the session.  The dates have not been finalised but the months will be October 2018, June 2019 and  September 2020. Dates and times and more flexible for Project Connect.
• Evidence that the tender addresses all criteria contained in terms of reference
• Cost
• Evaluation Design and methodologies used
• Speak, read and write English fluently

Terms of Reference

The main purpose of the external evaluation is to undertake a formative evaluation of two projects namely STARS and CONNECT which have a similar theme in order to support the dissemination and sustainability of each project. This will include the following:

• To examine the extent to which the projects have achieved the aims and objectives laid out in the applications and work plans agreed by the project management and funders.
• To examine the extent to which the projects have been successful in meeting the objectives of the  Erasmus+ programme and The Big Lottery Fund Empowering Young People programme.
• To assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of the approaches adopted in order to meet the aims and objectives of the projects and the funders.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of partnership meetings.
• To evaluate the applicability and usability of the STARS training resource.
• To assess the impact on the involved organisations and the target groups
• To assess the effectiveness of the exploitation and dissemination strategy and activities
• To report the results of the evaluation in a written report at the Dissemination and Exploitation Event.

Methods and evaluation design

The evaluation has to consider the following design:

• Desktop research:
• Questionnaire: To involve all people regularly involved in the projects (Jan/Feb 2019) focusing on issues of project communication and project progress/products/outcomes
• Guided interviews(face to face/ telephone/skype ): June/July 2019. Involving  project partners  for in-depth analysis
• Interim report September 2019 to allow partners to address the results and make maximum use of learning during the rest of the partnership
• Follow up questionnaire and interviews February 2020
• Group discussion at final dissemination meeting in Belfast September 2020
• Final Reports August 2020

Background Information on the Projects

STARS:

STARS will develop training resources for young people with learning

disability aged 16-20 who are preparing to leave education. The resources will

provide information about key aspects of adult life to prepare young people for

leaving school including topics such as money management, on-line safety,

healthy life styles and post school options and planning.  The content of the

resources will be informed by the views of young people,  their parent/carers and

a range of professionals.

The resources will be tested in Year 2 with 100 young people representative of  the four partner states as well as 80 parent/carers at a number of workshops.

Project Objectives

• To carry out a review of transition planning, processes and opportunities in the partner states including identifying gaps in provision as well as models of best practice.
• To carry out a peer review of existing training resources used by partners.
• To develop a variety of training resources using various mediums  based on feedback from the above research by September 2019.
• To test the resource with a sample of young people in the four countries represented namely UK, Ireland, Sweden and Spain by April 2020.
• To deliver capacity building training to all partners to enable them to deliver training to young people by October 2019.
• To agree and implement a European and National Dissemination and Exploitation Strategy
• To appoint an external evaluator to undertake an interim (Year 1) and final (Year 2) evaluation of the project

Partners

• Orchardville Society (Lead partner – UK)
• Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment (UK)
• Autism Ireland (Ireland)
• MISA (Sweden)
• Aura Foundation (Spain)               

Connect:

Project Connect supports young people aged 16 –19 with a Learning Disability and/or Autism Spectrum Condition, who are preparing for the transition from school to further education, training or employment. This involves working with special and mainstream schools, the young people and their families including other professionals involved in the transition process.

Referrals are made via an application form, which can be submitted directly by the school, careers service or transitions co-ordinators. Prior to commencing the project, the team will meet with the young person, their family and teachers to discuss the project in detail.

Opportunities include:

• Attending work experience with employers in the local area
• Attend work experience at Orchardville’s social/internal enterprises.
• Take part in a variety of training programmes both accredited and bespoke to include Independent Travel Training, Getting Ready for Work, Money Management and more.

We ensure excellent practice and quality service through continuous quality assessments:

• Input from the Youth Forum
• Organised Group Discussions
• Work place Progress reports
• Individual Reviews and Feedback
•  Outcome Star impact tool

The project works with schools within the Belfast, South Eastern and Western Health Trusts.