United Borders: B.U.S programme
A 10-week music mentoring intervention for 10-17 year olds.
Evaluation type
Pilot study
Related Project
United BordersOrganisation name
United BordersFunding round
Another chance – Diversion from the criminal justice systemFunding
£652,286Regions
London, London, LondonActivity Types
Arts participation, Mentoring
Setting
Community
Evaluator
University of Birmingham
Completed
October 2024What does this project involve?
The Building an Understanding of Self (B.U.S) programme is a music mentoring intervention that aims to reduce involvement in violence and offending. Delivered by the charity United Borders, B.U.S is a 10-week intervention where 10-17 year olds who are at-risk of involvement in violence, make music in a specifically adapted bus that features a recording studio. The bus is parked in neutral spaces in London, and invites young people for 2-hour weekly music production sessions, where they also receive mentoring support from a matched mentor. Mentors then offer the young person and their families as-needed support beyond the sessions.
Why did YEF fund this project?
As the YEF Toolkit explains, there is a dearth of evidence on the impact that arts programmes can have on reducing children’s involvement in violence. YEF, therefore, funded an evaluation of B.U.S. to begin to extend the evidence base in this area.
YEF previously funded and published a feasibility study of B.U.S. It aimed to establish the Theory of Change underpinning B.U.S, ascertain the short, medium and long-term outcomes that the programme is aiming to impact, identify how a control condition could be established in a future pilot trial, and assess how feasible the intervention is and whether it should progress to a pilot study. To explore these questions, the evaluation used monitoring data from the project’s case management system, in addition to collecting data on selected outcome measures related to behaviour (including the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Self-Report Delinquency Scale). The evaluation also included interviews and focus groups with 6 members of United Borders staff, 8 professionals from referring agencies and partners, and 7 participating young people. During the feasibility study, which ran from December 2021-November 2022, 55 young people received the B.U.S intervention. 13 identified as Black African, 12 as White, 10 as Black Caribbean, 10 as Mixed ethnicity, 4 as Asian, 3 as an other Black background and 3 as an other ethnic background.
The feasibility study found B.U.S to be a feasible intervention ready to undergo further evaluation. So, a subsequent pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of progressing to a full efficacy study, understand how the intervention was experienced by participants and stakeholders, establish a feasible way to measure outcomes of interest, consider the possibility of unexpected outcomes and explore whether there is evidence of promise. To test an approach to a trial, this pilot evaluation established an intervention group (that received B.U.S) and a control group. The control group received a lighter touch mentoring intervention, with 6 weekly, 1 hour, one to one mentoring sessions delivered by UB mentors (on the bus or in school). 83 children and young people were involved in the pilot trial; 39 received B.U.S; 42 were randomly assigned to the control group; and 2 withdrew consent after randomisation. Of those 83 children, 47% identified as Black, Black British, Caribbean or African; 22% as Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups; 12% as White; 10% as Asian or Asian British; and 10% as an other ethnic group.
The pilot evaluation collected a range of quantitative and qualitative data, including case management data, demographic data, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD) questionnaire. Interviews were conducted with 16 participants, 8 UB staff and 7 representatives from referring organisations, in addition to observations of sessions. The pilot trial ran from April 2023-February 2024.
Key conclusions
| Both intervention and control conditions were delivered with a high degree of fidelity. The pilot findings also confirm the findings of the previous feasibility study in highlighting the key mechanisms by which we might expect B.U.S to have an impact. These include the creative nature of the programme, the neutral space where the programme occurs and the trauma-informed approach. |
| Progressing to a full efficacy study is feasible, randomisation is possible and there is a sufficiently large target group of children. An estimated 352 children would be required for an efficacy study. UB remains a relatively small organisation, but it has begun exploring ways to increase its capacity and deliver at the scale required in an efficacy study. |
| Interviews conducted with participants and referrers reveal that both are positive about UB and the delivery of the intervention and control group programmes. All interviewed children reported feeling safer as a result of their contact with UB. |
| Feasible ways to measure outcomes of interest were established. The SDQ and ISRD were feasible to deliver, and Metropolitan Police administrative data was gathered for 100% of the participants. |
| No unexpected detrimental outcomes were reported. One positive unexpected outcome was the creation of a United Mum’s parents/carers group to act as peer support for participants in some schools. |
What will YEF do next?
YEF is currently considering whether to proceed with further evaluation of B.U.S.