Independent charities

Nesta says it is an independent charity and its work is enabled by an endowment from the National Lottery.  It calls itself the UK`s innovation foundation which helps people and organisations bring great ideas to life.

In their 2012 report Prevention and Early Intervention in Children`s Services it introduces the Social Research Unit at Dartington which has this to say about the current economic climate:

"Economic recovery is a far-off prospect. Families have less to live on, there are fewer jobs, and there is more stress in the typical household. Many could do with a little more support, some a lot more. But the same forces that are boosting need are leaving the state with less money to provide that support.

The Social Research Unit has no more to say about the economic forces which have caused this catastrophe. But the older generation do get a slap on the wrist for what is going to happen in the future.

"Moreover, the legacy left by adult generations for today`s young people is less than generous. Our children, as they grow up, will find it harder to get work, secure a mortgage on their house and they will be faced with bills not only for their higher education, but also for the irresponsibilities of the past, such as our failure to get to grips with the costs global warming will impost on future generations."

So no new ideas there, and certainly not any `great` ones.  
This is the group which local authorities in Scotland entrusted to do the ChildrenCount and Evidence2Success surveys. Many parents were upset about the distress caused to their children by the intrusive nature of these surveys. The Social Research Unit at Dartingtons proved that it has as much understanding of children`s wellbeing as it does about the economy or climate change.

Yet check any children`s charity (there are many) or government department and the ideas generated by the Social Research Unit are the same as theirs. To get more out of less, in these times of austerity, local authorities need to invest in prevention and early intervention. It`s a case of repeat something often enough and people might start to believe it.

http://dartington.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/SRU-Prevention-and-Early-Intervention.pdf

But none of that is surprising if we take a closer look at Nesta.


The Behavioural Insights Team – also known as the Nudge Unit  (a unit designed to use behavioural modification techniques to alter the public`s perceptions and behaviour) – is now a social purpose company. It is partly owned by the Cabinet Office, employees and Nesta. This is the organisation that calls itself an independent charity. The relationship between Nesta, the Government, and the Social Research Unit who are going to analyse our children`s data, could not be cosier.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/behavioural-insights-team

See also: http://www.scottishreview.net/KennethRoy136B.shtml