NFER EXAMPLES

Close-Up Research is an ethnographic research and storytelling practice specialising in lived experience. We spend time with people in their everyday environments to make sense of how they think, feel and behave. Our insights and films help clients design, evaluate and communicate better policies, products and services.

We draw on more than 20 years’ experience working internationally across the private, public and third sectors. We’ve explored subjects ranging from health, education, employment and public services to consumer behaviour, technology, finance, transport, housing, energy and the environment.  We’ve worked sensitively with customers, service users, children, young people, families, older people, disabled people, professionals and communities.

Alongside ethnography, we also offer diary studies, vox pops, podcasts, photography, animation, co-design workshops and training.

What are the impacts of a Youth Social Action Fund? / BBC CHILDREN IN NEED

As part of this evaluation, we visited four grantee organisations across the UK to produce this comprehensive video report. We also made individual edits for each organisation, and one short film featuring just the young people’s voices. You can see the other films here.

This film is divided into five sections, navigable via the Chapter button to the right of the play bar: About the Organisations, Impact for the Young People, Change in the Communities, Challenges & Advice, Looking Ahead.

What were people’s experiences of a Welfare-To-Work scheme? / Lewisham Strategic Partnership

In 2012, we spent time with five participants to understand their journeys back to work from long-term unemployment. This film informed and brought to life this written evaluation report.

The film is divided into four sections, navigable via the Chapter button to the right of the play bar: Context & employment history, Importance of personalised one-to-one support, Circular process & system challenges (inc. lack of coordination & inflexible training conditions), Support not taking personal barriers into account.

How do ‘behavioural difficulties’ affect children and their families? / Impact on Urban Health

In partnership with Renaisi, we conducted in-depth ethnographies with 18 families where children had shown persistent violent or defiant behaviour, to produce written portraits, a case study podcast, and an insights report with recommendations for better support. More here.

WHAT WERE THE IMPACTS OF A ‘FAMILY INNOVATION FUND’? / ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

ECC’s ‘Family Innovation Fund’ supported different organisations to help families in volatile situations build resilience, and reduce their reliance on statutory support. We produced a series of these ethnographic video case studies to inform and bring to life the evaluation report.

How is the Violence Reduction Unit’s ‘Stronger Futures Programme 1.0’ impacting young people? / Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime

Co-designed with participant Chloe, this film is part of our ongoing evaluation work with the Violence Reduction Unit – exploring how their Stronger Futures programme supports young people and communities through prevention.

This film is from the first, Stronger Futures 1.0 evaluation, and tell Chloe’s story.

HOW IS THE VIOLENCE REDUCTION UNIT’S ‘STRONGER FUTURES′ PROGRAMME IMPACTING YOUNG PEOPLE? / Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime

We visited three grantee organisations that work with young people across London to produce this summary insights edit, a shorter edit for social media, and individual case-study films. You can see the other films here.

This summary edit is divided into three sections, navigable via the Chapter button to the right of the play bar: About the organisations / What’s been the impact? (with 3 sub-sections) / What works best?

How did the Young Londoners fund help young people? / Greater London Authority

Through 218 youth projects, the Young Londoners fund aimed to help children and young people to fulfil their potential, particularly those at risk of getting caught up in crime. This is a shorter edit for social media – the full case study, produced to accompany the written evaluation report, can be viewed here.

What are the impacts of an after-school support charity? / Into University

IntoUniversity runs after-school centres that provide academic support and mentoring for young people from less privileged backgrounds, to help them attain a university place or pursue a chosen vocation. We spent a month visiting their Brent centre to produce this ethnographic report.

What are the experiences of young people living in temporary housing? / Children’s Rights Alliance for England

This film, co-designed with the young people whose experiences are shared, was shown at The House of Commons to highlight the realities of living in temporary housing.

We conducted interviews with the young people, and then, to protect their anonymity, brought the audio recordings of their words to life using objects and stop-motion animation. The young people also helped out on set, and their hands can be seen in shot.

What socio-economic barriers are faced by full-time, low-income workers? / National Consumer Council

This is one of our older, yet still very pertinent, projects – which was twice shown at The House of Commons.  We spent time with three people across different parts of the country, each working full-time on a low income, to understand their experiences around: jobs and money, housing and transport, time and relationships, and consumer services.