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Background: Little is known about whether digital competence is related to psychological wellbeing, with most previous research focusing on students and elderly people. There is also limited evidence on seasonal changes in psychological wellbeing, particularly in specific groups. Social housing residents are an underserved and under-researched population. The objectives of this study were to explore associations between digital competence (assessed by general technology self-efficacy) and psychological wellbeing (assessed by mental wellbeing and life satisfaction), and to explore seasonal effects, in social housing residents. Methods: A repeated survey design was used. The Happiness Pulse questionnaire with a bespoke digital module was sent via post or e-mail at four timepoints between July 2021 and July 2022 to 167 social housing residents in West Cornwall, England. There were 110 respondents in total; thirty completed all four questionnaires and 59 completed an autumn/winter and summer questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential methods including regression, repeated measures analysis of variance and panel analysis. Results: Significant positive associations were found between digital self-efficacy and mental wellbeing, and between digital self-efficacy and life satisfaction. However, there were no significant seasonal changes in psychological wellbeing. Conclusions: The findings extend the existing literature beyond student and elderly populations and suggest that improving digital competence is a potential pathway to improving psychological wellbeing. Surveys with larger samples and qualitative studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how young people come to be enrolled and engaged in programmes of unpaid environmental conservation in rural areas. Set within a theoretical debate regarding the nature of unpaid work and its relationship to voluntary and coercive forms of environmental action, the paper identifies four pathways and two types of recipient organisations through which young people become involved in efforts to protect and enhance rural landscapes and locales. Drawing on a combination of extended survey and in-depth qualitative research in the west and south of rural England, the paper considers the systems of governance that surround the organisation of these unpaid activities and shows how these are rationalised and designed as practical and embodied experiences of citizenship. The paper argues that enhancing participation rests less on how to foster more young participants into the conservation sector than how to structure these activities in more productive ways that go beyond simple 'sweat equity'. The findings have implications for the training and organisation of volunteers in other sectors. Young People as Volunteers in Conservation Work: Lessons for the Environmental Voluntary Sector. • Young people take various pathways into environmental volunteering; • These pathways determine their experiences and outcomes as volunteers; • Host organisations treat young volunteers differently; • The pathways, motivations, and practical contribution of volunteers are important. • There are implications for other sectors, such as health and social care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate the links and relationships between strategy and operations in local government improvement efforts under the umbrella of the Local Government Modernisation Agenda (LGMA) in England. More specifically, it explores the implementation of structured change methods and performance measurement and management initiatives that claim to have a linked strategic and operational focus through to stakeholder impact. Design/methodology/approach – This research adopts an interpretive multiple case approach (n=5), using in-depth semi-structured interviews and focus groups, as well as substantive archive information. Findings – The structured integration of strategic level policy-setting and its associated operational level activity in local authorities is often obscure and lacking in cohesiveness. Performance measurement and management at the strategic level is, for the most part, driven by emerging legislation and the need for compliance rather than improving service effectiveness. This has led to discontinuity, delays in implementing policy, and criticism of performance measures from service delivery staff. Practical implications – There is a need for improved integration across the strategic-operational divide, which requires improved understanding and translation approaches. Methods adopted from other sectors should be assessed critically and tailored to suit this need rather than adopting an off-the-shelf provision. Originality/value – There is a paucity of in-depth studies relating to performance measurement and management across the strategic-operational span in the public sector in general, and local government in particular. Increased understanding in this area is of critical importance in relation to implementing effectively the current and future modernisation and reform initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the "What Is Crime?" photography competition held by the Centre for Crime and Justice, an educational charity at Kings College London in England. It explains the three categories considered for the said competition, such as environment, finance and violence. It describes the context and theme of some photograph entries for the 2009 competition, as interpreted by the artist who took the picture. The winners of the photography awards are mentioned.