Project Overview
Kailo, a community-focused research pilot project, was looking to bring together a diverse group of researchers (freelancers and staff from University College London), to tackle some big questions around community-building and social impact. The project aimed to create a research platform that helps improve the mental health of young people in both Devon and Newham, by improving the outcomes and indicators that impact young people’s mental health in those areas. I joined the Newham team to help drive the project forward, bringing my experience in digital tools and evaluation to the table. Our goal was to build a strong foundation for the Kailo project, ensuring it could serve as a valuable resource for communities around the UK.
Working with the Kailo team was all about collaboration and sharing ideas. We had a mix of in-person meetings and online sessions, making sure everyone was on the same page and that we could keep the momentum going. My role involved helping to conduct research throughout the project lifecycle, communicating my evaluation findings and ensuring that all team members could easily contribute and access the information I’d saved within our Notion system.
Project Outcome
Our collaboration led to some great outcomes for the Kailo project: We managed to create a great evaluation framework for the project, with clear pathways for how it could grow and evolve over time. Our research was also able to provide information that led to deeper insights and more cohesive strategies on how to move the project out of it’s pilot phase.
As a result the Kailo project is now well on its way to becoming a leading body of research on how the mental health of young people can be improved across the UK. Being part of this project was not only rewarding but also a great example of how teamwork and the right tools can bring big ideas to life.
