Dr Shirley Evans

Research

Currently Programme Manager on the Big Lottery funded UK Meeting Centres Support Programme project. This involves supporting organisations and individuals to set up Meeting Centres for people with dementia and their families in their local community. This project takes forward the experience and learning from the MeetingDem project as below.

Shirley was co-investigator on MeetingDem, project managing on a day-to-day basis across the UK partners and co-ordinating with the European partners; developing evaluation documentation; supporting implementation of the evaluation; writing reports, dissemination materials and preparing publications and investigating related opportunities.

In previous roles Shirley initiated a portfolio of a wide range of projects both European and UK funded. These included projects relating to technology, inclusion and education and training packages for teachers and trainers with funding from Leonardo, Grundtvig and ESF, the Learning and Skills Council, Quality Improvement Agency, Becta and Jisc.

At Jisc TechDis, one of her main roles was to develop funding calls, identify challenges, workup the brief and the documentation, assess bids and advise on the projects once awarded.

She has contributed to a large number of bids in an advisory and consultancy capacity.

PhD Project Ideas

Seminars

Brooker, D. & Evans, S.B. & Watts, M. (May, 2016). Pioneer workshop: Meeting Centres Support Programme. Bury Port, UK

Brooker, D. & Evans, S.B. & Watts, M. (April, 2016). Pioneer workshop: Meeting Centres Support Programme. London, UK

Brooker, D. & Evans, S.B. & Watts, M. (March, 2016). Pioneer workshop: Meeting Centres Support Programme. Hereford, UK

Brooker, D. & Evans, S.B. & Watts, M. (March, 2016). Pioneer workshop: Meeting Centres Support Programme. Brecon Theatre Wales, UK

Brooker, D. & Evans, S.B. & Watts, M. (February, 2016). Pioneer workshop: Meeting Centres Support Programme. Northampton University, UK

Brooker, D. & Evans, S. B. & Watts, M (January, 2016). Pioneer workshop: Meeting Centres Support Programme. Worcester University, UK

Publications and Conference Papers

Publications

Urbanska, K., Szcześniak D, Evans,S…., et al (2019), Do people with dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairments experience Stigma? A cross-cultural investigation between Italy, Poland and the UK, Aging and Mental Health (awaiting publication);

Evans, S., Brooker, D., Evans, S., et al, (2018), The impact of the implementation of the Dutch combined Meeting Centres Support Programme for family caregivers of people with dementia in Italy, Poland and UK, Aging and Mental Health, 6:1-11 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2018.1544207;

Brooker D, Evans S, Evans S, et al. (2018), Evaluation of the implementation of the Meeting Centres Support Program in Italy, Poland, and the UK; exploration of the effects on people with dementia. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2018;33:883–892. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.4865

Szcześniak, D., Dröes, R., Meiland, F., Brooker, D., Evans, S, B., et al (2018). Does the community-based combined Meeting Center Support Programme (MCSP) make the pathway to day-care activities easier for people living with dementia? A comparison before and after implementation of MCSP in three European countries. International Psychogeriatrics, 30(11), 1717-1734. doi:10.1017/S1041610217002885;

Brooker D, Evans S, Evans S, et al. (2018), Evaluation of the implementation of the Meeting Centres Support Program in Italy, Poland, and the UK; exploration of the effects on people with dementia. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2018;33:883–892. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.4865

Evans, S.B., Evans, S.C., Bray, J., (2017), The iPad project: Introducing iPads into care homes in the UK to support digital inclusion Journal of Gerontechnology (under review);

Meiland, F., Innes, A., Mountain, G., Robinson, R., van der Roest, H., Antonio, J., Gove, D., Thyrian, R., Evans, S., Dröes, R.M., Franco-Martín, M., (2017), Technologies to support community-dwelling persons with dementia: an INTERDEM position paper on issues regarding development, usability, (cost)effectiveness, implementation and ethics under review Journal of Medical Internet Research

Brooker, D., Droes, R. M., Evans, S., (2016), Framing outcomes of post-diagnostic psychosocial interventions in dementia: The Adaptation-Coping Model and Adjusting to Change. Working with Older People. Vol 21: Issue 1

Evans, S. (2015), CMALT: recent trends in learning technology specialisms and CPD opportunities. Conference paper presented at ALT-C, Manchester, 2015   

Minocha, S., McNulty, C., Evans, S. (2015) Imparting digital skills to people aged 55 years and over in the UK, [online] http://oro.open.ac.uk/44009/, (last accessed 19th October 2015) Open University Milton Keynes, UK

Evans, S., Evans S., Bray, J., (2015), How iPads can support people with dementia living in care homes [online] http://www.anchor.org.uk/media-centre/latest-news/study-reveals-ipads-have-substantial-potential-improve-quality-life (last accessed 19th October 2015 

Evans, S., and Minocha, S. (2013), E-learning and over 65s: designing for accessibility and digital inclusion, Conference paper to be presented at 29th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, San Diego, CA, (accepted for presentation in March 2014).

Evans, S., (2013), Enable – a European Network on ICT to Support Lifelong Learning by Disabled Students. Conference paper to be presented at 29th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, San Diego, CA, (accepted for presentation in March 2014).

Evans, S., Hersh S., and Ball, S., (2013), Enable Network on ICT to Support Lifelong Learning by Disabled Students. Abstract in: ALT-C 2013 Building New Cultures of Learning, 11-13 September 2012, University of Manchester, UK.

Evans, S., and Minocha, S., (2013), Accessibility, usability and safety of online environments: the implications for designing e-learning for older people. Abstract in: ALT-C 2013 A confrontation with reality, 11-13 September 2012, University of Manchester, UK.

Ball, S., Evans, S., and Loftfield, A., (2013) Discover Jisc: Promoting Inclusive 
Learning and Teaching in the Further Education and Skills Sector. In the proceedings of International Conference on Using New Technologies for Inclusive Learning, Enable 2013, M.A. Hersh (ed.).  

Evans, S., and Featherstone, L., (2013), In-Folio: an easy to use e-portfolio for learners with learning difficulties or disabilities. In the proceedings of International Conference on Using New Technologies for Inclusive Learning, Enable 2013, M.A. Hersh (ed.).  

Evans, S., and Loftfield, A., (2013), The Jisc TechDis Toolbox and Voices and the SBRI Assistive Technology Competitions. In the proceedings of International Conference on Using New Technologies for Inclusive Learning, Enable 2013, M.A. Hersh (ed.). 

Hartnett, E., Minocha, S., Palmer, J., Petre, M., Evans, S., Middup, C. P., Dunn, K., Murphy, B., Heap, T., and Dave Roberts (2013). Older People and Online Social Interactions: An Empirical Investigation. In the proceedings of 18th UKAIS Conference on Information Systems.

Minocha, S., Hartnett, E., Dunn, K., Evans, S., Heap, T., Middup, C. P., Murphy, B., and Roberts, D., (2013) Conducting Empirical Research with Older People. In the proceedings of HCI 2013, 27th April 2013, Paris, France.

Evans, S., and Ball, S., (2012), Accessibility Maturity of TEL in UK HE: JISC TechDis lifts the lid on a decade of progress. In proceedings of: 7th International Blended Learning Conference, University of Hertfordshire.

Evans, S., McNaught, A., (2012), JISC TechDis Voices for learners - bringing synthetic speech to the mainstream. Abstract in: ALT-C 2012 a confrontation with reality, 11-13 September 2012, University of Manchester, UK.

Evans, S., Featherstone, L. (2012), JISC TechDis Toolbox - digital resources to enhance employability skills for disabled students. Abstract in: ALT-C 2012 a confrontation with reality, 11-13 September 2012, University of Manchester, UK.

Evans, S., Taylor, J., Berkley, V., Wilder, B., Featherstone, L. (2012), E-Safety and Vulnerable Learners: a cross-sectoral approach to developing resources. Abstract in: ALT-C 2012 a confrontation with reality, 11-13 September 2012, University of Manchester, UK.

Evans, S. (2011), Evaluating a Higher Education Inclusive Practice and Learning Scheme in the UK. Abstract presented at 27th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, San Diego, CA. 

Evans, S. (2011), In-Folio: an accessible e-portfolio for students with disabilities. Abstract presented at 27th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, San Diego, CA.

McNaught, A., Evans, S., and Ball, S., (2010), E-Books and Inclusion: Dream Come True or Nightmare. In proceedings of: Computers Helping People with Special Needs, 12th International Conference, ICCHP 2010, Vienna, Austria, July 14-16, 2010. Proceedings, Part I

Evans, S (2009), E-learning and Blindness: evaluating the quality of the learning experience to inform policy and practice. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/321/ (last accessed 1st March 2014) Ph.D. thesis, University of Birmingham. 

Evans, S., and Douglas, G. (2008). E-Learning and Blindness: A Comparative Study of the Quality of an E-Learning Experience. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness. 102, 2, pp. 77-88

Sales, A., Evans, S., Musgrove, N., and Homfray, R. (2006), Full-screen magnification on a budget: Using a hardware-based multi-display graphics card as a screen-magnifier, British Journal of Visual Impairment, September; vol. 24, 3: pp.135-140

Evans, S. (2002), Using a Virtual Learning Environment to deliver transitional skills at the Royal National College for the Blind. British Journal of Visual Impairment, September 2002; vol. 20, 3: pp.101-104

Conference papers

Evans, S., and Brooker, D. (2018) The Meeting Centre Support Programme: Scaling up across the UK (UK MCSP) Conference presentation at the UK Dementia Congress, Brighton;

Evans, S. (2017) Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Meeting Centres Support Programme for people living with dementia and their carers in Italy, Poland and the UK. Conference presentation at the Alzheimer Europe conference, Berlin;

Brooker, D., and Evans, S., (2017) The implementation and evaluation of the Meeting Centre Support Programme in the UK, Italy and Poland. Conference presentation at the UK Dementia Congress, Doncaster;

Brooker, D., Droes, RM., Evans S., (2015), Facilitators and barriers to opening a Meeting Centre for people with dementia and their carers in the United Kingdom. Conference paper to be presented at the UK Dementia Congress, Telford, November 2015;

Brooker, D., and Evans, S. (2015), Meeting Centres: an innovative way of supporting people with mild to moderate dementia and their families through an evidence-based, person-centred approach. Conference paper presented at the British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, July 2015.

External Responsibilities

Shirley is a former Trustee and Honorary Secretary of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT). The purpose of the Association is ensuring that use of learning technology is effective and efficient, informed by research and practice, and grounded in an understanding of the underlying technologies, their capabilities and the situations into which they are placed. Shirley plays a key role in the Certified Membership (CMALT) scheme, acting as a lead assessor and delivering webinars for candidates and new assessors.

Shirley is a co-founder and Secretary of Dementia Friendly Leominster which is a coalition of organisations and individuals who are committed to enabling people to live well with dementia in their community.

Shirley is a Trustee (Treasurer - Projects and Finance) of Leominster Meeting Centre for people affected by dementia and carers.