This research aims to provide an overview of the trends in crime and victimisation in an inner city area over the last thirty years. In this period it is widely recognised that the inner city has undergone major changes involving significant population shifts. The London borough of Islington is taken as a point of reference because it exhibits significant changes in the composition of its population over the last thirty years as well as experiencing major changes in its leisure and consumer activities. At the same time it includes an interesting mix of gentrified areas combined with pockets of poverty and deprivation. The principal aim of the research is to examine changes in the distribution of crime and victimisation in this particular context. In 1986 a landmark study of crime and victimisation was carried out and published in the form of The Islington Crime Survey (Jones, McLean and Young 1986). This study sought to both extend and qualify the findings of the then British Crime Survey (currently referred to as the Crime Survey for England and Wales) which collected national data. It was recognised that the form and level of crime varies significantly by area and that if victimisation surveys are going to inform policy then they have to be detailed and localised. For example, local crime surveys like The Islington Crime Survey (ICS) are able to identify specific streets and areas where people feel unsafe and can provide policy makers with the information that allows them to make such areas safer. They also allow assessments by residents of police performance and the opportunity for residents to express their priorities and concerns. Nationally, there has been a significant decrease in most forms of recorded crime over the last two decades. This research provides an investigation of this decrease in an inner city area and aim to identify which groups, if any, have benefited from this decrease. The survey will also look at repeat victimisation since it is know that some of the most victimised groups tend to be repeatedly victimised and the aim will be to see if these levels of repeat victimisation have increased or decreased over time. One of the main aims of the survey is to gain information of the experiences of victimisation amongst different ethnic groups and also to examine their relation with the police. There will also be a focus on domestic violence, fear of crime, as well as forms of commercial crime. The research will also draw on other data sources that provide information on crime in the borough that have been produced over the past thirty years in order to identify trends. The identification of these trends will in turn be linked to an analysis of the changing economic and social context in which they are taking place. In this way the research will examine changes in the distribution of victimisation in relation to the changing social composition and economic activity in the borough. This form of analysis should be able to say something significant about the changing nature of urban life and about people's concerns and experiences, which should provide some useful insights into the changing dynamics of urban culture. There is considerable debate by academic researchers about the nature and direction of urban change and in particular how these changes relate to crime. There are also debates about the degree to which various crime prevention measures have been effective in reducing crime. By identifying urban trends in conjunction with changing patterns of crime this research provides a unique opportunity to increase our understanding of some of the most significant developments that are taking place in contemporary society.

Many hospital trusts and other healthcare organisations have invested in arts programmes, via the installation of art works in hospital spaces, artist residencies and the development of enrichment activities such as dog patting and music workshops. Research has shown that these interventions have a positive effect on patient wellbeing, including mental health, anxiety, pain intensity, need for medication and length of stay in hospital. The research has also shown a positive effect for staff training and development. To date there has been no research regarding the potential benefits of providing access to collections in hospitals, despite the fact that the majority of museums have active outreach programmes and are vigorously encouraged to widen access to their collections, particularly for excluded audiences. \nThe aim of this research is to understand the potential and value of taking handling collections from museums, libraries and archives into hospitals and other healthcare organisations, such as care homes. Preliminary research begun at University College London Hospital by the applicants, has shown that object handling sessions resulted in an increase in patient wellbeing and patient's perception of their health status. Further, that patients felt positive about the role of object handling sessions as a distraction from everyday ward life and sessions have a positive impact on relationships amongst staff and patients. Importantly the pilot research has highlighted the deep emotional responses evoked in hospitalised patients handling museum objects. Whilst this may be highly beneficial, the full psychological impact on patients and professionals leading the sessions needs to be carefully assessed.\nThe main objective of the research is to develop an effective and robust protocol for heritage engagement with health, based on thorough research. The protocol will include guidelines for best practice, examples of effective session development and delivery, and guidance on establishing new relationships with healthcare organisations. The research will fully evaluate the psychological and physical impact of object handling on patients, including the role of such sessions on staff and those individuals delivering sessions. Research Assistants will collect, analyse and evaluate data obtained from handling session and will address questions such as: How do different patients respond to handling sessions? Are there trends in which type of objects are preferred in handling? Do differences in the profession of the individual leading the session affect the outcomes? What intrinsic factors are important in the development and delivery of an effective object handling session? \nA freelance artist will explore the creative element of patient object handling sessions. Working with patients, relatives, volunteers, hospital and heritage staff the artist will interpret the research for a broader audience seeking to promote the positive benefits of object handling. This aspect of the research will result in material developed by the artist for exhibitions and displays, culminating in virtual on-line exhibitions, accessible via the project website. The artist will address the question: What are the creative outcomes of heritage enrichment in hospitals?\nData from a variety of institutions from across the UK will be used to gain an overview of the role of object handling. Seven partner organisations including The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, hospitals, a national museum, plus local authority, university and independent museums, libraries and archive services will provide data and information from sessions conducted at regional hospitals and other healthcare organisations. Using a standard methodology to be developed by the project team, partners will work closely with the Research Assistants and Artist to collate data and establish a broad view of the potential, value and benefits of embedding heritage in healthcare.