We are a team of researchers from the National Centre for Cross-Disciplinary Social Work (NCCDSW) at Bournemouth University (BU), and we have been working on a project to protect vulnerable people from fraud and financial scams. We are proud to announce that we have won the ‘Enriching Society’ Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Award for our work, which is one of the highest accolades at BU. We have also been recognised as the first and only institution to win the prestigious CTSI Hero Award 2017 for our impact on professional practice across the country. We have been working with multiple national partners to raise the quality of professional practice safeguarding vulnerable members of society, and we have had an impact on government, research, education, and policy.
The Background of Our Project
Fraud and financial scams are a serious and growing problem that affects millions of people every year, especially older and vulnerable people. Scammers use various methods to trick people into giving away their money or personal information, such as phone calls, emails, letters, or online platforms. Scams can have devastating consequences for the victims, such as financial losses, emotional distress, loss of trust, and social isolation.
Our project aims to investigate the causes and effects of scamming, and to develop effective ways to prevent and respond to scamming. We work with key partners from across the public, voluntary, financial and law enforcement sectors, such as:
- The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)
- The National Trading Standards Scams Team
- Royal Mail
- Age UK
- The Burdett Trust for Nursing
- The Department of Justice
- The Home Office
- The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Financial Crime and Scamming
Together with these partners, we are committed to making a positive difference for the people and organisations that we work with.
The Outcomes of Our Project
Our project has resulted in several positive outcomes, such as:
- We have carried out research, funded by many concerned organisations, to explore the impact of scamming on vulnerable individuals and how to support them
- We have written a key textbook as national guidance on safeguarding adults from scamming and mental capacity issues
- We have published articles in academic and professional journals to disseminate our findings and recommendations
- We have developed tools and resources to educate professionals on how to deal with scamming and those who fall victim to scams
- We have been involved in multiple Festival of Learning and Festival of Social Science events to engage the public in discussions about scamming and how to protect themselves
- We have used our tools and resources at Glastonbury Festival to raise awareness of scamming among festival-goers
The Recognition of Our Project
Our project has also been recognised as a fantastic example of Fusion in action, which is BU’s unique approach to combining research, education, and professional practice. We have shown how professional education can be delivered in effective and appropriate ways, how research can be used to both inform education and change practice, and how to influence and improve policy and professional practice.
We have also been recognised as the first and only institution to win the prestigious CTSI Hero Award 2017, which is given to candidates who have made outstanding contributions to the field of consumer protection. The award was presented by the CTSI at their annual conference in Harrogate in 2017.
We are also honoured to receive the ‘Enriching Society’ Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Award for our work, which is one of the highest accolades at BU. The award celebrates staff who have made an exceptional contribution to enriching society through their work. The award was presented by Professor John Vinney, Vice-Chancellor of BU, at a ceremony on 8 June 2018.
The Celebration of Our Project
We were delighted to be nominated for an award for our work by Professor Sam Porter, who praised our innovation and impact on safeguarding vulnerable members of society. We thoroughly enjoyed an evening of celebrating our achievements, as well as those of our colleagues across the university. We would like to congratulate all of last night’s winners and thank everyone who has supported our project and our work over the years. We hope that our work will continue to make a positive difference for vulnerable people who are at risk of scamming.
