This thesis describes and discusses an investigation into the education provision of The Wildlife Trusts as a UK environmental non-governmental organisation (NGO), comprising 47 local Trusts. Prior to this study, The Wildlife Trusts organisation had not been examined as a whole partnership, as an NGO or as a provider of environmental education. Research questions focus upon what The Wildlife Trusts does as an organisation in terms of providing environmental education and the associated limits and potentials. Specific areas of investigation are The Wildlife Trusts' educational activities, its strengths and weaknesses and its educational culture. Such enquiry is valuable for The Wildlife Trusts itself, other NGOs, environmental educators and indeed all concerned with environmental education provision. The empirical work was conducted as a research-based case study and derives and builds upon research done for a commissioned review of The Wildlife Trusts' education provision. The thesis is influenced by Grounded Theory and draws predominantly on qualitative, but also quantitative techniques for data analysis and presentation. Interviews with Wildlife Trust personnel provided the primary source of data, supported by questionnaires, documentation obtained from Trusts and the author’s personal field notes. It is concluded that The Wildlife Trusts deliver numerous and diverse educational activities, yet neither as a unified NGO nor in sufficient partnership with other NGOs. The Wildlife Trusts is well placed to tailor activities effectively to local community audiences. It is recommended that The Wildlife Trusts overcome internally held negative attitudes towards 'education' through strengthening internal communications and developing a broader concept of 'people work'. It is argued that The Wildlife Trusts NGO has the potential to provide environmental education for all ages in both formal and informal education settings, in particular by providing outdoor and affective experiences on Trusts' reserves.

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The removal of lead, copper and cadmium ions from aqueous streams using lecithin enhanced micro filtration with 0.2μm pore size tubular ceramic membranes has been investigated. Measurements of the surface tension at varying lecithin concentrations were carried out to determine the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of lecithin and the effects of lead ions, mixtures of lead and copper ions, and mixtures of lead, copper and cadmium ions in solutions on the CMC of lecithin. The zeta potential and the effects of the single and multiple metal ions on the zeta potential of lecithin were also investigated. The influence of lecithin concentrations, cross flow velocity and transmembrane pressure on the rejections and steady state permeate flux behaviours were examined. The CMC of lecithin was found to be 9 grl. An increase in metal ion concentration caused a decrease in the CMC and an increase in the zeta potential of lecithin solutions, suggesting the binding of the metal ions onto the lecithin. An increase in lecithin concentration was found to improve metal ions removal. Lecithin showed preference for the metal ions in the order Pb2+ > Cd 2+ > Cu 2+. Metal ion removal was influenced more by lecithin concentration and less by transmembrane pressure and cross flow velocity. The steady state permeate flux and rejection behaviours have been explained by microscopic phenomena and a mathematical model has been developed to predict the steady state permeate flux. The lecithin concentration that remains in the permeate was less than 9% of the feed solution. The study has shown that lecithin enhanced micro filtration is a technically suitable technique for removal of lead, copper and cadmium ions in aqueous solution.

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The research comprises a suite of studies that examines and develops the Lead Authority Partnership Scheme (LAPS) as a central intervention strategy for health and safety by local authority (LA) enforcers. Partnership working is a regulatory concept that in recent years has become more popular but there has been little research conducted to investigate, explore and evaluate its practical application. The study reviewed two contrasting approaches to partnership working between LAs and businesses, both of which were intended to secure improvements in the consistency of enforcement by the regulators and in the health and safety management systems of the participating businesses. The first was a well-established and highly prescriptive approach that required a substantial resource commitment on the part of the LA responsible for conducting a safety management review (SMR) of the business. As a result of his evaluation of the existing ‘full SMR’ scheme, the author developed a second, more flexible approach to partnership working. The research framework was based upon a primarily qualitative methodology intended to investigate and explore the impact of the new flexible arrangements for partnership working. The findings from this study of the flexible development of the scheme were compared and contrasted with those from studies of the established ‘full SMR’ scheme. A substantial degree of triangulation was applied in an attempt to strengthen validity and broaden applicability of the research findings. Key informant interviews, participant observation, document/archive reviews, questionnaires and surveys all their particular part to play in the overall study. The findings from this research revealed that LAPS failed to deliver consistency of LA enforcement across multiple-outlet businesses and the LA enforced business sectors. Improvement was however apparent in the safety management systems of the businesses participating in LAPS. Trust between LA inspector and safety professional was key to the success of the partnerships as was the commitment of these key individuals. Competition for precious LA resources, the priority afforded to food safety over health and safety, the perceived high resource demands of LAPS, and the structure and culture of LAs were identified as significant barriers to LA participation. Flexible approaches, whilst addressing the resource issues, introduced some fresh concerns relating to credibility and delivery. Over and above the stated aims of the scheme, LAs and businesses had their own reasons for participation, notably the personal development of individuals and kudos for the organisation. The research has explored the wider implications for partnership working with the overall conclusion it is most appropriately seen as a strategic level element within a broader structured intervention strategy.

This thesis analyses Scottish households' tenure choice behaviour by using economic approaches. The data set comes from the 1996 Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS). To estimate the household's tenure decision behaviour, two simulation models with different structures are developed. The first tenure choice model contains a simple one-level choice set. A multinomial logit model is employed to estimate three choice alternatives: owner-occupation, social renting and private renting. The second tenure choice model contains a two-level choice structure assuming that the household firstly decides to move or stay and then chooses a tenure alternative. A nested multinomial logit model is employed to estimate the decision to move/stay and the choice of three tenure alternative. The determinants of the two tenure choice models not only include household attributes but also include housing attributes. The household attributes generally consist of the household's demographic and socio-economic variables, while housing attributes include dwelling type, location and neighbourhood variables. In addition, this thesis also includes the housing subsidy and rationing variables to estimates their impacts on tenure choice. The estimation results show that the household long term income, the user cost of housing, housing subsidy and rationing variables, as expected, have the most significant influences on households' tenure decisions in Scotland. Moreover, three policy issues are derived from the results of the tenure choice models. The first issue discusses the simulation of the influences of changes in the income tax rate and the mortgage rationing ratios on tenure choice. The second issue analyses income inequality and tenure polarisation. The third issue examines the distribution of housing subsidy between tenures and income levels.

The aim of this thesis is to examine the extent to which homelessness is a gendered phenomenon. In the homelessness literature direct comparisons between men and women are rare, and the ability to compare is complicated by the tendency for research to be either on 'single homelessness' or 'family homelessness'. This thesis addresses this gap and systemically explores the ways in which homelessness is a gendered phenomenon. The research for this thesis focused on homelessness practices in a specific British city. The approach was an ethnographic one and included interviews with homeless people, homeless service providers, statutory housing officers and an observational element in specialist homeless person's assessment centres. The research found that the services provided to homeless people are not neutral in respect to gender. There were found to be differences in the treatment of men and women while homeless and in the options available to them. There were gender differences in the staff and client approaches at the homeless person's assessment centres. The use of discretion in the provision of help and support for homeless people led to different treatment for women and men. Housing officers generally viewed homeless women as more vulnerable than men, and felt that reduced options for women in terms of service provision and accommodation meant that they deserved more favourable treatment as a result. There were also found to be gendered assumptions built into homelessness legislation. Although homeless women are often seen as more vulnerable than men this was not found to translate into better service provision or options for women. In general there was less emergency and supported accommodation for women although that which was available was smaller and often better quality than men's. There were some clear gaps in provision for homeless people, especially for people with children. The uptake of resettlement services was affected by staff perceptions that women were more able and willing to move into independent accommodation than men.