A RESEARCH agency in York agency has teamed up with a top national firm to win a major research contract designed to help London's deprived neighbourhoods.

York-based QA Research and SQW beat off fierce competition to secure the right to conduct an evaluation of the New Deal for Communities (NDC) programme in the capital.

NDC is a key part of the Government's strategy to tackle problems in the most deprived areas in the country.

There are 39 NDC partnerships across England tackling poor job prospects, high levels of crime, educational under-achievement, poor health, and problems associated with housing and the physical environment.

QA Research has already worked with one of them, Preston Road NDC in Hull, to provide valuable information and guidance on what has worked well in the past and expert assistance on planning for the future.

The EC1 area covers parts of Finsbury, Clerkenwell and St Luke's in the London Borough of Islington.

QA Research and SQW will talk to east London residents and EC1 board members before producing six reports assessing progress made so far and highlighting areas which need addressing to ensure the programme's objectives are met.

Matthew Lund, head of QA Research's Community Involvement Team, said: "We're delighted to win this contract, particularly as it makes a nice change for a Yorkshire firm to work in London, rather than the other way around."

QA Research is an independent York-based research agency. Established in 1989, it employs more than 100 staff at its offices at Brackenhill, St George's Place, York.

Updated: 10:36 Wednesday, November 23, 2005