More than the sum of its parts: How innovative partnership working can improve outcomes for families with multiple and complex needs

Thomas GuineySenior Policy and Learning Manager, Big Lottery Fund

• The Big Lottery Fund

• The ‘Improving Futures’ Programme

• The challenge of partnership working

• Addressing inter-generational disadvantage

• Other sources of funding

BIG in Numbers…

Since June 2004, BIG has awarded over £6 billion to projects supporting health, education, environment and charitable purposes.

In 2012/13 we made 12,000 new awards with a total value of £778m.

88% of our awards are for £10,000 or less

BIG are presently managing 17,000 awards

Over 92% of our funding goes to the “voluntary and community sector

The Improving Futures Programme…

• £26m investment to support families with multiple and complex needs

• 26 VCS-led projects operating across the United Kingdom

• Focus on families with children of primary school age

• We expect to support 10,000 families over 3-5 years

• Significant evaluation of the programme by ECORYS, Family Lives, IPSOS MORI and University of Nottingham

Family reporting social isolation

No history of work within family

Difficulties in keeping up with debt repayments, household bills or rent

Some difficulties in keeping up with debt repayments, household bills or rent

Suspected or reported relationship dysfunction (no counselling)

Domestic abuse (adult harm)

Workless family (over 12 months)

Historical incidence of domestic abuse (over 12 months); separated

Relationship dissolution (divorce or permanent separation)

10%

11%

11%

14%

15%

15%

25%

26%

38%

Ranking of family risk factors

Regular involvement of non-resident parent(s)

Regular participation in family activities

Take-up of free childcare entitlements

Moderation of TV watching and computer use

Family budget in place, and being actively managed

Active and regular supportive contact with friends or community members

Active and regular supportive contact with grandparents / other relatives

Strong and supportive relationships within the immediate family

Take-up of Child Tax Credits

Regular bedtimes, mealtimes and school routine

Adult family members accessing appropriate benefit entitlements

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

14%

21%

23%

25%

31%

31%

37%

37%

38%

44%

46%

Hierarchy of family strengths

Base: 891 families

The profile of Improving Futures families…

Parent A

"Everything seems to have come together, my son and daughter are getting on better and my

daughter is getting on better at school. Overall as a family we feel a lot happier".

Working in Partnership…

• The VCS have a role to play in bridging the gap between families and service providers

• The VCS is a broad and varied sector. It to must work more closely to meet the varied needs of the family

• The importance of defining roles, responsibilities and data sharing arrangements

The challenge of early intervention…

• Projects are responsible for assessing a families ‘needs’ and prioritising resources accordingly

• A focus on primary school aged families. Those that slip through the net of ‘early years’ and ‘youth provision’

• Developmental pathways are rarely linear. Service provision must be equally flexible

The delivery lifecycle…

• The importance of establishing clear referral pathways based upon strong working relationships with local agencies.

• Assessment is a critical step in establishing the tenor and character of the working relationship with families

• Balancing short term need and long-term change

• When to innovate and when to replicate proven practice

Fulfilling Lives: a better start… Up to £165M over the next 10 years

Fulfilling Lives: supporting people with multiple and complex needs…

• Up to £100 million

• Grants of up to £10 million for between five and eight years.

• Geographically targeted in 15 areas in England

• A focus on ‘system re-design’: showcasing more effective and efficient ways of organising and delivering services.

Awards for All Funding from £300 and £10,000

Approximately 7000 awards with a 50% success rate.

Perfect for those taking their first step onto the funding ladder

Reaching Communities Funding from £10,000 to £500,000

available. Investment of £157m in 2012/13 Demand is high. In 2010/11 we received

5,730 outline proposals requesting over £1 billion

Open funding at the heart of what we do...

www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

www.improvingfutures.org/

thomas.guiney@biglotteryfund.org.uk