We’re pleased to share the third interim report from the evaluation of the Changing Futures programme, delivered in partnership with CFE Research, Revolving Doors Agency and the University of Sheffield.

Changing Futures is a £77 million initiative between the UK Government and The National Lottery Community Fund. It seeks to test innovative approaches to improving outcomes for people experiencing multiple disadvantage (defined as experience of a combination of some or all of homelessness, mental health challenges, contact with the criminal justice system, substance misuse and domestic abuse). The programme is running in 15 areas across England from 2021 to 2025.

This report explores progress and impact after the programme had been running for approximately two years. It highlights that:

• Participants are making progress towards more fulfilled and stable lives, showing positive changes in areas including A&E callouts, ambulance attendances, domestic abuse and rough sleeping.
• A trauma-informed approach is helping to build trust and facilitate tailored support for participants, with progress towards trauma-informed local systems in some areas.
• The caseworker model is effective and is key to supporting participants, helping them to access wider services when needed. However, the embeddedness of this role in the wider system in Changing Futures areas and its sustainability beyond the programme is unclear.

This is part of a series of reports from the evaluation available on the government website here.