The Changing Futures programme is a 5-year £91.8 million initiative between MHCLG and The National Lottery Community Fund. It seeks to test innovative approaches to improving outcomes for people experiencing multiple disadvantage – including combinations of homelessness, drug and/or alcohol problems, mental ill health, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system. The programme is running in 15 areas, between them covering 34 top-tier council areas, across England from 2021 to 2026.

Cordis Bright undertook the evaluation of Changing Futures between 2022 and 2025, in partnership with CFE Research, Revolving Doors Agency and the Centre for Health and Related Research at the University of Sheffield.

The evaluation found:

• For individuals - the Changing Futures programme has contributed to improved quality of life for participants through the caseworker teams and associated services funded by the programme. The combination of practical and emotional support and improved access to and engagement with external services all contribute to early outcomes such as improved housing and stabilisation or reduction in substance use.
• For services - the programme has contributed to change through workforce development activities and multidisciplinary teams that have helped to engage and influence other services. However, evidence of change mainly relates to Changing Futures teams or organisations working closely with the programme.
• For wider system - the Changing Futures programme has made progress towards increasing strategic alignment and creating more joined-up commissioning. However, stakeholders from most partnerships indicated that the pace of change at the strategic level was slower than hoped for.

For more information or to discuss your own work to tackle multiple disadvantage, please contact Hannah Nickson (project director).

Resources

• Evaluation of the Changing Futures programme - final report
  
• Systems change learning - Changing Futures
• Participant - Changing Futures Infographic
• Achievements - Changing Futures Infographic
• Achievements - Changing Futures Infographic
• Caseworker - Changing Futures Infographic
• Housing and Homelessness - Changing Futures Infographic
• Data Tables - Changing Futures final evaluation report
• Supplementary Analysis - Changing Futures evaluation
• Data Tables - Changing Futures supplementary analysis
• Interim report, February 2025.
• Interim report, October 2024.
• Interim report, April 2024.
• Baseline report.
• The role of Changing Futures caseworkers: a deep dive
• Trauma-informed approaches to supporting people experiencing multiple disadvantage: a rapid evidence assessment.
• Frontline support models for people experiencing multiple disadvantage: a rapid evidence assessment.
• Feasibility study: final report and annex.