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Changing Futures

Changing Futures

Process, impact and economic evaluation. People experiencing multiple disadvantage. Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Changing Futures is a £91.8 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 2026.

Cordis Bright is undertaking the evaluation of Changing Futures in partnership with CFE Research, Revolving Doors Agency and University of Sheffield.

The objectives of our evaluation are to:

  • Provide evidence on whether (and why/how) Changing Futures has made a difference to individuals who experience multiple disadvantage.
  • Provide evidence on whether (and why/how) Changing Futures has made a difference to how public service systems operate, including considering how systems-level changes affect the way services operate and are delivered and experienced by people who experience multiple disadvantage.
  • Assess the value for money of the programme and make recommendations on the most effective use of any additional resources going into this area in the future.

So far, our work has involved:

  • Undertaking a feasibility study on how best to undertake the evaluation.
  • Producing a baseline report which sets out the position at the start of the programme.
  • Completing two rapid evidence assessments which present evidence underpinning some of the approaches being taken in Changing Futures. One is on trauma-informed approaches to supporting people experiencing multiple disadvantage, and the second on frontline support models for people experiencing multiple disadvantage.
  • Undertaking fieldwork with Changing Futures participants, people with lived experience of multiple disadvantage, and operational and strategic Changing Futures staff and wider stakeholders, and data analysis to inform further reports on the progress made by the programme.

Our work has resulted in a range of reports, linked below. The most recent fourth interim report was published in February 2025, exploring progress and impact after the programme had been running for approximately two and a half years. It demonstrates that the programme has helped local areas to deliver better support and outcomes for people experiencing multiple disadvantage who access specialist services funded by Changing Futures. The support from Changing Futures has helped participants to better access the services they need to make positive progress in several important areas of their lives. This includes improved wellbeing, reduced rough sleeping and wider homelessness, reduced need for emergency support from health services, and reduced experiences of domestic abuse.

The report also explores pathways into and through support for people experiencing multiple disadvantage. Support delivered under Changing Futures has enabled people experiencing multiple disadvantage to engage with help by providing support when they were ready for it and at their pace. The report provides examples of how local areas have delivered this kind of support. However, the programme’s timeframe, wider contextual demand for services and constrained resource remain ongoing challenges for developing and delivering support which meets people where they are at in this way.

The report includes a specific focus on whether and how Changing Futures is improving local areas’ ability to ensure support reaches people experiencing multiple disadvantage from marginalised or minority groups. It outlines strategies local areas are taking to engage people from these groups, and to understand more about the most effective ways to do this. Overall, local areas have made progress in gaining an understanding of the needs and barriers facing people experiencing multiple disadvantage from marginalised or minority groups. That said, there is scope to improve this understanding further, and to develop and implement services and support models which better engage and support people from these groups.

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

Resources