Neighbourhoods That Work Final Evaluation Report 2020
In this summary
Executive summary
Introduction
In March 2019 Economic Research Services Ltd (ERS) was commissioned by Great Yarmouth Borough Council to evaluate the Neighbourhoods That Work Programme (NTW). The delivery model is based principally on the theory of connection; strong communities that are well connected and supported by appropriate community development, and other specialist expertise, are resilient and reduce the demand for support from statutory services.
This report summarises the impact of the investment and opportunities for the future. It covers the impact on people, the neighbourhoods as geographic places, service providers, and wider stakeholders. It also considers the economic and social impact generated alongside evidence that supports the approach to community development and its continued relevance looking forward.
Programme rationale
The NTW Programme was established to:
- support thriving communities and its idea of how to achieve this is to link up individuals within their communities (increase social capital and resilience)
- enable public and voluntary services to better meet the needs of people (responsive and effective public services)
- provide employability support for those who are long-term unemployed (build up skills and training of residents and encourage employment opportunities that match local resident's capabilities) and engage local employers with their community
The NTW Programme was informed by a clear evidence base on the need for improved person-centred approaches to linking local people into services they need but were not likely to access.
The impact on people
The NTW Programme has made a significant impact supporting people, including some of the most vulnerable people with nowhere else to turn. People benefit from having access to the social networks and relationships which form a community. This may be, for example, the benefits to someone's mental health of being able to meaningfully converse with a friend or neighbour regularly, thereby reducing social isolation and lowering the risk of experiencing other physical health conditions. We know that:
- almost 4,000 people have made new connections, with 1,399 new friendships formed, having a significant impact on tackling social isolation
- 633 residents have become more confident in taking part in community activity by joining a new group or network
- over 400 people have been supported to overcome at least one personal challenge
- over 1,300 people who engaged at the gateway to NTW experienced a smooth, seamless introduction into wider services. 636 people reported improved wellbeing from having their issues addressed
We have interviewed local people and understand how the support from NTW funded staff have improved lives in so many ways. The community development work undertaken did not involve doing everything for every person or every group but identified opportunities to offer support that acted as a catalyst and widened expansion of services that became self-sufficient.
We know that 170 separate groups have been supported that provide a space for local people to take a more active role in their community; and that in excess of £1.5m of additional funds have been levered into NTW communities.
The place-based impact
The focus on three geographical areas provides the programme with a clear focus on a cohort of local people who are in significant need. The approach of targeting NTW Programme activity at the most disadvantaged communities remains appropriate, enabling a real focus of resources on the people most in need of support.
The evaluation has identified the scale of work undertaken and the 'golden threads' that link activity and positive outcomes for local people. However, there is limited discernible change in headline indicators for neighbourhoods - the areas benefiting from NTW remain the most disadvantaged across the borough. This reflects the fact that deep-seated poverty cannot be resolved in such a short time period and that the NTW Programme was intended as part of a wider, longer-term interventions to reduce disadvantage.
The wards around Great Yarmouth town centre have a transient population, as the 'arriving point' for new people seeking cheaper housing. Such households new to the borough also require additional support services. The housing offer in such neighbourhoods presents a cyclical challenge for those seeking to lead the creation of resilient and stable communities.
Influence and impact on partners
We know that NTW has had an impact upon the design and delivery of a number of key services, across a range of organisations including Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Great Yarmouth and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group, Norfolk County Council, East Coast College and range of voluntary sector organisations including: Voluntary Norfolk; Mancroft Advice Project; DIAL; and Norfolk and Waveney Mind.
By working across partners to enhance awareness and increase collaboration, a total of 25 services reported a decrease in their service being duplicated elsewhere and that 79 separate service providers reported that the NTW Programme has improved their reach to the most vulnerable people in communities. Consideration needs to be given to ensuring there is a voice to articulate ideas for ongoing service improvement based upon the real-time perspective of service users.
Impact on the economic growth agenda
The investment has directly evidenced supporting 158 people into employment. The actual number is likely to be much higher due to the complexity of tracking the impact of individuals. More widely, almost 300 people with complex needs reported improved confidence in competing for jobs following volunteering or work placement/taster. Over 700 local people have enhanced their skills as a direct consequence of programme activity.
In total, the estimated net economic impact of the project is just over £750,000. In addition, additional tax-payer savings from a reduction in employment related benefit is estimated at £584,241, with housing benefit savings of a further £204,205 per annum. On a local level, sustained employment has increased Council Tax generation by £22,624 per annum through a reduction in non-working households.
Since October 2018 there was less direct emphasis upon the employability agenda since the emergence of the complementary Building Better Opportunities programmes and the cessation of NTW roles that previously underpinned employability support activity. However, the NTW Programme still contributed to this agenda through community-based opportunities.
Wider social impact
The NTW Programme has been successful in improving the lives of people across the three target areas. Through direct action - advice, support, advocating - often in areas 'between the cracks' of mainstream service provision, they have generated significant added value, in the form of:
- reduction in: social isolation; worklessness and associated benefits to DWP and NHS, substance misuse alleviated; reoffending; homelessness and failed tenancies; debt and improved money management
- improvements in: skill levels; active citizenship and volunteering; confidence; mental health; physical health; and digital inclusion
The impact has been established by scrutinising the NTW management information database and sense checking the scale of attribution made with the programme management team. The overall social and economic impact generated is circa £16.5m, based upon known monetary values attributed to each of the benefits identified in the bullet points above.
