North East Autism Society
Project summary
YES North East was funded as a part of YFFs ‘Development’ stream in 2021 to support neurodiverse young people toward EET outcomes. In addition to the barriers many young people face, such as the challenging labour market, lack of experience in searching and applying for jobs, and the impact the pandemic has had on young people’s confidence and motivation, we know that neurodiverse young people face additional barriers to entering the labour market, these may include personal factors such as social anxiety but also employer perceptions of neurodiversity.
This intervention featured a set curriculum for participants to learn about job searching and application skills they may not have already had and included socialisation activities. This intervention was delivered by knowledgeable delivery staff with lived experience of neurodiversity.
This process study aimed to:
- Identify how the support model operates and the programme’s Theory of Change
- Support North East Autism Society to understand which elements of delivery work most effectively and why
- Support improvements to the programme and data collection processes, to build organisational capacity and assess the feasibility of further evaluation.
The evaluation included a process study to develop and test the Theory of Change, understand participants outcomes, and identify any refinements which could be made to improve delivery.
The mixed method evaluation drew on evidence from:
- monitoring and outcomes data
- participant surveys
- depth interviews with participants, staff, referral and delivery partners, and employers
The study also aimed to understand the feasibility of conducting an impact evaluation of the YES North East programme.
As a part of this work, YFF commissioned Learning & Work Institute to investigate whether an impact study design such as an RCT or QED would be possible with this intervention. The feasibility study suggested this would not be feasible; however, there are some areas for potential further study, such as understanding whether a lived experience of neurodiversity is a critical factor in the delivery of this intervention.
Evaluation conclusions
Findings from the evaluation suggest the YES North East model has successfully supported participants to move into, and closer to, work, with 14% moving into employment, a further 14% moving into education, and 36% having engaged in volunteering or work experience.
The evidence also provides a clear indication of improvements in priority areas for participants, including increased confidence, self-belief, wellbeing, and social interaction. Notably, survey data showed that 59% of respondents experienced an improvement in their wellbeing, and 67% experienced an improvement in their confidence. There was also some evidence of improved capability to look for work and enhanced employment-related aspirations.
While it is clear that YES North East had a positive impact on the participants it supported, the programme fell short of the targets originally proposed. Challenges with referrals and recruitment meant the programme did not meet its target of engaging 195 young people. Furthermore, at 14%, the proportion of participants gaining employment post-programme was substantially lower than the 20% expected. The number of participants moving into education or training also fell short by the same margin.
There were improvements recommended to improve the delivery of this programme, such as expanding recruitment efforts, and expanding and strengthening local partnerships.