Home Publications St Giles’ Choices Programme – case studies

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Authors

Susan Mackay, Rosie Gloster, Ellis Akhurst (IPSOS), Nadia Butler, Ellie McCoy, Hanah Timpson, Zara Quigg (Liverpool John Moores University)

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Livepool John Moores University

What Works: testing youth employment interventions  · 

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Livepool John Moores University
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeWhat Works: testing youth employment interventions

StatusPast

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About

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a research university with roots dating back to 1823. It prioritises research and knowledge exchange to provide solutions for 21st-century challenges and has a strong civic mission to contribute to the social and economic growth of its region and beyond.

Working with Youth Futures

We comissioned to conduct an impact evaluation of Choices as part of our What Works programme testing promising youth employment interventions.

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St Giles Trust

Building Futures  · 

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St Giles Trust
Delivery partner

ProgrammeBuilding Futures

StatusActive

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St Giles is dedicated to helping people facing disadvantage overcome barriers caused by poverty, violence, exploitation and involvement with the criminal justice system. Through mentoring, practical support and employability programmes, the charity helps young people build confidence, develop skills and progress into positive education, training and employment outcomes.

Working with Youth Futures

As part of Youth Futures Foundation’s Building Futures programme, St Giles will deliver early-intervention mentoring to 565 young people across London, the West Midlands and Bedfordshire.

We previously supported St Giles Trust to deliver its Choices programme as part of our What Works programme testing promising youth employment interventions.

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Ipsos

What Works: testing youth employment interventions  · 

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Ipsos
Evaluation panel, Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeWhat Works: testing youth employment interventions

StatusActive

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Ipsos is a leading provider of research and evaluation services to local and national government, public sector agencies, third sector organisations and What Works Centres in the UK. Its dedicated Policy and Evaluation Unit is made up of over 50 highly-skilled evaluators including economists, statisticians, quantitative impact evaluation specialists and theory-based method experts. The team draws on policy and methodological expertise from across our wider Public Affairs division to establish high-performing project teams with the right skills, knowledge and experience to support clients at the forefront of pressing and complex policy challenges.

Working with Youth Futures

Ipsos collaborates with us on research and evaluation activity as a member of our evaluation panel.

Summary

We commissioned Ipsos and Liverpool John Moores University to evaluate Choices as part of our What Works programme.

These three case studies illustrate:

  1. The range of referral routes to joining the Choices programme and the holistic, tailored support that participants received from their case worker.
  2. The range of participant journeys through Choices, highlightingthe bespoke and time-unlimited support participants received.
  3. The transformative impact that the Choices programme had on some participants, highlighting their journey from when they first joined the programme.
Programme overview

Choices was delivered by St Giles. It was designed to support young people aged 16-24 in London with experience of or who were at risk of engagement with the criminal justice system to progress towards and into employment, education, or training.

268 young people were referred into the programme by a variety of partner organisations, such as Youth Offending Services, during the pilot period.

It offered bespoke, asset-based, time-unlimited support, delivered by case-workers and volunteers with relevant lived experience. Young people could engage at times and in a way that suited their needs and motivation.

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