Evaluation report
Oct 2024
Pilot evaluation of St Giles’ Choices Programme
Findings from the pilot evaluation which aimed to understand and evidence the theory underpinning the programme's support model.
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Summary
We commissioned Ipsos and Liverpool John Moores University to evaluate Choices as part of our What Works programme.
This report documents the findings from the pilot evaluation, which aimed to understand and evidence the theory underpinning the programme’s support model.
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.
Evaluation approach
A Theory of Change (ToC) was articulated at the outset based on the programme intention and refined to reflect actual delivery.
The data included in this report represent the data set for programme participants enrolled between August 2021 and March 2023, with outcomes collected up to mid September 2023.
The evaluation consisted of qualitative depth interviews with 11 staff in managerial or case worker roles, and a total of 44 interviews with 36 programme participants.
Key insights
Short-term outcomes
Personal development; skills, knowledge and experience; and work-readinessRead more about Short-term outcomes- Emerging evidence that Choices made a positive contribution to participants’ wellbeing.
- Limited evidence that Choices positively contributed to improving the relationships of participants, alongside improving their skills, knowledge and job search.
- Limited evidence that the support helped to reduce wider barriers to work such as housing and finance.
- Little or no evidence that the support changed participants’ motivation to work.
- Key enablers: accessibility and relatabilty of case workers with lived experience; participant-led approach that encouraged agency
- Personal development outcomes, such as improved confidence and wellbeing, were described as the foundation for other outcomes because they helped to create stability and readiness in mindset for change.
- One third of participants (33%) had an employment outcome recorded.
- One third (32%) had a recorded education or training outcome.
- There was some limited quantitative and qualitative evidence that the support positively contributed to these outcomes, although there was no comparison group.
Refinement of the Theory of Change
Read more about Refinement of the Theory of Change- The emphasis on employer engagement increased during delivery and was added to the ToC as a new activity. The team created more links with employers and hosted a monthly Jobs Fair with employers open to recruiting participants.
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More about the programme
Check out more of what we’ve acheived with What Works: testing youth employment interventions
What Works: testing youth employment interventions
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