The system challenge

Evidence alone doesn’t drive change – it’s how it’s applied in practice that makes the difference.

To truly improve outcomes for young people, we need to learn from real-world implementation.

Our aim

The more we collaborate with delivery organisations, the more we refine our understanding of what works, strengthening the evidence base and increasing its impact over time.

Using evidence from our Youth Employment Toolkit, we are working with partners to puts these insights into practice.

What are we doing?

Evidence into Action is a learning and funding opportunity for voluntary sector delivery organisations in England.

Support

We have awarded eight UK-based organisations grants of up to £75,000 per year to design, deliver, and evaluate on and off-the-job training activities to support young people.

We will also provide learning and development support.

Evaluation

To deepen understanding of what works for youth employment, we will commission an evaluation partner to assess the program’s effectiveness.

Youth Inclusion

Our approach is shaped with an advisory group of young people and practitioners.

Programme overview

Phase 1 - 2025

Learning and developmentRead more about Phase 1 - 2025

Activities in the first year will include:

  1. A six-month learning journey of workshops and one-to-one consultations to understand evidence-based approaches, supported by a dedicated learning partner 
  2. Six months to apply the learning in practice through developing, testing and piloting approaches  
  3. Capacity building with strategic infrastructure partner, Action for Race Equality
  4. Support to develop plans and budgets for phase 2
  5. Evaluation across the year

Phase 2 - 2026 & 2027

Delivery and evaluationRead more about Phase 2 - 2026 & 2027

Additional funding of up to £75,000 per year, for up to two years will support:
 

  1. Delivery of activities developed in phase 1 
  2. Cotinued evaluation

Programme aims

As the What Works centre for youth employment, we want to:

  • Improve knowledge mobilisation in the youth employment sector
  • Support practitioners, employers, funders, and commissioners in understanding and implementing evidence-informed change in the way they do things to enable young people to thrive

Meet the partners

"A key aim of the Evidence into Action programme is to understand how practitioners can effectively take learning from relevant studies and apply it to supporting young people within their own context.

“We look forward to utilising our Youth Employment Toolkit to create systemic change across the sector, by encouraging practitioners and funders to take a ‘what works’ approach.”

Barry Fletcher – CEO, Youth Futures Foundation

Got a question?

Contact our Grants team

Learn more

Explore the current international evidence on the impact, cost and effectiveness of common interventions designed to help young people get into work.

What is on-the-job training?

Learning that takes place primarily in the workplace, and alongside or embedded with paid or unpaid work.

What is off-the-job training?

Learning that takes place primarily outside the workplace, for example in a classroom or workshop.