Evidence into Action: embedding insights in frontline practice

About

The Edge Foundation is an independent foundation working to inspire the education system to give all young people across the UK the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to flourish in their future life and work, based on high-quality learning opportunities and rich relationships between education and employers.

Edge works with policy makers at all levels to change the system to enable practice to become more embedded and carry out high-quality research which underpins policy and practice.

Working with Youth Futures

As a Practice Development and Implementation Partner for Evidence into Action, Edge’s primary role is to synthesise and translate current evidence available on On/Off the job training and support delivery partners to apply evidence into existing or pilot programmes and embed and sustain evidence-based practice approaches.

About

CEI is a global, not-for-profit evidence intermediary dedicated to using the best evidence to improve the lives of children, families, and communities facing adversity. CEI’s staff of over 50 researchers and implementation specialists work with what works centres, programme teams, organisational leaders, practitioners and policymakers to  evaluate programmes, build capacity and support the effective implementation of evidence at scale

Working with Youth Futures

As Practice Development and Implementation Partner for Evidence into Action, CEI’s primary role is to synthesise and translate current evidence available on On/Off the job training and support delivery partners to apply evidence into existing or pilot programmes and embed and sustain evidence-based practice approaches.

CEI also partners with us on research.

About

MEaP (Making Education a Priority) is a consortium of organistions focused on addressing barriers in education for Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities across Greater Manchester.

It provides additional educational support and safe spaces for young people to learn, offering revision support and tutoring, career guidance, skills development and opportunities to celebrate their cultural heritage and community involvement. MEaP also offers programmes specifically designed for 18-24 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Working with Youth Futures

As part of our Evidence into Action programme, the charity plans to pilot an on and off-the-job training programme for 16-24 year olds, strengthening and developing employer partnerships across the digital, technology and creative industries. This will be a new aspect to its work, linking expertise in education to the world of employment.

About

Ultra Education believes every young person should have the chance to turn their passion into a future career. All children should do what they love, regardless of their socioeconomic background and have access to an entrepreneurial education. Talent is everywhere we look, however, opportunities are not.

Ultra Education’s mission is to empower Black and marginalised communities to create their own opportunities, opening doors to paid work placements and breaking the cycle of exclusion. Since 2015, Ultra Education has supported over 15,000 young people in developing entrepreneurial skills, launching over 1,000 youth-led businesses and providing access to work experience.

Working with Youth Futures

As part of our Evidence into Action programme, the charity will pilot an evidence-based off-the-job training programme to support young people into the fundraising sector. This will involve digital fundraising, bid writing, event fundraising, and community consultation, equipping young people with transferable entrepreneurial skills for self-employment—an area of growing interest among the young people they support.

About

Sports Key is a Black-led social enterprise delivering accessible sports and physical activity programmes to underserved communities in Birmingham. It also offers a 12 month youth enterprise programme for young people at risk of falling into the criminal justice system with the aim of increasing participants employment prospects through mentoring, skills development and qualifications, volunteering and employment opportunities. Many graduates of this programme have become employed members of staff at Sports Key, delivering the community sports sessions and supporting the administration and marketing of the organisation.

Working with Youth Futures

As part of our Evidence into Action programme, the charity aims to strengthen its employment pathways for young people in sectors beyond sport, establishing partnerships with employers in recruitment, corporate events, technology and engineering to develop an evidence-based off-the-job training programme alongside industry experts.

About

Rise Up supports marginalised young people aged 16-30 from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds across Greater Manchester. It offers 1-1 mentoring, skills development and interview preparation as well as training for qualifications.

It recruits employer hosts to provide 3-6-month paid on-the-job placements and mentoring across industries including Tech, Retail, Construction and the Housing sector. Employers have also helped co-design courses for young people to gain sector -specific skills in the digital industry.

Working with Youth Futures

As part of our Evidence into Action programme, the charity aims to strengthen its on- and off-the-job training offer and ensure a seamless link between the two. It intends to create up to four “pathways into” industry programs, each underpinned by work skills qualifications, industry experts and leading to paid on-the-job placements with employers. 

About

Punch Records began as a Black music record store in Birmingham, hosting DJ competitions and organising community events before moving into outreach and employability programmes for young people.

Now Punch works directly with young people (aged 16-29) with the aim of “transforming lives through music” and preparing young people for careers in the creative industries through skills development programmes including Gallery37 and Community Routes.

These are hands-on, artist-led programmes where young people can translate their creativity into employability; pitching ideas, planning approaches and writing applications.

Working with Youth Futures

As part of our Evidence into Action programme, Punch plans to strengthen its programmes and integrate youth co-creation and leadership deeper into existing provision.

About

Miss Macaroon supports 18 to 35 year olds from underserved backgrounds across Birmingham who face barriers to entering the workforce and have been unemployed for more than six months.

With a focus in the catering and retail industry, Miss Macaroon and corporate partners provide on-the-job training in their commercial bakery, shop, coffee shop and warehouse where young people could be offered a six-month fixed-term contract and develop practical skills in a real work environment. It also provide six weeks of Off-the-job training for young people to build technical expertise outside the workplace through structured workshops, enabling young people to complete sector-specific qualifications.

Working with Youth Futures

As part of our Evidence into Action programme, Miss Macaroon aims to refine its training offer based on evidence, and scale up impact by establishing corporate partnerships beyond the catering and retail industry to achieve the ambition to replicate its approach and support young people into construction, funeral and travel business opportunities.

About

IMO Charity exists to enable young people of South Asian heritage to improve their quality of life and be more resilient. Based in Blackburn with Darwen, IMO primarily reach communities experiencing serious challenges due to deep-rooted socioeconomic deprivation. Their employability programmes focus on cyber and tech careers, offering careers guidance, numeracy support, accredited courses; a Volunteer Academy for those aged 18-24 and employability skills support for those close to release from prison.

Working with Youth Futures

As part of our Evidence into Action programme, IMO plan to support young people into careers through their growing network of business patrons, integrating employer mentoring with master classes in industry-specific skills-development and career coaching. They aim to pilot an evidence-based, culturally competent “off job” training programme that builds vocational skills, primarily for the growing tech sector locally

IMO previously partnered with us on Connected Futures.

About

Fully Focused Productions is an independent production company established in 2010 to give young creatives from underrepresented backgrounds the opportunity to learn new skills, grow confidence, gain industry awareness and make content that feels truly representative. Founders of the Million Youth Media Training Academy and the Million Youth Media Youtube/social platforms (750k subscribers), it is supporting the next generation of filmmakers to produce award-winning, high-impact film, TV and online content that truly reflects the communities it serves.

Every commission enables young people to gain valuable experience, paid employment and transferable skills whilst simultaneously injecting every brief with an authentic youth voice. Its on and off- the-job training programme provides young people to explore key roles across every stage of production on their own projects and live commissions.

Working with Youth Futures

As part of our Evidence into Action programme, Future Focus intends to pilot two evidence-based vcational training programmes:

1. A three week training course in digital media content creation and management
2. Supporting young creatives to transition into high end TVFilm

About Action for Race Equality

For over 30 years Action for Race Equality (ARE) has been working to end race inequality for Black, Asian and mixed heritage communities. It is a ‘Do Tank’ – relying on action, and not just words, to campaign for fairness, challenge discrimination, provide training and pioneer solutions to empower young people through education, employment and enterprise. Through capacity building training programmes, consultancy, policy and research ARE has played a key role in supporting the infrastructure of Black, Asian and minority-ethnic-led organisations amplifying their voice and experiences across the sector and ensuring it reaches policy makers to influence lasting systemic change.

What they are involved with?

Action for Race Equality is the Strategic Partner for Evidence into Action and the expansion of Connected Futures.

It’s role is to strengthen the youth employment ecosystem by developing grant holders organsitional capacity, produce relevant resources and champion the work of grant holders across the sector.

ARE will offer bespoke and group support to grant holders throughout the three years of funding, in relation to their organisational plans and engagement in evaluation and research evidence to enhance employment outcomes for the young people they support.  ARE will also be responsible for sharing ‘what works’ to a wide range of relevant audiences and stakeholders including funders,  commissioners and other frontline delivery organisations in the sector.