Evaluating and Improving the Building Better Opportunities Working Progress Programme

Description of impact

The Institute for Social Innovation and Impact's research on the ESF/Big Lottery Building Better Opportunities Working Progress (led by Claire Paterson-Young and Toa Giroletti) was used as evidence to inform the programme, specifically in identifying social impact, improving services for participants and reducing administrative burdens. The research provided a clearer understanding of the impact of the programme on participants including identifying a social impact of over £1.1 million in 2019-2020. This social impact accompanied softer outcomes, such as self-efficacy, well-being and job readiness. Specifically, the research illustrated positive changes in self-efficacy, self-esteem and job readiness as a result of the programme, which all together impacted participants' well-being. These findings were used to shape the BBO Working Progress programme by enhancing the interventions with a core focus on well-being and its main components. Furthermore, the findings were used by inform changes to the programme monitoring and evaluation, including reducing the administrative burden through redesigning data collection processes. The data also informed the overall evaluation of the ESF/Big Lottery programme, with interim and final research reports submitted to the funding bodies, helping to demonstrate the efficacy of the programme. This research enabled Commsortia and delivery partners to secure future funding.

Stakeholders/Beneficiaries

Staff, Delivery Partners, Unemployed People, Economically Inactive People

How have research outputs led to this impact?

The Institute for Social Innovation and Impact's research explores the social impact of ESF/Big Lottery Building Better Opportunities Working Progress (led by Claire Paterson-Young and Toa Giroletti) on people experiencing disadvantage and unemployment in Northamptonshire. The research seeks to explore best practice in engaging vulnerable people experiencing unemployment. The research has illustrated the social impact (the intended and unintended, positive and negative impact of services/interventions) of Building Better Opportunities Working Progress that has been used to identify the social impact of the programme (over £1.1 million in 2019-2020). It illustrated the benefit of improving self-efficacy, self-esteem and well-being on participants seeking employment. This work has resulted in impact for beneficiaries (increased support in improving well-being, self-esteem and self-efficacy), staff (reduced administrative burden) and organisations (future funding).

Impact status	Ongoing
Impact date	2016
Category of impact	03: Good Health and Well-Being (UN SDG), 08: Decent Work and Economic Growth (UN SDG), 17: Partnerships for Goals (UN SDG), 10: Reduced Inequalities (UN SDG)
Impact level	Mid Stage Impact