Shaping and Evaluating the Building Better Opportunities Work Readiness Action Programme

Description of impact

The Institute for Social Innovation and Impact's research on the ESF/Big Lottery Building Better Opportunities Work Readiness Action Programme (BBO WRAP) (led by Claire Paterson-Young and Richard Hazenberg) was used as evidence to shape the programme, specifically in developing the interventions for beneficiaries and training for staff. The research provided a clearer understanding of the benefits of the programme on beneficiaries including job search self-efficacy, life stability, personal confidence and wellbeing. Specifically, the research demonstrated a near statistically significant increase in life stability (p = .06); a significant increase in wellbeing (p < .001); a significant increase in job search self-efficacy (p < .05); and a significant increase in personal confidence (p < .001). These findings were used to shape the programme by developing interventions to improve well-being, self-efficacy, personal confidence and life stability. Furthermore, these findings were used by delivery partners to develop staff training and streamline the programme (for example, streamline the administrative process). 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. The project data has also been used by Goodwill Solutions to help refine their business model around the integration and training of socially disadvantaged staff.

Stakeholders/Beneficiaries

Unemployed Individuals
Economically Inactive Individuals
Staff
Delivery Organisations

How have research outputs led to this impact?

Institute for Social Innovation and Impact's research explores the social impact of ESF/Big Lottery Building Better Opportunities Work Readiness Action Programme (BBO WRAP) (led by Claire Paterson-Young and Richard Hazenberg) on people experiencing disadvantage in Northamptonshire. The research seeks to articulate what works in engaging people experiencing unemployment that is centred on the underlying cause of unemployment and economic inactivity (mental health, disability, offending, skills gap etc.). ISII's research has illustrated the social impact (the intended and unintended, positive and negative impact of services/interventions) of BBO WRAP that has been used to identify the benefits of the programme on beneficiaries, specifically benefits to well-being, life stability, personal confidence and job search self-efficacy (areas that are central to employability). Through this holistic framework, delivery partners are made accountable for the outcomes achieved by beneficiaries on the programme, aiding reducing in unemployment and economic inactivity. This work has resulted in impact for beneficiaries (increased support in improving well-being, life stability, job search self-efficacy and personal confidence) and staff (training and development).

Impact status	Ongoing
Impact date	2016 → 2020
Category of impact	03: Good Health and Well-Being (UN SDG), Social impacts, Quality of life impacts, 04: Quality Education (UN SDG), 08: Decent Work and Economic Growth (UN SDG), 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (UN SDG)
Impact level	Mature Impact