Spark Change Annual Report (July 2023)

Young people transition to adulthood is defined by instability in several areas of education, employment, personal relationships, and housing. The number of young people aged 16–24 years not in education, employment or training (NEET) reached a historical high shortly after the financial crisis of 2007/2008, and even thought it is now decreasing, some of the London boroughs (like Havering and Hackney) still experience high level compared to others. Spark Change is a programme funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and five Local Authorities (funding matched the ESIF). It aims to provide tailored support for NEET young people to progress into employment or education. The programme is offered in London (Bexley, Brent, Harrow, Hackney, and Havering) for young people aged 16 to 24 that are NEET and young people aged 15 to 18 that are At Risk. Overall, this programme is dedicated to improving young people's wellbeing, education, and employment opportunities. To ensure young people receive the right support Spark change provides the following services:

• Spark Change Me which focuses on mental health, self-esteem and volunteering opportunities through Cognitive Behavioural Mentoring (CBM) ;
• Spark Change Future focuses on accredited courses and qualifications, self-employment support, and employer engagement through 12-week supported internships.

This report presents results from the research evaluating the Spark Change programme (July 2022 to June 2023) and the impact of the two above mentioned routes.