Who did it?
The project was led by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council in collaboration with Area Leads from each of 4 boroughs in the West Midlands, using locally rooted and specialist providers. Most delivery partners were from the voluntary sector. The local partnerships and delivery providers were responsible for promoting the project and referrals were also received from Jobcentre Plus.
Where are we drawing the evidence from?
Information sourced from:
- Brown, C. (2022). Research & Evaluation of the Black Country Community Renewal Fund. Future Excel
What kind of support was it?
Support included: coaching; signposting; community activities supporting individuals’ wider needs. The multi-agency approach gave participants access to a range of complementary services such as health and wellbeing, financial inclusion and digital inclusion.
Where did it run?
In the 4 Black Country boroughs of the West Midlands: Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley
When did it run?
March 2022 - end of October 2022
Who did it serve?
The project was available to all 50+ residents, whether unemployed, economically inactive or in employment
What were its key features?
- The delivery model had three distinct elements: the Navigator – advisors who provided a co-ordinating coaching and triage role working to support individuals reach their personal goals; Engagement and Support activities based in the heart of communities; ringfenced funding - the Innovation Fund - to support engagement and interventions in each of the 4 boroughs
- Engagement with the project was on a voluntary and part-time basis
- All providers were established, local specialists, including several Ethnic Minority led and Disability led organisations
- The delivery model was flexible and could be adapted by local providers to meet the individual and specific needs of their own 50+ community
- All participants received an initial assessment to establish the nature and level support required. This enabled individual needs to be captured and made into an action plan
- The Navigators were existing experienced front line employment support and employability workers who also had extensive knowledge of the support available in their local area
What were its outcomes?
- Positive impact, reaching usually ‘hard to reach’ groups as a result of the collaboration with Ethnic Minority led and Disability led organisations. Mainstream projects do not usually attract these participants
- Overall good working and open relationships as these were largely existing networks with established relationships and communication structures
- The Navigator role was a central component of the delivery model and a common feature across all four boroughs
- Although based on one-to-one support sessions, flexibility allowed one Navigator to implement a supplementary group programme where participants were encouraged to try a new hobby, or visit somewhere they hadn’t visited before
- Participants valued the non-employment related activities highly and, in some cases, noted the difference this had made to their wellbeing. Groups included specific women’s and men’s groups being set up where people could meet, socialise and talk; but also a wide range of therapeutic group activities. As a result, some participants began volunteering in their communities
- Of the 1301 participants who participated, 46% were economically inactive and cited poor health as the biggest reason for this; 42% were unemployed and around 1 in 8 were employed
- The project demonstrated overall good value for money, with strong indicators of significant added and social value
