Youth Engagement Fund Evaluation

This document describes an evaluation of the Youth Engagement Fund (YEF), a £16m Payment by Results (PbR) program designed to prevent disadvantaged youth aged 14 to 17 from becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). The YEF aimed to support these individuals through various projects, test a PbR approach with social investors, and promote the social investment market. Ecorys UK conducted the evaluation using stakeholder consultations, case studies, and process evaluations. The findings indicated that while the program engaged young people and implemented interventions, it struggled to support the most disadvantaged and to address broader factors of youth unemployment. Outcomes were achieved in education, but sustained employment and higher qualifications were less successful. The Social Impact Bond (SIB) model was generally well-received, but recommendations were made for future programs to support younger individuals, provide more holistic support, and create more flexible payment structures. The evaluation also compared SIBs and PbR, with mixed views on their effectiveness. Key lessons for future NEET prevention programs and SIBs include the need for clear theories of change, contract management flexibility, and the application of learned lessons to enhance positive effects. **This summary was written by an AI model and therefore should not be considered a definitive summary of the report. If you are aware of inaccuracies, please email evaluation.registry@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.**

Description

• Lead department: Closed organisation: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
• Evaluation stage: A complete evaluation report
• Other departments: No other departments listed
• Evaluation types: Process evaluation
• Process methods: Focus groups or group interviews
• Grant information: This intervention is not distributing funding via a grant
• Government Major Project information: This intervention is not a major project
• Policies: No policies provided

Event Dates

• Event Name: Publication of final results
• Event date: March 2020

Evaluation Costs

• Cost: Not provided

Evaluation sharing

• Link(s) to published report(s): Yes
• Links to evaluation plans: No link provided
• Findings: Not provided
• Permission to share confirmed: Yes