Changing Futures programme to help more vulnerable

The government has announced that an expanded £64 million Changing Futures programme will help more adults facing multiple issues such as homelessness, substance misuse and domestic abuse.

Thanks to £18 million new investment from The National Lottery Community Fund, the Changing Futures programme is now inviting local organisations to form partnerships to better support those who experience multiple disadvantages, including homelessness, substance misuse, mental health issues, domestic abuse, and contact with the criminal justice system.

Those targeted by the programme are often among the most vulnerable in society, facing entrenched disadvantage and trauma. Getting coordinated support from local services can be difficult – this can lead to greater risk of homelessness, ill health, and increased contact with the criminal justice system, and result in higher demand for local response services.

On top of the government’s £46 million investment in the programme, the additional funding announced today takes the total scheme to £64 million. This will extend the support available to three years and enable a more effective, joined-up service from local organisations – including, councils, health bodies, police, probation services, voluntary and community sector.

Last year, the government invited local partnerships to bid to take part in the ‘Changing Futures’ programme and establish new support systems for vulnerable people. 21 areas have been shortlisted for the next selection round and will now submit their proposals for a wider support service in their regions.

The latest funding builds on the National Lottery’s ‘Fulfilling Lives’ programme – a £112 million investment over 8 years that focuses on improving support for vulnerable people, by giving them a greater voice in the design and delivery of services.

Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing Eddie Hughes said: "With thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund, the nearly £64 million Changing Futures scheme can now expand the support available and enable more vulnerable people in our communities to get the help they need. It is important for the most vulnerable in our society to have access to a range of support from different services. By extending the scheme, we will give local organisations the chance to establish these partnerships and provide a longer period of tailored support that will ultimately help more people to build a better future."

John Rose, interim chief executive at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: "We are delighted to be supporting the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Changing Futures programme through an additional investment of £17.9 million. Through our Fulfilling Lives programme in England, we have seen people who have lived experience come together in partnerships with communities to develop new approaches which can better support adults facing multiple disadvantage."

The ‘Changing Futures’ programme, announced last year, aims to deliver improvements at the individual, service and system level: 
for individuals, to stabilise and then improve the life situation of adults who face multiple disadvantage; for services, to better integrate local services to provide a person-centred approach and to reduce demand on reactive services; and for the local system, to test a different approach to funding, accountability and engagement between local commissioners and services, and central government and local areas.