In 2018 we began an exciting journey to invest funding, over a long-term, into three priority areas.
The Core Priority Programmes were created following a consultation process with a range of stakeholders, including children and young people. The ambition was to create better outcomes for more children and young people by investing into the areas which most mattered to them, as identified through the consultation. These were:
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Care experienced young people
- Child sexual abuse and exploitation
The aims for the Core Priority Programmes were to change and improve systems by identifying problems, testing solutions, and then working towards changes to improve outcomes. Successes of the projects ranged from impactful research to changed thinking and influencing governments, mainstreaming approaches to improve practices in the three core areas, and to develop policies based on lived experience. The Legacy Report summarises what has been achieved by the Core Priority Programmes, and what is left to do.
Below you can gain a fuller picture of the success of each project.
Below you can gain a fuller picture of the success of each project
Mental health and wellbeing
This work formed part of our strategy (2016 – 2025), which aimed to take a more strategic approach to creating better outcomes for children. Three place-based strategic partnerships were formed, each bringing together partners from the local authority, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), education and the third sector, with the aim of improving the mental health and wellbeing of babies, children and young people through a whole systems approach.
Through significant investment into each of the three partnerships, we explored how changing the system could reduce the number of babies, children and young people requiring Tier 3 or 4 mental health support in the long term.
Care Journeys
Young people with care experience, aged 19-21 years old, are significantly less likely to be in education, employment or training compared to their peers who have not been in care. The aim of this priority programme was to create the change needed to ensure this doesn't happen.
Our programme included whole systems change at local authority level, and tactical stand-alone programmes and initiatives.
- Place based strategic collaboration with Plymouth City Council and Brent Council.
- Triangles – A national scheme for transformational change, building on the ideas and insight of care experienced young people and the staff, carers or volunteers that they have relationships with.
- Positive pathways - increasing the internal opportunities and benefits that we can offer care experienced young people because of the size and range of activities of our charity.
Follow the links below to find out more about this programme and it's initiatives:
Transport for Freedom: Why all care leavers in England aged 18-25 should be given access to free bus travel report
Care-experienced Parents Unite for Change report
Black care-experienced young people in the criminal justice system report
Plymouth care leavers invite MPs to walk in their shoes
Child sexual abuse and exploitation
The aim of this programme was to work to make measurable progress towards sector and systems change which increases the protection, and improves recovery, for children who have been victims of sexual abuse and exploitation and which prioritises the prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.
Voices Mean Choices
Voices Mean Choices, was a joint partnership between us and East Riding of Yorkshires to co-create systemic change for young people who have been a victim of, or at risk of child sexual abuse and/or exploitation along with their families and carers. Asking:
- What language and practice do children and their families/carers need from us when working with them around exploitation?
- How do we identify children who are being exploited to make sure they are safer sooner?
- How do we work better together for children who are exploited and their families so we can get it right every time?
Bristol Children's Exploitation Collaboration
Our task was to reimagine high harm specialist exploitation services, bringing together the expertise in criminal and sexual exploitation, missing from home and services to support children affected by community violence. To co-design a specialist services model with and for children, young people and families. Asking:
- How is the current system working?
- Where are the resources? Is this right?
- Are services meeting all children’s needs?
Our strategy
We’re focused on changing childhoods and changing lives. A huge amount of change is needed, but we know we can’t do everything, and we need to focus our efforts and energies where we can make the biggest difference.
Reports and publications
Find our latest policy reports, evaluation reports, parliamentary briefings and research reports.
Our news
Read our latest updates on how we’re supporting children, young people and families across the UK.