Changing Futures

What it’s all about

Changing Futures is a £77 million funding programme launched in 2020 by MHCLG and The National Lottery Community Fund.

It supports the public sector and local communities to test new approaches together. The programme aims to improve the lives of adults experiencing multiple disadvantages including:

• homelessness
• substance misuse
• mental health issues
• domestic abuse
• and contact with the criminal justice system.

Funding of £55.4 million is coming from the Government’s Shared Outcomes Fund and £21.6 million from the National Lottery Community Fund.

The funding builds on the Fund’s Fulfilling Lives programme, which set out to improve support for vulnerable people in England. For more information about the Fulfilling Lives programme you can:

• read our programme summary on Fulfilling Lives (PDF, 698 KB)
• visit our website to read a range of learning and evaluation reports on Fulfilling Lives.

New applications for the Changing Futures programme are now closed. Funding for the partnerships we’re supporting will continue until March 2025.

Aims of the funding

The programme aims to make improvements at three levels:  

• for individuals who face multiple disadvantages: by stabilising then improving their lives  
• for local services: providing a person-centred approach and reducing demand on crisis services
• for the wider system: through trying new funding and engagement approaches. This includes local commissioners, services, central government and local areas.

Evaluation and further learning

MHCLG is funding evaluation of the Changing Futures programme.

You can read the first evaluation of the Changing Futures programme (PDF, 1,981 KB). It includes baseline research and data collection between November 2021 and October 2022.

The evaluation shows the impact of the programme on people with multiple disadvantages. It looks at their wellbeing levels and their access to support. It also describes the wider system of support for people experiencing multiple disadvantages, focusing on current strengths and barriers.

You can also read the second evaluation (PDF, 1.3KB) and the third evaluation (PDF, 1.6KB) of the Changing Futures programme.

MHCLG have also published a series of assessments. You can read the assessment of support models (PDF, 641 KB). This explores the approaches of frontline support for people with multiple disadvantages. It also reviews the impact of these models.

You can also read the assessment of trauma-informed approaches (PDF, 572 KB). This focuses on trauma-informed approaches that support people with multiple disadvantages.

For further information about the Changing Futures programme you can:

• visit the Changing Futures page on the UK government website
• read the press release announcing more Changing Futures funding in 2023.

What we're funding

Changing Futures is supporting 15 local partnerships to improve the lives of vulnerable people.

Partnerships are working in:

• Bristol, through Changing Futures Bristol
• Essex
• Greater Manchester
• Kingston upon Hull
• Lancashire including Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen, through Changing Futures Blackburn with Darwen County Council
• Leicester
• Nottingham, through Changing Futures Nottingham
• Northumbria through Changing Futures Northumbria. This includes Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland
• Plymouth
• Sheffield, through Changing Futures Sheffield
• South Tees including Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, through South Tees Changing Futures
• Stoke-on-Trent, through Changing Futures Stoke-on-Trent
• Surrey, through Changing Futures – Bridge the Gap
• Sussex including East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton, through Changing Futures Sussex
• Westminster, through Changing Futures - Westminster City Council.

You can find a summary of the funded area delivery models in appendix 2 (page 82) of the evaluation report (PDF, 1,981 KB).