New scheme to help adults across England facing multiple disadvantages like homelessness and mental health issues.

A £46 million scheme to provide more effective and coordinated support for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities was launched on 10 December 2020.

The government is inviting local organisations to form partnerships and bid for a share of the funding to better support those who experience multiple disadvantages including homelessness, substance misuse, mental health issues, domestic abuse, and contact with the criminal justice system.

These people are among the most vulnerable in our communities, facing entrenched disadvantage and trauma. They often experience difficulties in getting the coordinated support from local services that they need.

This can lead to increased reoffending, greater risk of rough sleeping and ill-health and can result in a higher demand and costs for local response services and the criminal justice system.

The ‘Changing Futures’ programme aims to establish new, innovative and co-ordinated ways to better support vulnerable adults. The prospectus, published today, invites expressions of interest from organisations such as councils, health bodies, police, probation services, voluntary and community sector organisations to form local partnerships.

The Programme, announced at the Budget, 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
• 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

See more information on the ‘Changing Futures: changing systems to support adults experiencing multiple disadvantage’ government webpage.

The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 21 January 2021.