Organisation: The Government Outcomes Lab
The last year in the UK has seen an unprecedented level of strain on the public sector. With the legacy of the pandemic, the cost-of-living-crisis, and crippling strikes frequently making headlines, public sector reform is needed more than ever.
This session drew on the Life Chances Fund* (LCF) & beyond for effective, real-life project-level learnings about what works alongside a rich set of insights that speak to wider public sector provision challenges. We brought together the policy journey around the LCF with insights generated through the evaluation work, to explore how the evidence coming out of the LCF can inform public sector reform efforts.
In particular, we explored:
* The Life Chances Fund (LCF) is a pioneering £70m programme, launched by the UK Government in 2016. It supports 29 locally-commissioned impact bonds focussed on supporting vulnerable individuals, and it is underpinned by an ambitious and innovative data and evaluation agenda.
The first took a deep dive into the policy journey around the Life Chances Fund (LCF), building on insights generated through the evaluation work, to explore how the evidence coming out of the LCF can inform public sector reform efforts. We heard about the desire of the LCF to drive efficiency and to test new ways of approaching the use of public spending. GO Lab’s Eleanor Carter discussed the importance of adaptive learning partners, close relationships between the research team and the government, and good data stewardship. The panel also discussed the role of central government post-LCF, and how government should consider different outcomes and remain active in experimenting and learning innovative ways of responding to social issues. The session also highlights the role of the academic and research institutions as a convenor to help navigate the contours of the evidence base.