Final evaluation report reveals impact of The Skill Mill Social Impact Bond (SIB)
The Skill Mill, a pioneering social enterprise dedicated to supporting young people with criminal convictions, has released the final evaluation of its four-year Social Impact Bond (SIB) programme, also known as a Social Outcomes Contract, which was supported by the government’s Life Chances Fund (awarded by The National Lottery Community Fund on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The report highlights significant achievements in reducing reoffending rates and supporting young people into employment while delivering meaningful environmental and community benefits.
Key findings from the report
- The programme supported 243 young people ages 16-18 in eight areas across the UK
- 91.5% success rate for young people not re-offending during and six months after the programme.
- 91.3% of participants gained a nationally recognised qualification.
- 100% completion rate of the intensive six-month programme despite challenges like COVID-19.
Hempsons’ involvement in the programme
Hempsons played a crucial role in setting up the Social Outcomes Contract for The Skill Mill. Our corporate commercial team advised The Skill Mill on changes to its contract with the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to facilitate the expansion of the programme to new local authority areas, and supported the programme’s launch with funding from the Life Chances Fund and strategic advisory support from the Youth Justice Board.
Crispin Pettifer, commercial partner, stated, “It was exciting to support the Skill Mill to set up the social outcomes contract. It is very rewarding to see how well the SIB programme performed against its outcome targets for young people by reducing reoffending rates and supporting young people into employment. The Final Evaluation Report is a spur to further innovation and ambition on behalf of young people. We are looking forward to the next investment-backed programme to extend the transformational reach of The Skill Mill.”
Andy Peaden, Director of The Skill Mill, said, “This evaluation reaffirms the transformational impact of the Skill Mill programme. By providing real work opportunities, qualifications, and support, we’ve helped hundreds of young people rewrite their futures. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved and committed to building on this success to reach even more young people in need.”
Chris Fox, Professor of Evaluation and Policy Analysis at Manchester Metropolitan University, said, “Over the course of our evaluation the evaluation team has seen how The Skill Mill model demonstrates the power of combining work experience, mentorship, and a supportive environment to achieve meaningful outcomes. It’s a great example of how social enterprises can deliver real change, even in the face of adversity, and how a social outcomes contract, while not without complexity, can help turn a good idea into reality.”
For more detailed insights, read the full press release and evaluation report on The Skill Mill website.