Insights from three of our impact partners
On September 25th we debuted a bright new London office at Impact Hub Euston, located in the heart of the city. We invited members of our network to come down and explore the workspace, celebrating all we do together and hope to do in the future.
In addition to welcoming two new staff within our consultancy team, we heard from three of our client partners on the impact they are having within their communities. From equity-based grantmaking for violence reduction, to an impact evaluation of a charity tackling youth homelessness, to peer research revealing community need, these are initiatives we are very proud to support. Read on for some of the key highlights from our three client speakers.
An enabler and irritant to prompt change
Lib Peck kicked off the evening by speaking on behalf of the London Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), outlining the importance of partnership working to increase capacity across grassroots organisations. Lib described the VRU’s Stronger Futures & Innovation Fund as an approach to test new ideas around systems change in order to better prevent young people from exploitation and violence.
The VRU is an initiative created by the Mayor of London to convene and coordinate amongst statutory services, acting as both an enabler and in Lib’s words, “an irritant”, to prompt change. The VRU advocates for uplifting the voices of young people, taking their lead on what is relevant to live a safe and fulfilling life.
Newly appointed Director of Rocket Science, Michael Theodorou, initially referred the Stronger Futures & Innovation Fund into the VRU programme, as it supports violence reduction amongst young Londoners. Since then, a longstanding partnership has formed between Rocket Science and the VRU, enabling greater capacity, flexibility and innovation by centring the needs and experiences of London’s most vulnerable.
Rocket Science has supported the VRU in developing best practice in several different ways, including by working individually with grassroots partnering organisations to empower greater equity around decision-making. Rocket Science also guided the VRU in flexing to keep their programme relevant and engaging for service users as their needs changed over time. Rocket Science led a training programme (Rise Up) to professionalise the youth service sector, promoting learning across those working on the frontlines with youth. Finally, as a funder, the VRU and Rocket Science designed an Innovation Fund to foster energy and momentum toward change, successfully gathering 39 applicants in its first open call.
Better measuring the impact of interventions
We then heard from Lisa Braden, Head of Business Development, and Becky Collins, Programme Manager, both of Settle, a London-based charity focused on easing the transitions of care-experienced young people as they move into their first accommodations. Settle was incorporated in 2015 as a preventative intervention aimed at reducing evictions and homelessness by supporting young people at a critical, foundational point in their journey to empowered independent living. Today, Settle provides intensive weekly 1:1 support for young people, tailored to their unique strengths, skills and goals. Once involved in the programme, young people then receive ongoing support opportunities through ad hoc mentoring and workshops.
Rocket Science has acted as Settle’s learning and evaluation partner for the past two years, assisting in the scaling up of their programmes, including a mental health project which provided fully funded therapy sessions, and a financial grants programme to meet young people’s short-term financial needs. By working together, Settle has built their referral partner pathways ensuring support reaches the right people at the right times. Settle has also made changes to their evaluation tools to better measure the impact of their interventions. With Rocket Science, Settle has been able to balance their ongoing service delivery with continuous service improvement, supporting the long-term sustainability of their working systems.
Funds to alleviate needs, enrich lives and improve life chances
Finally, Hickey Kingsbury of the Kingston Charitable Foundation (KCF) spoke on her work understanding local needs to direct a growing place-based giving scheme. KCF was established in 2021 to build stronger communities by providing funds to alleviate needs, enrich lives and improve life chances. Since incorporation, KCF has distributed over 150 grants and vouchers to local community groups, supporting over 50,000 individuals.
KCF initially partnered with Rocket Science to design a theory of change and conduct ecology mapping, which then progressed to a consultation on ‘What Kingston Thinks’, using peer research to shape funding priorities for a three-year strategy. Using a cohort model, Rocket Science trained 20 local peer researchers who then interviewed 209 individuals out in the community. Maya, a peer researcher trained within the consultation spoke briefly on the value of the experience, sharing that by asking the community to reflect on their experience, participants felt their perspectives were valued and heard.
With thanks to all our partners for sharing their insights so generously, and to everyone who came along to be a part of the conversation. Keep an eye on the News and Insights section of our website for information about future events.
