This monthly policy briefing covers the latest on the Transforming Rehabilitation, including out reflections. It also shares blog pieces from social impact bonds around the world, from the US, Canada and Australia. If you are interested in getting updates each Monday, sign up at https://tinyletter.com/ukgolab
Government report Transforming rehabilitation: progress review – This report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) highlights the failure of the MoJ to deliver its ‘rehabilitation revolution’ and how probation services were left underfunded, fragile, and lacking the confidence of the courts. It also states that the failure of the government’s probation reform programme was spreads beyond the Ministry of Justice. Read the summary here.
You can read coverage of the report here:
Academic report From visions of promise to signs of struggle: social impact bonds in Canada, the US, and UK – A new report has been published by York University, Toronto about social impact bonds. It looks at the common dilemma for SIBs and outlines six principles for the future of SIBs based on what they found. An interesting read and a different perspective. York University
GO Lab James Williams is the author of this and he has written a guest blog for the GO Lab. He is an Associate Professor at the Department of Social Sciences at York University. He shares insights from the last three years of travelling through the ‘SIB space’. GO Lab
Opinion Manchester’s mayor uses new powers to tackle homelessness - This article in The Economist looks at rough sleeping and the social impact bonds in Manchester. It questions whether Andy Burnham, mayor of Manchester is able to stick to his promise of eliminating homelessness by 2020. Note: This is a subscription website and this article is also in the print edition.The Economist
Opinion Practitioner insights: influencing policy – the soft side of public sector change – This piece offers some reflections on lessons learned from the design and implementation of large public sector change programmes, including the politics of policymaking and flexible implementation. Oxford Policy Management
Opinion Capital for justice: spurring on impact investing for racial equity – Part of a series of articles about racial equity and impact investing, this piece looks at how the Ford Foundation are looking for new ways to unlock more capital and more justice towards greater equity, progress and prosperity. Stanford Social Innovation Review
Canada Heart & Stroke expands successful blood pressure programme to Ottowa region in partnership with local YMCA-YWCAs – Activate is a programme designed to prevent high blood pressure. It is a six month wellness programme that uses exercise, nutrition counselling and incentives to help at risk people from developing hypertension. Activate if funded by a social impact bond and you can read more about it in this article. Newswire
Report Pay for success: the first 25 – This is a detailed, comparative analysis of the first 25 pay for success projects to launch in the US. This report highlights lessons and contributions from these pioneering projects along with case studies and tables that look at the projects structure, results, payments and more. Nonprofit Finance Fund
Opinion Community building in Gloucester: a necessity of austerity or the right approach for residents? – This article looks at Gloucester and how they have been affected by austerity as well how they have adapted. The GO Lab’s new report about collaboration, Are we rallying together? get a mention and the article goes on to look at community building in practice. Centre for Public Impact