Research and evaluation

Learning on loss

Led by Alma Economics, this landmark study shaped the goals of a major portfolio grant programme to be awarded in 2025 - aiming to transform the landscape of bereavement support for loved ones in the armed forces community. Working with focus groups, charities, consultation submissions and reviewing existing research, the research team took a deep dive into current gaps, challenges and opportunities to improve help to grieving spouses and partners, children, wider family and friends. 

There were some familiar themes: the need to map the help which is available; the importance of building partnerships between those providing it; the need to expand support to both children and adults; and the need to broaden the range of help available. 

The findings make clear the scope for this programme to make a difference to those whose lives have been shattered by bereavement. 

Seascapes

NatCen worked with us to complete this first-of-its-kind study into the unique experiences of those in the submariner community, when it comes to coping with separation and isolation. 

Designed to inform a unique pilot programme focused on place – working with the Navy, charities and wider community in Helensburgh, Scotland – the research highlighted the opportunities for collaborative working to offer more tailored mental health and peer support, specific help with reintegration and the complexities of long deployments, and work to help partners enhance their careers.

Hospital headlines

The University of Chester published its evaluation of our £2m programme with NHS England which based an Armed Forces Advocate for veterans in acute hospitals across 16 NHS Trusts. It found that the roles raised awareness of the needs of veterans among hospital teams, and improved their experiences in hospital. 

The programme’s success has subsequently seen roles embedded permanently and exploration of the model by other Trusts, while recommendations on best practice are being traded and applied: among them, ways to identify veterans easily within the hospital setting; ensuring the role’s remit extends into the community and the potential impacts of an AFA role for timely discharge of patients home. 

This year also saw publication of the university’s evaluation of the Veterans Adviceline for Statutory Professionals, the Northern Ireland-based element of this programme. The helpline aimed to signpost organisations and welfare services to the best point of contact to support veterans and their families and was used by veterans, statutory and non-statutory organisations alike – with all evaluation respondents stating they were happy with the support they received, and 79% that the line had a positive impact on their wellbeing. 

Through the doorway

This year, our in-house research team analysed final data from the Veterans Places, Pathways and People programme to better understand its overall impact for improving the coordination of mental health support to veterans from the voluntary and community sector. 

Its successor programme, Thrive Together, began the task of embedding that coordination even further, and setting up its sustainability for the future. 

The evaluation highlights the impact of the ‘no wrong door’ approach – which allowed veterans to access mental health support through a huge and diverse range of activities and organisations, improving their wellbeing and connections with peers. 

Partners reported increasing referral numbers and overwhelmingly positive impacts of collaboration between statutory organisations, the NHS, armed forces organisations and civilian charities. Some reported a distinct cultural shift to regular communication and meetings with other organisations, to continually improve the quality and content of support to veterans. For others, the programme was the conduit to improving their data capture and use of reporting to inform their work. 

The home front

Alma Economics launched interim evaluation findings looking at the impact of the first nine months of the Reducing Veterans Homelessness programme. Their analysis explored the benefits of the grant programmes and Op Fortitude pathway for veterans’ access to employment, skills, retaining housing, reducing substance misuse, healthy relationships, financial management and probability of reoffending. It also delivered an early economic analysis, estimating the value created by the impact of the programme through counterfactual assessment. 

This estimated that - assuming that outcomes would improve for some veterans even without the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme - investing around £1.5 million in the programme could generate approximately £2.5 million in economic and social benefits over a 15-year period; for every £1 spent on the programme, the socio- economic benefits would generate £2.70 over 15 years. 

School report

On behalf of MOD, we commissioned Alma Economics to begin work on an independent evaluation of the Service Pupil Support programme, to understand whether it has met its aims, delivered value for money, and whether it should be continued, adapted or discontinued by the department. 

This year, the team completed work to design evaluation methodologies, working with schools taking part in the programme and parents of pupils being supported to design processes for tracking progress against each of the programme’s planned outcomes. 

In the pipeline...