Changing Futures Northumbria
We are one of 15 Changing Futures programmes currently working in England to look at new ways of working with and supporting people experiencing multiple disadvantage; overlapping and intersecting issues around homelessness, addiction, criminal justice, domestic abuse and poor mental health.
Funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing and The National Lottery Community Fund until March 2025, we have developed a method of working based on relationships which we call the Liberated Method. This Method allows caseworkers and peer support specialists, who have lived experience similar to beneficiaries, to build trusting relationships and tailor bespoke support unique to the individual to help them rebuild their life.
Our starting point is to ask people ‘What matters to you?’ rather than conduct lengthy assessments and funnel them down prescribed pathways. Our teams work with people to do whatever is needed to help them thrive, as well as freeing those working in the system to do the same.
Working closely with key partners across Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, we want to learn where the current system is going wrong and what could work in its place. We aim to bring people together to spread our learning and help catalyse a deep and lasting change that puts those experiencing multiple and complex disadvantages at the centre of their support response.aragraph
Want to get involved?
We are keen to share our learning and have conversations about how we make relational working 'the norm' in the North East and across the UK (and beyond!).
If you’re interested, sign up for updates:
