The Barrow Cadbury Trust are among a group of social investors, led by Bridges Ventures and Big Society Capital, supporting a new Social Impact Bond (SIB) commissioned by Essex County Council. Developed by Social Finance, the Essex SIB will provide for a programme designed to secure better outcomes for vulnerable young people at risk of going into care.
 
The initiative, formally launched today and delivered by the charity Action for Children, will fund a £3.1 million five year programme providing intensive support to 380 adolescents and their families through Multi-Systemic Therapy, a family-centred approach based on the principle of strengthening relationships to better withstand difficult situations in the long-term.
 
The Essex SIB was welcomed at an Admiralty House event this morning, at which Cabinet Office Minister Rt Hon Francis Maude MP and Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd MP joined Essex County Council Leader Cllr Peter Martin in championing the UK’s leading role in pioneering social investment.
 
You can find out more about the Barrow Cadbury Trust’s Social Investment Guidelines here and read a Whitehouse blog posting which refers to the Trust’s involvement in the Peterborough Prison SIB.