Where things were:

Since  2010, there has been a huge push to harness the power of volunteering as a social good, and a pathway to quality work. Whether it’s utilising employee time, young people building purpose, or citizens stepping up to help the healthcare system – volunteering is now a key part of our system. 

What was needed:

Between 2011 and 2016 Stephen led work with the Cabinet Office and Nesta to design and deliver funds and programs that supported social action across the UK. Social Action is a form of volunteering where the participants actively get involved in the volunteer activity. 

Stephen in action:

Stephen oversaw the strategic design of a £42m fund to invest in social action projects. He was also responsible for the measurement of projects, its development and the evolution of the work. 

Result:

The Theory of Change that was developed for this project has been adopted across the whole social sector, with pre-application support programmes being developed for applying organisations. Over 100 organisations were supported over three years including Helping Hospitals, Care UK, and many more. The work provided a great foundation that has informed much of the social action work occurring in the UK today.