The Early Action Task Force aims to move spending from reactive ("acute") services to preventative early interventions. This involves overcoming barriers like short-term planning, silos between organizations, and lack of evidence about effective programs. The goal is systemic change through early public sector involvement, shared outcomes, data analysis, leadership, and cross-sector collaboration. Examples provided are Southwark Early Action Commission and Public Social Partnerships.
2. www.community-
The Early Action Task Force
Graham Allen MP, Chair of Early Intervention Foundation
Geraldine Blake, Chief Executive, Community Links
Kim Bromley-Derry, CEO, London Borough of Newham
Anna Coote, Head of Social Policy, New Economics Foundation
Dan Corry, CEO, New Philanthropy Capital
Hilary Cottam, Principle Partner, Participle
Sir Stuart Etherington, CEO, National Council for Voluntary Organisations
Lucy de Groot, Chief Executive, Community Service Volunteers
Victoria Hornby, Director of Grants, Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
David Hutchinson, CEO, Social Finance
Ben Jupp, Director, Social Finance
Dharmendra Kanani, England Director, Big Lottery Fund
Tom McLaughlan, Director Government Relations, Accenture
Debbie Pippard, Head of Programmes, Barrow Cadbury Trust
Anne Power, Professor of Social Policy, London School of Economics
David Robinson, Senior Advisor, Community Links (Chair)
Baroness Debbie Stedman-Scott, House of Lords and CEO, Tomorrow’s People
Dame Clare Tickell, CEO, Action for Children
Kitty Ussher, former CEO, Demos
Yasmin Waljee OBE, International Pro Bono Manager, Hogan Lovells
Nick Wright, Managing Director Corporate Responsibility and Community Affairs, UBS
4. Primary
prevention:
Preventing or minimising
the risk of problems
arising, usually through
universal policies like
health promotion or a
vaccination programme.
Secondary
prevention:
Targeting individuals or
groups at high risk or
showing early signs of a
particular problem to try
to stop it occurring. For
example Family Nurse
Partnerships, screening
programmes, or the
Reading Recovery
Programme.
Tertiary prevention:
Intervening once there is a
problem, to stop it getting worse
and redress the situation. For
example work with ‘troubled
families’ or to prevent
reoffending.
Acute spending:
Spending which acts to manage the
impact of a strongly negative situation
but does little or nothing to prevent
negative consequences or it
reoccurring in future. For example
prison, or acute hospital care.
www.community-links.org/earlyaction
5. www.community-
Barriers to Early Action
1. Short term planning
2. Silos
3. We can’t afford it (‘double running’)
4. We don’t really know what works (and can we cash the
savings?)
5. Skills and leadership
6. www.community-
The goal
• A change in:
– Systems
– Structures
– Strategies
– Skills
– Culture
• Not a bolt-on programme
7. www.community-
• Public sector involvement from the start
• Shared outcomes
• Careful data analysis and measurement
• Strong leadership
• And lots more…
Key Ingredients
Thanks to NCVO
Keen for us to share our experiences – many people will have attempted this in the past
Quick introduction to the task force and then some thoughts on how it relates to commissioning, and the role of the voluntary sector
Formed 3 years ago
Group of leaders from across the sectors (not just the voluntary sectory)
Series of reports laying out the barriers and some solutions
The Triple Dividend
The Deciding Time
Looking Forward to Later Life
Towards Effective Prevention
Series of reports laying out the barriers and some solutions
The Triple Dividend
The Deciding Time
Looking Forward to Later Life
Towards Effective Prevention
Have produced a short document explaining how to classify early action spend.
This is a really useful tool for getting people engaged in thinking it through
Public sector involvement – including in programmes which are funded from elsewhere
Careful data analysis & measurement – possibly using skills brought in from outside, and developed with the LA
Leadership – this can come from anywhere. Eg the police in Lancashire, the Sustainability Comissioner in Wales, the voluntary sector in Southwark or Coventry, or the LA.
We have commissioned a literature review which isn’t yet published but I can certainly share a copy if you’re interested.
Southwark Early Action Commission
Voluntary sector led
Aims to engage statutory sector in coming up with recommendations for shifting action earlier
Theirs is with the health and wellbeing board and focuses on the determinants of health
Modelled on the Southwark Housing Commission
Another interesting model is ‘Fairness Commissions’
Public Social Partnerships
A three-way partnership between a charity, independent funder, and statutory agency
Used in Scotland
Early Action Neighbourhood Fund
led by some of the UK’s biggest funders
A closed programme but there will be an open version next year
Aims to change systems, structures, strategies and skills – using the voluntary sector as the catalyst.