PCD 1743 Continuing the Newham Youth 2 Adult Hub in 25/26

MOPAC manages and co funds the Youth 2 Adult Hub, a pilot project which aims to reduce reoffending and improve outcomes for young adults on probation in Newham. This decision seeks approval to extend the Hub by 12 months to March 2026 by committing £400,000 in MOPAC funding.  

The Y2A Hub has been operational since April 2022 and this extension provides interim arrangements whilst awaiting impact evaluation findings and to enable sustainable funding options for the model to be explored as part of the government’s spending review. 

Under the above funding the Hub will continue to operate in the current model. Up to £30,000 will be granted under the MoU for the women co-commissioned service to the MoJ to allow for the continuation of dedicated provision for young women in Newham. Up to £220,000 will be granted to NHSE to allow for the continuation of the wellbeing service.  

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Approve the commitment of £400,000 of MOPAC funding to enable the extension of the Youth 2 Adult Hub for a period of 12-months from 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026. 

2. Approve the following grant funding: 

1. Up to £30,000 to the MoJ under an existing MoU to continue support for young women in the hub. 

2. Up to £220,000 to NHSE to enable the delivery of the wellbeing service in the hub 

3. Pending confirmation of continued delivery of a mentoring service for the hub, £10,000 to the London Probation commissioned provider delivering the mentoring service within the Y2A hub 

3. Approve procurement of a provider to deliver an accommodation support service in the Y2A hub at a maximum value of £60,000 for 12-months.  

4. Delegate authority to the Director of Commissioning and Partnerships to award contracts and grants and sign further documents in relation to this decision (including contracts, grants and variations) and to make budget movements, according to MOPAC’s scheme of delegation. 

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background  

1. MOPAC manages a pilot hub for 18-25 year olds on probation and 17-year olds transitioning from the Youth Offending Service to adult probation in Newham. The pilot involves:  

• Commissioned services designed to respond to young adults’ needs and life stage, such as mental health, accommodation support and mentoring, collocated alongside probation;  

• a trauma-informed, welcoming hub co-designed by young adults;  

• a comprehensive programme of staff training and ongoing workforce development 

2. The pilot was originally funded by His Majesty’s Treasury’s Shared Outcomes Fund until 31 March 2023. Since then, the pilot has been extended under a co-commissioning approach, with MOPAC acting as programme manager and lead commissioner. Funding for this has primarily been from MOPAC and London Probation, with funding also provided by the NHSE, HMPPS, Barrow Cadbury Trust and the London Borough (LB) of Newham.  

2. Issues for consideration  

1. The Youth 2 Adult Hub pilot is currently due to come to an end on 31 March 2025. 

2. The Y2A Hub pilot evaluation is currently under way. To date, there have been two interim reports and a final process evaluation completed for the hub. Evaluation of the pilot so far has been very positive. The final process report highlighted a number of key strengths of the model, including co-location and the multi-disciplinary approach; a separate distinct young adults offer; the rehabilitative ethos, the services on offer, and the physical space. 

3. Further evaluation of impact and economic analysis is underway and due to be published early in 2025, this will inform decision making on the future of the model.  

4. MoJ officials are considering longer term sustainability options for the Newham Hub subject to continued positive evaluation.  

5. A 12-month extension of the Youth to Adult (Y2A) Hub is being sought in order to maintain the progress in the Newham hub as a living example of the Y2A model, ahead of further evaluation findings to inform long-term decision making by central government. The Y2A hub will also continue to benefit around 200 young adults at any one time who will access the multi-disciplinary hub and services. 

6. The Y2A programme board, which includes representation from London Probation, has agreed in principle to support an extension of the Newham hub in 25/26 in the current model, which has been agreed by the board as the minimum viable model. 

7. Partner funding to support the model, including the enhanced probation offer, is yet to be finalised. The proposal supported by the board is to maintain the following elements of the Y2A hub: 

• MOPAC programme management 

• Mentoring 

• Wellbeing (including Speech and Language Therapy) 

• Accommodation support 

• Additional probation staff 

• A fund for essential items for service users 

8. MOPAC has also received grant funding, approved by PCD 1707, to fund two additional services in the hub; service user engagement and staff training. These services will be funded until at least June 2025. MOPAC will explore opportunities to secure in-year funding for these services to continue, as they will continue to add significant value to the project but are not essential for the hub to continue. 

3. Financial Comments  

1. The total budget requirement for this work totals £400,000.  The programme will be funded from the Criminal Justice 2025/26 budget. 

2. The table below details all proposed MOPAC expenditure. 

4. Legal Comments  

1. Paragraph 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve all awards for grant funding. 

2. These recommendations are in line with the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent. 

3. The delegation of responsibility for the finalisation of planning and contractual/grant arrangements, including relevant terms and the signing of agreements, and budget virements and movement to the Chief Executive Officer, is in accordance with the general power of delegation in paragraph 1.7, and more specifically paragraphs 5.4, 5.12 and 5.13. 

4. Legal advice is not required and there are no additional legal implications. 

5. Commercial Issues  

1. This Decision requests approval for the award of grants described in Recommendation 2 of this Decision. In accordance with 4.8 of MOPAC’s Scheme of Delegation, the DMPC can approve the award of grant funding. 

2. Further, this Decision requests approval to proceed to procurement for the delivery of an accommodation support service within the Y2A hub at a value of £60,000 for a duration of 12 months. In accordance with 5.12 of MOPAC’s Scheme of Delegation, the Chief Executive Officer can approve proceeding to procurement for opportunities with a total value between £50,000 to £499,000. 

3. Further, this Decision requests approval to delegate the award approval for any subsequent contract to the relevant Director. In accordance with 5.12 of MOPAC’s Scheme of Delegation, a contract award at a value between £50,000 and £499,999 would usually require the approval of the Chief Executive Officer. 

4. The actions proposed can be taken in compliance with procurement legislation and MOPAC’s Contract Regulations. 

6. Public Health Approach  

1. The work of the hub aligns with a public health approach to violence reduction in London by using tackling the drivers of offending behaviour through responding to the specific needs of young adults on probation. 

7. GDPR and Data Privacy 

1. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities. 

2. New contracts will be put in place and the DPO will be consulted on the GDPR section of the Terms and Conditions of the contracts. Any data sharing will be covered by an appropriate agreement. 

3. In the case of new providers, new Data Protection Impact Assessments will be developed.  

4. If an incumbent provider is successful, existing DPIAs will be reviewed and updated. 

5. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.   

8. Equality Comments  

1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 

2. Equalities Impact Assessments (EIA) were completed and are in place for each hub service. These will be reviewed and updated in the new Inclusion Impact Assessment in the run up to pilot extension to ensure any learning from existing delivery is considered from an equalities perspective. 

9. Background/supporting papers 

• Appendix 1 PCD 1584