The East Sussex Wellbeing and Employment Service (ESWE) is a valuable and effective initiative that addresses critical gaps in support for people facing homelessness. Its holistic and flexible approach has positively impacted customers’ wellbeing and demonstrated economic viability.
The evaluation found that the ESWE service had a positive impact on customers’ wellbeing, particularly in areas of mental and physical health, social isolation, lifestyle behaviours, and employability. The service demonstrated great adaptability to customer needs and the strategic co-location of wellbeing co-ordinators with housing officers, seems to facilitate effective service delivery. However, the evaluation also identified areas for improvement, particularly in the consistency of goal setting and the need for more structured support for certain customers. The ESWE service demonstrated significant value for money. The economic evaluation suggested that the service is both effective and economically viable.
Since the evaluation, the local authority have been honoured in the national homelessness excellence awards (link to story). Daniel Eade (Operations Manager – Partnerships & Prevention Services) commented “This project has truly made a difference—not just in lives, but in the way we understand cost avoidance across public services. From reducing A&E visits to GP appointments, the impact is tangible. Bringing together a lived experience group, setting onward goals, and enhancing our data systems has strengthened our approach. Being part of an evaluation of this calibre has shone a light on the work we’re doing, and the support from everyone involved has been fantastic.”
Each evaluation is allocated to one of our ten PHIRSTs which are ready to work with local authorities to co-produce research to underpin priority initiatives. You can browse the full list of PHIRST evaluations from this page. You can also browse their database of academic peer-reviewed publications that have arisen from PHIRST projects.
Storm Basketball Foundation ran a free basketball club at Millais School, in Horsham, after school on Fridays in a bid to get more girls active and to try the sport.
Read More20 April 2023
A six week skateboarding club was organised by The Young People Shop Project, with Dale Lay, founder of South Coast Skate Club coaching the young people.
Read More20 April 2023
Rewild Hastings aimed to introduce children to the local environment through activities such as playing in the woods and over the fields and hills, fishing in the sea and exploring the coastline, alongside an element of conservation work.
20 April 2023
Here we look at how an Eastbourne circus club recognised the struggles young people were facing and how they adapted their offering to help.
13 March 2023
Active Sussex invested £50,000 of funding into community-based strength and balance activity for those at risk of falling but have not yet fallen or been referred to falls prevention interventions.
This also included activity suitable for those who have been through commissioned falls prevention and in need of a pathway back into community-based activity.
16 January 2023
Using funding from Active Sussex, Sustrans decided to target children in KS2 (aged 7-11), especially those who were inactive or hadn’t learnt to ride a bike yet and don’t have access to a bike at home.
Read More08 April 2022
Varndean Girls' Bike Club was set up in April 2021 with the aim of creating a supportive and fun environment for girls to ride bikes. A judgement-free space for them to build confidence on the bike, learn new skills, meet new friends and explore new places by bike.
Read More08 April 2022
The Opening School Facilities Fund was provided by the Department for Education via Sport England to help children and young people to return to physical activity as Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in Summer 2021. This shares insight into the impact this funding had across Sussex.
Read More04 March 2022