Bradford Children and Families Trust (BCFT) is delighted to announce their successful bid to participate in an Evidence into Practice initiative, spearheaded by Foundations, the national What Works Centre for Children and Families, that will help drive the transformation of children’s services.
The bid was submitted in conjunction with Born in Bradford and this collaborative approach set Bradford in good stead to secure the funding amidst strong competition nationally.
BCFT is one of nine local areas who will partner with the Evidence into Practice programme to embed evidence-based approaches across services in the Bradford District so that children and families can benefit from the highest quality support. As a ‘Partner Place’ for the programme, BCFT will work alongside Foundations to implement evidence-based support shown to make a real difference to children’s outcomes, in areas such as supporting parenting, kinship care, and mentoring and befriending for care-experienced children.
The successful bid includes a £100k funding grant to appoint a ‘Local Evidence Lead’ who will work to embed evidence into the heart of practice in children’s services and partners between now and March 2027.
Evidence Into Practice aligns with the children’s social care reforms set out in the Children’s Social Care National Framework and Keeping Children Safe, Helping Families Thrive, which position evidence as a key enabler of effective services.
Being a Partner Place within Evidence in Practice, Bradford Children and Families Trust and Born in Bradford will form a network with neighbouring local authorities in the West Yorkshire region, supported by Foundations, the DfE, Local Government Association, Early Help and Principal Social Worker regional leads to exchange learning that will strengthen regional capacity to use evidence as the national children’s social care reforms are implemented, ensuring the benefits in Bradford are shared widely.
Charlotte Ramsden, Chief Executive of Bradford Children and Families Trust said,
“We are thrilled to have been selected as a Partner Place within the Evidence into Practice initiative and the prospect of delivering evidence-based support to children, families, children in care and care leavers. The programme gives us the opportunity to strengthen our work to embed evidence and research into everyday practice.
“As we continue on our improvement journey, we are passionate about our Children’s Social Care transformation and the partnership alongside Foundations will support how we continue to learn and grow. Sharing what we learn through exchanging knowledge regionally, nationally and with other Partner Places, we will collectively work towards the best outcomes for children and families.”
Professor Mark Mon-Williams, Director of Born in Bradford Centre for Applied Education Research said,
“The fact that Bradford has been chosen as a Partner Place by Foundations will transform life chances for children in the District. This investment recognises the strength, ambition, and innovation of Bradford Children and Families Trust and will give us a powerful boost as we embed evidence-led practice to transform outcomes for children, young people and families across the District. The partnership between Born in Bradford and the Bradford Children and Families Trust shows the power of connecting evidence and practice and being a Partner Place will allow us to take this partnership working to the next level”.
For media enquiries contact:
BCFT Communications Team
press.communications@bradfordcft.org.uk