Skip to content

Informing Futures Toolkit launches

Woman wearing red top smiling

University of Gloucestershire colleagues Dr Colin Baker (Senior Research Fellow) and Dr Liz Berragan (School of Health and Social Care, Postgraduate Research Lead), recently completed a large evaluation project supporting the development of some key elements of a new toolkit.​

​The Informing Futures Toolkit is a free, online resources for professionals seeking to understand and support, care and custody-experienced young people. Launched in January 2021, the toolkit was produced by Bristol-based charity 162​​5 Independent People​​ and funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. 

1625 Independent People works to prevent homelessness, keep young people safe, and support them to be the best they can be. 

As the Informing Futures website explains: “In England, an estimated 10,000 young people aged between 16 and 18 leave care each year, and over 27,000 children are involved in the criminal justice system. If you work with children and young people, whether in health, education, social care or business, you are very likely to encounter individuals with experience of the care or custody systems. These young people are likely to have experienced trauma early in their lives, and in order to provide the best support and opportunities possible, this needs to be recognised in the approach used. Informing Futures offers resources, information and guidance to support you in reviewing and/or developing that approach.” ​

Dr Baker and Dr Berragan’s reports are available as eprints on the university website: 

• 1625 Independent People, Future 4 Me Evaluation Final Report 

• 1625 Independent People, Trauma Recovery Model Pilot Evaluation Report ​​​