A final evaluation report into Riverside’s training and volunteering pathways hails it as a success, hitting all targets despite the impact of coronavirus.
The evaluation report presents information about the value and policy relevance of Riverside’s wide range of pathways in supporting people to build self-confidence, learn, train, volunteer and move to employment.
The report’s introduction states:
“Riverside has met all funding targets, against the backdrop of a global coronavirus pandemic which began three-quarters of the way through the evaluation period.
“Riverside responded promptly when the government introduced restrictions to movement and social contact from 23 March 2020. The team adapted provision to on-line contact and group sessions and safely distanced check-in visits at the doors of people needing continuing support. Riverside worked with other agencies to circulate information about staying safe, across communities, by the beginning of April. They supported people experiencing particular challenges because of socio-economic position and/or ethnicity, and those facing hardship for the first time.
“The risk of UK health inequalities widening was promptly identified, with emerging evidence of people in poorest areas being twice as likely to die from COVID-19 as those in wealthiest areas, black people being three to four times as likely to die as white people, and men in low-skilled employment four times more likely to die than professionals.
“Riverside is proactively planning to mitigate social, economic and health consequences of the pandemic for local people living in poverty. The team is well placed to deliver best possible outcomes with local people.”
You can download the full report Finding a Way Forward produced by Ann McNulty PHD for Riverside.