Feedback: Prove intervention works

We share Graham Allen's concerns and support his early intervention strategy.

It will, however, be a challenge to find enough funding for Mr Allen's proposals. Creative thinking will be needed to motivate private funders to invest. Donors have to be brave because the long-term results of interventions may take a long time. But if we think creatively about monitoring and evaluating programmes we can create interim measures to capture the effects of programmes along the timeline. People will invest in social causes when they have a vision for what it is achieving.

At Impetus we invest in charities and social enterprises that are working to break the cycle of disadvantage. We will look for whether these interventions are really effective, whether they tackle the root cause of the problem and whether they are enabling that beneficiary to lead an independent life.