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PILOT II

The charity Chance UK provides a structured mentoring programme for children between 5 and 11, providing troubled children with more stability and reducing isolation. It uses the Goodman’s Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to measure its impact on the children it works with. SDQ scores taken before and after the mentoring programmes show that Chance UK has a positive impact on children’s self-esteem.

The Place2Be provides a drop-in service for children where they can talk about whatever is worrying them. The Place2Be also measures its impact on the children it works with using the SDQ and has strong evidence base built up over many years.

The Brandon Centre provides psychotherapy services for 12 to 21 year old young people who experience mental health problems. The Centre also has a contraception and sexual health service. Since 1993, the Brandon Centre has been measuring the effectiveness of its psychotherapy services in reducing mental health problems in young people using the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA).

Each of these charities improves children’s ‘non-cognitive skills’. Analysis of longitudinal data has shown that non-cognitive skills (such as self-esteem and a sense of control) are as important for adult outcomes as cognitive skills (such as reading and mathematics). These outcomes include employment, income, risk-taking behaviour and depression.

Both non-cognitive and cognitive skills are strongly dependent on family background but there is evidence to suggest that non-cognitive skills may be easier to influence than cognitive skills. Intergenerational transmission of non-cognitive skills has increased and is contributing to the decrease in social mobility.

The policy implication is that interventions aimed at improving the non-cognitive skills of the most deprived are a promising target for improving life chances for these children and increasing social mobility. Indeed, concentrating on non-cognitive skills may have higher returns than attempting to boost children’s cognitive skills directly.

Pro Bono economics is looking for 1-3 economists to analyse the data from the three charities and link them to the demonstrated benefits from improved non-cognitive skills. Further analysis could also look at the long-term cost-effectiveness of the charities.

Linking the data collected by Chance UK and the Place2Be would enable both charities to articulate their long-term impact. Using the Brandon Centre as a case study would provide an opportunity to combine the returns to improved non-cognitive skills with improved mental health.

This project might also help the charities to tailor their services more precisely to the development of non-cognitive skills or the highest long-term returns.

To learn more about this pilot project, including to get involved with the analysis, send an email to info@probonoeconomics.com.