Evaluation of DWP Financial Inclusion Champions Initiative

On behalf of the Financial Inclusion Taskforce (FITF), HM Treasury (HMT) commissioned CRSP to undertake an evaluation of the Department for Work and Pension’s (DWP) Financial Inclusion Champions Initiative. FITF aims to establish the effectiveness of the Financial Inclusion Champions Initiative looking at both the impact and processes of the Initiative.

The Champions work to build and co-ordinate partnerships with Local Authorities (LA), social landlords and other potential financial inclusion intermediaries to promote financial inclusion. In particular, they aim to stimulate the demand for, and in some cases increase the supply of, basic financial services for financially excluded people.

Objectives of the Evaluation

The evaluation had four main objectives:

• to understand the influence, co-ordination and engagement Champions had with partners;

• to assess the net benefits to individuals that the Initiative is targeting;

• to assess how outcomes relate to overall conditions, with a particular consideration for economic conditions;

• to assess achievements against objectives and wider Value for Money.

Sponsor: HM Treasury

Start date: July 2010

Completion date: March 2011

Project Team (CRSP): Noel Smith, Paola Signoretta; Yvette Hartfree, Amanda Waring, Jacqueline Beckhelling, Rebecca Hand, Lynne Cox, Nigel Bilsbrough.

Publication
Signoretta, P., Smith, N., Holmes, L., Beckhelling, J., Hartfree, Y., Hill, K., Manful, E., Padley, M., Perren, K. and Waring, A. (2011) Evaluation of DWP Financial Inclusion Champions Initiative: Final Report and Appendices. London: HM Treasury.

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