National Youth Homelessness Scheme

Building a business case

Building a sound business case is vital in setting up any project, obliging you to think carefully about the overall characteristics of an area, evidence need and to ensure the project is correctly focused.

Key question to ask

Key questions to ask when building a case include:

What is the area like for young people?

Build a picture of the local area its population, diversity, environment, and housing.

Consider current and relevant homelessness issues in the area from a young person's perspective, such as:

  • Risk factors e.g. school exclusions, indicators of deprivation, teenage pregnancy rates, numbers of care leavers and other young people leaving institutions.
  • Protective factors e.g. services provided by Local Housing Authorities, RSLs, Education, Children and Youth Services or Leisure, and the Voluntary Sector.

What is the need for this work?

Involving young people in defining the need and designing the service will help to ensure it is well-grounded.

Referring to research, statistics and strategies e.g. to a Homelessness or Housing Strategy, helps establish the need for the project. (See the Being Strategic module for further information).

Who needs to be involved in the work?

To engage project partners the project needs to:

  • Fit business plans and strategies so each organisation can justify the commitment of resources
  • Identify strengths and added value that partners bring to the project - skills, expertise, resources and networks

What is the project going to achieve?

Agreeing clear goals, targets and milestones - and describing what is to be achieved, by whom and by when, in a written agreement is key to communication between commissioners and service providers. This can take some time to achieve but, in the long run, is worth the investment.

How is the project to be delivered?

Project costs, staffing and delivery methods need to be identified, to ensure that sufficient resources (time and money) are available. In developing a scheme, be flexible and open to learning as you go.

Key Elements of Success

  • Keep the needs of your client group at the centre of your plans
  • Use existing links and contacts to help evidence need and build a case
  • Listen to feed back: what are young people and workers telling you is needed?
  • Strike a balance between being clear about what you want to achieve and being flexible about how you will get there
  • Partnership working is vital - foster positive relationships.
  • Ensure you and your partners have shared common goals
  • Learn from the experience of others.

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