Activity and Learning Agreement Pilots - Programme Theory Evaluation (Working Paper 3)

Activity Agreement Provision

Newton B, Johnson C, Fearn H | Report RR097 | Department for Children, Schools and Families | Apr 2009

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The Activity Agreements (AA) Pilots were launched in April 2006 in eight areas of England. The AA pilots were an initiative aimed at testing the effectiveness of conditional financial incentives, along with intensive support and brokerage, of tailored activities in re-engaging young people aged 16 -17 who had been NEET (not in education, employment or training) for at least 20 weeks.

In taking part, young people were offered a weekly allowance in return for committing to a plan and completing agreed activities to reintegrate them back into learning and/or employment. Three levels of incentive payment were tested.

This is the third paper resulting from the ‘focused studies’ element within the programme theory evaluation and explores the theories related to provision and brokerage. It is based on research undertaken among a sample of young people in three Connexions Partnership areas who signed up to the AA between December 2007 and April 2008.