In November 2017, following a national Expression of Interest process, the MEAM coalition selected 23 local areas to join an expanded MEAM Approach network.
Due to new capacity in our team, we are now in a position to invite seven further areas to join the network in the autumn of 2018. We also expect, in line with our original plans, to run a further Expression of Interest process in 2020.
For this round, we are looking for new MEAM Approach areas in the following regions: Greater Manchester, North East, Midlands, and the South.
Each successful area will:
- Receive “critical friend” support from MEAM staff (based regionally in Homeless Link, Clinks and Mind) as it develops its coordinated intervention
- Contribute data to a programme-wide evaluation to evidence the impact of coordinated interventions, both locally and nationally
- Benefit from shared learning hubs and networks, regionally and nationally, and engagement with the MEAM policy team
- Improve local outcomes for people experiencing multiple disadvantage and develop the systemic changes that are needed to make these sustainable
To be eligible to apply, local areas must be able to:
- Fund an intervention for the next three years
- Be in the regions listed above.
- Evidence an existing willingness to work in a cross-sector partnership model
- Provide data for the national evaluation for the same period
- Fully involve people with lived experience of multiple disadvantage in the design and implementation of their interventions (coproduction)
- Consider diversity and equality when identifying the cohort of people with which they wish to work
- Agree to the standard terms and conditions of MEAM and the Big Lottery Fund (these terms will be made available to shortlisted applicants)
If your area is moving towards coordinated interventions for people with multiple disadvantage, has an initial cross-sector partnership in place and is able to secure money to self-fund an intervention, possibly through pooled funding, and you are within the regions mentioned above, then we encourage you to apply for support from the MEAM coalition.
If you are interested in becoming a MEAM Approach area, we would welcome an initial phone call to discuss the opportunity further and the requirements that would need to be met by partnerships. Please call your local MEAM Partnerships Manager, or Tassie Weaver on 07507 055509, Tassie.weaver@meam.org.uk. You will then be asked to submit an Expression of Interest form from your partnership by 7th September 2018.
We ask that shortlisted areas be available for interviews (in your locality) in the first two weeks of October 2018.
Please note that as the MEAM Approach is focused on area-wide interventions, existing Fulfilling Lives areas are not eligible to apply and we would not expect to see multiple applications from any local area.