Evaluating and learning from the Building Brighter Futures programme
Working in partnership with Centre for Mental Health to evaluate the progress of the Building Better Futures programme and learning what works for children, young people and their families.
This project has been commissioned by the Maudsley Charity, a grant-making charity that advances and accelerates positive change in mental health care in south London, and champions improvement elsewhere in the UK.
Background
There has been a rise in children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties, and an increase in demand for access to mental health support. While several factors are likely to impact mental health - children and young people who experience inequalities, or are from some minoritised groups, are more likely to experience poor mental health. Identifying how best to provide support that is accessible, acceptable and effective is key to making sure children and young people get the best start in life, regardless of their background.
Our role
Building Brighter Futures is a five-year grant programme funded by the Maudsley Charity to improve the mental health of children and young people aged 10-19 years old who are living in the most challenging circumstances and who face complex difficulties.
The King’s Fund and the Centre for Mental Health have been commissioned by the Maudsley Charity as the learning and support partners for the Building Brighter Futures programme. Both organisations will work in partnership to maximise learning across the programme, strengthen the evidence generated and identify mechanisms for sharing that learning more widely.
“The crisis in children and young people’s mental health needs urgent solutions, and with children from racialised backgrounds, those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and those living in challenging environments most at risk. Partnerships across sectors which centre genuine coproduction are a critical part of the solving this crisis.”
About Building Brighter Futures
In August 2025, 11 projects involving approximately 50 organisations were awarded £7.5 million to deliver projects across the London borough of Southwark, Lewisham, Lambeth and Croydon over the next 3 years.
The programme encourages collaboration between the NHS, trusted community organisations and researchers to develop, deliver and evaluate ambitious solutions that will go further in preventing and treating mental health conditions in young people.
The approach is grounded in feedback from across the mental health sector that by working together organisations will be better able to address complex problems, drawing on a range of thinking and sharing of expertise.
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About our partner
Centre for Mental Health is an independent charity. It takes the lead in challenging injustices in policies, systems and society, so that everyone can have better mental health.
Next steps
Starting from May 2026, The King’s Fund and Centre for Mental health will work with the Maudsley Charity to evaluate the progress of each project on an annual basis, capturing insights on their learning about partnership working and how the design and delivery of the programme can support and maximise impact.
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