Complex Needs

Across England, 60,000 people have complex needs, defined as experiencing two or more of the following:

• Homelessness

• Offending behaviour

• Poor mental health

• Substance misuse

Having complex needs can have a significant impact on individual lives and failure to adequately support people leads to substantial social and economic costs.

Fulfilling Lives - Aims

As outlined on the Fulfilling Lives website, the national programme seeks to:

1. Change lives - individuals experiencing complex needs will benefit through improved partnerships and networks, which enable people to work together in a way that best supports individuals.

2. Change systems - evidence will be produced to show the elements of the programme that are effective. Local and national decision-makers will be encouraged to review and adopt these elements where appropriate.

3. Involve beneficiaries - positive changes to individual’s lives, as well as broader system changes, will be underpinned by the collaborative, genuine and honest involvement of individuals with lived experience.

The 12 Projects

Someone with complex needs may have a wide range of factors impacting on their life, and the Fulfilling Lives projects aim to ensure that the agencies which support people provide a tailored, holistic and connected service. By focusing on people’s strengths we recognise that, with the right support, an individual can change their own life.

Golden Key is one of twelve Fulfilling Lives projects taking place across England, sharing in £112 million of funding for up to eight years. The projects are working to better understand the situation in their communities and to improve things for the most vulnerable people - on an individual, local and national level. Each Fulfilling Lives project is evaluated locally, and a national evaluator is looking at wider lessons that can be learned across the board.

For further information about the National Lottery Community Fund’s Fulfilling Lives programme, including details of the other projects across England, visit the Fulfilling Lives: Supporting People with Multiple Needs website.

#SeeTheFullPicture

#seethefullpicture raises awareness of the challenges people experiencing a combination of homelessness, substance misuse, poor mental health and other complex needs face in their lives. Through frontline delivery and evaluation, we identify opportunities for positive change within ‘the system’, because we believe everyone should have the opportunity to live a fulfilled life. Watch the video below to see highlights from the past campaigns.