About us

Our Priority Areas

We have five priority areas that make up 80 per cent of our work, leaving 20 per cent to be responsive to the changing policy environment. These areas were selected because they are areas where the problem is large-scale; there is policy interest; there is need for further evidence either to be generated and/or consistently used; and there is the best potential for achieving impact.

Domestic Abuse

Children deserve to life free from domestic abuse but we lack the evidence about how to protect children from this severe and widespread issue
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Supporting Parenting

Children should benefit from supportive, compassionate parenting that sets them up for success
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Strengthening family networks

We want to see children and young people supported by their family to develop and thrive, and to be safely in their homes with their families as much as possible
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Relationships for care experienced children

The ‘cliff edge’ some children experience when leaving care can be isolating and lonely – we want to better understand how to support children in developing relationships that last when they leave care
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Service and practice models

How services are organised can directly influence the children and families receiving those services and failures can have devasting consequences
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Publications

Our latest findings, research and reports
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  • Report

Relationships for care experienced children

Impact of mentoring and befriending practice & interventions for ‘at-risk’ and care-experienced children & young people

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  • Report

Strengthening Family Networks

Exploring local authority data and monitoring of Family Group Conferences

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Latest News

Read our latest news and blogs
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Blog

May 1, 2025

The Foundations Guidebook: A new tool to help more children and families get the right support

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News

April 22, 2025

Coming soon: New, updated Foundations Guidebook

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Foundations 2023. Foundations, the national What Works Centre for Children & Families is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 12136703 and charity number 1188350.

Cost ratings:

Rated 1: Set up and delivery is low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.

Rated 2: Set up and delivery is medium-low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £100–£499.

Rated 3: Set up and delivery is medium cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £500–£999.

Rated 4: Set up and delivery is medium-high cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £1,000–£2,000.

Rating 5: Set up and delivery is high cost. Equivalent to an estimated unit cost of more than £2,000.

Set up and delivery cost is not applicable, not available, or has not been calculated.

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Child Outcomes:

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Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing child maltreatment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Enhancing school achievement & employment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing crime, violence and antisocial behaviour: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing substance abuse: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing risky sexual behaviour & teen pregnancy: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Preventing obesity and promoting healthy physical development: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.

Evidence ratings:

Rated 2: Has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome from a quantitative impact study, but there is not yet evidence of causal impact.

Rated 2+: Meets the level 2 rating and the best available evidence is based on a study which is more rigorous than a level 2 standard but does not meet the level 3 standard.

Rated 3: Has evidence of a short-term positive impact from at least one rigorous study.

Rated 3+: Meets the level 3 rating and has evidence from other studies with a comparison group at level 2 or higher.

Rated 4: Has evidence of a long-term positive impact through at least two rigorous studies.

Rated 4+: Meets the level 4 rating and has at least a third study contributing to the Level 4 rating, with at least one of the studies conducted independently of the intervention provider.

Rating has a *: The evidence base includes mixed findings i.e., studies suggesting positive impact alongside studies, which on balance, indicate no effect or negative impact.

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