Difference Matters Evaluation & Learning Partner

Prior Engagement Notice: Difference Matters Evaluation & Learning Partner

This notice is published to inform the market of the VRU's intention to engage with interested parties for the Difference Matters Evaluation and Learning Partner services.

The Violence Reduction Unit would like to run a market engagement exercise on the 20th February 2025. This will be an opportunity for potential bidders to ask the VRU clarification questions relating to the scope of work disclosed in this notice.

Background

The VRU has allocated £1m to pilot a new programme that will promote inclusion and support neurodivergent (ND) children and young people in mainstream secondary schools as part of its education work. This initiative, part of the London Inclusion Charter, aims to improve the experiences of ND pupils in mainstream secondary schools, enhance inclusion and reduce exclusions, absences, and suspensions among ND pupils.

Opportunity Summary

• Contract Value: Up to £100,000 over 24 months (June 2025 - July 2027).

• Key Responsibilities:

o Develop an evaluation framework and assess impact feasibility.

o Monitor performance and provide termly summary reports.

o Conduct process and impact evaluations, using qualitative and quantitative methods.

o Facilitate shared learning through cross-borough collaboration.

• Core Capabilities Required:

o Capacity, experience, and expertise to lead complex evaluation programmes that will incorporate a range of stakeholders and partners at strategic and operational levels.

o Strong commitment to ethical research and data protection.

o Expertise and capacity to deliver both quantitative and qualitative research simultaneously.

o Demonstrable experience of delivering similar evaluations, particularly with participatory methods, ideally involving young people and education settings.

o Knowledge and understanding of education settings.

o Ideally the Evaluation & Learning Partner should demonstrate that they can design and implement evaluation approaches that are sensitive to the experiences, needs, and communication preferences of neurodivergent audiences.

o The ability to apply a trauma-informed lens throughout the evaluation process, recognising the potential intersection of neurodivergence and past experiences of exclusion.

o An understanding of the Public Health Approach to violence reduction and prevention.

o Strong data protection systems and processes.

o Experience/ ability to conduct fieldwork in London.

o Strong data visualisation skills.

o Capacity to meet the stated timeframes and deliverables

Response

If you are interested in the opportunity and meet the core capabilities as set out above, then please email vruprocurement@london.gov.uk. You may then be asked to fill in a short questionnaire.

Please note that this exercise is in no way a call for competition and will not result in the award of a contract to any respondents to this notice.

For full details, please refer to attached document