Scope of Work
Evaluation of the UK-wide Transforming lives: Reducing Women’s Imprisonment Programme,
October 2015 – September 2018
The Prison Reform Trust
The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) is an independent UK charity working to create a just, humane and effective
penal system. We do this by inquiring into the workings of the system; informing prisoners, staff and the
wider public; and by influencing Parliament, government and officials towards reform.
The Prison Reform Trust's main objectives are:
 Reducing unnecessary imprisonment and promoting community solutions to crime;
 Improving treatment and conditions for prisoners and their families;
 Promoting equality and human rights in the justice system.
Background
The Prison Reform Trust has long called for a reduction in women’s imprisonment in the UK and a step
change in how the criminal justice system responds to the needs of women. In 2000, the Prison Reform Trust
published the Wedderburn report Justice for Women and intensified our efforts in 2011 with the publication
of Reforming Women’s Justice following the doubling of the women’s prison population between 1995 –
2010. This followed Baroness Corston’s government-commissioned Review of vulnerable women in the
criminal justice system (2007), which documented the extent of women offenders’ unmet mental health
needs, their histories of abuse and trauma, and the disproportionately adverse impact imprisonment on
them.
In November 2012 the Prison Reform Trust’s launched a three year programme, funded by the Pilgrim Trust,
to reduce women’s imprisonment with a public lecture by Dame Elish Angiolini, Scottish Commission on
Women Offenders. Our action research inquiry with the major international women’s organisation the
Soroptimists commenced at the same time. Drawing on information gathered across the UK, the inquiry
report, ‘Transforming Lives: reducing women’s imprisonment’ published at the end of 2014 provides an upto-date framework nation by nation for this project.
The Prison Reform Trust has now launched a new three year drive to reduce women’s imprisonment across
the UK. The new strategy also named Transforming Lives: reducing women’s imprisonment will promote
more effective, early intervention and non-custodial responses to women in trouble, working with national
and local governments, statutory agencies, and voluntary and community sector organisations in England,
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In delivering this programme The Prison Reform Trust will be
supported by our partner organisations Families Outside and UserVoice. The initiative is funded by the Big
Lottery Fund.
Purpose of the Research
To undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the UK-wide Transforming Lives: Reducing Women’s
Imprisonment Programme, 2015 – 2018.
To examine and explore the contribution the Transforming Lives programme has made in addressing the
Prison Reform Trust core aim of reducing the number of women in the UK sent to prison and a number of
high-level programme outcomes:
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Reducing the imprisonment and remand of particular target groups of women;
Improving the governance of women’s justice across the UK;
Improving pathways into mental health and social care and support for vulnerable women in the
criminal justice system;
Improving compliance with the UN Bangkok Rules’ emphasis on non-custodial alternatives for
women with dependent children and ensuring the welfare of children is properly considered.
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We are seeking an iterative, action research approach to this evaluation that will make a real-time
contribution to the substantive outcomes of the programme as well as providing lessons for the future.
Tasks
We welcome an open and engaged dialogue with applicants about the best way to deliver this ambitious
programme evaluation.
We are particularly interested in hearing from applicants with a strong track record of evaluating advocacy
programmes and the ability to think creatively about the key stages of the evaluation process:
A.
Desk research: The knowledge and capacity to undertake an initial rapid review of the relevant
literature to develop a strong theoretical basis for the evaluation of the programme and benchmark
progress against our programme outcomes.
B.
A ‘theory of change’: The ability to work with the Prison Reform Trust core team and key
stakeholders to develop a ‘theory of change’ model for the Transforming Lives programme. This
should reflect in a self-critical way on the ‘contribution’ the Prison Reform Trust has made to the
programme aims and outcomes, the evidence and assumptions that underpin our delivery model
and the external actors and organisations that will contribute to these changes.
C.
Data collection and analysis: The experience to develop a suitable research design and methodology
to evaluate both the delivery and outcomes of the Transforming Lives programme. This should
include a clear overview of your evaluation framework; the development of programme indicators,
data collection and analysis.
In thinking about the most appropriate methodology consideration should be given to the following:
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The importance we place upon taking into account the voices of women with experience of the
criminal justice system and practitioners with a stake in the system are built into the evaluation
and contribute to our delivery of the programme.
Mapping local practice: The Transforming Lives programme has a strong focus on ‘the local’ and
how to bring about systems change in an era of devolution and austerity. Our local work
comprises a key plank of our delivery approach and we would like the evaluators to explore our
interventions at a local level and build a number of models of good practice into the final
evaluation of the programme.
The Transforming Lives programme is UK-wide with a strong focus on promoting best practice
within and between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
D. Outputs: We are seeking an evaluation of the Transforming Lives programme that offers an open,
accessible and dynamic account of the difference it makes. We encourage applicants to think
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creatively about how the learning from the programme can be shared in real-time with The Prison
Reform Trust and a wider audience at key milestones during the life of the programme. Key
programme deliverables should include:
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6 monthly progress updates
Interim Report
Executive Summary
Final Report
Lessons for Policy-Makers
What the Prison Reform Trust will provide:
The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) will provide the researchers with access to all available information on the
Transforming Lives programme and past initiatives, existing data and contribute suggestions for possible
focus areas.
PRT will assist the evaluators in making contacts with individuals, partner organisations and other key
stakeholders.
Where possible PRT will, in conjunction with our partner organisation UserVoice, help facilitate access to
women who have experience of the criminal justice system. However, where further access is required we
expect the evaluators to obtain the necessary ethical approval and ensure they have the correct ethical and
social codes of conduct in place for an evaluation of this nature.
Management
The evaluation will be managed by the Prison Reform Trust’s Programme Director: Reducing women's
imprisonment. Day-to-day contact will be with the Senior Programme Officer in London and Programme
Manager based in Edinburgh.
An evaluation expert reference group will review progress of the evaluation on a bi-annual basis for the
lifetime of the programme.
Skills and Experience Required
Essential
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A proven track-record of evaluating high profile programmes, particularly those with a strong focus
on advocacy and research.
A strong understanding of the process of changing policy and practice. An ability to conceptualise,
measure and explain policy change in a local and national setting.
Capacity and experience of working in a UK-wide context.
Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills including desk research, interviews, stakeholder
surveys and data analysis.
Strong project management skills
Strong communication skills and ability to disseminate key findings in an accessible fashion
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Desirable
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Knowledge of the criminal justice landscape in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Knowledge of the issues relating to women in the criminal justice system.
Budget
This evaluation will run for the life of the Transforming Lives programme: 1st October 2015 – 30 September
2018. The indicative budget for this work is £70 - £80k (inclusive of VAT)
Indicative timeline
Key Actions
Issue the invitation to tender
Deadline for tender submissions:
Selection of Preferred Evaluator
(If a number of bids are of high quality The Prison Reform Trust
may invite shortlisted applicants to present their proposals)
Contract Award
Evaluation commencement date
Inception Meeting:
Dates (subject to change)
8 December 2015
22 January 2016
25 January 2016 – 5 February
8 February 2016
15 February 2016
w/c 15 February 2016
Application
Potential bidders for this contract should submit a detailed research proposal of no more than 10 pages
setting out how you would approach this brief. Additionally you should also include a detailed breakdown of
project costs and CVs for all relevant staff outlining relevant research skills, experience and why they would
be well-placed to deliver the high-quality output required for an evaluation of this nature.
Bids will be assessed on a) understanding of the brief; b) appropriateness and credibility of proposed
approach; c) skills, knowledge and experience of contractor; d) value for money
Interested parties are strongly encouraged to contact Thomas Guiney on
thomas.guiney@prisonreformtrust.org.uk or 020 76897726 to discuss the evaluation in further detail prior
to submitting an application.
Bids should be sent to womensprogramme@prisonreformtrust.org.uk to arrive by 18:00 on the 22 January
2016.
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