Elevating voices, shaping change: outcome evaluation of the ELEVATE CJS Leadership Programme

This report presents the findings of an outcome evaluation of the ELEVATE CJS Leadership Programme, delivered by the Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA) in 2023–2024. Building on an earlier process evaluation (Simpson and Schreeche-Powell, 2024), the study examines short- and medium-term outcomes across two cohorts of participants, partner organisations, and employers who hosted programme placements. The evaluation adopts a mixed-methods design, combining narrative storyboard methods, surveys, and semi-structured interviews to capture both the breadth and depth of programme impact. ELEVATE was established to support minoritised leaders with lived experience of the criminal justice system to develop their leadership capacity, expand their professional networks, and increase their visibility and influence within the sector. Findings demonstrate that the programme generated significant outcomes at individual, organisational, and sectoral levels. Participants reported marked increases in confidence, leadership identity, and the capacity to influence change, alongside tangible professional progression including new governance roles, speaking engagements, and collaborative ventures. Organisations reported enhanced visibility, strengthened networks, and improved leadership pipelines. Employers identified mutual benefits from placements while highlighting persistent structural barriers, including security vetting requirements and inequitable recruitment practices, that continue to limit opportunity for lived experience leaders. The evaluation also identifies areas for programme refinement, including greater structural consistency, more accessible and trauma-informed delivery, and stronger alumni and employer partnerships. Drawing on the Social Change Model of Leadership, the report concludes that ELEVATE has laid important groundwork for long-term systemic change, while underscoring that sustained impact will require both continued investment in the programme and wider sectoral reform.