Our work in action

This is where we share the stories of the work we support – case studies, updates and insights from the organisations and communities we work with across our three themes.

Change is human, collective and always evolving. These stories capture what progress looks and feels like from the ground up – the real experiences of the people closest to the issues we care about. They help us understand not just what changed, but how. Where barriers remain, where energy is building and what approaches are making a real difference.

When we bring people and these stories together, we start to see systemic change in motion – the patterns, connections and shared efforts that no single organisation could reveal alone.

We hope they inspire you as much as they inspire us.

Inclusive education

From consultation to co-creation: lessons from responding to the Schools White Paper

A proposal raised during a wider conversation about young people’s wellbeing developed into a cross-sector response to the Schools White Paper and proposed SEND reforms. WFET brought organisations together to turn their different perspectives and practical experience into shared recommendations for a more inclusive education system.

Homes

Funding that moves things forward: look ahead’s action‑driven partnership with WFET

What began as a question—“How can we create better options for young people in mental health crisis?”—became a shared mission between Look Ahead and the Wates Family Enterprise Trust.

Homes

A researcher’s story: what our work means for single mothers and their children

This research exposes how housing-related debt traps single mothers and their children in temporary accommodation, and how fairer policies could help families move towards safety, stability and a real home.

Inclusive education

Helping education leaders shape the systems they work in

In partnership with Acumen Academy and the Centre for Social Justice, WFET brought together senior leaders from education charities to strengthen their collective capacity to influence change, building the skills, relationships and confidence needed to shape the systems they work in.

Homes

Hidden in plain sight: making children in temporary accommodation visible

For many families, temporary accommodation is not just a housing issue, it shapes childhood itself. Frequent moves disrupt schooling, access to healthcare is inconsistent and the conditions many families face can harm both physical and mental health.

Nature-based neighbourhoods

A car park transformed

A neglected car park in Derby is now Electric Daisy, a vibrant, community-led space celebrating food, growing and local culture. Down to Earth Regen is proving that nature and community can sit at the heart of a commercially successful venture, and WFET is proud to support them.

Homes

Building a national voice for fair, secure housing

The UK's housing challenges need more than awareness – they require sustained policy change. WFET's investment in a dedicated housing research role has helped the Centre for Social Justice bring MPs, industry leaders and experts together to make the case for reform, with real results in Parliament.

Inclusive education

Supporting young people’s social, emotional and mental health, together

In February 2026, WFET brought together 50 leaders from education, health, youth work and policy to explore how the system can better support young people's wellbeing. The conversation sparked an ongoing cross-sector collaboration which prepared a collective response to the Education White Paper.

Inclusive education

Building stronger connections between families and the organisations that support them

WFET convened a cross-sector group to explore how education, health and community organisations can better support families facing complex challenges. Fourteen organisations are now meeting regularly, building an action-learning space where stronger family engagement is becoming the foundation for more inclusive education.

Want to learn more about how we work?

Explore our approach or meet the team behind our work.

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