The West London Zone (WLZ) – recently renamed AllChild – is a targeted, early-action intervention that aims to connect West London’s rich ecology of local ‘social assets’ – including charities, nurseries, schools, community groups – to deliver better outcomes for children. The programme aims to ensure that children enter adulthood with good physical and mental health, are prepared for sustained employment, and can establish positive relationships.

The WLZ programme operates through a 2-year personalised support plan for each child, developed in collaboration with families, schools, and over 40 local partners. Each child is paired with a ”link worker” who builds a trusted, lasting relationship with the child and ensures they receive the right support based on their personalised plan. The programme expanded its reach from working with 132 young people in 2016 to 1,001 in 2021.

To fund the project, WLZ uses a Collective Impact Bond. This funding model pools funding from local authorities, schools and private philanthropists, with additional contributions by central government and national lottery funding. Payments are only released when each individual child engages with the programme and makes measurable progress after two years, ensuring that even the most challenging cases are given the attention they need. There are seven ‘outcome areas’ that span across four domains: positive relationships, emotional and mental wellbeing, progress at school, and confidence and aspiration. Each outcome has specific measures which can release payment at the end of each child’s two-year programme. While WLZ is paid on an outcomes-basis through the Collective Impact Bond, delivery partners are paid on a fee-for-service basis.