Evidence of impact, learning, and lasting change for young people and families.
The YP Project Evaluation Report
The evaluation covers the period from April 2023 to October 2025 and was conducted by an independent specialist evaluator. It brings together quantitative data, interviews, case studies, and direct feedback from young people, parents, carers, professionals, and the project team, giving a rich and honest picture of what the YP Project is achieving, and where learning continues to shape future delivery.
Click here to read The YP Project Evaluation Report
Meeting a Clear and Growing Need
The YP Project was created to respond to Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse, a complex and often overlooked form of domestic abuse. The evaluation confirms that the project is meeting a clear and growing need across Leicester City, Leicestershire, and Rutland.
Between April 2023 and October 2025, the project received 494 referrals, delivered over 1,200 intervention sessions with young people and parents, trained 149 professionals, and reached more than 4,000 students through school based workshops and assemblies. These figures reflect both sustained demand and increasing recognition of the project’s value across families, schools, and partner organisations.
Positive Outcomes for Young People
The evaluation highlights meaningful improvements in outcomes and experiences for young people who engaged with the project. Parents reported significant reductions in behavioural and emotional difficulties, alongside improved relationships at home and reduced levels of conflict.
Interviews and feedback from young people clearly show improved emotional regulation, better coping strategies, and greater ability to step away from situations before conflict escalates.
Young people spoke about feeling listened to, supported, and understood, often describing the YP Project as different from other services they had tried. Sessions were described as practical, personalised, and focused on what worked for them as individuals, rather than generic approaches.
Increased Confidence and Support for Parents and Carers
One of the strongest findings from the evaluation is the positive impact on parents and carers. Nearly all parents reported that violence or abuse had become less severe during their involvement with the project. Many described a transformation in family dynamics, moving from crisis and fear to calmer, more stable relationships.
Parents consistently reported increased confidence in their parenting, improved mental health, and a greater sense of control and safety at home. The Non Violent Resistance approach was highlighted as particularly empowering, helping parents to de escalate situations, prioritise safety, and reduce the need for police involvement.
Feedback reflects this impact, with parents rating the service extremely highly for helpfulness, understanding, and likelihood to recommend. For many families, the YP Project was described as the only service that truly listened and responded to the complexity of their situation.
Wider Impact and System Benefits
The evaluation also demonstrates the wider benefits of the YP Project beyond individual families. Professionals across education, social care, and community services reported increased confidence, improved practice, and reduced pressure on statutory services.
There is clear evidence that the project helps prevent escalation, reduces police callouts, and in some cases avoids children entering care. These outcomes not only improve family safety and wellbeing but also highlight the potential for significant cost savings across public services.
The project’s work in schools and professional training was described as engaging, high quality, and well aligned with violence reduction priorities, supporting early intervention and prevention.
Learning That Strengthens Our Approach
Alongside celebrating success, the evaluation also captures key learning that continues to shape the development of the YP Project. These include the challenges of long waiting times due to high demand, the need for sufficient capacity to meet need, and opportunities to strengthen long term follow up and evaluation.
Importantly, feedback from young people and parents has already informed how the project adapts its delivery, ensuring it remains trauma informed, neurodiversity aware, and responsive to families’ lived experiences.
Looking Ahead
The findings demonstrate that the YP Project delivers meaningful, well targeted support that reduces harm, strengthens families, and supports safer futures for children and young people.
We hope this evaluation offers a clear and honest insight into the impact of the YP Project, celebrating its achievements while also reflecting the learning that continues to shape and strengthen our work. The findings highlight not only the difference the project makes to children, young people, and families, but also its value within the wider system of support.
We invite you to read the full evaluation report to explore the evidence in more detail and understand the depth of change described by young people, parents, carers, and professionals.
At Freeva, we are committed to creating safer, healthier relationships and supporting families to navigate some of the most complex and challenging experiences they can face. The YP Project reflects this commitment in action, offering specialist, trauma informed support that listens to young people, strengthens parents and carers, and reduces harm at its roots. This evaluation reinforces the importance of sustained investment in early, targeted intervention, and our determination to continue standing alongside children, young people, and families as they build safer futures together.
