Impact Bond: Ways to Wellness 
Stage of development: Complete
Policy sector: Health
Social challenge: This funding will be used for a social impact bond (SIB) designed to motivate up to 8,000 older people to take up healthy activities.
Intervention: Ways to Wellness comprises a "hub" model of working in which a non-medical link worker trained in behaviour change methods offers a holistic and personalised service to identify meaningful health and wellness goals, as well as connecting clients, when indicated, to community and voluntary groups and resources. The service comprises: (a) individual assessment, motivational interviewing and action planning, (b) completion of an initial Wellbeing Star assessment and subsequent Wellbeing Stars every six months thereafter to the duration of the intervention, (c) help to access community services (e.g. welfare rights advice, walking groups, physical activity classes, arts groups, continuing education), (d) promotion of volunteering opportunities, and (e) promotion of improved self-care and sustained behavioural changes related to healthier lifestyle choices.
Date outcomes contract signed: 2015-03
Start of service provision: 2015-04
Anticipated completion date: 2022-03
Actual completion date: 2022-10
Anticipated duration of service provision: 84
Actual duration of service provision: 74
Total investment commitment currency: GBP
Total investment commitment: 1650000
Total investment commitment (USD): 2520833.239
Finance notes: Type of investment: Quasi-Equity (working capital) with 84 month term.
Target population: People with long-term health conditions (such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder, Asthma, Diabetes Type 1 or 2, Coronary Heart Disease, Heart Failure, or Epilepsy), social isolation, frequent attenders at GP or hospitals due to poor understanding of condition, anxiety or depression (in addition to a long-term condition), poor health but with scope to improve with lifestyle change, poor English literacy. They must be aged 40-74 and living in areas of Newcastle West which experience high socio-economic deprivation.
Targeted number of service users or beneficiaries: 8500
Targeted unit type: Individual
Actual number of service users or beneficiaries engaged: 8500
Notes: During the start up phase, the WtW and Cabinet Office paid 70% of payments for Outcome A with the CCG paying 30% to share the risk. Providers are paid on non-outcome tasks (listed in outcomes section) in an effort to ensure VCSEs and SMEs are not excluded by the financial barriers to entry, and to reduce the likelihood of providers "gaming" the system.