How can funders and commissioners design programmes that genuinely reach underserved migrant communities?
MigrationWork was commissioned by the Greater London Authority to evaluate two programmes supporting migrant Londoners: the Migrant Advice and Support Fund (MASF) and the Employment Training Programme (ETP). Alongside the evaluation, we developed a practical toolkit to help others build on this learning.
The challenge
Migrant Londoners often face overlapping barriers – from accessing immigration advice to navigating housing, healthcare and employment rights. At the same time, many of the organisations best placed to support them operate with limited resources and face barriers to funding.
What we did
We worked closely with funded organisations, partners and a Migrant Londoner Advisory Panel to understand what worked, what was challenging, and why.
We then produced an evaluation report and translated our findings into a practical toolkit for funders and commissioners looking to design more effective and equitable programmes.
What we learned
A few key lessons stood out:
- Migrant-led organisations are essential – they have the trust and reach to engage underserved communities
- Partnerships improve outcomes – especially between grassroots and specialist organisations
- Holistic support works best – needs rarely sit in one area alone
- Capacity building strengthens the system – not just individual organisations
- Short-term funding limits impact – sustained investment is key to lasting change
The toolkit
The toolkit sets out eight practical elements for funders and commissioners, including:
- Investing in partnerships and collaboration
- Adapting funding processes to community organisations
- Building in language access
- Taking an intersectional approach
- Learning from and with communities
Each element is grounded in real examples and designed to be applied in practice.
Explore the toolkit: GLA evaluation toolkit 2026.pdf
