AllChild on The Impact Equation: Rethinking systems by putting children first
In a recent episode of The Impact Equation, AllChild CEO Louisa Mitchell lays out a compelling vision for reimagining how we support children, families, and communities - one rooted in trust, and centred around partnerships and whole-child thinking.
The conversation, hosted by Adam Pike and Rafi Addlestone, touched on everything from siloed services and funding models to the magic of trusted relationships. What emerged was not just a description of AllChild’s approach, but a call to redesign the way we work with young people from description to funding all the way through to delivery.
From her early days of AllChild - listening to families in West London’s White City, to founding a nationally recognised, cross-sector organisation, Louisa’s message is clear: “I don't think about it as sectors, I don't think about it as policy areas, I just think about it as children'’
Louisa’s perspective cuts through the noise. She explains how systems too often slice children into “education,” “health,” or “social care”, when in reality, a child experiences life as a whole. To them, it’s not policy; it’s grades, wellbeing, and family and these are all interconnected.
This mindset isn’t just philosophical. It shaped the very design of AllChild’s model and is perhaps most radically embodied in how the charity designed its collective impact funding model.
“We designed a funding model that brought together local councils, local schools, local businesses, and individuals… to pay on the progress of children, on children’s milestones and outcomes, as opposed to on individual areas or individual programmes.”
Breaking silos, building movements
The conversation ends with a powerful endorsement from the podcast hosts, who describe AllChild as a “living embodiment” of the kind of cross-cutting, mission-driven work a modern government needs.
"Organisations like AllChild offer a flexible support service that focuses on individuals, not departmental objectives.”
As the political conversation shifts toward joined-up missions, AllChild offers a real-world example of what that looks like in action.
Impact beyond the Individual
AllChild’s work may begin with children, however its ripple effects are far wider. Louisa reflects on the challenge of evaluating a model that doesn’t limit its impact.
She shares stories of school leaders noticing calmer classrooms, better engagement, and a more inclusive culture overall. Teachers have coined it the “three T’s”: time, trust, and transformation.
While traditional metrics can struggle to capture this kind of place-based, relational impact, local authority data shows that only 2–3% of children who were previously known to social care escalate further after participating in AllChild’s programme. That’s prevention in action.
The power of Link Workers
If there’s a golden thread running through AllChild’s success, it is people - especially its Link Workers, who are based in AllChild schools, working with young people, every day. Louisa is quick to say that the charity’s impact is built on trust, not services. But that doesn’t mean quality is sacrificed.
“We do values-based interviewing and within that, we look for a range of people with a background of expertise and skills. We have Link Workers who were former teachers, former family workers, youth workers, worked in domestic violence charities or other charities. That range of skills is really important because their values align, and this is robustly assessed and understood through the interview process.”
The diversity of their experience strengthens the team and ensures each child gets the right mix of support. As Louisa puts it, they are the springboards that help children and families rebuild trust and reach outwards.
What others can learn
Louisa also offers insight for anyone thinking about systems change, from civil servants to charity leaders.
Her thoughts:
- Start with deep listening.
- Take a place-based, relational approach.
- Give people time to come on the journey.
- Be relentlessly focused on shared outcomes.
- And above all, be accountable and transparent.
This isn’t a quick fix, it’s long-term, place-based work that builds the trust our current systems too often lack.
What’s next for AllChild?
With an ambition to deepen its work in existing communities and broaden its reach to five new places in the next five years, AllChild is focused on building a national movement for change.
“We want to drive a new way of investing in children’s futures in communities across the country.”
It’s a bold vision, but one grounded in practice, data, and the real voices of children and families.
Listen to the full podcast:
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2BMXL2wR0yifNE7n59poCG?si=b71d343214b642eb
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/louisa-mitchell-mbe-cofounder-ceo-allchild/id1776639460?i=1000712977114
Written by Aimee Clark
