The Blavatnik School of Government and Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab) are excited to announce that we will be hosting the UK Premiere of The invisible Heart, the first documentary on Social Impact Bonds.  

The film screening will take place at the Phoenix Picturehouse cinema, 57 Walton Street, Oxford OX2 6AE, from 16:00-18:00. It will be followed by a panel discussion (18:00-19:00) and drinks reception at the Blavatnik School of Government.

The panel discussion will also be livestreamed.

What is The Invisible Heart? 

Filmed over three years in the UK, the US and Canada, The Invisible Heart explores the growth of Social Impact Bonds, from the first in Peterborough to the question of where they fit in the future of public policy. This documentary seeks to understand the impact that market forces have on social services and the people they help. 

The documentary follows a varied cast as they work to tackle a range of tough social issues. From Math Radfar, a social worker supporting the chronically homeless population in Toronto, to Caroline Mason a co-designer and investor for the world's first SIB in Peterborough, and J.B.Pritzker, a venture capitalist and philanthropist who is funding a SIB in Chicago, The Invisible Heart explores these contrasting perspectives.

The panel discussion

The Invisible Heart is certain to spark debate about the future of social services in the 21st century. After the screening we will be hosting a panel discussion to explore the critical questions raised in the film. This will be your chance to bring your ideas and challenges to the floor. 

Between them, our panellists have a range of experience on different aspects of social impact bonds. Mara Airoldi, Director of the GO Lab will be chairing the panel.

Robert Pollock is a Director at Social Finance and leads their work on reforming public services. Before joining Social Finance he was a senior civil servant at HM Treasury and in 2013 he founded the Public Service Transformation Network, working collaboratively to test and scale outcomes based delivery models. Social Finance was involved in the development of the first SIB and have been leading on many other SIB projects across the UK and globally. 

Tara Case is CEO of Ways to Wellness, a large scale social prescribing service and the first health service in the UK to be funded through a SIB. Tara will draw on her experience from work in NHS commissioning and a decade of clinical patient care as an occupational therapist in England and Canada. She is a GO Lab Fellow of Practice and brings practical experience of implementing a SIB to the discussion.

Kathy Evans is CEO of Children England. During her career she has been in numerous high level positions in the voluntary sector, including Chair of the Standing Committee for Youth Justice and a consultant to the Police Foundation and Justice. She brings a wealth of experience in policy and service provision to the discussion. 

GO Lab interview with Nadine Pequeneza, Director and Producer

The GO Lab had the chance to interview Nadine Pequeneza, Director and Producer of The Invisible Heart. In the first part of the interview she shared why she made this documentary, how she captured the perspectives and how she avoided her own bias. In the second part she shares parts of the film she wish she could have kept in and what she learned about SIBs.