Early-stage preventative approaches to social problems, funded by charitable giving, could save nearly 80 per cent on the most expensive social issues in the UK, according to a new report.

The report from Barclays Wealth and New Philanthropy Capital, Early Intervention: An economic approach to charitable giving, analyses three of society’s most difficult issues – children with conduct problems, adults out of work due to mental health problems, and chaotic families.

It estimates that these have a combined cost of around £100bn to the state each year. 

The report argues that early-intervention is vital in tackling these issues, and says that such an approach can bring significant economic savings for the state.

For example, according to one case study in the report, the cost to society to dealing with a child with behavioural issues could exceed £148,000 by the time they reach the age of 16.

However, over the same time period, supporting an individual, via intensive family support and counselling in schools could cost only £32,000.

The report goes on to argue that private funders are well placed to invest in these approaches to help tackle social problem, and includes a framework to help donors decide how they are best suited to approach issues and interventions. And what level of risk - or return - they are looking to take.

But, Emma Turner, director of client philanthropy at Barclays Wealth, warns there is still much to do to bring in private money from funders:

“In bringing these difficult issues, which are often neglected, to the attention of funders - we need to provide powerful reasons for why they should invest in these interventions and what they can achieve by doing so.”

Turner continued: “If we want to tackle some of society’s biggest problems, and persuade funders to choose routes such as early intervention funding, we have to find new and better ways of making the argument more compelling.”