Prime minister David Cameron will today launch the Early Intervention Foundation, a project aimed tackling the root causes of social problems spanning generations of families.

The initiative, the brainchild of Nottingham MP Graham Allen, will provide a single source of independent and authoritative assessment and advice on early intervention measures to government, local service commissioners and investors.

The purpose of the EIF is to help grow and improve the UK evidence base to transform the lives of babies, children and young people. 

To this end, the Foundation has invited every Clinical Commissioning Group, Police and Crime Commissioner and all top-tier council inviting them to participate in the first wave of 20 first wave early intervention pilot projects.

A report by spending watchdog the National Audit Office in January urged the Government to make a concerted shift away from reactive spending towards early action for the sake of better outcomes, reducing public spending over the long-term and achieving greater value for money.

Chair of the Early Intervention Foundation, Graham Allen said the launch, supported by all three party leaders, represents ‘a once in a lifetime opportunity' to take to tackling persistent social problems.

Prime minister David Cameron said: ‘I am committed to improving the life chances of every child, but especially those who come from troubled backgrounds. We need plans for early intervention that are based on robust evidence of what works and that is why Graham's work has been so important and why I welcome the launch of the Foundation.'