Welcome to our March impact round-up. Each month at NCVO Charities Evaluation Services, we summarise the latest news in impact and evaluation and share useful guides, resources and data collection tools.
Quakers in Britain published its evaluation report of their community development work
Quakers in Britain and Woodbrooke Study Centre have published a summary as well as the full evaluation report on their Vibrancy in Meetings programme. The Vibrancy pilot supports local and area meetings to become strong, connected, confident and sustainable and to contribute to a vibrant yearly meeting. We have worked with Quakers to evaluate the programme since it started in 2016. Our evaluation showed that the community pilot programme was well received by the Friends it has supported and brought about significant outcomes for the meetings with which it has worked. This is the first major evaluation commissioned by the Quakers and they have shown their commitment to good practice by sharing the findings.
Outcomes Star case studies
The Outcomes Star is widely used by hundreds of organisations with frontline services in the UK. As a practical way of delivering person-centred, strength-based, outcome-driven support, the Star can be used by organisations of all shapes and sizes, from individual practitioners and local charities through to local government departments and NHS Trusts. Triangle, the social enterprise behind the Outcomes Star, has developed case studies that show how the Star has been effective in different projects, services and organisations.
A new guide to maximise social impact and scale
Lean Impact offers interesting ideas to reach bold goals and achieve radically greater social good through customer insight, rapid experimentation and iteration, and a relentless pursuit of impact. The author, Ann Mei Chang, brings a unique perspective from across sectors, from her years as a Silicon Valley executive to her most recent experience as Chief Innovation Officer at USAID. She draws on interviews with over 200 organisations to reveal inspiring stories of transformation happening across the US and around the world.
A better way to impact measurement?
A group of A Better Way network members have come together to design a better approach to impact measurement. They want to find a way to shift the emphasis to what helps individuals and communities to live ‘their best lives’, on their own terms and to understand the settings and experiences which are most likely to produce positive outcomes. They also want to test out ways to involve more people in building a shared evidence base, using digital platforms. They are seeking a selection of organisations to work with to try out such approaches. For more information, contact Bethia at The Centre for Youth Impact.
On the blogs and social media
- Head of NCVO Charities Evaluation Services, Sally Cupitt, , explores the distinctiveness of faith work and what we have learnt from evaluating faith-based work.
- A former colleague Rowan Boase, now at the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland, looks at making grant reporting more useful for everyone.
- Early Intervention Foundation sets out the six principles for evaluating complex, multi-agency early help systems.
- The Centre for Homelessness Impact takes a closer look at the quality of evidence on homelessness.
Training and events
NCVO provides training and events covering a range of topics, from impact to governance, volunteer management and data protection reform – with discounts for NCVO members (Not a member? Find out more).
Here’s what’s coming up:
- Outcome and impact measurement 11 April 2019
- Developing your theory of change 24 April 2019
- Assessing the impact of your volunteers 2 May 2019
- Charity Leadership in the 2020s 14 May 2019
- Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference 2019 are inviting contributions focused on the future of civil society and the broader issues facing the voluntary sector and volunteering, including measuring civil society outcomes, impact and social value. Deadline for submissions is 13 May 2019.
We can also come to you. Our courses can be delivered at your venue, providing an affordable way to train groups of staff, trustees or volunteers. Contact us for more information
Sini is a senior consultant at NCVO Charities Evaluation Services – the team helps voluntary organisations, volunteering programmes and their funders with practical impact measurement and evaluation 
