Over the last few years ESS has been supporting third sector organisations to involve people they work with in evaluation.
In 2015 we developed a workbook ‘Why bother involving people in evaluation? Beyond feedback’ which came out of our work ‘Support in the right direction‘.
Why bother involving people in evaluation? – Beyond feedback
This workbook can help you plan why, when and how to involve the people you work with in evaluation
Involving young people in evaluation (2018 – 2019)
ESS is working with the National Lottery Community Fund to provide learning and self-evaluation support to their grantholders in Scotland. We ran the learning programme in two phases. Read more about Phase one and Phase two in the sections below.
We know that while it isn’t always smooth sailing, project leads have told us involving young people they support has helped their organisation as well as benefiting young people. Young people are fantastic evaluation problem solvers!
Check out these videos below where young people talk about their experience of taking the lead on evaluation!
Phase one
In the first phase, young people told us that getting involved in designing evaluation questions and methods was:
“It was an honour to be asked and included in something that is ultimately going to help future service users”
“I felt like this was good and it’s changed my view of what you guys do for us”
“Designing our own evaluations makes us feel good”
“I had fun!”
The project leads felt that by getting young people on board with shaping evaluation methods had helped them gather more authentic and richer feedback as well as increasing participation in evaluation.
Case studies from phase one
User Involvement Case Study: Getting evaluation done without lots of moans and groans! – SWYDT
This case study from Springhall and Whitlawburn Youth Development Team is about the benefits of involving young people in evaluation and may be of interest to any third sector organisation keen
User Involvement Case Study: The power of the emoji – Gowrie
This case study from Gowrie Care’s Streets Ahead service shows how the organisation involved their service users in evaluation. Key message: It won’t always be smooth sailing… but that is ok!
Phase two
In the second phase of the learning programme we are working with the following projects:
- In June 2019 we came together and ran a learning session, where we supported project leads to develop an action plan, using Why bother involving people in evaluation – beyond feedback as a guide.
- From June to November 2019 – project leads carry out their actions
- In December 2019 – we came back together for a sharing the learning session.
Case studies from phase two
User Involvement Case Study: Championing evaluation – YoMo
YoMo Health Champions show the benefits of involving young people in evaluation.
User Involvement Case Study: Music to my ears – Beatroute Arts
Where We Belong, run by Beatroute Arts in Balornock in North East Glasgow provides young people from the area with the opportunity to take part in musical drop-in sessions, performances
User Involvement Case Study: Youth Ambassadors leading on evaluation – RASAC
In June 2019 Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Perth and Kinross (RASAC P&K) asked their Youth Ambassadors (their young people’s peer mentoring and campaigning group) to help evaluate the support
User Involvement Case Study: Getting the balance right – SWYDT
Springhall and Whitlawburn Youth Development Team have been supporting young people to take the lead on evaluation since 2018, with the ambition that they will be able to run the whole
Further resources on the NPC website
You may also be interested in reading this NPC blog and resource about user involvement:
Full list of related resources
Why bother involving people in evaluation? – Beyond feedback
This workbook can help you plan why, when and how to involve the people you work with in evaluation
User Involvement Case Study: Music to my ears – Beatroute Arts
Where We Belong, run by Beatroute Arts in Balornock in North East Glasgow provides young people from the area with the opportunity to take part in musical drop-in sessions, performances
User Involvement Case Study: Youth Ambassadors leading on evaluation – RASAC
In June 2019 Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Perth and Kinross (RASAC P&K) asked their Youth Ambassadors (their young people’s peer mentoring and campaigning group) to help evaluate the support
User Involvement Case Study: Championing evaluation – YoMo
YoMo Health Champions show the benefits of involving young people in evaluation.
User Involvement Case Study: The power of the emoji – Gowrie
This case study from Gowrie Care’s Streets Ahead service shows how the organisation involved their service users in evaluation. Key message: It won’t always be smooth sailing… but that is ok!
User Involvement Case Study: Getting evaluation done without lots of moans and groans! – SWYDT
This case study from Springhall and Whitlawburn Youth Development Team is about the benefits of involving young people in evaluation and may be of interest to any third sector organisation keen
User Involvement Case Study: Getting the balance right – SWYDT
Springhall and Whitlawburn Youth Development Team have been supporting young people to take the lead on evaluation since 2018, with the ambition that they will be able to run the whole
Make it count: Why impact matters in user involvement
This paper argues for a greater focus in the charity sector on what user involvement aims to achieve, and better efforts to evidence the difference it can make.
Case Study: Involving Service users in setting outcomes – ARC Scotland
This case study shows how ARC Scotland involved service users in setting outcomes for service.
Young people taking the lead on evaluation
This learning event in April 2019 was supported by The National Lottery Community Fund. We shared learning from youth work organisations about involving young people to lead on evaluation and
Involving users in shaping services
There is a growing interest amongst third sector organisations and funders to better understand what the people they work with want and to shape their services accordingly. This guide will help
