Blog
Involving lived and living experience – what this means for funders
In this blog we provide reflections on our learning about involving people with lived (& living) experience of the issues we fund in funder decision making or delivery.
Evaluation Stories
Tasting Change
This evaluation story shows the kind of evidence organisations can collect to prove their contribution to tackling health inequalities. Tasting Change aims to tackle food insecurity, increase community awareness levels
Blog Third Sector Research Forum
Participatory Research – Round Table Discussion
TSRF & The Binks Hub hosted a discussion at the Edinburgh Future’s Institute site, with peer-researchers from Poverty Alliance & Youthlink Scotland. In this blog, Marianne, Communications Officer at ESS, shares her thoughts from the round-table discussion.
News
Steven Marwick, Director of ESS, is leaving.
Steven Marwick is leaving Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS). Steven built up ESS from its earliest beginnings into the successful organisation it now is. After 18 years, Steven feels the time is
Evaluation Stories
Art in Healthcare
In 2020 and 2021 we supported Art in Healthcare, along with 15 other projects affected by the COVID-19 crisis, to evaluate and learn about their response to the crisis.
Blog
Funders! it’s time to trust (an evidence-based rant)
The Scottish Third Sector Tracker collects ongoing data about the state of the sector from hundreds of third sector organisations. Over half of respondents said that grant conditions had become more demanding!
Blog
Good news! Funders do read and use grantholder reports!
Good news – some funders are using grantholder learning and doing so well! This blog contains some tips from the Funder Evaluation and Learning group that might interest grantholders and inspire other funders.
Blog
Young people in charge of evaluation!?! How could that work?
Young people from the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) were commissioned by Scottish Government to carry out an evaluation of Scottish Government funded mental health and wellbeing community support and services for 5–24-year-olds, their parents and carers.
News
National Performance Framework consultation – ESS views
ESS have written a response to the Scottish Government consultation on the National Performance Framework (NPF).
News
Launching our new strategy for 2023-28
We are excited to share our new strategy for 2023-28: helping charities demonstrate the difference they make.
Blog
A database with a heart: using IT for meaningful evaluation
It’s a universal truth: youthwork and evaluation databases go together like vegans and steak. No youth worker wants to fill in a database. No database captures the magic of youthwork.
Blog
How NOT to get overwhelmed when exploring digital tools for evaluation
If you feel overwhelmed by all the digital evaluation tools out there, first of all, do not panic! You are probably already doing all the right things but just need to review the factors that influence how you choose your evaluation methods.