Tackling health inequalities: Demonstrating third sector impact

This programme, called “Recognising our rich tapestry” aims to help:

  • Third sector organisations explain, measure and prove how their work contributes to tackling health inequalities
  • Funders and commissioners to better understand the third sector’s contribution to tackling health inequalities

This work is commissioned by the National Learning Collaborative for Inequalities and funded by Public Health Scotland. It contributes to the public health reform agenda.

Latest publications (March 2022):

  • Scoping report on how public sector commissioners can use third sector evidence about tackling health inequalities.

Previous phases:

2017/18 – Research on challenges for third sector organisations in demonstrating their contribution to tackling health inequalities. 

2018/19 – Delivered workshops in partnership with CHEX to build understanding of the causes of inequalities and how to evaluate work to tackle inequalities.

2019/20 – Developed a theory of change and resource to help third sector organisations explain and measure their impact. This resource is: ‘Recognising our rich tapestry: measuring the third sector’s contribution to health inequalities.’

2020/21 – Worked with 4 organisations to develop case studies to bring ‘Recognising our rich tapestry’ to life and show other third sector organisations how they can use the resource.

On 24 March 2021 we led an online event where these organisations shared their experience of using the resource. See case studies below:

  • Recognising our rich tapestry: Befrienders Skye and Lochalsh case study

    Befrienders Skye and Lochalsh have used “Recognising our rich tapestry: measuring the contribution of third sector organisations to tackling health inequalities” to explain and prove how their service contributes to tackling health inequalities.

  • Recognising our rich tapestry: COPE Scotland case study

    COPE Scotland have used “Recognising our rich tapestry: measuring the contribution of third sector organisations to tackling health inequalities” to explain and prove how their self-management support service contributes to tackling health inequalities.

  • Recognising our rich tapestry: Saheliya case study

    Saheliya have used “Recognising our rich tapestry: measuring the contribution of third sector organisations to tackling health inequalities” to explain and prove how their service contributes to tackling health inequalities.

  • Recognising our rich tapestry: Tasting Change case study

    Tasting Change have used “Recognising our rich tapestry: measuring the contribution of third sector organisations to tackling health inequalities” to explain and prove how their cooking groups programme contributes to tackling health inequalities.

Coming in summer 2022: On line learning module (on Public Health Scotland)

Related resources

Matter of Focus has been supporting organisations in Edinburgh to use a shared outcomes framework to gather evidence and report meaningfully on outcomes which contribute to tackling health inequalities.

We’re here to help! Contact us for help and advice.