MEASURING SOCIAL IMPACT

How do you know you are making a difference? Proving social impact is not just critical to funders and investors, it is a guiding light for most socially driven professionals. But too often people are put off by complex tools or dry approaches.

This course is focused on finding the right type and level of evaluation for your project or programmes. Packed with methods and principles it provides a practical introduction to social impact measurement.

Whether online, open on on-site, over two days we cover each step in the journey towards a full social, economic and environmental evaluation.

So, what differentiates this course and our SROI training option? This course provides a general grounding. We take time to cover the fundamentals of impact measurement and qualitative and co-production techniques. If you then decide to conduct a full SROI analysis we’d suggest SROI training.

The course will give you the confidence to measure what really matters to your stakeholders. You will also have the chance to embed learning through action planning.

Comments from participants in 2020:

“Excellent. Very enjoyable and hugely useful. Fantastic to have 2 days of focussed time on this subject. Thank you.” Rebecca Asher, Deputy Director, Sense about Science. Open training, February 2020

“Really knowledgeable and catered to a varied audience.” – Emily Warner, Joint Commissioning Manager, Central Bedfordshire County Council. Open training, February 2020

TOPICS COVERED

During the two day course we cover:

The big picture: what is social impact and why measure it?
Identifying impact: understanding outcomes and conducting robust qualitative research.
Involving stakeholders.
How to measure wellbeing outcomes.
Developing your own Theory of Change.
Accounting for impact – identifying your share of changes created.
Social Return on Investment.
Action planning and peer-coaching.
Best practice case-studies and communicating impact.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

By the end of the course you will be able to:

Explain the business case and social imperative for measuring impact.
Identify the appropriate depth and frequency of evaluation for your project.
Select the most practical, but rigorous sources of data.
Justify sample sizes and assess the value of closely involving stakeholders.
Create a tailored Theory of Change for a project.
Demonstrate the use of attribution, deadweight and drop-off.
Discuss the use of social valuation and explain different methodologies.
Design an impact map and measurement action plan for your own project.

We currently deliver this training as group or open training, online. Talk to us if you want training for your group.

Group training can be tailored for your needs. REQUEST A QUOTE TODAY.

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS TRAINING

This course has wide appeal to anyone looking to understand or apply social impact measurement. Previous participants on the open training have included CEOs of social enterprises and charitable organisations, change managers, CSR executives, programme managers and project officers. We have delivered tailored and group training on measuring social impact to a wide range of organisations in the public and private sector as well as charities and social enterprises.

WHO WILL BE RUNNING THE COURSE

Most of our consultants are experienced in delivering this course.

William Davies, Consultant, NEF Consulting

William is a lead trainer for Measuring Social Impact. His consultancy work involves measuring and evaluating social impact and developing innovative ways to better integrate social and environmental aspects into economic modelling. This includes clients and topics as diverse as small-scale fishing fleets, the health sector, national park authorities, environmental NGOs, charities and construction firms.

Elizabeth Cox, Director, NEF Consulting

Elizabeth Cox is an experienced economist who has led the New Economics Foundation’s UK and international research on localities and local economies over 13 years, and is now Director of NEF Consulting. Elizabeth leads our Theory of Change training and facilitation and remains a lead trainer on Measuring Social Impact. Her work ranges from developing learning-based programmes around sustainability, supporting communities to develop community economic development plans, working with project teams to develop theories of change, to developing impact frameworks for social impact investors and social businesses, and research design.

Jasmeet Phagoora, Analyst, NEF Consulting

Jasmeet is a lead trainer for Measuring Social Impact. She has a strong interest in health and social care, and is working on a number of projects in this area. These include a cost-benefit analysis of peer support services, research into community enterprises and exploring the contribution of adult social care to a local economy. Jasmeet has also contributed to a wide range of projects on topics including community cohesion, employment and wellbeing.

Christian Jaccarini, Senior Consultant, NEF Consulting

Christian is a lead trainer for Measuring Social Impact and Social Return on Investment training. He has experience in socio-economic research, macroeconomic forecasting, and policy analysis. An economist by training, Christian has worked with a range of quantitative tools, including input-output modelling and econometrics. He has previously specialised in using valuation techniques, scenario analysis, and impact assessment to consult across a wide range of sectors and industries including property, retail and financial services.