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Monitoring performance: Give us the tools and we'll measure the outcomes

By Andy Ricketts, Third Sector, 23 April 2008
Charities often struggle to measure the effect their work has and the progress made by vulnerable clients. But there is a range of tools that they can use to assess and record the impact of their interventions, providing them with evidence that can be used to persuade funders that the work is achieving its aims. Andy Ricketts reports.
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Family Support BEST (Earlham Norwich)

"I was privileged to be part of the pilot of the SOUL Record whilst working in the Voluntary Sector. Upon leaving that post and joining BEST (a multi-agency Behavioural & Education Support Team working with thirteen schools), I realised how very important SOUL had become to me - not just in providing evidence of soft outcomes - but as an ice- breaker, a diagnostic tool, and a great way for both practitioners and clients to see clearly distance travelled. I am delighted that my colleagues saw it's benefits, and we are now using SOUL with children and their families."  Lynne Shimell lshimell@gold.esinet.org.uk

Home Start Norwich

"Home-Start Norwich are delighted to have been part of the research programme. It has not only helped us measure the growth of potential volunteers confidence, but also their self esteem. We ask them to complete a questionnaire on week 1 and again on week 10. We then use this as part of our 'End of Course Interview' before they become a home-visiting volunteer. We look forward to working with SOUL to develop another questionnaire for use at the volunteer annual review. Using SOUL will help us when applying for funding - without volunteers there would be no 'Home-Start' and it's great to now have a tool to show how they grow and develop over time." 
Debbie Johnson, Senior Co-ordinator manager@homestartnorwich.org