Impact Award Frequently Asked Questions

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1 Impact Award Frequently Asked Questions The purpose of this document is to provide additional advice, in the form of frequently asked questions, to accompany the guidance and impact framework provided by People s Postcode Lottery. We expect this guidance will develop thanks to your feedback. This document provides guidance, examples and prompts to support People s Postcode Lottery s impact note (dated December 2015) This document is made up of two parts: 1) the impact framework and theory of change explained and 2) is a beginners guide to impact reporting for those who need it or would welcome a refresher. Please also refer to the impact framework guidance and to the note sent by the Charities Team on the use of the Impact Award (23 rd September 2015) Part 1: The Impact Framework and Theory of Change 1 Why have we asked you to do this? We want our charities to be confident in reporting about the difference they make and help them to be better prepared in achieving future funding in an increasingly competitive environment. That is our primary motivation. In addition, in order to report on our impact to People and Planet in 2017, we are asking our supported charities to supply a report on the difference our support is making. We have commissioned an impact framework in order to provide greater consistency in how charities are describing change. This includes a Theory of Change and the Key Research Questions. This approach is designed to increase your capability over time, it is not about adding layers of bureaucracy or prescription. That is not our approach. Rather an attempt to encourage your charity to provide information about outcomes more consistently. We can then bring together this information to tell an over-arching story of change that adds value for you and adds value for us. Please also refer to the introduction in the accompanying Impact Award Guidance booklet. 2 What is the Theory of Change for exactly? (Please refer to page 2 and 3 of the Impact Award Guidance) The Theory of Change attempts to distil the many and diverse ways our support makes a difference. Inevitably that places limitations on how much information can be presented. In essence, it describes two types of impact (Direct and Enabled). We would like you to report on both of these for us in Impact type 1: The difference our support makes to your charity at an organisational level we are calling this DIRECT IMPACT DECEMBER P age

2 Impact type 2: The difference our support contributes to helping you affect others we are calling this ENABLED IMPACT 3 What do you mean by Direct Impact? The funding we provide, the nature of its flexibility, the way it is designed to be long-term and the additional support we give 1 provides your charity with some direct and obvious benefits. By direct impact we mean the benefits that could be distinct in four areas: 1. Capacity 2. Capability 3. Leverage 4. Collaboration Framework Outcome Themes (Direct Impact) Possible outcomes for your charity CAPACITY Has funding and support from player of People s Postcode Lottery contributed to an increase in your organisation s Capacity? In particular: Examples of benefits you may tell us your organisation experiences when you provide your impact report in March How might you collect evidence about the extent to which some of these things happen in 2016? Has there been an increase in the amount of activity from your organisation? Has there been an increase in the number or type of people affected (i.e. your reach)? Has there been an increase in the number of geographical areas in which the organisation operates? Has your organisation improved its infrastructure (e.g. assets and resources such as staff, leadership, premises, other resources (for example research)) to deliver something better? Has your organisation increased its agility i.e. your ability to respond quicker or better to a situation because you have improved assets and resources 1 E.g. networking opportunities / training days with other charities; access to our resources to help you to film your work or develop media exposure 2 P age

3 CAPABILITY Has funding and support from players of People s Postcode Lottery contributed to your organisation s Capability? In particular: LEVERAGE Has funding and support from players of People s Postcode Lottery contributed to your organisation s ability to achieve Leverage? In particular: COLLABORATION Has funding and support from players of People s Postcode Lottery contributed to your organisation s ability to increase its Collaboration? In particular: Other Has your organisation improved the quality of its service or activities? Has your organisation improved its efficiency, i.e. created more for less? Has your organisation tackled any barriers or challenges more effectively? Has your organisation developed new services? Has your organisation been able to innovate or be more creative in its design or delivery of solutions? Has your organisation improved techniques and channels for communicating with your beneficiaries Has your organisation gained additional resources through fundraising? Has your organisation used PPL investment as matched funding for something? Has your organisation established a leadership position in the eyes of stakeholders e.g. as a thought leader or more credible / reputable expert in relation to your cause Has your organisation been better able to carry out impact practice? Has your organisation been better able to influence other people or organisations? Has your organisation been better able to influence public policy? Has your organisation built partnerships with other organisations? Has your organisation shared learning and ideas with other organisations? Has your organisation been better able to provide a joinedup service with other organisations or deliver projects together? Other direct impacts both positive or negative that do not fit into any of the categories above Please use the above examples from the framework as a checklist to see which outcomes you think are relevant to your organisation. Perhaps there are others, and feel free to add those as you see fit as this will help improve the framework over time. 3 P age

4 4 What do you mean by Enabled Impact? It is our hope that the funding and support we provide gives you resource to affect others or other things people, organisations, nature and the environment depending on your charity s objects and vision. By enabled impact we mean the contribution made to the following beneficiaries: 1. Children and young people 2. Adults and older people 3. Communities 4. Environment and Nature 5 Can you give examples of enabled impact? The table below provides a range of examples, arranged according to who or what the impact occurs on. Possible outcomes for your charity Children and young people Has funding and support from players of People s Postcode Lottery contributed to outcomes you create for others in any of these ways? Examples of outcomes you may tell us your organisation has created or others when you provide your impact report in March How might you collect evidence about the extent to which some of these things happen in 2016 and for how many primary and secondary beneficiaries? Improved health and healthier living (e.g. reduced addictions, harmful behaviours, increased sport and physical activity) Improved well-being (e.g. self-esteem, confidence, relationships) Improved Care / Welfare; for example as a result of improved parenting. Improved educational opportunity and performance Reduced poverty and hunger Improved motivation/realised potential e.g. increased aspirations Increased enjoyment (of nature, of animals, of wildlife of the outdoors, of art, sport, heritage and culture) More able to cope with challenges, barriers or disadvantage e.g. social, emotional, financial, physical Improved labour market position (e.g. volunteering, training, employment) Improved skills (e.g. life-, vocational-, entrepreneurial, employability skills) 4 P age

5 Adults and older people Has funding and support from players of People s Postcode Lottery contributed to outcomes you create for others in any of these ways? Communities Has funding and support from players of People s Postcode Lottery contributed to outcomes you create for others in any of these ways? Environment and Nature Has funding and support from players of People s Postcode Lottery contributed to outcomes you create for others in any of these ways? Improved health and healthier living Improved well-being Reduced isolation and loneliness e.g. companionship More able to cope with challenges, barriers or disadvantage e.g. social, emotional, financial, physical Enhanced quality of life e.g. enjoyment, fun, sense of purpose, meaning and belonging, appreciation of arts, culture, sport, heritage Improved economic development/ circumstances Improved social cohesion (e.g. inclusion, diversity, intergenerational) Improved equality of opportunity Improved skills and employment prospects e.g. literacy, employment Increased civic capital (e.g. citizenship, amount of volunteering) More supported/supportive families Improved health systems / access Reduced poverty Improved educational access Advancement of human rights Reduced discrimination Reduced effects of war and conflict Protected, enhanced, conserved, cared for or improved environment Protected, enhanced, conserved, cared for wildlife Protected, enhanced, conserved, cared for animals Increased use of sustainable resources and renewable energy Other Other enabled impacts both positive or negative that do not fit into any of the categories above 6 How far do you want us to go in reporting change? We would like to see, in your March 2017 report, identification of the activities and outputs we may have contributed to in the period January 2016-December 2016 (inclusive). We would like to share our themes and how you might choose these to identify relevant outcomes that are enabled by our support. We think there are two inter-related dimensions to bear in mind. 5 P age

6 Reporting change using the relevant top level headings from the list below will greatly help. Outcomes identified for key beneficiaries Children and young people Adults and older people Communities Nature and the environment Other groups Outcomes that align to People s Postcode Lottery future strategy Health, Welfare (including domestic animals) & Wellbeing Enriching Lives Innovation & Enterprise Arts, Culture & Heritage Human Rights, Education, Social Cohesion & Equality Impact on Environment & Nature Conservation (including wild animals) 7 Our work doesn t just impact on those we work with directly, do you want us to take a wider view? Yes, we think it is helpful to think about the people, organisations and the environment you effect in terms of Primary Beneficiaries and Secondary Beneficiaries. 8 Who are Primary Beneficiaries? Primary Beneficiaries are those who are directly affected by the work of the charity. This can be people, groups of people, organisations, or the environment. They can be affected in ways which are intended or unintended, positive or negative. Primary beneficiaries are typically a charity s clients, service users, or people whose attitudes or behaviours the charity is intending to influence. Example of Primary Beneficiaries include: Children and young people that a youth charity works with directly; Communities who are face less danger because landmines have been removed; When a rescue dog is found a new home: both the people doing the rehousing, and the dog itself; and, The environment, when a charity is reducing pollution levels. (Sometimes it is helpful to think of the environment as a proxy for the global population, as everyone is affected by some kinds of environmental change). 9 Who are Secondary Beneficiaries? Secondary beneficiaries are those who experience change as a result of the impact of the charity on primary beneficiary(s). This change may be positive or negative, it may happen in the short or long-term, and it may be largely due to the work of the charity, or due to a combination of different factors. 6 P age

7 Examples of secondary Beneficiaries include: The families of young people who are supported by a youth charity. The families might benefit from reduced stress and improved well-being; Communities that experience less crime, because a charity has helped people to recover from drug addiction, resulting in a reduction in the criminal behaviour that was previously sustaining that addiction; The Government: if primary beneficiaries move from unemployment into work, or individuals need less support from health services, this has an impact on government resources and finances; and, The Environment: a charity that supports sustainable tourism may also lead to more people travelling abroad for holidays, resulting in increased CO2 emissions. Part 2: Introducing Impact Reporting We are aware that our charities are at different points of development, and many of you are very advanced in your impact practice. This part of the document is intended to provide an initial way in for those organisations that are new to this. 10 Where do I start? Before leaping to write an impact report, we would like all charities to complete and send the Measuring Up toolkit. This provides a useful framework for charities to assess areas of strength and areas to develop. The principles and language of impact evaluation can be found here: Practice.pdf?Downloadchecked=true Inspiring Impact website provides a range of open source resources for you to use. 11 I find the language of impact impenetrable, help! Please use this excellent jargon buster: 12 Do we need a theory of change? It is good practice to map out the intended change you will create using our support in the form of a Theory of Change. NPC provide a useful starting point for developing or refining a theory of change. On the next page are two examples from charities we support, but as you will see, there is no prescribed format for how a theory of change is illustrated. 7 P age

8 Example 1 from Wildlife Trusts UK 2 Example 2 from Missing People 2 This Theory of Change is evolving, and Wildlife Trusts UK would welcome your feedback to continue to refine it. 8 P age

9 13 I ve never done an impact report before, where do I start? We are not prescriptive on the format of the report, although we would prefer you to be concise (no more than 6 pages relating to solely People s Postcode Lottery s impact). We would prefer if you reference the change you are describing to our over-arching framework. Please feel free to consider other formats that will best tell the story of change you want to tell us. Using infographics or other formats can be both powerful and concise. As an example, please Riding for the Disabled Association s. An example report structure would be: Introduction to the organisation; Sources of revenue (including players of People s Postcode Lottery); Types of services and activities it offers; Outputs (the amount of activity carried out); Stakeholders the people or things are affected by your activities; Outcomes (how you affect people), presented using quantitative or qualitative information; and, Conclusions, learning points and next steps. ` (N.B Please don t feel you need to use this structure!) How you approach the issue of attribution 3 will be very important too. 14 How long should the report be? We would like you to be concise, and may choose to request further details if required. No more than 6 pages please relating to solely People s Postcode Lottery s impact. 15 We are already producing an impact report, do we have to do another one? No, but we are asking for a summary that talks about the direct and enabled impact our support has led to. 3 The share of the credit that your organisation can take for the outcomes that stakeholders experience. It is usually the case that other people and organisations are also contributing towards the change. 9 P age

10 16 What impact should I report on? For this first impact report, we would like you to tell us the difference our support from January- December 2016 (inclusive) has made to you. We are aware that in one year, you will not be describing long-term impact we want you to be realistic. Charities who have been with People s Postcode Lottery for a longer period may be approached to produce a case study on how our support has helped you and those you work with over time. 17 Do you require each charity to produce a Social Return on Investment (SRoI) report? It is not a mandatory requirement for your organisation to commission a Social Return on Investment study relevant to the activity our investment contributes to. If however it helps you convey the Social Value enabled by our investment feel free to choose this route, but there are also many tools you might choose to use as part of your impact practice to help you convey evidence about the difference our support makes. We suggest you speak with colleagues in our charity network that have done SRoI or speak with our experts to help decide whether this is for you or not. 18 I have another question, how can you help? We have asked Skyblue to provide a dedicated expert support helpline to our charities during 2016 so if you have specific feedback or questions, please contact Paul at Skyblue on The Skyblue team will need to consider your question, so it would be helpful to also send an outline in writing ( paul@skyblue.org.uk) in the first instance. 10 P age