Action on Hearing Loss is rolling out an outcomes measurement system for each of its beneficiaries to use, with help from their support workers.
The charity says it has developed a holistic way to map the progress that its service-users make towards things that matter to them, using categories that make sense to them such as ‘you and other people’ and ‘feeling good’.
Action on Hearing Loss is now developing these measures into a bespoke online system, so that outcomes and quality of service can eventually be mapped over all of its nationwide services. By developing its own software, rather than using an off-the-shelf package, the charity can customise the level at which data is collected, aggregated and reported.
The charity also says it is “inspiring staff to be curious about the outcomes they are aiming to achieve”, and that by putting the information online that makes it easier for them to follow progress.
This Action on Hearing Loss case study is one of several detailed case studies contained in a new report on impact reporting put together by CFG, Acevo and New Philanthropy Capital. Principles into practice: How charities and social enterprises communicate impact uses real-life case studies to explore the themes and ideas in the Principles of Good Impact Reporting, which is also published today in its final form.
Jane Tully, CFG head of policy, said the report “brings to life” the standards set out in the Principles, and demonstrates how they can be interpreted by different types of organisation.
Other charities that feature include St Giles Trust, Body & Soul, Sightsavers, Citizens Advice and Unlimited Potential.
In the foreword to the report, nfpSynergy’s Joe Saxton wrote: “My belief is that those charities which really work out how to both measure and communicate impact will be the Google, the Facebook or the Amazons of our sector. They will change the way we do business."
The “game-changers” highlighted in the report are “weaving impact measurement and communication into their DNA”, Saxton said. “Those who succeed will turn their hard work into higher levels of trust, increased levels of donation, improved strategic planning and a bigger impact on beneficiaries for the same funds.”
The report can be found here.
