Yorkshire Wildlife Trust - Bradford Urban Discovery Impact Evaluator
Photography: Laura Darn
Bradford Urban Discovery is a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust project supported by Reaching Communities ( National Lottery Community) and Bradford Council. The team are working across Bradford to support urban communities reclaim and improve local green spaces for people and wildlife - making physical and environmental improvements to unused land, creating places to play and learn about wildlife, and improving the wellbeing of children. The evaluation involves quality assuring the methods of data collection and making them more user friendly; working with analysis software providers to make the most of the opportunity; advising on methodologies; and collecting case studies from local families, communities and project partners; and writing annual progress and final reports. The first year's progress report is available to read here
NHS at 70: Critical Friend & Impact Case Study Developer
NHS at 70: The Story Of Our Lives is a national oral history programme supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and led by The University of Manchester. It collects stories of the NHS since its launch, from its public and staff, so that personal narratives exist along side more formal records. Whilst the team have the required monitoring and evaluation in place, they need additional guidance to articulate the stories of impact they are uncovering which were unexpected but significant. The team want to understand the potential of looking at impact from different perspectives and how this can influence the power of the archive in the future. The benefits of involving a critical friend here are additional guidance on uncovering and organising qualitative impact evaluation, and how to share unexpected findings in compelling ways.
Connecting Manchester's Music Archives: Network Evaluator
Three of the city's most important music archives: those of Royal Northern College of Music; The Halle; and The Henry Watson Music Library are collaborating to develop a new network. Together they will explore shared stories and the potential for moving from responsive, separate spaces for research, to an active, stimulating catalyst for combined research efforts into the characters of Manchester’s classical music legacy. The project's evaluation will look at the extent to which the network is achieving its aims by the end of its first grant funding, and what it's continued impact will be moving forward.
National Science & Media Museum - The Forgotten Showman: Audience Evaluator
Robert Paul, The Forgotten Showman explores the little known history of this Victorian film pioneer. After a period of transition to bring the museum's science connections to the fore, this exhibition is the first foray back into the museum's collection and DNA as a home to the evolution of media. Audience Evaluation will find out whether the museum's new approaches to interpretation are having the desired affect; if key messages about Robert Paul's contribution to film-making as we now know it are being absorbed; whether content about Bradford's status as the first UNESCO city of film is evident; and in what ways the two target audiences respond to the exhibition.
Charterhouse London - Engagement Consultant
The Charterhouse is a centuries old former monastery and mansion tucked away in central London. Having established a museum on the site, the team are now restoring their Great Chamber. By working with disadvantaged /under-represented communities and local young adults, they want to welcome more of the public and become better known as a historic site. This consultancy involves liaising between The Charterhouse and National Lottery Heritage Fund to help the Charterhouse team stay on track, support them through this new avenue of community engagement with monitoring, practical advice, and nudging them beyond what they were previously capable of.
Association of Independent Museums Organisational Change Enabler & National Lottery Heritage Fund Resilience & Engagement Consultant
As an AIM trained Museums Enabler, and National Lottery Heritage Fund appointed consultant for resilient heritage development and for engagement; I help heritage organisations look at their organisation and how to take it forward into a new political, economic and public landscape.
This happens by challenging, advising, facilitating and supporting senior leadership and governance groups in thinking differently and improving their vision, structures and approaches to be more ready for a new climate. This might mean for example, reshaping governance structures or procedures; recruiting and managing specialist consultants or other providers; exploring new income generation potential; changing business models; and being up to date with legislative requirements. This builds on previous work as a social impact evaluator, coach, mentor, critical friend, charity trustee, fundraiser, Arts Council Resilient Museum Consultant; as well as 20+ years working in heritage and other sectors using mixed-economy models.
This happens by challenging, advising, facilitating and supporting senior leadership and governance groups in thinking differently and improving their vision, structures and approaches to be more ready for a new climate. This might mean for example, reshaping governance structures or procedures; recruiting and managing specialist consultants or other providers; exploring new income generation potential; changing business models; and being up to date with legislative requirements. This builds on previous work as a social impact evaluator, coach, mentor, critical friend, charity trustee, fundraiser, Arts Council Resilient Museum Consultant; as well as 20+ years working in heritage and other sectors using mixed-economy models.