Evaluation of ESF Community Grants Programme 2011 – 2013

(North West)

Mary Moss

Key Themes

165 grants allocated; 158 able to sustain activity

3575 participants (as recorded September 13)

98% projects surveyed rated the grant as ‘Very

important’ or ‘important’

91% considered the project had improved the

quality of learning provision

Success

Methodology of evaluation

Document review; Interim and Final Reports; Induction workshop; Panels; Steering Group; Case Study visits; Online questionnaires

Applicants survey (136) Projects survey * 2 (92,

59) Participants survey (104) Outcomes survey (43) Case Study Interviews (12)

efficient

Programme management

54%34%

12%

Excellent

Good

Satisfactory

WEA grants team

39%

42%

15%

2% 2%

ExcellentGoodSatisfactoryNot very goodPoor

Ongoing support WEA and partners

friendly

polite

prompt

they listene

d

they understoo

d

induction was great

visit was useful

Learning

79%“Excellent”

• Woodworking• Beekeeping• Portable

appliance testing

• Broadcasting• Food Hygiene• Netball• Retail skills • Suicide

awareness• Managing

emotionsand more ….

Impact for Participants

“Involvement in this course has

made me realise that confidence is a crucial tool for survival”

Participant Progression

43 projects to date

Further informal learning

Accredited learning

Work experience or placement

Volunteering

Job

Self-employment/own business/CIC/social enterprise

100 200 300

273

226

92

279

147

14

“In the weeks I have volunteered in nursery school my self-esteem and confidence has greatly improved” “applying for a job and got it, this has

been a great achievement for me as I was unable to work in the UK for the

past 14 years”

“I am very glad that I have found a full time

job after 2 years”

Engaged with ESF priority groups

Projects21%

38% 17

%

62%

37%People with

disabilities People over 50

People from ethnic minority background

Lone parents

Female

Yes, very easily59%

Yes, with some dif-

ficulty40%

No2%

“Our speciality is outreach - other

organisations don’t bother”

Personalisation Flexibility Holistic approach Comfortable environment Outreach Imaginative activity Many outcomes for

individuals

Key themes

Capacity building

Training programme, including Preparing to teach (PTLLS) courses Staff and volunteers attended from over

70 projects 32 projects awarded grant for bespoke

activity

87%Adequately

consulted

29%

47%

22%

2%

Excellent Good Satisfactory Not satisfactory

“Couldn’t take

time out”

“Couldn’t take advantage as much as we

would have liked”

Impact for organisations Improved learning provision Improved sustainability Improved access to funding Improved links with other providers

Yes91%

No7%

Don’t know2%

Improved learning provision

“We have also developed strong

links with our local College”

“We became an accredited centre”

“became a member of the Local Area Network

- we can engage further with other

agencies supporting priority groups”

“Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that countscannot necessarily be counted” Albert Einstein

http://nw.wea.org.uk 

Executive Summary, Evaluation Report and Case Studies