How can we tell if we’ve made a difference?

We can tell that we are making a difference by evaluating the outcomes of our activities. The attached report draws on an evaluation of the nationally recognized Kids Taskforce programmes to demonstrate this, and questions the current focus on quantitative methods of evaluation.

The KTF programmes are designed to change the behaviour of young people and to help them learn to manage the risks they will face in life. Ensuring that the programmes are making a difference is essential.

This evaluation reveals that, as well as learning the skills to avoid being the victim of crime, accident, or other risk such as self harm or debt, young people who receive the programmes also learn to have empathy with others.

This empathy manifests itself in a number of ways which benefit the young people and their friends, associates, and even the schools that they attend. Evaluating the success of programmes that achieve this type of difference is challenging.

In the KTF evaluation report, the authors have used three current quantitative approaches combined with detailed qualitative analysis, and, by comparing the results, they comments on the strengths and weaknesses discovered.

It is essential that we invest in the social development of our young people. If you would like to help make a difference to their future, and to better understand how to ensure that the time, effort and money you are putting in is working, or if you are responsible for measuring the impact of social programmes, I recommend the findings of this interesting evaluation to you.

John Burbeck QPM
Chairman Kids Taskforce