Reporting and Outcomes

We ask all our grantees to report on the impact of their projects and what they have learnt. This learning should benefit grantees and allows us to make informed decisions about how to support our community.

What is expected of me?

In most cases, we expect grantees to report on both the outputs and outcomes of their projects.

Outputs are the things that your organisation did with the funding you received (such as running some workshops). Outcomes are the changes observed in people, places, organisations and systems that result from these outputs (such as a reduction in loneliness or an improvement in skills). Impact is the longer-term and broader change resulting from those outcomes (such as a more resilient community).

There are many ways that you can measure outputs and outcomes. Below you will find further guidance on choosing the best approach. We also offer a database containing examples of measures that grantees might wish to consider.

Most impact measurements require you to collect data from your beneficiaries. When using these measures, we expect you to collect data from most (if not all) of your beneficiaries.

We also suggest that you consider using case studies to add detail and context to your data-based measures. A case study is detailed description of a person or organisation who benefitted from your work, used to illustrate the change you made.

How much reporting is needed?

The number of measures that we expect grant recipients to report on will generally depend on the amount of funding they receive:

Small grants (up to £5,000): You should provide evidence, normally in the form of data, of the outputs you achieved, including the number of people who benefitted and their demographic data if possible. We would also like to know about your outcomes, even if it’s just one or two key pieces of evidence.
Larger grants (totalling over £5,000): You should send us data evidencing your outputs, including a breakdown of the people who benefitted – their age, gender, ethnicity etc. You should also tell us about the outcomes you achieved, normally through a range of measures, especially for the largest grants (over £20,000). Where possible, you should include case studies.

What should I report on?

Both outputs and outcomes should be agreed with our Grants Team during your application process. We expect all grant recipients to present a clear picture of the outputs that they produced using our funding, including the number of people who benefitted. This might also include other data on outputs, such as events held. If your project involved building work, we would expect to receive evidence that the work was done. Photographs that illustrate your outputs are always welcome.

There are no fixed rules about what outcomes should be reported – it depends on the nature of the project and here are some tips:

Think about the change you are trying to make. What difference did your project aim to create in people’s lives or in your community? For example, were you trying to improve wellbeing, or strengthen community connections?
Think about what you want to learn. The best impact reporting will help you to learn about the effectiveness of your own work. What insights would help you improve or adapt your work in the future?
Figure out how those changes can be measured and reported on. Simple methods like short surveys, feedback forms, or interviews can produce useful data, especially for smaller projects. More sophisticated measures, such as Outcome Stars, and mental wellbeing surveys, are also available. These methods often provide more informative data, and they don’t always involve much more effort. We will provide a database of outputs and outcomes (coming soon) to help you to learn what’s available.
More is not always better! Focus on the things that illustrate your project’s impact the best. We much prefer a small number of accurate, well-chosen pieces of evidence.
What are you already recording? You may already collect useful information for your own purposes (e.g. attendance lists, feedback quotes). Could that help show the impact of your work?
Use stories and quotes. Personal stories or direct quotes from people who benefitted from your project can be powerful ways to show impact.
Be honest and realistic. Not everything goes to plan, and that’s okay. We value learning about what doesn’t work just as much as what does, especially where you are trying something new. We want to know what you might do differently next time.

OUTCOMES FRAMEWORKS FOR PRIORITY AREAS AND CATEGORIES

In your application you are asked to select a primary issue that your application is trying to address. This will be either from one of the Harpur Trust’s two priority areas – Poverty & Disadvantage and Stronger Communities – or from one of our core categories: Crime & Safety, Education & Training, Health & Wellbeing, Housing & Homelessness, Mental Health, or Sport & Recreation.

Below you can find a table for each priority area and category suggesting basic outcomes you might report on for broad impact areas. If your project has outcomes in more than one category or priority area, you can choose outcomes from more than one table.

If you need help please contact us as we do have more detailed impact and outcomes frameworks with example measures.

POVERTY & DISADVANTAGE (Priority Area)

Impact Area	Example Projects	Example Outcomes
Providing for people’s basic needs	Food banks or other food provision Hygiene banks Baby banks Projects which help with furniture, white goods or other household necessities Projects which provide support with clothing	Reduced food insecurity Improved dietary habits Number, type, and value of goods distributed Number of households supported Improved mental health, wellbeing, and confidence
Improving individuals’ financial circumstances	Advice services such as debt advice or welfare benefits support Advisors within specialist support services such as those supporting carers Credit Unions General community support and development services	Number of successful benefits claims made Monetary value of successful claims Reduced debt Improved financial inclusion
Empowering individuals to improve their circumstances	Projects which provide skills and training for people experiencing disadvantage Employability programmes General community support and development services	Improved employment circumstances Improved financial skills or awareness Improved mental health Improvement in practical money saving skills e.g. DIY, cooking

STRONGER COMMUNITIES (Priority Area)

Impact Area	Example Projects	Example Outcomes
Community cohesion	Projects which help different communities to learn about each other Programmes which celebrate the community as a whole	Improved understanding & perceptions of another community Increased mix of communities attending later events Increase in partnership work between different groups
Community engagement & empowerment	Projects which help communities advocate for themselves and address their own needs Co-produced projects designed with the community	Co-produced projects designed with the community Increased participation in civic life Increased ability of communities and individuals to address their own needs
Building community capacity	Community Buildings like village halls or sports clubs Community infrastructure support	Increased use of facilities Diversified use of facilities Improved financial sustainability Increased number of people volunteering in the Community Improved governance
Improved sense of belonging (marginalised or underserved communities)	Befriending projects Projects encouraging people from a specific part of the community to try a new activity Projects providing holistic community support for marginalised communities through community support workers	Reduced sense of isolation Stronger social networks Improved wellbeing & mental health Improvement in skills which reduce isolation, such as language Increased representation

CRIME & SAFETY

Impact Area	Example Projects	Example Outcomes
Reducing the impact of crime on victims	Counselling services Support to manage journey through legal system Workshops/courses to help victims regain their confidence and gain skills Programmes helping Domestic Abuse survivors understand abusive relationships/develop skills for avoiding them	Improved mental health & wellbeing Reduced sense of isolation Improved ability to resume normal activities such as work Increased access to support and ability to navigate the justice system Improved partnerships between statutory & voluntary support agencies
Reducing the impact of crime on victims – crisis support	Emergency housing for Domestic Abuse victims Drop-in services for victims of trafficking Services that connect vulnerable people with providers of support	Increased engagement with services Reduced substance dependence Improved housing circumstances Reduction in factors which increase vulnerability to exploitation e.g. addiction, homelessness
Helping young people involved with crime or at risk of becoming involved with crime	Outreach and education programmes Mentoring for vulnerable young people	Improved school attendance Improved understanding of criminal exploitation Increased resistance to peer pressure Improved family relationships
Youth Intervention & Exploitation Prevention	Free-time activities for young people at risk Anti-bullying work with children at risk Social/emotional skills work for children at risk	Improved confidence Increased time spent doing structured/supervised activities Engagement in positive activities Reduction in risky behaviour Improved ability to regulate emotions
Supporting individuals and families affected by imprisonment	Parenting programmes Facilitating healthy connections between imprisoned people and their family members Support for young people affected by the imprisonment of a family member Vocational & life skills programmes Housing support for people leaving prison Positive recreational activities for people in prison	Improved relationships between family members Improved parenting skills & confidence Improved understanding of the justice/prison system Reduced re-offending Movement into stable employment/housing Improved anger management Reduction in substance misuse
Improving Community Safety	Programmes providing fraud and scam awareness Personal safety programmes Programmes promoting online safety	Improved awareness of common frauds Increased understanding of risk/risk avoidance strategies Improved sense of safety Changed behaviour

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Impact Area	Example Projects	Example Outcomes
To follow – come back soon	To follow – come back soon	To follow – come back soon

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Impact Area	Example Projects	Example Outcomes
Support For People with Long Term Conditions	Projects which provide specialist therapeutic support to people with particular health conditions such as cancer or brain injury Projects which bring people with a particular health condition together to provide each other with peer support for people who share a health condition Projects which support unpaid carers of people with particular health conditions	Improved ability to manage the symptoms of long term conditions Improved ability to cope with everyday life (e.g. stay in school, return to work) Reduced isolation Improved mental or physical health Reduction in crisis hospital admissions Stability of condition rather than worsening health
Health Education	Projects which improve awareness of healthy lifestyles, such as healthy eating, exercise and stress management Projects which improve awareness of particular health conditions and issues, for example oral hygiene, heart disease and stroke	Behaviour change Reduction in isolation Reduction in need to contact statutory services for health support
Community support for people with more minor health issues and anxieties	Projects which help people find alternative forms of support than medical services Home from hospital schemes	Reduced GP visits Reduced isolation Increased independence Reduced failed hospital discharges
Reducing Health Inequalities	Projects focusing on underserved communities who have worse health outcomes than the general population	Improved access to and take up of health services Improved sense of belonging to the wider community

HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS

Impact Area	Example Projects	Example Outcomes
Preventing homelessness through advice and advocacy	Helping homeless people & those at risk of homelessness to challenge housing status decisions Advising/advocating for people on welfare benefits Supporting people with landlord negotiations	Beneficiaries remain in or gain access to stable housing Increased access to benefits Successful challenges to housing or benefits decisions Evictions avoided Rent arrears reduced
Reduction in number of people who are homeless or in inadequate accommodation	Outreach and day centre services to support the basic needs of people who are homeless/in housing need Short term housing support, such as emergency night beds and homeless shelters Medium term support, such as supported housing	Improved engagement with services e.g. housing and addiction support Improved physical and mental wellbeing Reduced rough sleeping Improvement in numbers moved to temporary, supported or permanent accommodation Increase in numbers sustaining accommodation for at least six months
Developing the skills and means to maintain a tenancy	Tenancy management training e.g. rights & responsibilities, benefits & housing systems Helping people into work via training, work experience or volunteering Floating support Independent living skills training e.g. cooking, home maintenance, laundry	Improved ability to maintain a tenancy and deal with obligations as a tenant Move from emergency and transitional accommodation to independent homes Numbers returning to homelessness or emergency accommodation reduce Increase in qualifications Numbers gaining/maintaining employment

MENTAL HEALTH

Impact Area	Example Projects	Example Outcomes
Access to Specialist Mental Health Support	Specialist mental health support to people with specific mental health conditions, e.g. through counselling or play therapy Specialist mental health and other support to people experiencing particular challenges such as bereavement or adoption	Improved mental health Improved ability to manage mental health (long term conditions) Improved ability to cope with everyday life (e.g. stay in school, return to work) Reduction in harmful coping behaviours
Access to Group and Peer Support	Group support to people with mental health conditions waiting for professional help, e.g. gardening or music projects Enabling people with ongoing mental health needs to provide each other with support, encouragement and company	Improved understanding of own mental health Improved ability to manage own mental health Improved mental health Reduction in isolation Reduction in need for contact with statutory mental health services
Prevention and Resilience	Improving community/individual awareness of mental health and how to manage it, e.g. resilience and emotional literacy training for children Activities which promote wellbeing for vulnerable people	Improved understanding of mental health issues Improved understanding of own emotions and how to manage them Improved relationships Reduction in incidents resulting from lack of ability to manage emotions Improved self confidence
Training and Capacity Building	Supporting non-specialist services to build mental health awareness, for example by training staff and volunteers Training mental health advocates in schools and charities	Improved understanding of when/where to send people for specialist help Improved confidence in supporting people with mental health issues Reduced reliance on external support
Reducing health inequalities between different demographic groups	Providing tailored support for people from particular demographics who do not traditionally access mental health support services Engaging with communities who do not normally access mental health services to develop accessible and appropriate services	Increased uptake of early intervention services from underserved groups Reduction in use of crisis solutions such as A&E in underserved groups Satisfaction rates among target demographics

SPORTS & RECREATION

Impact Area	Example Projects	Example Outcomes
Improving health and wellbeing through activity	Increasing levels of physical activity, particularly in groups less likely to be active Providing affordable leisure activities for people from more disadvantaged groups	Increased levels of physical activity Reduced isolation/loneliness Improved wellbeing
Widening Opportunities to Participate in sport and recreation	Inclusive exercise for people with disabilities, for example wheelchair rugby Sports & recreation for groups that otherwise might feel excluded, for example introduction to sports for women from migrant communities	Reduced sense of isolation Reduced symptoms of health conditions Increased sense of belonging Increased diversity of participants Improved health/activity levels in people from particular communities More local people feel there are activities they can take part in
Improving Recreational Facilities	Making facilities more accessible e.g. access for disabled people Improving facilities to increase use Purchasing essential equipment	Increased use of the facility Increased diversity of facility users Improved financial health of the organisation from increased bookings
Supporting young people to develop through sport and leisure	Free/affordable free-time activities for young people Projects which encourage young people to develop leadership skills through leisure activities	Increased participation Improved leadership, teamwork, or communication skills Improved resilience

What is expected of me?

How much reporting is needed?

What should I report on?

OUTCOMES FRAMEWORKS FOR PRIORITY AREAS AND CATEGORIES

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What is expected of me?

How much reporting is needed?

What should I report on?

OUTCOMES FRAMEWORKS FOR PRIORITY AREAS AND CATEGORIES

Discover More

About Us

Governance

Our Year in Numbers

News

Our History

SIR WILLIAM HARPUR’S VISION

Featured News

Year of Impact Celebrated as Harpur Trust Reaches 460th Anniversary

Join The Harpur Trust’s Board as a Finance Trustee

Year 12 Students Impress with Innovative Community Projects at Borough Leadership Event