In Kind Direct - Measuring the number of people we support

Project Summary

Review, and design improvements to, the way In Kind Direct estimates the number of end users benefiting from the distribution of products.

Project description

In Kind Direct (IKD) distributes consumer goods, donated by companies, to UK charitable organisations in its network working in the UK and overseas. Working with corporate partners, it also passes on discounts on other types of products and services to its charitable network. 

One of the drivers that motivates both IKD and their corporate partners is knowing that their work ultimately benefits people in need and the charitable organisations supporting them, and it is therefore important to them to understand the scale of benefit.

However, as IKD does not work directly with end users of products it can only use indirect ways of assessing their numbers.  This is even more the case with charitable organisations who act as ‘Coordinating Partners’ with IKD and distribute products out to their member organisations who in turn pass them on to end-users. 

The data to derive a figure for number of end users benefiting is currently collected through:

• a regular survey of IKD’s network;
• e-commerce data on number of charitable organisations receiving products through its online platform;
• manual records of charitable organisations receiving products through offline placements;
• a survey of Coordinating Partners;
• take up of some of the ‘affiliate’ products and service discount schemes.

The volunteer(s) are required to review the current methodology, the nature of the data, how the data collected is analysed and used, and whether there are any alternative sources of data that IKD could make use of, in order to make recommendations for whether and how IKD can develop more robust and dynamic measure(s) of the number of end users benefiting.

The expectation is that the deliverables will be a re-designed questionnaire, with associated recommendations for analysing the returns; re-worked calculations using IKD’s existing data and additional data sources to get an even better measure; and recommendations for other measures for number of end users benefiting in conjunction with the number of people receiving products.  However, this may be adjusted in the detailed project scoping or during the project.

The project could readily be undertaken by a single volunteer, but may also suit two volunteers working together.

The project will particularly suit a volunteer with experience of performance or outcome measurement.

Time commitment: The actual time required will need to be agreed during the detailed scoping meeting between the volunteer(s) and IKD; and will depend on how well the existing methodology stands up to external scrutiny.  It may be as little as two person-days, and is not expected to exceed five person-days unless the recommendations include extensive questionnaire piloting, post-questionnaire analysis and review, or alternative non-questionnaire methods recommended

Location: The work can be done remotely.

If you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return along with your CV to ProBonoOR@theorsociety.com by Wednesday 5 January 2022.

The OR Society fully supports equal opportunities. As such, we welcome applications from the partially sighted or blind, or those with disabilities.

Information about the organisation: 

In Kind Direct is the UK charity distributing consumer goods donated by companies to UK charitable organisations working in the UK and overseas. Founded in 1996 by HRH The Prince of Wales, they offer a simple solution to connect companies and their products to thousands of charities, community groups, foodbanks and schools supporting our communities. Together they make a difference to 174,000 people each week.

For further information about In Kind Direct please visit www.inkinddirect.org

For further information about the Pro Bono OR scheme, please visit: www.theorsociety.com/Probono  or email ProBonoOR@theorsociety.com

British Trust for Ornithology - Ways of Working Review

Project Summary

The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has established a Ways of Working (WOW) Group and would value some OR volunteer input to help with a project to improve project processes. 

Project Description

The BTO is a UK charity that focuses on understanding birds and, in particular, how and why bird populations are changing. Their vision is of a world where people are inspired by birds and informed by science. BTO has a new CEO who is looking into improving ways of working. 

The organisation has identified some challenges in the way research projects are initiated, prioritised and allocated to scientists. Work comes in from multiple sources, with competing priorities, but there is a lack of coordination of resource planning and work allocation. MS Project is used for overall tracking of projects and timekeeping, but does not work well for resource planning.

The project would be suitable for a volunteer with experience of helping teams define and structure messy problems. Knowledge of resource modelling and/or managing programmes and multiple projects would be useful. 

Location

All work can be done remotely. The BTO office is based in Thetford, Norfolk.

Commitment

Time commitment to be determined by volunteer(s) when completing detailed project scope with the BTO.

The BTO would like this support ASAP in 2022. Possible support approach could be:

• Familiarisation with BTO & WOW group;
• Information gathering on current challenges with managing and resourcing research projects;
• Facilitating problem definition, scoping and prioritization sessions;
• Developing recommendations for ways forward;
• Presentation/Report to Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

Initial support to the WOW group could be 4-5 days.

Desired project start date

As soon as convenient, ideally Jan 2022, to be agreed between BTO and volunteer(s).

Desired project completion date

To be agreed between BTO and the volunteer(s).

Apply

If you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return along with your CV to ProBonoOR@theorsociety.com by Wednesday 5 January 2022.

The OR Society fully supports equal opportunities. As such, we welcome applications from the partially sighted or blind, or those with disabilities.

Information about the organisation

The BTO strive to achieve their vision by harnessing the skills and passion of thousands of volunteers to advance their understanding of ornithology, in particular, through their bird surveys and schemes. They combine the resulting scientific outputs with interesting stories and powerful images to engage more people in this work and to inspire people to take action. Working in partnership with volunteers, they have been monitoring the UK’s birds since 1933 and have extended their coverage to include other wildlife too.

For further information about the BTO please visit www.bto.org

Information about Pro Bono OR

For further information about the Pro Bono OR scheme, please visit: www.theorsociety.com/Probono  or email ProBonoOR@theorsociety.com