In Kind Direct: measuring the number of end users

Project:

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

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. 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.  Data to derive a figure for number of end users benefiting is currently collected through a quarterly survey of IKD’s network.

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 5 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 Monday 21st June 2021.

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

Mothers for Mothers Project: Telephone System Investigation

 Project:

Preliminary investigation into the telephone system: what data can be automatically collected, which provider might be the most cost effective.

Project description:

Mothers for Mothers have a single helpline with no queueing system.  When it is busy callers can leave a message, but few do, given that it is likely to have taken some courage to call.  So, Mothers for Mothers don’t know how many calls are not answered, nor do they collect any data, though they could collect data manually about answered calls. In addition, there is a support call service: regular calls out at the same time every week. On some days the support calls are made by the person manning the helpline on the same number.

It would be helpful to know what data could be automatically collected, using a system such as BT’s Call Tracker, and determine how useful that might be. It will also be useful to investigate whether a change of provider would be beneficial.  

If it is determined that a suitable data collection system could be developed, a second project, when data has been available for a suitable period of time, could consider questions such as whether they need a second line.

Time commitment: 3 days, for this preliminary investigation 

Location: The work can be done remotely, requiring an understanding of the existing system, determining what data can be automatically collected, and recommending which provider might be most cost effective.

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 21 July 2021.

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: 

Mothers for Mothers offer support to women during pregnancy and until their youngest child attends school, from illness to wellness, through four arms of our support services: Reach helpline/support calls, Home Visiting, Counselling and Peer Support Groups with a play support worker. Our services are delivered by women with lived experience of perinatal mental illness (PNI).

For further information about Mothers for Mothers please visit https://mothersformothers.co.uk

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

Home-Start Project 3: Definition of local demographics

Project:

Home-Start Kirklees (HSK) wants to create an up-to-date profile of their local demographics to inform grant applications for future projects.

Project description:

Home-Start Kirklees (HSK) is an independent charity which has been working with some of the most vulnerable families across Kirklees for over 20 years.  Our early intervention programmes reach the families others consider ‘hard to reach’ –  families with young children aged 0-5, living in very challenging circumstances and struggling to cope.  HSK helps these families to build their skills, capacity and resilience.  Since 1999, over 550 of our trained community volunteers have supported over 2000 families alongside specialised staff – 169 families with 356 children in the past year alone.

We need to create an up-to-date profile of the demographics of the areas we serve. When we apply to the larger funders (e.g. National Lottery, Charitable Trusts) they invariably ask for a profile of the local community. We know that there are several possible sources of data (e.g. Kirklees Observatory, CHIMAT, PHE reports, and research organisations such as the Rowntree Trust) but we need advice on putting an appropriate profile together that we could easily update from year to year.

Time commitment: Up to 5 days 

Location: All the work can be done remotely/virtually.

The project would suit someone with an understanding of the various sources of national, regional and local social care data/statistics. The output would be a current summary of relevant demographics (e.g. age, ethnicity, deprivation index) that could be updated easily each year.

If you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return along with your CV to amy.hughes@theorsociety.com by 16th March 2021.

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: 

Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. We are there for parents when they need us the most because childhood can’t wait.

Home-Start works with families in communities right across the UK. Starting in the home, our approach is as individual as the people we’re helping. No judgement, it is just compassionate, confidential help and expert support. Last year Home-Start supported 56,000 children in 27,000 families, in communities across the UK.

For further information about Home-Start please visit https://www.home-start.org.uk

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

Home-Start Project 2: Longitudinal evaluation

Project:

Home-Start Kirklees (HSK) wants to develop a process for recording and measuring the longitudinal impact of interventions to support future projects.

Project description:

Home-Start Kirklees (HSK) is an independent charity which has been working with some of the most vulnerable families across Kirklees for over 20 years.  Our early intervention programmes reach the families others consider ‘hard to reach’ –  families with young children aged 0-5, living in very challenging circumstances and struggling to cope.  HSK helps these families to build their skills, capacity and resilience.  Since 1999, over 550 of our trained community volunteers have supported over 2000 families alongside specialised staff – 169 families with 356 children in the past year alone.

HSK has been running for many years and is good at measuring the difference that is made between the start of a family becoming involved and the end of it, but we have not had the resources to follow through what happens to parents and children in the longer term. We know that our time is needed to identify and contact past clients but we need some help and guidance on how to set up such a project, how to conduct it and how to record and evaluate the outcomes.   

Time commitment: Up to 5 days 

Location: All the work can be done remotely/virtually.

The project would suit someone with experience of designing long-term impact studies. The requirement is to develop a process, not to implement it. This would include developing the structure, questions and sampling guidance.

If you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return along with your CV to amy.hughes@theorsociety.com by 16th March 2021.

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: 

Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. We are there for parents when they need us the most because childhood can’t wait.

Home-Start works with families in communities right across the UK. Starting in the home, our approach is as individual as the people we’re helping. No judgement, it is just compassionate, confidential help and expert support. Last year Home-Start supported 56,000 children in 27,000 families, in communities across the UK.

For further information about Home-Start please visit https://www.home-start.org.uk

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

Home-Start Project 1: Proving our worth

Project:

Home-Start Kirklees (HSK) wishes to investigate research being done in the Children’s Social Care area to provide them with evidence to support their case for future funding.

Project description:

Home-Start Kirklees (HSK) is an independent charity which has been working with some of the most vulnerable families across Kirklees for over 20 years.  Our early intervention programmes reach the families others consider ‘hard to reach’ –  families with young children aged 0-5, living in very challenging circumstances and struggling to cope.  HSK helps these families to build their skills, capacity and resilience.  Since 1999, over 550 of our trained community volunteers have supported over 2000 families alongside specialised staff – 169 families with 356 children in the past year alone.

HSK wishes to investigate research being done in the Children’s Social Care area to provide them with evidence to support their case for future funding.

The project is about what we call ‘proving our worth’.  Many people think of Home-Start as though it is a glorified playgroup when really its work is early intervention in families to avoid children from being referred into care.  The savings from early interventions can be significant. We have a need for someone to investigate research that is being done in this area to provide us with evidence to support our case.

Time commitment: Up to 10 days 

Location: All the work can be done remotely/virtually.

The project mostly requires desk research and would suit someone with an understanding of cost-benefit analysis and economic assessment of social care interventions. Numerous research papers are available and the volunteer would be required to review these, identify other source information, and pull together a summary HSK could use to support future funding bids.

If you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return along with your CV to amy.hughes@theorsociety.com by 16th March 2021.

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: 

Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. We are there for parents when they need us the most because childhood can’t wait.

Home-Start works with families in communities right across the UK. Starting in the home, our approach is as individual as the people we’re helping. No judgement, it is just compassionate, confidential help and expert support. Last year Home-Start supported 56,000 children in 27,000 families, in communities across the UK.

For further information about Home-Start please visit https://www.home-start.org.uk

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

New Project with The Trussell Trust: Help to end the need for food banks in the UK.

Project Green Revelation

Project:

Investigation of external data to discover factors affecting food poverty and using this information to identify areas where local initiatives may be needed.

Project description:

The Trussell Trust has recently launched a new and ambitious vision to end the need for food banks in the UK. The Trussell Trust has considerable internal data on its foodbanks but wants to use external data in order to gain further in-depth insights to provide strategic direction towards delivery of the vision. Details of this project will be negotiated with the client; it is anticipated that the volunteer will:

1. Discuss detailed requirements and available internal data with Dave Massey, the Head of Strategic Intelligence.

2. Investigate the relevant Trussell Trust data and reports, together with potential sources of external data, such as ONS data. 

3. Produce a detailed specification of the project deliverables and timescales, and agree this with the client.

4. Analyse the available internal and external data, producing results in the form of clear charts. Identify factors affecting food poverty and examine areas that are outliers. Identify areas where local initiatives are required.

5. As agreed in the specification, produce a written report with findings together with any other agreed deliverables such as a presentation of the findings and an accessible tool which the Trussell Trust could continue to use as data sources are updated.       

Requirements: 

Some experience in the use of government and other open statistics would be useful. Knowledge of which datasets are available and appropriate to use would be helpful.  Production of a tool in Tableau would be of interest.  This project would suit either a single volunteer or a team.

Time commitment: To be discussed and agreed with the client. The scope of the project can be negotiated to suit volunteer availability.

Location: All the work can be carried out remotely. 

If you feel you are able to offer your assistance please complete the application form and return along with your CV to amy.hughes@theorsociety.com by 11th December 2020.

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 Trussell Trust is a NGO and charity that works to end the need for food banks in the UK. It supports a network of over 1,200 food bank centres to provide emergency food and compassionate, practical support to people in crisis, while campaigning for long-term change to the structural issues that lock people into poverty.

For further information about The Trussell Trust please visit https://www.trusselltrust.org/

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

New to volunteering? Some top tips for successful outcomes (Guest blog from Ruth Kaufman)

Many thanks to Ruth Kaufman OBE, FORS for writing this guest blog.

New to volunteering? Some top tips for successful outcomes

“OR” is one of the most adaptable disciplines imaginable, and its practitioners are among the most flexible, prepared to bring scientific rigour and methods to any question even if it is outside their previous specialism. Given this adventurous approach, it is always a good idea to see if there are any tips from previous explorers.

For Pro Bono OR, there are two types of novelty for many of us: working with charities, and working as volunteers. Neither of these are terribly difficult areas, but they both bring special issues which are worth noting. This post looks at working with charities for the first time, and a second will look at working as a volunteer.

In most ways, working as a consultant to a charity is no different from working as a consultant anywhere, and the same success factors apply. Here are five top tips for charity special features.

1) before you meet the client, do prior research. Make sure you understand the basics of the charity sector (there is a useful summary available as part of the Pro Bono resource set). Armed with that, find out, for your client: what are their charitable objects; who are their beneficiaries; what are their main funding sources; how many staff, volunteers, and trustees do they have. These will all be part of your client’s day-to-day reality, and they’re all things you may not have come across in a non-charity organisation, whether or not it is not-for-profit.

2) identify the stakeholders In particular, find out about how the work is split between paid staff, volunteers and trustees (who are usually also volunteers); and in particular how they manage the interface between staff and trustee board

3) understand clients’ time constraints. Charities – small ones, especially – are run by volunteers to an extent that is unthinkable in other organisations. Trustees, in particular, will have a significant role in decision-making, but will be doing this as a tiny part of their day-to-day life. Only rarely will a trustee have signed up in advance to commit a significant amount of time, at regular well-specified intervals, to the charity. This can also be an issue for paid staff, depending on sources of funding; sometimes there is no money for staff to do anything other than deliver services specified by the funder, so thinking about strategy or change is all done in ‘spare time’ snatched from other activities.

4) build communication and trust A critical issue here can be language. Many charities will have staff who are suspicious of ‘business agendas’ and anxious that commercial considerations may be used as an excuse for driving out the qualitative aspects of their work. This is mainly a matter of being sensitive to the fact that terminology or arguments that sound professional and normal in the business world may bring different connotations to people focused on helping beneficiaries. Of course it is important to say what you mean; just do it in ordinary human language.

5) co-producing with the client It takes two parties to deliver a successful consultancy project. Agreeing terms of reference, project plans and deliverables; adapting these as necessary; managing expectations; keeping commitment through to the end; these crucial success factors rely on both consultant and client . The difference with charities is that the charity is less likely to have experience of such things than other organisations you have worked with. Make allowances! Watch out for risks such as specification changes, project drift, misunderstandings, reprioritisation. Never put these down to incompetence or lack of interest from the client, unless the evidence for that is overwhelming – they are much more likely to be due to inexperience with project management, or the organisation’s vulnerability to external events temporarily blowing it off course. Responding with a suitable mix of empathy, sympathy, and professionalism will make all the difference.

To see some of the projects we've worked on and to find out how to get involved please visit the Pro Bono OR webpage