1. Introduction to Impact Assessment
This introduction uses the Weaver’s Triangle, designed by Jane
Weaver it has been developed by the Charities Evaluation Service
(CES) as part of their monitoring and evaluation model.

2. The Weaver’s triangle
helps you identify the aims and objectives, so you can put in place methods for monitoring and evaluating the work you are carrying out using performance indicators such as:
Impact or outcome and
Output measures
Self evaluation cycle
to achieve and how?
what do you want
objectives:
Set aims and
Set performance
measure your
indicators: to
progress
programme
Deliver work
recommendations
and implement
Review project
Needs assessment
Who likes Data?
I do find it fascinating and a great objective way of finding out why think
are working well or not working.

3. The Weaver’s Planning Triangle
Here we’ve got topics with the snappy title of 9 data projects to improve
your provision
All of these relate to the learner journey and their experience in any
learning or training organisation.
I wasn’t sure they would be applicable to all of our remit but I was talking
to a Nextstep provider and he said at first about 7 were relevant, then a
little while later said all are relevant and had done some really interesting
things with them.

4. The Triangle in context
The great thing about all these projects is that you don’t actually even need to
use numbers with them, they work just as well without.
For this example we will use numbers and we will make the picture quite extreme
as that makes the illustration work even better.
OK the scenario is a that a large national provider works that 80% of learners
have an initial assessment
What question does that immediately beg?
Discussion
Another situation might be that 50% of the learners receive additional learning
Support
What investigation might this trigger?

5. Aims relate to outcomes & impact
Aims = the benefits or changes you are trying to achieve
The overall aim should relate to the impact you are trying to achieve
The specific aims should be linked to the outcomes
start with words that indicate a change, for example: to increase, to enable, to develop, to improve etc.
These projects generate what we call Quality Improvement Questions that will
Help you focus on the main improvement issues and help you develop
appropriate action plans

6. Objectives relate to products or outputs
Objectives = the methods or the activities by which you achieve your aims
The objectives should link to the products or outputs from your activities (eg events held, leaflets distributed, observations made)
start with words that indicate activity, for example: to organise, to produce, to set up etc.
These are the 9 topics now choose 1 that either fits in with one your key
Challenges or another area of your choice. Select the relevant topic and go
through the process. We will circulate to help you and provide the answer or
Question sheet that will give you some more ideas.

7. The Weaver’s Planning Triangle

8. The Triangle in context

9. What are outputs?
Outputs are linked to the project objectives
Outputs are all the detailed activities, services and products connected to the project. Eg training events, materials, leaflets, visits, observations etc

10. Objective: Set up ‘surgeries’ to discuss the new-build
Output example
Objective: Set up ‘surgeries’ to discuss the new-build
Outputs:
Drop in sessions for staff and the public to meet the senior executive and estates manager in the organisation
Targeted consultation and advice sessions
Eg with learners with particular needs and their carers.

11. Output Indicators
The indicators are what you can use to assess whether you have achieved your outputs
They assess progress towards meeting your project objectives
They are a type of performance indicator

12. Output indicators, example
Drop in sessions for staff and the public to meet the senior executive and estates manager in the organisation
Output indicators:
Number of drop in sessions
Number of people attending
Types of drop in sessions
Profile of people attending

13. Outcomes are linked to the specific aims
What are outcomes?
Outcomes are linked to the specific aims
Outcomes are the changes, benefits, learning or other effects that actually occur as a result of your activities. They can be expected or unexpected, positive or negative.

14. Outcome indicators or measures
are how you assess whether an expected outcome is occurring and assess progress towards meeting an aim
Impact and outcome measurement is basically about the same thing, a change that results from the improvement actions taken
Outcome indicators are a performance indicator and can be qualitative or quantitative

15. What indicators or measures could you use?
Outcome example
Specific aim: To improve the cascading of information regarding the new-build across the organisation and in the local community
Outcomes:
Increased knowledge of the new-build programme
Increased marketing of the organisation
Increased confidence and reputation
What indicators or measures could you use?

16. Monitoring outputs and outcomes
Use the indicators for monitoring
Collate information on your output indicators to show outputs have been delivered and to show progress towards meeting targets.
Collect information on your outcome indicators to demonstrate that outcomes are achieved.
Collect baseline information before you start, in order to measure the impact of your improvement actions