The Evaluation Trust is a well-respected community development agency, founded in 1990, which historically has worked at regional, national and international levels to disseminate skills and good practice in participatory evaluation.

Since 1999, the Evaluation Trust has undertaken considerable development work with c. 430 small voluntary organisations and their funders in the South West region, with the support of the Community Fund and Lloyds TSB Foundation.

National work has included, for example, evaluation projects for organisations including Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Intermediate Technology. The trust has also worked extensively in Eastern Europe and Russia, undertaking evaluations of NGO funding programmes, and providing training in participatory monitoring and evaluation for NGOs and consultants.

The Evaluation Trust supports such organisations to use participatory evaluation as a tool for organisational learning and development by:

• acting as an evaluation resource by providing advice, information, ideas and short term help;
• allocating an experienced consultant to work with the organisation, enabling them to acquire skills in and to undertake monitoring and participatory evaluation;
• designing and delivering training programmes in monitoring and participatory evaluation for statutory and voluntary organisations and consultants;
• undertaking participatory evaluation work with organisations and funders

Some interesting case studies...

1. Evaluation of North Somerset Partnership for Older People (POPP)

2. Facilitation of Away Day for Peter Lang Children's Trust

3. Community Researchers Training

4. Evaluation Training for Safer Bristol Partnership

Some examples of reports...

5. Measuring Empowerment and Community Development - What Does Good Look Like?

6. West of England Partnership, Rural Renaissance Programme, Evaluation Report