This Research and Evaluation network meeting heard from guest speakers on when a funder might benefit from working with a learning partner. We also discussed how participants and their organisations approach, capture and share learning and data to inform decisions.
We were delighted to be joined by the following expert speakers:
- Ruth Feder Co-Head of Impact and Learning, City Bridge Trust - Before joining CBT, Ruth led on training and evaluation for several national charities. Most recently she managed the evaluation and learning partnership for a complex, national multi-stakeholder campaign for the Campaign to End Loneliness at Age UK. Ruth is experienced in delivering infrastructure support for civil society, such as networking, peer support, training and quality standards, including for the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation (now part of NCVO) and setting up and leading local and national volunteer programmes.
- Donna Buxton, Co-Head of Impact and Learning, City Bridge Trust - Before joining CBT Donna was Head of Research at the International Longevity Centre (ILC) which is a specialist think tank on the impact of people living longer and what happens next. Prior to ILC Donna was the Head of Impact, Evaluation and Research at Mencap where her team provided an in-house research and evaluation consultancy service for all staff. Donna is the founder and a Trustee of Charity Evaluation Working Group (ChEW). ChEW is the UK's largest community of practice for third sector 'client-side' social researchers and evaluators.
- Catherine-Rose Stocks-Rankin, Scotland Director, Dartington Service Design Lab - Catherine-Rose specialises in evaluation, knowledge mobilisation and participatory approaches to research, design and systems transition. She works with people, practitioners and organisations committed to learning and driving forward meaningful social change. Over the last ten years, Catherine-Rose has worked across community development, social work, social care, public health, primary and secondary care. Catherine-Rose is trained in social research methods, with a focus on participatory and arts-based methods and expertise in developmental evaluation and contribution analysis.
Resources from the meeting can be found via the links below: