Research partnership centres community in evaluating impact

‘How do we know we do what we say we do?’ is a research project led by Solent’s Associate Professor of Applied Psychology, Dr Karen Burnell and Communicare Manager, Annie Clewlow. Funded by the British Society of Gerontology’s Averil Osborn Award for Participatory Research, this project has been developed to co-create a sustainable evaluation method for Communicare, which could then be used by other charities.

Dr Burnell says, “I place enormous value on conducting research that is needed and meaningful. All of my research has started in the community, with people on the ground and in the middle of things, be they the people who use services or those who provide them. Through these conversations, collaboration occurs.

“In order for this work to be truly meaningful – and to meet a need – the expertise of service users and providers is essential. The research would be poorer without it, and that’s why I believe collaboration is absolutely essential.”

Dr Burnell’s research, which will be used to create a new way of evaluating Communicare’s output and impact, will be supported by an advisory group made up of 20 volunteers and service users. Additionally, two students from Solent University will be recruited as co-researchers, giving them the opportunity to gain experience in real-world research.

Communicare currently supports around 750 individuals and families through a series of interventions including befriending, transport to appointments, assistance with daily needs such as shopping, and wellbeing calls. Solent regularly collaborates with the charity, supporting its services which are developed to enrich the lives of isolated people in and around Southampton.

To champion continual improvement of the service, charity volunteers will learn how to carry out evaluations, empowering them to review Communicare’s delivery and offer unique insights that can help shape their offer.

‘How do we know we do what we say we do?’ will ensure that Communicare – and charities like them who have the opportunity to adopt this new, evidence-based approach to evaluation – is delivering services that are both needed and informed by its users and volunteers.