Summary of Evaluation of the Sustainable Communities Fund
January 2007
Executive Summary
- About half the SCF projects contributed to this research on the impact of the fund on projects, beneficiaries and the local social and business communities. Monitoring data from the first six months of the fund’s life suggests that groups are reaching their targets in terms of most of the contracted Core Outputs, Key Performance Indicators and Local Outputs. Qualitative data also suggests that it is positively impacting on
- The development of new services in rural areas
- The economic prosperity of the community or voluntary group who received a grant
- The economy of the community and
- The development of the workforce within the community and voluntary sector.
- The general feeling of the projects was that the SCF is a much needed, well administered fund that recognises and supports them as they struggle to survive in difficult economic circumstances. The Foundation staff play an important role for some new and emerging groups as a conduit to the voluntary and community sector and its networks.
- Projects valued the fund as a mechanism to keep them going, for developing and piloting ideas, for building business plans and for helping them to look for routes to sustainability. There is a clear understanding amongst groups of the value of supporting the local economy and not letting the money drain out of it. Wherever possible they circulate money in the local business community.
- The fund has made a significant difference in being able to provide new services and reach new beneficiaries. The fund has also supported the development of business plans, consultations processes etc which aim to improve the prospect of group and or sector sustainability. There are clear indications that at least one new project is now self-sustaining. It is clear many other projects will require longer periods of development and financial support in order to meet their potential as sustainable projects.
- The sector has benefited from development and training opportunities from word-processing to team building. Panel membership is another workforce development tool and a key resource for rural communities. More could be made of this relationship with rural groups.
Recommendations
- The continuation of the Sustainable Communities Fund using the same approach and ethos.
- Continue to monitor the required Core Outputs, KPIs and Local outputs – and continue to encourage groups to come forward with projects that meet all of the areas.
- Greater emphasis on the acquisition of business knowledge and skills including the development of financial literacy.
- Consider ways in which to refer new groups and projects to infrastructure agencies for project and other development issues.