Project Overview
Future Dreams is a remarkable charity dedicated to supporting those affected by breast cancer. Their work touches countless lives, providing everything from emotional support, to practical advice and funding for crucial services. But like any organisation focused on making a difference, they wanted to ensure that their efforts were truly having the impact they intended. As a result they commissioned am evaluation project involving myself and two other seasoned consultants, to evaluate the charity’s impact and provide insights that could guide their future efforts.
Our project was all about diving deep into the data, speaking with stakeholders, and understanding the real-world effects of Future Dreams' programmes. We didn’t just want to tick boxes—we wanted to capture the genuine outcomes of their work and help them see where they were making the biggest difference to the lives of their women, and where there might be room for growth.
Over the course of the project, we collaborated closely with the Future Dreams senior leadership team and service users: We conducted interviews, analysed data, and synthesised our findings into a comprehensive report. Our goal was to provide Future Dreams with a clear, honest picture of their impact—one that they could use to celebrate successes and refine their strategies moving forward.
Project Outcome
The evaluation project provided valuable insights for Future Dreams. Here’s a breakdown of what we achieved:
- Clearer Understanding of Impact:
- Through the (detailed) evaluation report, Future Dreams gained a much clearer understanding of how their programmes were impacting the women they serve. This wasn’t just about numbers—we captured stories and feedback that highlighted the tangible differences their work was making in individuals’ lives.
- Data-Driven Decision Making:
- Armed with our findings, the charity was able to make more informed decisions about where to allocate resources. By identifying which initiatives were most effective, they could focus their efforts on the areas that had the greatest impact, ensuring they were getting the best possible return on their investments.
- Enhanced Stakeholder Engagement:
- The evaluation process itself helped to strengthen relationships with stakeholders. By involving them in the evaluation and reflecting their feedback in the report, Future Dreams demonstrated their commitment to transparency and continuous improvement, which in turn, bolstered service users’ trust and support.
- Strategic Recommendations:
- Based on the evaluation, actionable recommendations were provided to Future Dreams senior leadership team for enhancing their programmes and outreach. These recommendations were designed to be practical and immediately implementable, helping the charity to continue growing and improving their services.
- Empowerment Through Insight:
- One of the most rewarding outcomes was seeing how the evaluation empowered the Future Dreams senior leadership team. With a clear, data-backed understanding of their impact, they felt more confident in their work and inspired to push even further in their mission. The insights we provided didn’t just inform—they motivated the team to determine how and why they can further improve.
- One of the most rewarding outcomes was seeing how the evaluation empowered the Future Dreams senior leadership team. With a clear, data-backed understanding of their impact, they felt more confident in their work and inspired to push even further in their mission. The insights we provided didn’t just inform—they motivated the team to determine how and why they can further improve.
TL;DR: This project was about much more than just evaluation—it was about empowering a charity to understand and amplify the incredible work they were already doing. By the end of our collaboration, Future Dreams was equipped with the knowledge and confidence to continue making a profound difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer. And for an organisation as dedicated and compassionate as Future Dreams, that’s the kind of impact that really matters.
