Advising on government funding programmes
NPC uses its combination of knowledge, skills and experience to inform policy makers and to evaluate the success of programmes of funding or support for the third sector.
>>Read NPC's manifesto for social impact, written in the run up to the election.
Research and analysis to inform policy makers
Our team of researchers consists of experts in social policy and charity analysis, as well as a measurement team that specialises in quantitative and qualitative research. We have a reputation for delivering high quality, objective research, and we have been awarded contracts to conduct research and evaluation on behalf of charities, grant-makers and government. Our work in this area includes:
- a project for the Cabinet Office and other funders, looking at how the reporting burden for charities could be reduced; and
- a project to inform the Treasury/DfES review of services for disabled children.
Evaluation of funding programmes to assess the method of delivery and the impact achieved
Our work in this area includes:
- an evaluation of the Office of the Third Sector’s Targeted Support Fund, expected to be published in mid-2010.
Case study: The Government Equalities Office
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) contracted NPC to evaluate the stability and sustainability of charities working in the violence against women (VAW) sector. The first phase of research, starting in early 2009, involved a rapid evidence assessment and stakeholder analysis. The second phase consisted of primary research interviewing a sample of VAW charities to assess their stability and sustainability in greater depth, and comparing them with a sample of mental health charities.
The report for GEO will be published in early 2010. It is intended to inform funding decisions by other government departments, as well as charities and funders in the VAW sector.
Case study: Turning the tables
NPC was funded by the the Scotland Funders’ Forum, BIG Lottery Fund and the Cabinet Office to look at how the reporting burden for charities could be reduced. The aim was to ‘turn the tables’ and inspire charities to negotiate more coherent reporting requirements form their funders. This kind of approach had been tried before, driven by funders, and had failed.
We brought the charities in the project together to discuss their reporting problems and to share ideas on the best ways to approach funders. Many charities were successful in reducing their reporting requirements—one charity was able to reduce the costs of an entire project by 6% by streamlining its reporting. The project was guided by a steering group of funders and government stakeholders. The findings were welcomed by Government and consequently, the National Audit Office and the Treasury are drawing up stricter guidelines for funders.
Case study: What price an ordinary life?
NPC's report What price an ordinary life? was produced to feed into the Treasury/DfES review of services for disabled children in 2007.
Resources for disabled children are limited and it is important that they are well spent. Yet there are few detailed studies of costs and benefits on which to base decision-making. NPC’s report aims to reveal as much as possible about the financial costs and benefits of two services for disabled children and their families: short breaks and key worker services.
Case study: Futurebuilders
NPC was commissioned by Futurebuilders England to assist with the production of its first and second learning reports in 2005 and 2007. These reports captured what Futurebuilders England was learning about the processes it used to award packages of loan and grant support, and about its impact.
NPC's research involved surveys of applicants and investees, workshops with investees, interviews and workshops with staff, and analysis of Futurebuilders England’s monitoring data, to track how investees’ capacity changed over time.