Making an Impact: Essentials of Theory of Change and Project Management for Charities and Research
Full-day workshop for charity workers, early-career researchers, and community researchers.
Making an Impact: Essentials of Theory of Change and Project Management for Charities and Research
Join us for a one-day workshop designed to equip you with the tools and knowledge to assess and enhance the impact of your work. This full-day event will cover essential models such as the Theory of Change, Logical Frameworks, and innovative evaluation methods to suit the needs of your organisation and impact partnerships. The day will be divided into two parts:
Morning: Impact theory, key models and concepts.
Afternoon: Hands-on activities, applying the learned frameworks to real-world examples, with group discussions and peer feedback.
By the end of the workshop, you will have gained a clear understanding of what “impact” means in a project management context and have a set of practical tools to plan and evaluate the impact of your work effectively.
Trainer: Verity Buckley
Verity Buckley is the Research Impact Lead for the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences at King’s College London. Before joining King’s, she worked in the charity sector, running professional development programmes for charity leaders and researchers, designed to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. She continues to volunteer as a Trustee and as a trainer running impact workshops for Bexley Voluntary Services Council. She specialises in impact monitoring and evaluation, and related project design. Verity is proudly state school educated, has a background in psychology, and is currently training to be a values-led executive coach.
This workshop is brought to you by the Health and Social Equity Collective’s Community Organised Research for Equity (CORE) project. For more details please visit the website. Supported by Impact on Urban Health and King’s College London.
Agenda
Morning Session (Theory) – 10:00 – 12:30
10:00 – 10:30: Welcome and Refreshments
Overview of the day’s objectives, introduction of participants, and setting expectations.
10:30 – 11:00: Overview
The day’s objectives, introduction of participants, and setting expectations.
11:00 – 11:30: Understanding Impact
Defining impact in a different sectors and contexts. What do we mean by impact, and why is it important? How is impact valued and assessed?
11:30 – 12:00: Theory of Change and Logical Frameworks
Introduction to basic models, including Theory of Change and Logical Frameworks. How to use these tools to plan, monitor and evaluate impact effectively.
12:00 – 12:30: Introduction to Evaluation Methods
Overview of evaluation types and approaches, including quantitative, qualitative, and creative methods.
Afternoon Session (Practical Focus) – 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Applying Theory to Practice
Participants work in groups to apply the Theory of Change to their own projects or provided case studies.
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Impact Evaluation
Hands-on session converting theories of change into logical frameworks for evaluation. . Participants will explore different evaluation methods.
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Group Feedback and Reflection
Group discussions and peer feedback on the frameworks and methods applied, followed by a Q&A and reflection on next steps.
3.30pm – 4:00 PM: Networking and refreshments
Takeaways:
By the end of the day, participants will leave with:
- A clear understanding of what impact means for their work.
- Practical knowledge of Theory of Change and Logical Frameworks.
- Familiarity with a range of evaluation methods, including creative approaches.
- Confidence in evaluating and communicating the impact of their projects.