YWCA

"We were impressed with the speed at which DP Evaluation was able to turn around this very complex evaluation." Natalie O’Toole, Campaign Project Manager, YWCA

With this client we were in it for the long haul. We were involved in setting up the monitoring and carrying out evaluations at key moments over the five year period of YWCA's repositioning programme.

We evaluated the planning and evaluation of the 'Respect Young Mums' Campaign as well as the 'More Than One Rung' Campaign. With the latter we participation in the Campaign Development Group and evaluated the external impact of the campaign.

DP Evaluation developed the internal campaigning guide – conceptualisation, writing and roll out of YWCA's 'Guide to Campaigning' to underpin YWCA's repositioning as a campaigning organisation.

YWCA embarked on its repositioning programme in 1999 when it sold most of its housing stock and became an advocacy and campaigning organisation for young, disadvantaged women. A question we raised as part of our evaluation of the Young Mums Campaign (see above) was, “how will the organisation know when it has repositioned?”

This struck a chord with trustees and directors and dpevaluation was appointed as YWCA's “evaluation partner” to accompany the whole repositioning programme. We devised a framework, worked with directors and trustees to define three descriptors and ca. 30 indicators including 7 key indicators. Subsequently we worked with staff on all levels to put appropriate systems for monitoring in place, so that we can “take the temperature” on an annual basis or at key moments.

The framework was comprehensive and covered areas and audiences such as: media access and coverage, supporters, key decision makers, the general public, staff, young women who are YWCA's beneficiaries and MPs.

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