Introducing the Community Evaluators
Community Evaluation is a research activity carried out by local people designed to support and enhance the work of the AvenCentral Partnership, encouraging better practice in regeneration.
The purpose of Community Evaluation originated from a need to better engage local communities with the work of regeneration activities and help them understand how effectively activities work.
Why we have Community Evaluation
Community Evaluation provides an opportunity for local people to talk to other local people to gather their stories and contribute to the understanding of what best helps them.
All projects that are supported through the AvenCentral Partnership provide opportunities to the Community Evaluators to work in partnership with them and interview local people about their experiences with projects.
Community Evaluators find out their views, stories, hopes and achievements - finding out from them in their own words how their lives have changed and how their area has improved.
The information that is gathered is fed back to the project enabling them to make changes to their methods, whilst supporting the development of new programmes.
What we do
Community Evaluation responds to the needs of different projects, and typically works as below;
1. Community Evaluators meet monthly and decide what they would like to investigate
2. Arrangements are made by the Evaluation Officer for Community Evaluators to:
- Speak to project beneficiaries
- Interview project workers
- Observe project activities
- Make site visits
3. Review meetings are then held between the Project Manager, Community Evaluators and Evaluation Officer in order to learn from their experiences and highlight:
- The key achievements of the project
- The contribution to regeneration
- Examples of good service delivery
- On-going needs
Feedback is given to the Evaluation Officer that contributes to the understanding of where projects are making a difference to local lives.
Who we are...
Currently, there is an active team of seven Community Evaluators drawn from all corners of the AvenCentral area, including Moor Lane, Avenham, Maudland Bank and Broadgate.
The background of the group is varied, all of whom being interested and committed to the improvement of their areas, and between them they are a diverse group of local residents that take an active part in community life.
Some of our project evaluations include...
Urban Exchange
Interviews with partners and stakeholders of this Young People’s Centre.
Disability Access Grants
Interviews with beneficiaries of this scheme that provided grants to improve the access to community buildings.
Sahara Training & Enterprise
Observations at the training sessions of this project to increase the employment levels of women.
Peer Led Dance
Observations on an ‘evening out’ at this project that provided ‘safer clubbing’ at local pubs and clubs.
Co-operate & Work Together
Interviews with beneficiaries of this project to develop social enterprises.
Business Accord
Interviews with businesses that have received information, advice and have been consulted about local developments.
Harris Library & Museum
Exit surveys for people using the library on Sundays
extended opening hours.
Friargate Brow
Street interviews to find out how perceptions had changed since improvements to the public realm of this retail area.
Related Documents
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For more information contact:
Evaluation Officer: David Gordon
Tel: 01772 901203
Email: da.gordon@preston.gov.uk
