Demonstrating your impact

Projects working within the arts and criminal justice sector need to effectively demonstrate their impact through evaluations and the collecting of evidence. Funders and commissioners are particularly interested in evidence about arts projects and what they achieve. A sound evidence base helps to promote the arts as an essential tool, rather than an ‘add-on.’ Additionally, collecting information helps your organisation to continually improve and innovate in how you meet the needs of service users.

Here are some resources that can support you to demonstrate the effectiveness of your work:

• The Evidence Library
  Founded by the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance in 2012, the Evidence Library houses the key research and evaluation documents on the impact of arts-based projects, programmes and interventions within the criminal justice system.
• Clinks’ Improving Your Evidence resource
  This section of Clinks’ website includes all of the materials that were developed for its Improving Your Evidence project. This was run in collaboration with New Philanthropy Capital, and will provide you with what you need to develop an effective evaluation strategy.
• The Ministry of Justice’s Justice Data Lab
  The Justice Data Lab enables organisations working with prisoners to access central re-offending data. It provides vital information to help you assess the impact your work has on reducing reoffending rates.

We published Demonstrating the value of arts in Criminal Justice in 2011, in collaboration with the Charities Evaluation Services. The resource provides practical tips to help you develop methods of capturing and demonstrating achievements, including how to analyse, interpret and use data.