Community Case Study 1

Wales Council for Voluntary Action - Social Risk Fund, Interim Final Evaluation

Wavehill undertook both the interim and final evaluations of the Social Risk Fund, the WCVA's flagship EU-funded Social Inclusion programme. The Social Risk fund exists to target social excluded individuals and help them gain jobs, access learning opportunities and gain confidence.

The fund's activities are delivered through small voluntary organisations that have an ideal 'reach' into disadvantaged communities. In the interim evaluation Wavehill recommended that the programme changed the way in which it collected information about the progress made by beneficiaries with regard to increased confidence motivation and life skills, as well as qualifications and jobs.

When we were commissioned to undertake the final evaluation three years on, we were able to add to our initial data and further study the impact the fund had made on the people it engaged. We also suggested practical ways in which the programme could move forward into the Convergence and Regional competitiveness Programmes building on its increased focus on harder-edged indicators of progress.

Client: Wales Council for Voluntary Action