User involvement - Page 2 of 3 - NPC

Why we need to do user involvement right
User involvement is in the spotlight, and while participatory and influencing practices are nothing new, they are now making it to the mainstream. But are they being used as well as they could be? Rosie McLeod, Deputy Head of Measurement and Evaluation explores her new research.

Make it count: Why impact matters in user involvement
Involving users in shaping services and strategies is increasingly considered to be both the right and most effective way for the social sector and charities to work. This paper argues for a greater focus in the social sector on what user involvement aims to achieve and evidencing its effectiveness.

4 insights from working with ‘experts by experience’
We talk a lot about the need for charities to involve the intended user when designing services. But we also know that it’s easier said than done. So we decided to have a go at doing. Here are four things we learned from mapping young people's experiences in Camden.


Built with grit (not the snow kind)
Charities and social enterprises need real support with their impact management. Announcing a new co-designed online platform to help with just that, Chair of the Impact Management Programme Sally Higham talks through these tools and celebrates the hard work that went into creating them.

User mapping techniques: A guide for the social sector
This guide outlines how user mapping techniques can be used to better understand people's lived experiences and drive impact.

Our work must be person-led, not systems-led
Our system for supporting people when they become homeless is failing.

Putting people with lived experience in the lead
Darren Murinas, CEO, Expert Citizens - Expert Citizens is a Stoke-based independent group of people who have all experienced multiple needs.

Bridging the gap between charities and their users
Involving users in planning, delivering and evaluating a charity's work can help make services more effective. But it's also a matter of principle, argues Shona Curvers.

User voice: Putting people at the heart of impact practice
This report explains how charities can best harness the views and needs of their beneficiaries in order to improve their impact.

Putting people first, not problems
An asset-based approach is all about focusing on people's strengths, rather than solely on the problems they are facing. Patrick Murray argues that such an approach could help charities have a greater impact. Drawing on direct experience, he shares insights into how charities can make it work for their service users.


Integrating gender into your evaluation
Gender inequality impacts all aspects of work and life, so it is increasingly being viewed as a cross cutting issue in charitable and development work. Shubh Sharma of India-based foundation Dasra talks through how they apply a gender lens to their programme evaluation.


How to ensure your charity is harnessing people power
With Volunteers' Week now behind us we've a whole year to think about whether the sector is doing the best it can to tap into and harness people power. Here we look at the different reasons people volunteer, and how charities can appeal to more people to give their time.