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Blogs

What's in a word? Unpacking impact terminology

5 September 2019

This blog is co-authored by Bethia McNeil, our Chief Executive, and Mary McKaskill, our Practice Development Manager. In it, they explore terminology used across the charity sector lexicon and share some reflections on the Centre’s approach to ‘impact terminology​.

Building the foundations of a data literate youth sector: what we’ve learnt so far from the Youth Investment Fund (YIF) Learning Project

7 August 2019

This blog was written by Sarah Williams, Research and Learning Officer at the Centre. As we enter the third and final year of the Youth Investment Fund (YIF), this blog reflects on what we have learnt about the collection and management of impact data, and how these lessons can be applied across the youth sector.

Economic Value(s)

10 July 2019

This blog is co-authored by Bethia McNeil, our Chief Executive, and Ed Anderton, our Acting Director of Practice Development. In it, they share some reflections about the use of cost-benefit analysis in the youth sector, with reference to programmes such as the National Citizen Service, and the Youth Investment Fund.

Why proof is not enough

3 April 2019

This blog was written by The Centre’s first Chair, Thomas Lawson, who stood down last month in order to focus on his new role as CEO at Turn2Us, part of the critical fight against poverty in the UK today. In it, Tom shares his reflections on the need for a culture of practice that focuses on learning how to make continual improvements to our work.

Evaluation as a Pedagogy of Discomfort

6 February 2019

In this blog, Sydney Church (the Centre’s Research and Learning Officer), focuses on the concept of a ‘pedagogy of discomfort’ to explore how disruptive feelings and emotions can offer valuable insight into evaluation across the youth sector.

Five ways to start revealing the power dynamics in how you learn

22 January 2019

At their Annual Gathering in September, The Centre for Youth Impact hosted a workshop on “Equality and Equity in Evaluation: Applying an Identity Lens”. During a morning and afternoon session, we listened to writer, cultural producer and an award-winning arts educator, Farzana Khan; researcher Julie Temperley; and educational researcher and consultant Nusrat Faizullah discuss and explore their perspectives on the topic.

Power, Impact and Accountability - Moving Beyond Certainty

22 November 2018

At the Gathering 2018 Rashid Iqbal, CEO of The Winch, spoke as part of a panel titled 'Reframing power, impact and change: the role of quality, voice and collective action'.

Longitudinal perspective on the impact of youth provision: easier said than done?

7 November 2018

The Centre for Youth Impact recently hosted its fourth annual Gathering, and a clear theme that resonated throughout the conference was the need to invest in and improve longitudinal research in the youth sector.

On Evidence and On Motivation

7 November 2018

At the Gathering 2018 Aston Wood, Youth Development Manager at St Mary’s, responded to Polly Neate’s opening keynote address. This blog captures some of Aston’s response.

Reflections on the Gathering 2018

11 October 2018

In this blog, Bethia McNeil, CEO at the Centre for Youth Impact, shares her reflections on our annual conference. This year's conference explored the relationship between impact, power and change.

Evidence is power?

11 October 2018

This blog was written by Polly Neate, CEO at Shelter. Polly delivered the opening keynote address at the Gathering 2018, which explored the role of power, impact and change in the UK youth sector.

Building trust and sharing power: two foundational levers to system change

10 October 2018

This blog was written by Mariyam Farooq, Senior Advisor – Programme, Impact and Evaluation at Black Thrive. Mariyam was part of a panel at the Gathering 2018 titled 'Reframing power, impact and change: the role of quality, voice and collective action' and this blog provides a shortened version of her contribution.