The difference you make: SLC's snapshot evaluation survey

Please note: this post is 113 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

Since we started South London Cares in August 2014, over 300 young professional volunteers have actively been part of the community network, hanging out with and helping 586 older neighbours in Southwark and Lambeth, with many more signed up and ready to join us in 2016.

Each of those people has shared time, laughter, companionship and new experiences with their neighbours, through 230 social clubs and a total of 12,261 interactions.

It's the energy, openness, commitment and personality of all the people who take part that make this network special, and whether you hang out with a neighbour at home every week, join a social club once a month, or fundraise for South London Cares, we're so grateful for your wonderful contribution.

As we've built this network over the past 15 months we've relied on the evidence base of partner organisations to demonstrate the value of those regular interactions, in particular from our sister charity North London Cares.

But now, thanks to the work of social researcher Chris Clarke, we're able to show the value of South London Cares' own community network, with the publication of our first snapshot evaluation report.

This evaluation was based on a very small sample of people.* It is only the first element of a much wider evaluation process we are going through, the results of which will be published in 2016.

But as a guide for how our activities are progressing and the meaning they bring to the neighbours who are part of them, we're really encouraged by the results. Specifically we have learned that:

• Three quarters of the older neighbours we work with live alone;
• 67% say being part of South London Cares is their only form of social activity;
• 81% say that the company and companionship of young people is part of what they enjoy about South London Cares;

• 90% say they feel 'more in touch' as a result of their participation with South London Cares;
• 90% say they feel more at ease with modern life;
• 86% say they feel more connected to young people;

• 76% say they are less isolated as a result of joining South London Cares' activities;
• 81% feel specifically 'less lonely';

And the impact on volunteers is striking too.

• 84% say their motivation for being involved is to connect with older people;
• 79% feel more in touch with the wider world as a result of their participation with South London Cares;
• 53% of volunteers say being involved directly improves their own moods.

These statistics are really important for demonstrating that our model works, but we're always doubly happy to hear, first hand, the stories and snippets that show not just that South London Cares matters, but also how. So it's wonderful to hear, from people like Jacquie, for example, quotes such as, “I must say this organisation has changed my life and has given me a purpose as I was in a very isolated place. Thanks for everything you do.”

There are plenty more stats and stories about South London Cares' outputs and outcomes in the short snapshot evaluation report, below. Please do read it and share it with friends and colleagues. And as we learn from and build on this evaluation in 2016 we'd like to thank everyone again for everything you. See you in the new year!

* NB 21 older neighbours and 19 volunteers were surveyed for this evaluation. While the sample is therefore very small, data are stated as percentages for clarity and ease of comparison.