Back at #Anthropy2026.

Funders want robust evidence of impact. But they often won't fund the infrastructure that makes robust evidence possible. Let's talk about that. 🧵

🧵 I built an interactive data dashboard on Love It or List It UK because apparently that's how I spend my time now.

Stuck with unrealistic evaluation asks? DM me. I help charities design evaluations that actually work for their budget and context. #SocialImpact #CharityData #ImpactMeasurement

The best evaluation matches your resources. A well-designed survey beats a badly-executed RCT every time.

Three approaches that work for small-scale programmes: pre/post with validated tools, contribution analysis, or case-based evidence with clear mechanisms.

What funders actually need isn't a control group. They need confidence that change happened AND that your service caused it.

Here's the reality: RCTs cost £50k+ to run properly. Most small charities have evaluation budgets under £5k. The maths doesn't work.

Your funder wants a control group for your 12-person pilot. This is a real conversation I had last week. 🧵

On my way to London to deliver a workshop with an awesome client. I’ve time to kill before my train home though, so if anyone wants to grab a coffee between 2 and 6pm, drop me a message. x

Most Theory of Change diagrams are just fancy to-do lists. There, I said it. 🧵

A dirty secret in the charity sector: most organisations collect loads of data but can't answer the one question funders care about most — "Did it work?" 🧵

More and more charities I work with appear to be questioning whether delivery is still viable at scale 💭 As costs rise, influencing and systems change can feel like a more sustainable route 📉➡️📣 I have written a short piece reflecting on this. Curious if it resonates 🤔

This is super cool (the infographic not the deprivation). ⬇️

Awesome day speaking at the Utilita Giving Conference today. Amazing amounts of energy on display to change the energy sector for the better. Let’s beat #FuelPoverty together. #Charity #ThirdSector #SocialImpact

It’s #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay and too many households are still choosing between heat and essentials ❄️💷 Next Thursday (4th Dec) I’ll be speaking at the 'One Call That’s All' Conference about how data and early intervention can make a real difference 📊🤝 More details about what they are up to here:

Still buzzing from last Tuesday’s #FutureofSocialImpact2025 Summit. I was incredibly lucky to be joined by some phenomenal guests to present on creating #MeasurementFrameworks that get used and #Data essentials for #SocialImpact. See you all again next year!

Happy UK Budget Day. May your predictions be accurate and your surprises be mild 🤞📊💷 #BudgetDay #Budget2025 #UKEconomy #PolicyWatch

Annual trip to the #YouthMattersAwards With the #YMCA. Always an honour to attend. #SocialImpact #LiveData

Worth a quick read if you’re into your data or charity leader: Blog: Making Sense of Change - How Small Charities Can Use IMD 2025 to Target and Tell Their Impact: theimpactlab.co.uk/press/blogs/...

Checked the postcode for Buckingham Palace on my new IMD2025.co.uk site Apparently, the neighbours could use a little “levelling up.” See how your area’s deprivation scores have changed between 2019 and 2025. 👑📉#IMD20252#DataForGoodo#LevellingUpU#UKDatat#OpenDatat#Mappingng

🇦🇺 A 14-year, 25k strong study found that hopeful adults had higher wellbeing, better health, stronger employment & faster recovery after shocks. 🌱 #Hope as measurable, predictive & essential for understanding #SocialImpact. 📈 #Wellbeing #Charity #Evaluation #Reporting #Impact

🚨 Big change for UK charities! SORP 2026 makes impact reporting part of the Trustees’ Report. You’ll need to show who you reached, what changed, and how you know. Get ready with our quick guide 👇 #SORP2026 #Charity #ImpactReporting

After a long day of building, it’s live! 🎉 imd2025.co.uk gives you free tools to explore the English Indices of Deprivation 2025 — maps, lookups & insights for #researchers and small #charities tackling inequality. #IMD2025 #SocialImpact #DataForGood

ITS OPEN SOURE DATA CHRISTMAS! www.gov.uk/government/s...

🧵 One of my favourite ideas: The Helsinki Bus Station Theory. It’s about creativity, originality, and the courage to stay on the bus — and it has everything to do with creating lasting social impact. #SocialImpact #Creativity 1/10

Question for the Researchers and Data folks: Should companies be allowed to paywall ONS data (and not share the core results) despite access being granted on condition of 'benefiting the public?' 📊

Buzzing to be leading a couple of breakouts at The Future of Social Impact 🙌 ⚡ How to design impact frameworks that actually get used ⚡ Data essentials for social impact 📅 Tues 18 Nov 🎟️ Tickets almost gone (<30 left) 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-future...

I’m speaking at the @dsc-charity.bsky.social #GrantsUnlocked2025 conference this Thursday 🎤🚀 I’ll be sharing how to measure & report impact in ways people actually care about. Cool tools + practical tips for charities 🙌 👉 dsc.org.uk/event/grants-unlocked-2025

I am speaking at the next @dsc-charity.bsky.social online conference on 'Measuring and Reporting Impact'. I'm going to try and make it as practical as possible so people walk away with some actionable insights. Pre-questions also welcome! Details here: www.dsc.org.uk/event/grants...

I’m currently looking for a panel member for a session I’m hosting at our conference on the 18th November. I’m looking for an org that actively uses its impact framework as their North Star. If you are or know someone, give me a shout!

👋 Charity friends 👋 One of the top GDPR questions I get is "Can we collect postcodes?" The answer: sometimes ✅ sometimes ⚠️ And the risks are bigger than most people think (especially in rural areas)

🧵Impact Report Best Practices ⬇️ Just finished reading the latest @dofe.org Impact Report and their Technical Report, and wow, the level of transparency and rigour in their measurement framework is impressive. 📊👏 https://impctlab.uk/DoEImpactReport https://impctlab.uk/DoETechnicalReport (1/7)

🚨📊 The English #IndicesOfDeprivation2025 will be released in Oct/Nov this year. This is huge! 🔥 #IMD underpins funding decisions, #research, #policy targeting, and #impact #measurement across England. If you use #postcode #data, map #disadvantage, or care about place-based work, get ready. 🗺️

🧵 I was a panelist at the #Charity #AI #Conference yesterday, hosted by the ‪@dsc-charity.bsky.social‬. One recurring question: What’s the true environmental cost of all this AI? ⚡️ (1/7)

🧠✨ I'm speaking at the #Charity #AI #Conference today, diving into what AI really means for the sector. Not the hype. Not the doom but the real, messy, hopeful reality of what AI can actually do for charities. ✅ Faster reporting ✅ Smarter insights ⚠️ But also bias, bad data, and a big access gap

🧵Is #Bluesky dead? ☠️ 🧵 Not technically but something’s shifted. The early energy, ideas, curiosity seem to have faded. Let’s talk about it 👇 (1/6)

🧵Why are researchers complaining about the Labour Force Survey (LFS)? Because it's (currently) not doing what it's meant to do: reliably tell us what’s going on in the UK labour market. A quick breakdown ⬇️ (1/8)

The tails and nails of #impact measurement: A blog on what gets measured gets managed: www.linkedin.com/posts/trust-...

#SomebodyFeedPhil is back for Season 8. Wholesome. ❤️

🧵 Should your charity use Free School Meals as a proxy for deprivation? 🧵 A lot of charities use FSM eligibility to reassure themselves they’re reaching people in need. On paper it works. But in practice, it’s a blunt tool and it might be misleading your analysis. 🧩 (1/8)

The cycle of corporate volunteering: 🔁 Arrive 🎨 Paint a wall ⏭️ Leave 🔁 Next group strips the paint 🎨 Repaints Meanwhile, the charity handles safeguarding, logistics, and admin. Isn’t it time we built support around need, not novelty? (1/5)

An excellent post from Heidi Fisher MBE on why #SocialValue isn’t working the way it should: www.linkedin.com/posts/heidil...

Interestingly enough, the example of social value washing that I mention in the below thread has been quietly unlinked from the charity's main page...

I don’t ask for help very often, so here goes: I currently sit as Chair of Manchester Young Lives, an amazing charity focussed on supporting the children and young people of Greater Manchester to improve their lives through learning and fun.

What if we created a social impact credit system? A bit like carbon credits, but for homelessness, youth unemployment, community mental health, etc? Let companies earn or buy verified, measurable social outcomes. 🎯 Make impact tradeable. (1/8)

Very random request but has anyone got a copy of the Priority Places for Food Index? Turns out data.cdrc.ac.uk is no longer and Leeds University has caught up yet. 😔

Our reflections on #Anthropy24: www.linkedin.com/posts/trust-...

My good friend, mentor, and occasional running partner @matt-sd.bsky.social is writing a book on how to understand, measure, and actually maximise #Social #Impact. It’s going to be a must-read for the sector, so feel free to politely (or persistently) nudge him until it’s out.

I'm bringing back #FreebieFriday! I've talked to over 200 #Charities about their #Monitoring, #Evaluation, #Accountability and #Learning strategies for #SocialImpact I’m back offering time every friday #ProBono. No catches, just book in here: impctlab.uk/freebiefriday Please share!