Researchers at the University of Bath will be helping local charity The Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB) to measure the impact of its work, in a new project supported by the Big Lottery Fund.
The project will help the charity to tailor its services to its clients’ needs, as well as proving its value to funders.
Researchers will follow client cases over the period of a year, starting in April 2012, to map the impact of advice given by the CAB on debt, welfare benefits, housing, employment and relationships.
Peter Cressey, from the Department of Social & Policy Sciences, will head the research. He said: “Measuring the social and economic impact of actions aimed at improving the lives of local citizens is complex, and many different methods have been put forward to try to capture it.
“This will be valuable information for the CAB and an exciting opportunity for the University to strengthen its links with local charitable organisations.”
Nick Abercrombie, formerly Chair of Trustees at CAB B&NES and a visiting professor at the University, said: “The CAB will benefit greatly from this research project. Little is known about the long-term impact of our advice on clients or about the value of that impact. Better knowledge in these areas will help the Bureau to plan its services more effectively and to have better informed conversations with funders.”
The project is one of five funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s research programme, coordinated by the South West Forum. They will provide different but complementary perspectives on how voluntary and community sector organisations affect the lives of citizens living in the South West region.
The research team includes Dr Susan Milner from the University’s Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies and research assistant Michelle Farr from the Department of Social & Policy Sciences.