Cash-First Programme: interim evaluation - updated

In what ways has partnership working between different organisations been facilitated?

How were interventions decided on?

How were resources and responsibilities allocated/divided?

Do Partnerships have the resources and information they need to deliver cash-first solutions? How has this changed over the life of the project?

What are the differences in delivery approach between different areas?

To what extent does local context affect delivery?

To what extent, and how, have people with direct experience of food insecurity been involved in the development and delivery of activities?

How has the Learning Partner contributed to the development and delivery of activities?

Do all partners understand and agree with the aims of the Programme?

Do wider stakeholders support the activities delivered? (this might include people and organisations who are not core Partnership members, but have an interest – for example, professionals who refer people to food banks or other third sector food aid providers)

What groups, or people, have activities been designed to target, and how was this decided?

What measures have been taken to reach groups of people for whom there may be barriers to accessing support?

Did the activities succeed in reaching those targeted? What were the barriers/enablers encountered?

To what extent do Partnerships use data and evidence to inform their cash-first activities?

Are there appropriate monitoring and evaluation processes in place, and how have data sources and measurement methods been determined?

What cash-first initiatives are being developed or improved as part of the Programme?

What are the strengths and limitations of different cash-first initiatives?

What new or improved processes have been implemented? For example – processes for involving those with direct experience, or processes that enable partnership working?

What resources have been produced to enable learning across the Programme?

What effect has the Programme had on ways of working between partners?

To what extent has the work of the Learning Partner informed approaches to partnership working?

What are the long-term prospects for relationships between partners?

To what extent has the Programme improved access to cash-first responses?

To what extent have people taken up cash-first responses? (Are there factors that inhibit take-up?)

To what extent have people taken up wider support (e.g. money advice or employment services)?

To what extent have these activities impacted on food bank referrals?

To what extent have outcomes varied for different groups of people and why?

To what extent are people satisfied with the support they have received? (greater dignity, increased choice etc.)

Are there other wellbeing benefits that can be attributed to the provision of cash-first support?

To what extent were the activities appropriately designed?

Is there evidence that the activities increased the food security of those supported?

Can the actions undertaken as part of the Programme be sustained beyond the timeframe of the Programme?

Can the outcomes be sustained in the longer-term?

Were there any unintended consequences (positive or negative)?