About BIG's Research and learning
Research and learning allow us to understand the impact of our funding, and helps us to improve the quality and effectiveness of our programmes
We see evaluation as a key way of making ourselves accountable and contributing to learning that improves practice and influences policy. We use a variety of approaches to explore the impact of our funding, including:
- evaluating progress against our high-level themes and outcomes
- exploring common themes or patterns across a number of programmes
- evaluating our own funding processes
- supporting project self-evaluation.
Current and potential grant-holders
If you are a current or potential grant-holder, you may be interested in evaluations of similar programmes. Our evaluations often identify issues of concern to funded projects and highlight examples of good practice. Use the publication search to find relevant evaluations.
Some findings from our research are captured in practical guidance, including:
Working in partnership: a sourcebook This sourcebook was developed to encourage organisations and groups to work in partnership and to help them to do so effectively. - 378KB- Engaging young people in evaluation and consultation A report investigating how young people can most effectively be engaged in evaluation and consultation. - 175KB
- Questionnaires for monitoring and tracking young people This fact sheet provides further guidance to that in 'Explaining the difference your project makes' available on our website. - 104KB
Funders and policy-makers
If you are developing policy or funding programmes, you might be interested in evaluations and research reports that position our work within a larger policy context or that explore the experiences of the groups that we fund. Use the publications search to find relevant reports.
Evaluators
Our evaluations are contracted to external organisations to ensure that they are objective and are undertaken by people with specialised skills and knowledge. See our Tenders page for current opportunities.
Please note that the Big Lottery Fund also funds social and medical research through a separate Research programme
Download our Research and Learning Strategy 2009-15
- 1,672KB for more information about our approach.
BIG advice line 0845 4 10 20 30
