Outcomes & reporting

The theory of change behind SCF grant giving is simple:

  1. Inputs Sheila Coates Foundation funding
  2. Outputs Your project opportunities for young people with autism
  3. Outcomes Short Term Staff more skilled / Young people with better emotional, social, learning skills
  4. Impact Long-term Outcomes Improved mental health / Successful education / Positive transactions

SCF grants will provide opportunities for young people with autism to improve their skills. We ask all SCF applicants to identify up to three measurable outcomes. Each project will have different outcomes which will ultimately impact on improved learning and/or mental health over time.

"The groups really helped him to ask appropriate questions – he joins in lessons so much more now."

Teacher, Secondary Academy

Reporting

SCF projects are asked to report on how they are doing against the agreed outcomes using a simple progress report template. The reporting schedule agreed will depend on the size of grant, but we’ll need a progress report before we can release instalments of the grant.

We don’t want grantees to spend lots of time reporting but we do want to know how things are going. SCF has a strong commitment to measuring impact, and we look for ways the impact can be brought alive through numbers, but also stories which help us get a feel for the difference a project has made for young people.

When projects end, grantees are asked to write an end of project impact report. This will focus on the agreed outcomes and will use our final report guidance. There are clear report headings and guidance but the format is flexible. We are interested in seeing innovative ways of reporting, involving young people as much as possible.

All reports are submitted online through the same system as our application process.