Finding and using good quality local evidence is essential for improving the effectiveness of funded activity across the region. As requests for funds becomes increasingly competitive, the need to more specifically demonstrate to funders how funds will be, or are being used to good effect is now more important than ever. The following guidance provides some initial sources of support for funders and funding advisers to improve the effectiveness of their work.

Evidence is essential for identifying and targeting funds to deal more effectively with the issues they are intended to. From a funder's perspective, good quality evidence is essential for making informed funding policy and allocation decisions. From a funding advisers perspective, providing more specific and reliable evidence helps strengthen the case for funds at bidding stage. Better collection and use of evidence for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating funded activity is essential for more effective delivery and demonstrating the impact of funded activity (providing a stronger basis for continued funding).

Evidence helps to:

When making decisions we often have to answer important questions such as 'Who is it we are trying to help?' ' What are we trying to achieve?' 'Where should we focus our help?' ' When is the best time to do it?' 'How do we best do it? and, 'Why should we do it one way rather than another?'

Evidence provides us with answers to these questions and is therefore essential for making good decisions. Evidence can be data, information, knowledge or understanding. Data when organised into meaningful Information can provide us with answers to "who", "what", "where", and "when" questions. Knowledge applies this data and information to answer the "how" questions and Understanding enables an appreciation of "why".

For further explanation of what we mean by ‘evidence’ see: What do we mean by evidence?

There are an increasing number of sources of supporting evidence becoming available. Links to many of these sources are listed in the Resources pages of the SELD website.

When deciding on the best way to use evidence effectively, it can often help to learn from what others have done in the past. See the Evidence Case Studies pages on the SELD website for details of locating useful examples you can copy and learn from. For more specific guidance on the use of evidence in the evaluation process, the SELD Evaluation Resource Guide offers a simple introduction to some useful resources to help you plan and manage evaluation more effectively.

An excellent first point of contact when searching for evidence to support your work is your Local Intelligence Network (LIN) coordinator. There are seven local intelligence networks covering the south west region all of who have websites and can provide advice and guidance by phone or email. We strongly suggest you make contact with the LIN covering your area. Details of the LINs websites and their contact details can be found here.

For further assistance with any of the issues featured in this article, such as finding and using evidence, social research methods or other aspects relating to the use of local evidence to support you work, contact us here at SELD.