Client Testimonial

/in , , /by

What It’s Like to Work With Us – In Our Clients’ Words

At The Evaluator, we don’t just deliver data – we build partnerships. Our job is to help projects understand their impact, improve what they do, and feel confident that they’re on the right track. But it’s not just what we do – it’s how we do it that matters most to us.

That’s why we were so delighted to receive this kind feedback from Lindsey West, Head of Finance and Operations at a recent client organisation:

“Working with the team at The Evaluator is a real pleasure; they guide us through the process of monitoring, data collection and evaluation and present the information back to us in a really useful format that’s easy to understand and engaging. Using the work from The Evaluator we are able to shape our current and future programmes of work in order that we have the greatest impact with our funds. I would highly recommend organisations to work with them.”
— Lindsey West ACMA CGMA, Head of Finance and Operations

Helping funders and delivery teams use evaluation not just for accountability, but as a genuine planning tool, is what we’re all about. We’re here to make the process less daunting, more meaningful – and yes, even enjoyable.

If you’d like to chat about how we could support your work, we’d love to hear from you.

Our Beliefs

/in /by

Our Manifesto: What We Believe at The Evaluator

At The Evaluator, we’re not just about spreadsheets and surveys – we’re about helping people and projects to shine.
We believe in the power of good data, honest conversations, and brave decisions.
Whether we’re working with a grassroots community group or a national funder, these are the values we carry with us every step of the way:

  1. Everyone deserves a voice.
    No exceptions. From project participants to staff and volunteers, we believe everyone should have the chance to share their views and be genuinely heard.
  2. Everyone deserves a place at a publicly funded table.
    If public money is being spent, the process – and the benefits – should be inclusive. That means making space for people who don’t usually get invited in.
  3. Data can help teams to avoid unconscious bias.
    Gut feeling is powerful. But so is evidence. Good data can reveal what’s really happening – not just what we think is happening.
  4. Data collected should be used.
    It’s heartbreaking how many forms get filled in and then forgotten. We’re here to make sure data is used, useful, and feeds back into the work.
  5. Data needs to be honest to be believed.
    Polished success stories are nice, but if they’re too shiny, people stop trusting them. We champion honesty – even when it’s messy.
  6. If you can’t explain something simply, you don’t understand it enough – yet.
    We love clarity. If something’s confusing, we dig until it makes sense. Because simplicity isn’t dumbing down – it’s smartening up.
  7. Doing what you say you will is the secret to success.
    Reliability builds trust. Whether it’s a community promise or a funder’s deliverable, follow-through is everything.
  8. Understanding what works is vital – and how we all improve over time.
    Evaluation isn’t just about proving success. It’s about learning, growing, and doing even better next time.
  9. Sometimes we need to be brave and admit what isn’t working.
    That’s not failure – it’s progress. Some of the best ideas start with someone saying: “This bit’s not quite right yet…”
  10. The Evaluator is great to work with!
    We take our work seriously – but not ourselves. We’re friendly, flexible, and we believe evaluation should feel helpful, not heavy.

Meet the Team – Kirsty

/in , /by

Meet Kirsty – The Evaluator’s Big Picture Thinker, Data Detective, and All-Round Fixer

If you’ve ever worked with The Evaluator, chances are you’ve come across our founder and director, Kirsty Rose Parker. And if you haven’t yet – here’s your chance to get to know the woman who makes data dance, who turns tricky problems into elegant solutions, and who’s been quietly transforming how projects understand and show their impact for over 25 years.

Kirsty set up The Evaluator in 2017, but she brought with her a big suitcase of skills: from project management and evaluation, to communication, strategy, and storytelling with numbers. With an MA in Economics from the University of Edinburgh, she’s as comfortable building social return models as she is running a creative workshop – and she’s especially passionate about making sure that data is actually useful, not just gathered for the sake of it. Over the years, she’s worked across the arts, charities, public sector, and health, bringing insight and structure to projects that range from cultural hubs and climate programmes to dementia support and wellbeing initiatives.

Before founding The Evaluator, Kirsty led some huge transformation projects. As Arts Development Manager, she grew a tiny department with a shoestring budget into a thriving, multi-strand team delivering large-scale events, mental health programmes, and town centre regeneration projects. As ACE Centre Manager, she helped launch a major cultural venue from the ground up – recruiting staff, shaping the building, designing business plans, and opening the doors to over 80,000 visitors in the first year. She’s worked with councils, creatives, health commissioners and community groups alike – and has always brought the same energy: curious, kind, clever, and committed to making things better.

As a qualified Social Return on Investment analyst, Kirsty also knows how to pin down value where it counts. Her approach is never just about ticking boxes – it’s about genuinely figuring out what’s working, what’s changing, and why it matters. She’s endlessly creative, loves a good negotiation, and has a knack for spotting opportunities that others might miss. She’s also a friendly face, brilliant with project participants, and passionate about making evaluation simple, meaningful, and even (dare we say it) enjoyable.

At heart, Kirsty believes that everyone – from grassroots volunteers to senior stakeholders – deserves to see the impact of their work clearly. And she’s built The Evaluator around that belief. If you ask her what she does, she’ll say, “We figure it out for you.” And that’s exactly what she does.

New Client: Denton Reserve

/in , /by

Digging Deep at Denton Reserve – A Tale of Two Evaluations

Nestled in the heart of nature, Denton Reserve is aiming high. As part of Natural England’s Landscape Recovery initiative, the team is not just restoring land—they’re building a vision for long-term change. From regenerative farming to rewilding waterways, and from citizen science to green prescribing, this project is all about making nature’s recovery real, measurable, and meaningful. But with so many moving parts, how do you track what’s working and make sure everyone feels a part of the journey?

That’s where we come in. The Evaluator is supporting Denton Reserve in two ways. First, we’re helping shape a long-term evaluation framework—essentially a roadmap that makes sure all the big ambitions (like boosting biodiversity and public wellbeing) are developed with community voices. We’re bringing an independent eye to stakeholder consultation, making sure the voices of communities, volunteers, and nature-lovers are heard loud and clear as the programme evolves.

The second strand of our work is a fast-turnaround bit of number-wrangling. We’ve got a batch of survey responses in hand, and we’ll be diving into the data to provide quick, clear insights into what’s already happening on the ground. Think charts, key themes, and visual summaries that are easy to share—and even easier to act on. It’s a great example of how combining the big-picture strategy with practical analysis can help a project like Denton Reserve grow with confidence, clarity and connection.

View more about the organisation here: https://dentonreserve.co.uk/

If you have questions or want to explore how The Evaluator can help your organisation drive impact, feel free to get in touch! Email us now on info@theevaluator.co.uk or call 01756 532 538.