Evaluating the Impact of Casework Support in a Changing Community

In the heart of one of London’s most diverse and creative boroughs, Hackney Foodbank has built a lifeline that not only meets immediate need but helps people tackle the deeper issues behind food insecurity.

From Crisis to Confidence

For over a decade, Hackney Foodbank has supported local residents in crisis. Demand has risen sharply in recent years, and many people are returning because the root causes of poverty remain unresolved.

The Casework Service was developed in response — a personalised, wrap-around model helping people navigate housing, benefits, debt, and employment systems.

What We’ll Be Doing

Our evaluation will combine data with human stories to show both the scale and depth of change.

• Analysing quantitative data to identify patterns, trends, and outcomes across different groups.
• Gathering qualitative insight through interviews and focus groups with service users, volunteers, and partners.
• Using our MAQ and MANQ systems to integrate lived experience with measurable evidence — balancing head and heart.
• Co-creating a practical evaluation toolkit for long-term monitoring that is simple, credible, and funder-ready.

Why It Matters

The Casework Service is more than crisis response; it is a bridge to stability.

• Reduce dependency on foodbanks and emergency provision.
• Address root causes of poverty rather than symptoms.
• Demonstrate economic and social value to funders and policymakers.
• Celebrate compassion and resilience across the community.

Listening, Learning, and Amplifying Voices

We’ll take a trauma-informed, person-centred approach — listening deeply and presenting findings that are honest and hopeful.

By combining numbers and narratives, we’ll show the ripple effects of support: improved wellbeing, reduced isolation, and renewed confidence.