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Listening to Grantees

29/1/2019

We want to give the best possible service to those who apply to us for grants. To check how we are doing we commissioned DJS Research to investigate. They carried out 100 telephone surveys in October/November 2018 and in January 2019 we received the anonymised results.

The full report can be viewed here.

The results were overwhelmingly positive and have identified things we want to improve on.

Only 8% found the application form quite hard or very hard to use
Only 4% found the guidance notes not very clear or not clear at all
97% of organisations and 81% of individuals believed that we asked for a reasonable amount of information to support their application
97% of grantees received their grants promptly
92% of grantees felt that the amount of post-grant monitoring information required was reasonable
Most grantees felt the level of contact they had from the Grants Team was ‘about right’ (organisations - 91%; individuals – 88%)

We’re delighted with the findings. Still, we want to make things better. We plan to:

Simplify processes for individual applicants who are existing grantees by reducing our information requirements. We are looking at a multi-year model for grants to new university students and we shall try to reduce the questions we ask.
Improve the level of contact we have with individual grantees. We plan annual contact to see how things are going. We’ll also expand the way in which we explain those occasions when we cannot make a grant.
Make our information clearer. We’ve already begun planning changes to content on our website and in the online application form for individual grantees

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Impact of Universal Credit in Lambeth and Southwark - New Research

28/1/2019

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Advising Communities carried out research on the impact of full roll-out of Universal Credit in Lambeth and Southwark. This research involved interviews and surveys with 143 claimants and 72 local agencies affected by the introduction of UC. This was enabled through joint funding by United St Saviours Charity and Walcot Foundation.

The research concludes that:

Significant numbers of UC claimants are struggling. The complexities and administrative challenges of the new system are leading to widespread emotional and financial stress, with vulnerable groups particularly affected.
The impact on the voluntary sector is huge. Claimants are turning to the already stretched local voluntary sector agencies for support and advice.
Personal, holistic and properly resourced support for claimants, that takes into account needs such as language and IT capabilities, is critical if Universal Credit has any chance of success.

This Research was launched on 23 January at a Roundtable event which involved Lambeth and Southwark Councillors and staff, funders, local advice agencies and Neil Coyle MP (and member of the Parliamentary Work and Pensions Committee). This research was submitted to that Committee as part of its ongoing review of UC.
Downloads:

Executive Summary
Full Report

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Listening to Grantees

Impact of Universal Credit in Lambeth and Southwark - New Research

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