The Difference The Digbeth Trust Makes
Case Studies - Examples of our capacity building in action:
The Trust has produced a series of case studies which demonstrate the impact of our work with voluntary and community organisations. Please see our Publications and Resources page for the full list.
In 2002 The Digbeth Trust first provided support to Cycle Chain. Cycle Chain is a social enterprise that uses the bicycle and its related products and services to improve health, social welfare and the environment.
Initially The Digbeth Trust provided feasibility study finance and later awarded them a capital grant.
Cycle Chain now repairs and renovates bicycles and sells them through their cycle shop.
Through this process Cycle Chain supports the provision of training and work experience opportunities to people who have a visual impairment, a mental illness, or other disability.
"The Digbeth Trust's role has been significant in our development since Cycle Chain's inception. The Digbeth Trust's ongoing support has been immensley valuable to our business, our partners and, most importantly, our clients." - Andy Elder, Cycle Chain
To download a full copy of the case study, click here.
Impact Assessment - Small grants do benefit the sector:
The Digbeth Trust has distributed more than £1.6m in small grants in the last 21 years - helping voluntary and community groups to buy in professional and technical skills and expertise or to carry out a wide range of projects (such as health promotion, women's safety and education/training work supporting community economic regeneration).
In 2006 one of our funders (Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust) commissioned an independent evaluation of the grant programmes we manage on their behalf. The report - "Opening the Door" found that these programmes:
- were a cost-effective means of enhancing marginalised communities' access to health information and services;
- highlighted additional support needs within marginalised communities;
- increased the capacity of individuals and groups to engage with mainstream health services;
- benefitted 2,070 individuals;
- enhanced the quality and range of health services;
- helped the PCT to develop more transparent relationships with voluntary and community groups.
Periodic Reviews of The Trust's Work:
About every 4 years the Trust commissions an external evaluation of the support we have provided to voluntary and community groups. The next review will be commissioned in early 2008 covering the period 2004-2007.
Third Sector Services carried out an independent evaluation of the Trust’s work, surveying 150 groups with over half replying. [Alun Severn, Nov 2004, A Review of Digbeth Trust’s Activities 2001-04].
The Review found that:
92% of groups replying confirmed that, because of the Trust’s support, they were able to buy in the skills and expertise which they could not otherwise afford
81% now have a clear understanding of their circumstances and needs because of the support provided
78% significant improvement in their organisation’s skills, capacity and confidence
69% made a permanent improvement
54% helped them improve services to clients
27 groups went on to raise nearly £2million additional funds from elsewhere following the Trust’s grant- aided support. The Trust has separate evidence that this figure may be as much as £3.5million.
The benefits from the Trust’s work are felt most by the very people who need support most; groups that are mainly:
- led by people from ethnic minority backgrounds
- small (less than £60k turnover and less than 3 paid staff)
- unincorporated associations
- volunteer-led groups that lack internal capacity
- unable to access funders or technical aid providers
- have generally had little support
- involved in the direct provision of community-based services health and social welfare, advice, neighbourhood services, recreation and education
The findings show that small grants worked for VCOs, while at the same time contributed to the policy outputs that of regeneration programmes.
If you want to talk about the issues raised here, including more details about the impact survey, please contact the Digbeth Trust.