Developing a Theory of Change

A Theory of Change is a logical method used to plan how to get to a particular goal that can be used for service development and impact assessment.  The process starts with the goal and works backwards to identify what changes are needed to achieve the goal, creating an outcomes map using evidence from a variety of sources to demonstrate that one step leads to another (or at least should do, you can test these assumptions later!)


Two half day workshops or consultancy


A Theory of Change can:
  • Design a service or a project, ensuring that the activities you want to provide will lead to the goal you are intending.
  • Identify which services or activities are best to achieve the outcomes that you want.
  • Identify where there is a need to work with others to bring in services that you don't provide yourself but are a key part of making changes for clients.
  • Ensure that indicators to measure your performance are focusing on the right things that are needed by clients.
  • Involve a range of stakeholders, including service users, staff, board members and volunteers, funders and decision makers in designing and reviewing your services.
  • Inform evaluation and impact assessment.
  • Provide evidence for funding proposals and tenders to improve the chances of success, many funders specifically ask for a Theory of Change.
This workshop will help you to:
  • Understand what is meant by Theory of Change and how a Theory of Change is constructed.
  • Identify how Theory of Change might be used.
  • Consider how to collect information and consult with stakeholders to feed into a Theory of Change.
  • Practice constructing a real or invented Theory of Change to give you tools and skills to use in the future, including developing the overall goal, outcomes, outcome indicators, and services and activities.
  • Identify how to present your Theory of Change to others.
This course can be adapted to two half day sessions help an organisation to develop a completed Theory of Change for their organisation or a specific project, as it can be helpful to have some time to consider what has been produce in an initial workshop and to refine outcomes before moving onto activity and indicator planning.

In-house cost: £1,399 (two half days including preparation and write up) + trainer’s expenses, or consultancy as agreed according to needs.

Contact Marlen Tallett for more information or to book, or fill in the form below.