Measuring "Distance Travelled" in the context of charities refers to a measurement approach that focuses on tracking the impact and progress made by individuals or communities over a specific period. While it is not a universal metric used by all charities, it has increased in popularity for several reasons:

1. Outcome-focused evaluation:

Distance Travelled is a way to assess the actual outcomes achieved by beneficiaries or participants of charitable programs. It goes beyond simply measuring the number of activities you provide or your attendance levels, and instead looks at whether there have been positive changes over time in the areas that matter to the people you serve. For example, has someone’s wellbeing changed over time, and if so, by how much and how many people in your programme experienced an improvement in their wellbeing? By measuring the extent of change or progress experienced by individuals, charities can determine the effectiveness of their interventions and make data-driven decisions about future programming.

2. Holistic measurement:

Distance Travelled aims to capture a broader picture of impact by considering multiple dimensions of change. It can include various aspects, such as changes in knowledge, skills, behavior, social connections, well-being, and quality of life. By measuring multiple dimensions, charities can assess the overall development and transformation of individuals or communities.

3. Long-term impact assessment:

Charities are increasingly recognizing the need to understand the long-term effects of their interventions. Distance Travelled provides a way to track progress over an extended period, allowing charities to assess the sustained impact beyond immediate outcomes. This long-term perspective helps identify areas where ongoing support or additional interventions may be required.

4. Accountability and transparency:

Donors, supporters, and stakeholders are becoming more interested in understanding the impact of their contributions to charities. By measuring Distance Travelled, charities can provide evidence-based reports that demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs and services. This transparency enhances trust and confidence in an organisation's work.

5. Learning and improvement:

Measuring Distance Travelled encourages charities to focus on continuous learning and improvement. By collecting data on the progress made by beneficiaries, organizations can quickly spot what’s working and identify where improvement is needed. This information can be used to provide additional support to an individual or cohort that isn’t showing improvement or refine the entire programme’s design if the information shows that many beneficiaries are struggling to achieve the progress you hope for.

Distance Travelled is one of many evaluation approaches used by charities. Different organisations prioritise different measurement approaches based on their specific goals and contexts. If you work in an environment where it’s feasible to check-in with someone at the start and end of an intervention, Distance Travelled will work. However if you don’t have sustained contact with people over time or if asking certain questions early on would have a negative effect on your ability to build trust and help them, then alternative evaluation methods could be more suitable. If you’re unsure which approach would work best for you, feel free to jump into one of our Free Impact Surgeries.

You can measure Distance Travelled and a variety of other things on the Makerble Impact CRM. If you’d like to find out more ways to measure your impact, join our newsletter.