This informal CPD article, ‘How Research Skills Empower Community Organisations to Engage Effectively and Log Impact with Confidence’, was provided by Kingfisher Commons, a research consultancy and community academy who ignite community spirit and connectedness through courses, masterminds, consultancy and a dedicated network.
In today’s fast-paced and outcomes-driven environment, community organisations are under increasing pressure to demonstrate the value of their work. Whether applying for funding, planning services, or communicating with stakeholders, these organisations are expected to show not only what they do, but why it matters. Strong research skills are the foundation for doing just that.
From engaging the right people in the right way to logging the impact of their work, research is no longer a ‘nice to have.’ It’s a critical tool for charities, community groups, and social enterprises that want to be people-led and evidence-based.
Understanding Your Community: Research as a First Step
At its core, research helps us better understand the people we aim to serve. It allows community organisations to ask the right questions, collect relevant data, and interpret what the community is really saying.
Using tools like surveys, focus groups, and interviews, organisations can gain rich insights into what matters most to their stakeholders. This includes both service users and partners, as well as the wider community. When used well, research is not just about collecting statistics, it’s about hearing voices that may otherwise go unheard.
This is particularly important for inclusion and equity. Ethical and inclusive research practices, such as gaining informed consent, respecting confidentiality, and ensuring accessibility, help organisations build trust with participants and create opportunities for meaningful engagement, not just token consultation.
From Engagement to Co-Design
Research is also a vital component in moving from engagement to co-design. By analysing stakeholder needs, priorities, and experiences, organisations can develop services with, not just for, their communities.
This people-led approach leads to better outcomes and stronger relationships. Community members feel heard, valued, and involved in shaping the work. This, in turn, leads to higher levels of ownership, participation, and satisfaction with the services provided.
Stakeholder mapping and analysis tools, alongside a well-constructed Theory of Change, can guide organisations in understanding who to involve, how, and at what stage. These tools provide structure and clarity to complex community dynamics.
Logging and Evaluating Impact
Once engagement strategies and programmes are in place, organisations need to know if they’re making a difference — and that’s where monitoring and evaluation (M&E) comes in.
Good M&E starts with choosing the right indicators, which are the measurable signs that help you track progress and outcomes. These could be anything from the number of people reached, to shifts in confidence, skills, or community cohesion.
Equipped with the right research skills, organisations can design effective data collection tools, from simple feedback forms to more in-depth interviews and case studies. They can also analyse both quantitative data (numbers) and qualitative data (stories, observations, feedback) in a way that is meaningful and reliable.
This not only helps with reporting to funders, but also builds the internal capacity to make evidence-informed, people-led decisions and adapt services in real time.
Building Confidence and Capacity
Many community organisations feel daunted by research and evaluation. It can seem like a technical, academic field that’s out of reach. But with the right training and support, teams can build these skills in a way that feels relevant, practical, and empowering.
Finding a CPD-accredited course specifically designed to support those working in community and voluntary sectors to strengthen their research, engagement, and evaluation practices will be beneficial, turning theory into bite-sized, actionable steps that make it easy to apply learning straight away.
In Summary
Strong research skills are a powerful asset for any community organisation. They help you understand your stakeholders, design better services, engage more effectively, and prove your impact with confidence.
Whether you're just getting started or looking to refine your current practice, investing in research skills is not just about ticking a box — it’s about making your organisation more responsive, inclusive, and impactful.
We hope this article was helpful. For more information from Kingfisher Commons, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.
