A partnership of organisations across Monmouthshire has secured funding through the WCVA Strategic Volunteering Grant to help strengthen volunteering and community-led evaluation across the county.

Led by Monmouthshire County Council, the project brings together Bridges Community Centre, GAVO, Monmouthshire Housing Association and Grow Social Capital CIC to establish a new Monmouthshire Evaluation Community of Practice.

The project will help volunteers, community groups and third sector organisations learn how to measure the impact of volunteering. Helping them understand what works well, what helps volunteering grow, and what may stop people from getting involved.

Seven community projects from across Monmouthshire will be supported to carry out full evaluations of their work. A wider community of practice will also provide opportunities for shared learning, peer support and collaboration, with findings shared across Wales through Volunteering Wales networks.

Cllr Angela Sandles, Monmouthshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Equalities and Engagement, said: “I am delighted that this partnership has secured funding to support volunteering and community-led evaluation across Monmouthshire.

“Volunteers and community groups make such an important contribution to life in our county, and it is vital that we understand and celebrate the difference they make. This project will help build confidence, share learning and strengthen the support available to communities, ensuring people are at the heart of shaping positive change.”

Find out more here: monmouthshire.gov.uk/volunteering-voices-monmouthshire/

The project responds to increasing demand from community organisations and funders for clear evidence of impact, while recognising that many smaller organisations can face challenges in carrying out meaningful evaluation.

By investing in local people and existing partnerships, the initiative aims to reduce reliance on external support and embed sustainable evaluation skills within communities.

The initiative also builds on recommendations from the independent Be Community Evaluation, which highlighted the value of participatory approaches and recommended the development of a community of practice to support ongoing learning, collaboration and capacity building.