An E-Learning Course to Empower You and Your Organisation!

Developed by Octopus Impact and Polymathic in partnership with the University of Bath Public Engagement Unit.

The University of Bath has launched a new e-learning course designed to help researchers, practitioners, and community organisations confidently measure and communicate the social value of their work. “Measuring Social Impact” draws on the expertise of Octopus Impact and Polymathic, who first delivered the material through a series of well-received in-person workshops in 2024.

These original workshops were tailored specifically for researchers and community groups across Bath and North East Somerset. Drawing on insights from community conversations and Participate Grants applications, the sessions addressed the practical challenges many organisations face when trying to evaluate the difference they make. The overwhelmingly positive response inspired a new ambition: to transform the full training into a free, accessible online course for anyone who needs it.

Working closely with the University of Bath Public Engagement Unit, Octopus Impact and Polymathic have now converted the comprehensive curriculum into a high-quality e-learning experience. Every practical tool, exercise, and template has been carefully preserved to ensure that the online version offers the same depth of learning as the in-person programme.

Hosted on the MoodleCloud platform, the course brings together ten modules that guide learners step-by-step through the fundamentals of social impact evaluation. By the end, participants will be better equipped to articulate the value of their projects and make informed decisions about future work.

What Learners Will Explore

Throughout the course, participants will:

• Understand what evaluation is—and why it matters

• Distinguish between research and evaluation

• Learn key concepts including outputs, outcomes, and impact

• Apply core evaluation principles grounded in ethics and equity

• Develop trauma-informed and GDPR-compliant evaluation practices

• Create a basic Theory of Change

• Explore a range of evaluation frameworks and tools

• Learn to select appropriate metrics and measures

• Collect and analyse evaluation data effectively

• Use specialised tools for evaluating areas such as wellbeing

  
  

What Previous Participants Said

“I’ve showed these tools to my CEO and will carry on showing them to my team. We are going to use them for mapping out future projects and where we are going to go.”

“It has given me more insight into what is needed and I will be able to apply for grants using this.”

“Lots of great content – I really felt I learned a lot that was actionable. Some training is great but a bit nebulous, and when you go back to the day job it’s hard to use what you’ve learned.”

With its practical approach and accessible format, Measuring Social Impact offers a complete toolkit for anyone looking to evaluate and strengthen the positive change they create.

To join the course simply follow this link: Sign Up Here!