Why measure impact?

Measuring impact helps to demonstrate the difference your project makes.  The three main drivers for this are

  • Telling your story to your community.
  • Reporting to funders and other key stakeholders.
  • Contributing to the wider national and international picture of sharing & repairing.

In order to evidence the impact of the valuable work undertaken by members of the Share and Repair Network across Scotland we rely on the data you gather.

As a member we will contact you on an annual basis to request information about your impact to help us represent the sector and identify shared opportunities and challenges. We work to represent the sector to Zero Waste Scotland, the Scottish and Westminster governments and other key stakeholders.

MEASURING ENVIRONMENTAL & FINANCIAL IMPACTS

For Sharing Projects

Edinburgh Tool Library has developed a free-to-use online resource to estimate carbon emissions* and money saved, including how to create visualisations to show your impact.  There are instructions for how to use MyTurn to collect data, and also an approach if you use an alternative system.

For Repair Projects

Gathering Basic Data

The basic data we recommend you gather at each event is:

  • How many people attended
  • Number of items brought for repair and which category these fall into.
    • Ceramics
    • Clocks/Watches
    • Clothes/Textiles
    • Bicycle/Pram
    • Small domestic electrical
    • Furniture
    • IT equipment
    • Jewellery
    • Other
  • How many of these were
    • Fully fixed
    • A fix was identified but not completed at the event
    • Not able to be fixed

You can gather this information in several ways.

  • Ask each repairer to keep a simple list of repairs and collate this at the end of the event.
  • Use or adapt our template form to be filled in by the customer.  You can simplify or expand this depending on what data you would like to capture.
  • Keep a central log at each event.  Some projects chose to use a flip chart or whiteboard for this.

Whichever option you use, you will need to keep an ongoing tally of cumulative totals to record data over a period of time.  We have supplied a spreadsheet for this.

If you prefer to gather data digitally, you can use a free online tool to set-up on line forms. surveymonkey jotform typeform and googleforms

Calculating Carbon Savings

Once you have your basic statistical data there are options to estimate the CO2 savings created by your project. *

  • Fixometer.  This is a powerful tool created by The Restart Project.  This allows you to record repair data, plus details of the number of participants and volunteer hours.  Your project will have its own dashboard to show cumulative impact and carbon savings.  You will need to be a member of restarters.net to access these features.  Restarters.net primarily focuses on electrical repairs but is open to all repair projects.  The data you submit will automatically be included in the data of the Open Repair Alliance an international campaigning group of organisations committed to working towards a world where electrical and electronic products are more durable and easier to repair.  To fully participate in contributing to this data resource you may chose to record the make and model of items repaired.
  • Farnham Calculator.  A simple online carbon calculator created by Repair Cafe Farnham.  You can enter data either by weight or number of items in each category.  You will need to keep your own record of cumulative data recorded.

MEASURING SOCIAL, HEALTH & WELLBEING IMPACTS

There are numerous ways to gather this information. Some is quantitative but much is qualitative.   We cannot underestimate the power of a story – the quotes and case studies of the difference being made to individuals and your communities

  • Keep a record of the number of volunteers & number of volunteer hours worked. (there is an option for this on our spreadsheet)
  • A comments book or box at each event or at reception desk of a sharing project.  You can also use this to keep a record of verbal feedback.
  • A short survey for participants or clients.  You can do this on an annual basis via email or regularly at or after each event or loan.  We’ve got some suggested questions listed below. If you want to offer a digital survey there are plenty of free online tools to create these including surveymonkey jotform typeform and googleforms.  It’s also easy to generate a free QR code for people to access an online survey from their phones.  Search “QR code generator” online.
  • Simple temporary visual monitor for specific questions eg post-it notes or stickers on a chart eg  “Did you enjoy today’s event? “
  • Photographs, case-studies and informal interviews with volunteers and participants.  This report by the Southside Tool Library is an excellent example of impactful case studies.

Download our Sample feedback questions.

Feedback tool used by Transition Stirling

Emojis & post-its as a quick feedback tool.

Southside Tool Library Casestudies

* These are just a couple of the many carbon calculators out there that are free and easy to use – but there is currently no one single tool that is universally accepted or certified.   Following a comprehensive feasibility study Circular Communities Scotland is currently in the early stages of developing a carbon calculator tool specifically for the reuse sector.  This simple to use tool will allow for a better understanding of the impact of an organisation and an opportunity for us to communicate the positive impact of the work of the sector.  Delivery of this tool is dependant upon securing funding.