In the often undervalued but vital work of community communications, evaluation is frequently viewed as a necessary administrative task—something to satisfy funders, rather than support our mission. But what if we reimagined evaluation not just as an accountability exercise, but as an opportunity to deepen our practice, shape policy, and amplify the voices we serve?
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Survey Tool offers a starting point for this shift.
Although not designed specifically for community media or grassroots communications, the UKSPF Survey Tool provides a framework that we can repurpose—creatively, critically, and strategically—to help articulate the value of our work in ways that resonate with funders, policymakers, and most importantly, our communities.
So, what is it, and why should we consider using it?
At its core, the UKSPF Survey Tool provides a set of adaptable questions designed to capture outcomes from projects funded through the Shared Prosperity Fund. It focuses on areas like skills development, community engagement, local pride, and social inclusion. These are outcomes community communications projects deliver every day—often without naming or measuring them formally.
By incorporating this tool into our practice, we don’t just tick boxes. We start to build a common language of evidence that connects what we do on the ground with broader policy goals. It allows us to present our impact in a way that is both recognisable to decision-makers and authentic to our values.
But we must use it wisely.
Community-focussed communications are not commodities. They are relationships. They are lived experiences. They are the creative, messy, iterative processes through which people find their voice, challenge power, and build identity. A rigid survey cannot fully capture this. Nor should it try.
That’s why we advocate for a hybrid approach. Use the UKSPF Survey Tool as a foundation—but embed it within participatory, reflexive, and context-sensitive practices. Pair quantitative feedback with narrative testimonies, facilitated discussions, audio diaries, or peer-led reviews. Where the form is standardised, let the content remain situated and meaningful.
By doing this, we can strengthen our case—not only for continued funding, but for a deeper recognition of the role communications plays in community development.
And here’s the strategic opportunity: if more of us in the community communications field start using and adapting this tool in ways that reflect our practice, we build a shared evidence base. A base that can inform national dialogue, influence local policy, and shape the future of inclusive media infrastructure.
It’s time we made evaluation work for us—not just to prove our value, but to evolve our practice.
Curious where to begin?
Download the UKSPF Local Survey Tool here and think about how it might fit your work. Then ask:
- What outcomes matter most to the people you work with?
- How can feedback be a conversation, not just a form?
- What stories sit behind the numbers?
And if you’re interested in adapting this tool to fit a Communications Impact Assessment approach, get in touch. At Decentered Media, we’re working with partners to make evaluation more inclusive, accessible, and representative of real-world community experiences.
Let’s stop evaluating for compliance—and start evaluating for change.