Lottery champions better use of evidence
24 Jun 2014 03:01 PM
Big Lottery Fund awarded £165,000 to the
Alliance for Useful Evidence to expand the work that it does to improve and
extend the use of social research in order to share good practice and avoid the
duplication of work.
The
Alliance champions the use of evidence in social policy and practice. Created
in 2012, it is an open access network of 1,800 individuals from across
government, universities, charities, business and local authorities in the UK.
It provides a focal point for advancing the evidence agenda, developing a
collective voice, whilst aiding collaboration and knowledge sharing, through
debate and discussion.
The
two year project awarded funding yesterday will expand work of the Alliance to
add a UK-wide dimension to its existing core activity in Whitehall and
Westminster. It will work across Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland
collating learning from different parts of the UK, understanding what works in
one part and sharing with others, whilst building the skills and confidence to
use evidence amongst people working in social policy.
The
Alliance will also coordinate evidence activities in the run up to 2015 general
election manifestos with bodies such as Full Fact and the Conversation UK,
ensuring that all politicians and voters are aware of the evidence behind
manifesto pledges.
“Receiving this support from the Big Lottery Fund
is brilliant news”, says Jonathan Breckon, Head of the
Alliance for Useful Evidence. “Our aims are very simple
– but incredibly hard in practice. We want to encourage more people to
focus on what works – and do less on what doesn’t. To do this we
need to learn from the best available research evidence. Whether you are a
teacher, police officer, MP, civil servant or charity leader, we want to see
more use of evidence to get better results – and avoid doing harm. To
improve services, improve professional practice, and make people’s lives
better”.
Peter Ainsworth, chair of the Big Lottery
Fund said: “In a time of limited resource, we need to use
evidence to help spend what money is available on the best approaches to social
policy and practice. The Big Lottery Fund has been championing the importance
of data to enable greater effectiveness in the use of our funding through
better access to, use of and sharing of knowledge. The work undertaken by the
Alliance will support the Fund to continue to promote the use of evidence in
the work and activities of community groups and voluntary organisations across
the UK.”
By
championing the need for useful evidence, the Alliance provides a focal point
for improving and extending the use of social research and evidence in the UK.
In doing so, it works with other organisations in this field to encourage
debate, discussion, collaboration and innovation. Its aim is to become the hub
for evidence initiatives in the UK, providing a forum for members to share good
practice and avoid the duplication of work.
The
Alliance for Useful Evidence is funded by The Big Lottery Fund, the Economic
and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Nesta. Membership is free and open to
everyone, from interested individuals to charities, academics, local
authorities, practitioners, think tanks, government and commercial businesses.
To sign up www.alliance4usefulevidence.org
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211
1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500572
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @biglotteryfund #biglf
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund
Notes to editors
- The Big Lottery Fund is
responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the
National Lottery.
- The
Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of
people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education,
environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 it
has awarded close to £6bn.
- In
the year ending 31 March 2013, 28% of total National Lottery revenue was
returned to the Good Causes. Since the National Lottery began in 1994,
£31 billion has been raised and more than 400,000 grants
awarded.