More funders, commissioners, and partners are now asking organisations to demonstrate their impact clearly, and a Theory of Change is one of the most effective tools to do so. This practical workshop helps you understand what a Theory of Change is, why it matters, and how it can strengthen your strategy, communication, and evaluation.

You’ll explore how a Theory of Change helps organisations map the link between activities and the outcomes they aim to achieve, making assumptions explicit and identifying evidence gaps. This approach supports clearer planning, stronger funding bids, and more meaningful reporting, particularly in the context of the UK’s growing focus on outcomes and social value under the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012.

Designed for staff and trustees involved in programme design, impact measurement, evaluation, strategy, or reporting, the workshop provides a supportive space to work through real examples and develop a practical, usable model for your organisation.

By the end of the session, you’ll understand how to create a Theory of Change from scratch and how to use it to guide decision-making, demonstrate accountability, and articulate the difference your organisation makes.

Key Learnings

• Understand the purpose and benefits of a Theory of Change
• Create a clear and structured Theory of Change
• Apply Theory of Change to strategic planning
• Use Theory of Change for monitoring, evaluation, and reporting
• Strengthen communication of outcomes and impact

A Theory of Change is a powerful tool that helps organisations explain the change they want to see and how their work leads to that change. For the VCSE sector, where demonstrating impact is essential for credibility, funding, and accountability, a Theory of Change provides clarity, structure, and shared understanding.

This workshop introduces the concept in an accessible, practical way. Participants begin by exploring why a Theory of Change is widely used across charities, social enterprises, local authorities, and funders. You’ll learn how it helps clarify assumptions, identify gaps, and link activities to short-, medium-, and long-term outcomes.

The session then guides you through how to build a Theory of Change step by step:

• Understanding your mission and long-term goals
• Mapping outcomes and pathways of change
• Identifying inputs, activities, and stakeholders
• Testing assumptions and exploring evidence
• Ensuring alignment with monitoring and evaluation

Examples are drawn from real VCSE settings, making the process relatable and practical. Participants also explore how a Theory of Change strengthens funding applications, strategy development, internal planning, and impact reporting. This aligns closely with the increasing expectations of UK funders, commissioners, and social investors for clearer evidence of outcomes and social value.

The course also considers how Theory of Change can support organisational learning, improving decision-making, enabling better communication with partners, and helping teams stay focused on the change they aim to achieve.

By the end of the workshop, you will feel confident in developing and using a Theory of Change to guide your work, evaluate progress, and explain your organisation’s impact with clarity and confidence.

Open course per person          £97
In-house for up to 6 people    £343
In-house for up to 12 people  £365