An evaluation strategy helps advice and advocacy services choose the right way to assess impact. It focuses on how outcomes will be measured — through surveys, case studies, or both — and ensures that evidence reflects real change for clients, not just service activity.

Where the outcomes framework sets out what a service is working towards, the evaluation strategy focuses on how that change will be evidenced in practice. It allows services to tailor their evaluation approach to the nature of their work, whether that’s one-off advice or sustained casework.

The toolkit includes two sample strategies: a mixed-methods option using surveys and interviews, and a case study only option for services where follow-up is less feasible. Use the template strategy to choose your approach, structure your data collection, and keep evaluation proportionate and useful.