Department for Culture Media and Sport

other projects

Further projects in the CASE programme.

Evidence of what works: evaluated projects to drive up engagement

In 2010, DCMS commissioned Europe Economics to carry out a review of papers taken from the CASE database looking at interventions aimed at increasing participation in our sectors.  The original aim was to carry out a synthesis and meta-analysis on the papers, combining intervention studies in order to strengthen the findings and better identify ‘what works’.  However, during the course of the project it became clear that the data were not suitable for this kind of analysis due to the wide variety of interventions and weaknesses in the study designs.  What we present here is the final report together with a table outlining the content of the papers selected for analysis.  The table shows what interventions were undertaken, using what resource, and what impact this appeared to have (or was anticipated to have) on participation rates.

We present this table of studies in order to make the evidence from each study more useful in policy development. The table allows researchers or policy officials to identify target audiences or sectors, and what evidence is available in those areas. Summaries of study method give an indication of how strong the conclusions are, allowing advice based on evidence to take into account the current state of knowledge in this area much more easily and transparently.

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Fundraising activity in arts, culture, heritage and sports organisations: a qualitative study

The last two decades have seen extensive growth in the arts, culture and sports sectors, and of the contribution of voluntary sector within them. This growth has come from different sources, and been supported by a mixed economy of funding from philanthropic, commercial and government sources.


This study combined desk research with 17 organisational case studies to reveal a changing environment for fundraising, caused by the financial crisis and the resulting impact on donor behaviour, as well as the anticipated impact of reductions in government spending. These changes were compounded by a perceived intensification in competition for a reduced pot of potential donations.

Donors were thought to have become more exacting in their expectations, with an increased requirement for tangible and measurable outcomes. This in turn created a new requirement for organisations to demonstrate sound business planning and financial management, and an ability to generate benefits for potential donors.  Some had become practiced in this; while for others the new environment required a culture shift, as they had previously relied heavily upon strong personal relationships with their major funders.

Findings from the desk research and the qualitative case-studies indicate a number of ways in which fundraising could be strengthened. Some of these apply at a practice and organisational and level, and some at a policy level. The report includes more information on these.

Recommendations for strengthening fundraising at the organisational level cover:

  • Putting fundraising at the heart of the organisation
  • Identifying and engaging with donors and supporters
  • Auditing the role of fundraising within the organisation

Recommendations for strengthening the environment for fundraising cover:

  • Ensuring access to training and skills
  •  Brokering relationships
  • Facilitating financial support 

 

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Culture and sport asset guidance

CASE commissioned Trends Business Research (TBR) working with Cities Institute at London Metropolitan University in January 2010 to develop guidance and toolkit resources for local areas looking to develop better knowledge about their local supply of culture and sport. The toolkit identifies a range of readily available sources of data, allowing areas to get a good picture of their supply without commissioning expensive bespoke work. It also provides data definitions and frameworks for allowing local areas to generate comparable definitions of asset types, as well as for recording new data resulting from focused bespoke data collections. This ensures data comparability between areas and allows a richer picture of culture and sport supply to emerge over time, reducing duplication and increasing data use and re-use.


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The impact of culture and sports investments: a feasibility study

In January 2010 CASE commissioned TBR and Cities Institute at London Metropolitan University to undertake a feasibility study for using secondary data to explore the impact of large scale investments in culture and sport assets. The team reviewed a range of approaches to using secondary analysis of available data to detect impacts on local areas and provide advice on what might be possible in the UK.




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Scoping new regional research arrangements

In March 2009 CASE commissioned BMG Research to undertake a scoping review to examine the issues around research and evidence needs at a regional level in England. This followed changes in regional structures where regional observatories were mostly withdrawn. The report details recommendations for the best way to support regional research needs.

Regional Research evidence needs report (PDF 820 kb)

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Scoping a culture and sport asset database

In December 2008, CASE commissioned BOP Consulting to investigate the options around developing a single source of data about culture and sports assets. The report explores the different types of issues involved, examines current sources of data and provides options for how to take the project forward. The data toolkit described above is one option that the CASE programme has carried out.

Scoping a Cultural and Sporting Assets Database (PDF 546kb)

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Other work that CASE supports

A key aim of CASE is to develop data and evidence on the impacts of engaging in culture and sport. CASE has invested in the following projects, obtaining high value for money by working collaboratively with other Government departments, the academic and third sectors.

Understanding Society

CASE has invested in the new UK household longitudinal panel study called Understanding Society.

The study incorporates the long running British Household Panel Study (BHPS), incorporating a sample size of around 40,000 households with up to 100,000 – the biggest longitudinal panel in the world. CASE investment has ensured there are several waves of questions on culture and sport engagement allowing for the development of key data missing in the BHPS. The absence of this data has meant the well-being analysis in the Drivers, Impact and Value project was limited to sport and the arts. The study is also supported by the Department for Education, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The first wave of data from the survey will be available later this year, with future waves every three years.

Arts and Mental Health with the Public Engagement Foundation

CASE has teamed up with the Public Engagement Foundation (PEF) to invest in better-designed studies aimed at capturing the mental health and well-being impacts associated with participation in the arts in health settings. CASE funding is aimed at allowing the studies to use designs which allow for stronger conclusions – without this money the research would be weaker and would lose value. PEF are working with the London School of Economics and a range of local Primary Care Trusts who are also providing funding for the studies. The work is expected to be carried out over the next two years.

CASE design



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