Why tracking performance and demonstrating impact of StreetGames projects is important
StreetGames requests that all its StreetMark projects submit monitoring data which it can evaluate and use to demonstrate the impact and value of the project in the local community.
About monitoring
To assist projects with this process, StreetGames has developed a simple-to-use, on-line monitoring tool, which enables projects to:
- track performance (sessions, participants, throughput, events)
- review the profile of participants (age, gender, ethnicity, disability)
- review take-up by individual sports
- review infrastructure development and development of local capacity (coaches, volunteers, new qualifications).
Data can either be entered directly onto the system or alternatively attendance records (using the StreetGames MDT) can be automatically uploaded onto the system - for ease and speed of entry.
Once the data has been submitted into the system, it produces project reports, thus providing downloadable or hard copy reporting information to enable StreetGames projects to:
- keep track of performance against key aims, targets and objectives
- find out more about its participants, volunteers, coaches and the activities they are taking part in
- inform the planning process and adjust/improve performance as required
- identify common themes and trends
- identify good practice and lessons learnt
- demonstrate the impact and value of a project
- easily add data into e.g. committee reports or updates to funding partners.
The monitoring process
To access the monitoring system, StreetGames projects must login to the StreetGames website and then click on the monitoring and evaluation widget.
Retention
To help projects increase retention rates and identify which participants may be in danger of ‘dropping out’ a retention wizard is included in the monitoring system. This makes it is easy to chart the retention rates of individuals and projects and gives projects a greater understanding of the profile of their participants. It also gives them the information to act accordingly to encourage regular attendance and minimise ‘drop out’.
When attendance records are uploaded, the retention wizard analyse the retention rates of individuals and projects. The analysis will break down participants into four groups - ‘newbie’, ‘settling in’, ‘core’ and ‘dedicated’. The wizard then provides potential retention strategies for coaches and project managers for each group.
