Guide to effective case studies

This guide will help you bring together what you have learned about a project or activity in a structured, clear and thorough way, so that you can communicate helpful insights to other practitioners, funders, researchers and the communities you work with.

This guide will introduce you to practice case study evidence – what it is, its uses and limitations. It will show you how to put together a case study of your project or activity quickly and transparently, and how to share it with others.

You’ll find this guide useful if you:

• are part of a small charity, social enterprise or community group, and want to tell the story of your activities in a clear and accessible way
• are responsible for reporting to funders, directors, or external stakeholders
• want to share your learning within your organisation, including with staff, volunteers and the people who benefit from your projects, and help wider audiences learn from your experiences
• are putting together evidence for a business case, funding application, or strategy.

If you’re a funder, you’ll find this guide useful if you want to support your funded projects to share their learning, and recommend an approach to bring together their findings in a structured and pragmatic way.

This guide includes:
»» An introduction to case study evidence, its uses and limitations
»» A step-by-step guide to put together a great case study of your project or activity
»» A template to gather your data in a consistent and transparent way

You may also find these resources useful for case study evidence.

• The Centre’s Method Guide to synthesising case studies.
• A real-world evidence review of community hubs and green space.
• Practice examples from Sefton and Hebden Bridge using our recommended case study template.