Kindred is increasingly seen as a model for place-based investing in the UK and internationally, so it is important to codify how we understand and evidence our impact. We want clarity and confidence about the change we make, while remaining true to our STO-led model. This enables us to talk about what we do and for who, while remaining true to Kindred’s values.
To develop an impact framework, we adopted an approach influenced by ethnographic methods, which describe everyday experiences and events. Ethnographic researchers listen to voices on the ground and build understanding from that point, instead of using an abstract economic model.
Kindred has been working with social economy researcher Dr. Ben Eyre, whose experience working in the UK, Europe and East Africa with entrepreneurs, investors and local communities sees him understand change by spending time with people and getting to know their lives. In a Kindred context, this has involved him visiting STOs, spending time with the team at Kindred’s offices, joining Social Economy Clubs and attending other events.
“I’ve spoken to amazing entrepreneurs and established experts in impact investing about Kindred. The point has been to understand what makes a unique organisation like Kindred tick,” he says.
“It’s important to have rigorous research that we, and others, can rely on. But rigour here isn’t about a fancy statistical model. Instead, this approach is rigorous because it combines different types of evidence (survey, observations, interviews) different sources of evidence (STOs, staff, and outsiders), and critical reflection on these findings from our team.”
This work is happening in two phases – the first phase is being finalised and will build the clarity and confidence that different stakeholders have told us they want. It will enable clear communication of what Kindred does and what that achieves, but it can be difficult to measure everything that matters. Our impact framework will measure what is needed –but also acknowledges the limits and we will continue to develop better ways of evidencing Kindred’s impact. One way we will look to do that is through an annual deep dive on specific issues that are difficult to measure and that feel urgent to our community.
The second phase will look at how the Kindred community can produce evidence of what really matters together and make sure it influences the right people. We are thinking about action research and citizen ethnography to put people who don’t normally get a say in the driving seat of understanding the social economy, and giving them a platform with regional, national, and international actors.
If you’re interested in getting involved, please get in touch! info[at]kindred-lcr.co.uk.