Reimagine how you evaluate: place people and communities at the centre of learning.

We the Catalysts CIC (trading as Catalyst) was a Community Interest Company, whose registered company number was 15519453.

You are free to copy and adapt it. Read the terms.

This workbook is a practical, reflective tool for rethinking how to evaluate services and projects with communities.

It was co-created with workshop participants in April–May 2025 and is grounded in their lived experience and their prompts towards our evaluators. It shows how to move your team away from extractive approaches and towards methods that are participatory, relational, and culturally relevant.

How to use the workbook

Work through sections at your own pace, solo or as a group. Use the core ideas, action suggestions, and prompt questions to guide discussion and decisions. Treat it as a space for learning – not a prescriptive manual – and return to it as your practice evolves.

Key themes inside

  • Reframe purpose: co-create meaning, build shared theories of change, and centre relationships and reflection in the evaluation process.

  • Self-reflection: examine positionality and bias; value narrative and qualitative evidence alongside numbers.

  • Local ownership: involve community members from the start; use formats like unconferences and co-analysis to shift power.

  • Diverse knowledge systems: recognise different ways of knowing and embed them in methods and sense-making.

  • Relationships and communication: prioritise trust, accessibility, and clear language across all touchpoints.

  • Capacity and learning: invest in local skills and commit to continuous improvement, even amid tensions and constraints.

Access the workbook

1. View as a flipbook below for easy browsing. Double click to zoom in or go full screen using the options menu (bottom right).

 

2.  You can also download a PDF of the workbook.

Related content

Just governance

Under the hood: the Catalyst Handbook

Experimenting with more relational, accountable care-based ways of working? Check out the raw material of our policies, roles and rhythms.

Tech justice
Beyond DEI

Tech Justice Roadtrip Project Report 2025

A participatory, decolonial evaluation of justice‑led organising, funding and technology.

A large horizontal white flat sided hoop hanging with a second smaller hoop hanging inside it at an angle, against a dark background.
Just governance

Sociocracy and Catalyst

Sociocracy offers a structured way to share power and improve decision-making. Here are our reflections on the approach and what we’ve learned.

Beyond DEI
Just governance

The anti-racist governance guide|

Guide to understanding and disrupting white supremacy culture within your board and organisation. From Embracing Equity, a US not for profit

Three Black and disabled folx (a non-binary person holding a cane, a woman sitting in a power wheelchair, and a woman sitting in a chair) partially smiling at the camera while a rainbow pride flag drapes on the wall behind them.
Beyond DEI

We need to talk about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Why diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) isn’t the solution to workplace discrimination and bias that you think it might be.

Beyond DEI

White supremacy culture in organisations

A facilitation tool for conversations about racism in your organisation. Lists characteristics. By the Centre for Community Organisations, a US not for profit.

a white man, black woman, white woman and black man sitting around a table talking. The table has documents scattered across it.
Just governance

Increasing diversity and digital capability on charity boards: 2 challenges, 1 approach

Both challenges require boards to shift internal power, live their values and commit to change.

A piece of grey road with chalk marks on and the words ‘Together we will change the world’ written in capital letters using white chalk.
Beyond DEI
Writing anti-oppressive content

How to create anti-oppressive content

Part 2/2: 12 tips to help your writing go beyond being inclusive and become anti-oppressive. Ways to keep learning. Resources to dive deeper with.

A model/diagram that shows that systemic governance incorporates both the hard and the soft elements. Hard elements include Legal, polices and procedures, boards, new models and more. Soft elements include Identity, leadership, roles and accountability, dealing with conflict and other
Just governance

Governance for networked organisations: a report

An exploration of various governance models and related frameworks. Useful for teams and networks asking questions about their governance and how they organise.