Testimonials
CREATE
OVERVIEW
Create is a leading UK charity dedicated to empowering lives through the creative arts, working with participants who face barriers to inclusion. Its practice is rooted in participatory arts, delivered by freelance professional artists in partnership with local organisations.
Create sought to strengthen its evaluation and impact reporting frameworks across a multi-year period, aiming to better capture participant outcomes, articulate social value, and embed learning across its programmes. As the organisation evolved, it required tailored supported to align strategic intent with robust evidence of change.
OUTPUTS
- Organisational Review
- Theory of Change for participants
- Theory of Change for professional artists
- Social Value Framework
- Evaluation Framework including guidance
- Annual Impact Reports 2023, 2024, 2025
LEGACY
- Integrated Strategic Planning
- Evidence-based Frameworks
- Social Value Innovation
- Stakeholder Engagement
CASE STUDY
“As Create approached its 19th anniversary in 2022, we commissioned Partnership First to undertake an independent organisational evaluation. We wanted an objective assessment of our partnership working, delivery mechanism and impact. Alastair devised and conducted an original survey for key stakeholders; undertook in-depth interviews; brought his breadth of experience to analysing the results; and wrote a detailed report. Throughout the process, he demonstrated clear communication, honest feedback, rigor and creativity. And we are over-the-moon with the results”
“We have worked with Alastair Tallon over four years to review, update and strengthen our evaluation toolkit to capture and articulate more effectively the impact that Create makes on the lives of participants, partner organisations and wider society. Alastair is creative, rigorous, collaborative and committed. He listened to our needs, and consulted widely among our stakeholders to draw on expert advice and lived experience. This has ensured that the toolkit that has been developed is flexible and relevant; and that reports reflect the voices of the participants and organisations with which we work; and the professional artists who deliver our programmes. Alastair has extensive experience and expertise to draw on and always goes the extra mile. I recommend him without hesitation.”
Founding Chief Executive – Create
TRI-BOROUGH MUSIC HUB
OVERVIEW
The Tri-borough Music Hub is a lead organisation that oversees the delivery of high-quality music education across Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham. The Tri-Borough Music Hub includes the Royal College of Music and the Royal Albert Hall as overall strategic partners.
Over a three-year period, Partnership First worked closely with the Hub to put in place a transparent and independent assessment process for potential hub partners, to create and embed an evaluation framework with related training, to evaluate a high-profile 2-year collaborative cross borough music project.
OUTPUTS
- Hub Partnership Assessment Process
- Evaluation Framework with training for Hub staff
- Initial Impact Report
- Final Impact Report
LEGACY
- Improved impact measurement
- Transparent and accessible partner engagement processes
CASE STUDY
PARTNERSHIPS
“Working with Partnership First has helped contribute to our strategic approach to managing partnership working. The team are knowledgeable, supportive and professional, offering expert advice that makes a difference.”
“The Tri-borough Music Hub uses Partnership First to lead an initial assessment process for organisations who are interested in working in partnership with us. This ensures an independent and objective first point of contact which quality assures the approach from a wide range of potential new partnerships. It allows the TBMH to focus its work with partners that best fit our own Strategic Priorities and tally with our vision.”
CONVO
“The Royal Albert Hall, Royal College of Music and Tri-borough Music Hub have engaged Partnership First to act as the independent and objective evaluators of our large-scale 2-year project working with a range of stakeholders. Having this aspect of the project looked after with a professional external company allows us to focus on the work of offering the very best music education activity for our pupils, schools, and workforce.”
Head – Tri-borough Music Hub
JOHN LYON'S CHARITY
OVERVIEW
John Lyon’s Charity gives grants to benefit children and young people up to the age of 25 (or up to 30 for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities) who live in nine boroughs in North and West London: Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea, and the Cities of London and Westminster.
Partnership First were asked to provide advice in relation to partnership development for a new initiative, Home-School-Community, particularly as part of post Covid-19 recovery.
OUTPUTS
- Advice and training on setting up and managing new partnerships
- Partnership Framework document
- Additional resources, toolkit and template documents
Senior Grants & Communication Manager – John Lyon's Charity
THE EVALUATOR
OVERVIEW
Commissioned by The Evaluator, Partnership First led a sector-wide viability/feasibility study in relation to selected National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) and Sector Support Organisations (SSOs), funded by Arts Council England (ACE), to identify needs with regard to data collection, analysis and annual reporting. The aim was to identify gaps, explore challenges, and propose practical support models to enhance organisational capability.
OUTPUTS
- Analysed and collated information and data from specified ACE funded organisations
- Produced Final Report
- Made evidence-based recommendations with key features for a Returns-Reporting support programme
LEGACY
- Scalable support model for NPOs in relation to annual returns and reporting
CASE STUDY
Director – The Evaluator
CHICKENSHED THEATRE and AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
OVERVIEW
Inspired by Amnesty International UK’s children’s book Dreams of Freedom, this ambitious creative collaboration united over 500 young participants across 13 London schools, Chickenshed Children’s Theatre (Southgate and Kensington & Chelsea), the Tri-Borough Music Hub’s Young Singers, and 9 community groups. Culminating in a performance at the Royal Albert Hall, the project explored themes of human rights, inclusion, and freedom through music, theatre, and visual art — including live illustration by Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell and young artist Jude Holland.
OUTPUTS
- Designed, distributed and analysed surveys
- Conducted interviews with range of stakeholders
- Produced Final Impact Report
LEGACY
- Made recommendations to aid future planning and aid strategic partnership working
CASE STUDY
“The Report has been well received by everyone, and now we are looking at ways of using the report across lots of areas of our work.”
Creative Producer – Chickenshed Kensington and Chelsea
“Having an external evaluator on the project is a great asset, ensuring that monitoring and evaluation is considered throughout the planning and delivery of the project.”
Project Lead – Amnesty International UK
INSPIRE-WORKS
OVERVIEW
Bang the Drum was a high-profile participatory music initiative created by Inspire-works to raise awareness of street children’s rights through rhythm and performance. The programme culminated in a Guinness World Record attempt for “the world’s largest live drum lesson,” and involved over 60 schools and 27 music hubs across the UK.
Participants engaged through live and online formats, with accompanying workshops, CPD sessions, and access to
Arts Award Discover
accreditation. The initiative fused music education with social activism, supported by high-profile partners including Street Child United
and the Royal College of Music.
Partnership First was asked to carry out an in-depth evaluation of the project, that included all participants, stakeholders and project partners
OUTPUTS
- Final Impact Report including Key Findings and Recommendations
CASE STUDY
Musical Director – Inspire-works
PARTNERSHIP FIRST'S APPROACH: CRITICAL FRIEND
“We are impressed with the professionalism of the Partnership First team and the whole package of support”
Head – Tri-borough Music Hub
“Partnership First were organised, friendly and open about their approach”
Project Lead – Amnesty International UK
“Alastair is extremely professional, visionary and brilliant at articulating aims and objectives”
Head of Fundraising – Royal Albert Hall
“Jean and Alastair are open, friendly and genuinely interested in people’s views and experiences...
I am impressed with the thoroughness of the work they [Partnership First] undertook in honestly evaluating the project and seeking the views of all participants and stakeholders.”
Primary Music Teacher – Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
“Jean is an inspirational leader, supporting schools... to recognise the value of quality music education and its impact across the curriculum”
Education Advisor – Local Authority
