Outcomes and milestones

On the application form we ask you to state five outcomes your project specifically will achieve (or three outcomes if you are requesting less than £60,000). These outcomes will be used to measure the success and progress of your project, therefore do not simply restate the objectives of Ecominds.

Outcomes are the changes and differences that projects can make over time. You must identify outcomes and continue to work towards achieving these during the project. You must be clear about your outcomes, both general and specific, and how you hope to achieve them.

Milestones are clearly defined steps along the way to achieving your outcomes. They must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and have a time scale.

Some examples of general outcomes could be:

• Involve Mental Health Service Users (MHSUs) at all levels of the project
• Improved health or personal care
• Increased capacity of services
• Promote good relationships

An example of a specific outcome and its related milestones would be:

Outcome: The involvement of MHSUs at all levels of the project
Milestones: Within 6 months we will:

1. Recruit a minimum of 5 MHSUs to the project
2. Set up feedback systems for MHSUs to input ideas and give views on project activity and management. This will include how ideas and comments will be assessed and implemented
3. Provide appropriate training to help MHSUs become involved at all levels of the project, such as management committees

The following points will help you develop your outcomes:

• Consult with other people such as staff. Everyone will have different ideas about what outcomes are most important to the project.
• What outcomes can you achieve in the lifetime of the project? Longer-term outcomes may not be achievable within the period of the grant.
• Despite working towards positive outcomes, you may also end up with some negative outcomes. Identify what these may be and take necessary actions to ensure they don’t occur.

When considering outcomes, think about:

• What would make you think, ‘We’ve been successful and made a difference’?
• Imagine a typical client when they first come to your project, and then when they leave. How might their lives have changed?
• Not all outcomes are changes, but are still the effects of your project.
  For Example: keeping a situation stable or preventing someone from harm.
• Keep the wording of your outcomes simple and clear by describing each outcome individually and avoiding repetition. This will help you be clear about what you want to happen and how you will collect information about it.

Prioritising Outcomes

• Keep things simple by only monitoring the outcomes that tell you the most about your progress.
• Ecominds only expect you to collect enough information so we can see that you reached each of your milestones and achieved your outcomes.
• Make sure you report on the outcomes of the project, not on those of the organisation as a whole.