Elenya was commissioned by Outside In Pathways (OIP) to deliver an evaluation of their ambitious and innovative arts and heritage project: Talking About My TV Generation (TAMTVG). OIP works with people with learning disabilities and autism, using creative arts and cultural heritage to support meaningful engagement, personal development, and social inclusion. The evaluation was part of an Arts Council England-funded programme and was designed to explore the impact of this work on participants, artists, carers, and communities.
The TAMTVG project took the cultural backdrop of the 1960s – particularly the explosion of television and mass media – as a springboard for creative exploration. It brought together a range of partners, venues and artforms, from workshops at the V&A and Museum of Youth Culture to public murals and performances in North Kensington and Merton.
At Elenya, we specialise in evaluation and insight for organisations working in arts, culture, education, and inclusion. Led by Elliot Simmonds, we combine methodological rigour with a warm, participant-centred approach. This project exemplified how evaluation can be used not only for accountability and reporting but also as a tool for reflection, learning, and future development.
Objectives and Scope
The evaluation had several objectives:
- To understand how the project impacted participants’ creative development, communication, confidence, and wellbeing
- To explore the influence of the programme on artists, volunteers, and support workers
- To document the wider reach of the programme through exhibitions, digital engagement, and public activities
- To provide practical recommendations to support future project development and funding bids
Given the nature of the participant group – many of whom have complex needs or are non-verbal – the evaluation approach was designed with accessibility and flexibility in mind. We drew on a combination of direct observation, in-depth interviews, a short online survey, and visual evidence, including artworks and performance documentation.
Evaluation Approach
Our multi-method approach included:
- A site visit to a workshop at the V&A to observe delivery and engage directly with participants
- In-person interviews with participants, support workers, volunteers and artists
- An online survey capturing the views of those involved in delivery and support
- Review of project documentation, images, artworks and an interim report provided to Arts Council England
- Support with Grantium updates for Arts Council England
We made particular efforts to ensure that participants’ voices – whether verbal or non-verbal – were included wherever possible. Where appropriate, support workers provided insight into the impact on individuals, particularly where communication barriers would otherwise have made this difficult. This inclusive evaluation approach was central to our methodology and is a key learning for future practice.
Summary of Findings
The evaluation found that the project had a broad and significant impact, both on participants and those around them:
- Creative outcomes: The programme resulted in a substantial body of new artwork, performances, and digital content. Participants developed both new and existing creative skills.
- Wellbeing and inclusion: Participants were consistently described as being made to feel welcome and included. The programme contributed positively to social skills, communication, and mental wellbeing.
- Impact on artists and volunteers: Artists gained new insights into working with adults with learning disabilities and autism, with several intending to continue working in this area. Volunteers gained new skills, confidence, and a deepened understanding of inclusive practice.
- Support worker reflections: Support workers reported increased confidence in the value of creativity as a driver of social change, and an increased likelihood of engaging with arts and culture more broadly.
- Community and social engagement: The programme created a vital space for connection, care and social participation, and the hosting of activities in public venues was seen to benefit both participants and members of the public. The mural and exhibitions helped to challenge assumptions and highlight the creativity of people with complex needs.
- Programme delivery: Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Suggestions for improvement centred on communication – particularly with venues and in setting expectations within the group.
- Legacy and sustainability: The evaluation confirmed the lack of similar provision in the local area and underlined the importance of the programme. The findings have supported new funding bids and helped shape the design of future projects.
Client Feedback
We were thrilled to receive the following testimonial from OIP’s Programme Manager:
“Elliot is a breath of fresh air!
In the year and a half I have worked with Elliot, he has more than delivered on the evaluation he did for the charity I work with, Outside In Pathways, which delivers arts and heritage projects for groups of people with autism and learning disabilities. Elliot was recommended by one of our Trustees and has slotted in perfectly. As a creative, I tend to find reports and paperwork a little daunting and Elliot was so approachable, flexible and helpful with his advice and help on organising data collection and much more; I felt myself breathe a sigh of relief!
He created a concise representation of the project with clear directives and measures of impact on how to move forward for the betterment of the groups we work with, to create sustainable and relevant workshops and projects. The report has helped us to form our next set of funding bids by using his analysis and monitoring data reports. I would wholeheartedly recommend Elliot. He is the ultimate professional with the ability to fit in and become part of the team very quickly! Thanks Elliot!” – Programme Manager, Outside in Pathways