LynchPin Support
LynchPin Support was established in 2015 by Nicola Lynch. That’s me.
I am still the one & only 'LynchPin' but it is now a Ltd Company and I work within a network of other consultants and experienced professionals to ensure every client gets the best service I can deliver. I am also the National Lead on Civil Society for Social Value UK (www.socialvalueuk.org) where I have the privilege of supporting - and advocating on behalf of - Civil Society organisations all around the UK. For more than 20 years I’ve worked & volunteered across all sectors always in the business of creating social impact. After a long ‘apprenticeship’ spent creating social impact I am now trained and active in the evaluation of that impact and the calculation of its social value. I work across private and public sector boundaries, using a range of tools and methods, to support organisations in monitoring and evaluating their work for maximum impact for all stakeholders. I also deliver group workshops and 1-1 coaching aimed primarily at Civil |
Society organisations and covering a wide range of social value-related topics from data collection methods to procurement policy & practice.
I speak regularly on social impact and social value at local, regional & National events. Recently I've been on panels, running workshops and delivering training at lots of high profile events such as Small Charity Week 2021 and the SVUK annual conference. I oversee the England-wide Inspiring Impact delivery (www.inspiringimpact.org) and work alongside colleagues at New Philanthropy Capital and NCVO as well as CDHN in Northern Ireland, ESS in Scotland and WCVA in Wales. I am based in Cumbria but work far and wide making the best of digital technology to ‘roam.’ I am one of only 20 Social Value International Level 3 Advanced Practitioners in the UK and a qualified Lead Evaluator in the Qualitative Impact Protocol. I am currently undertaking an MSc in Data Science (specialising in Data Visualisation.) I am a member of Social Value UK, Social Value International, NCVO, Social Enterprise UK and the UK Evaluation Society. I'm always engaged in some sort of CPD ranging from project and people management to understanding the applicability of movements such as Community Wealth Building and exploring different qualitative research methodologies. |
I have volunteered within the governance structures of many local charities over the years, run a couple of Social Enterprises and am currently Chair of the West Cumbria Community Action Trust. This work keeps my feet firmly grounded in reality...
|
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
LynchPin provided insightful consultancy support into the Social Impact Framework for one of the UK’s largest public-sector contracts (£1.5Bn, over 10 years). Nicola contributed to the development of a comprehensive evaluation framework that captured critical outcomes and enabled the robust evaluation of an extensive programme of concurrent and multi-stakeholder activities over a 5 year timescale. The Social Impact Framework operated within a complex and diverse stakeholder environment, to which, Nicola, was adapt at challenging, demonstrating, communicating and evidencing how evaluation contributes to successful programme implementation. This initially involved identifying and capturing stakeholder values and attributing appropriate and efficient evaluation methods. This revealed critical impact data and more importantly valuable learning outcomes to assist in partnership maturation and subsequent programme optimisation.
Craig White
Sustainability Director / Gaiacene
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
It’s been great to work with Nicola on our research and impact evaluation. Particularly for me as someone who doesn’t have a background in research - her straight forward, plain speaking approach made the process accessible and engaging, which also gave me reassurance that she would engage well and sensitively with a broad range of stakeholders.
We chose to work with Nicola not only because of her expertise and knowledge, but because we were able to have all the conversations required to do a really full and honest piece of work. We were critically interested in understanding the long term effects of our programme, including unintended and negative ones, from which to consider a series of future options. Nicola didn’t shy away from the challenges some of the findings reported, and as a result we have clarity on the overall process, what we can and can’t claim and, most importantly where and how to direct our future resources to best effect.
We chose to work with Nicola not only because of her expertise and knowledge, but because we were able to have all the conversations required to do a really full and honest piece of work. We were critically interested in understanding the long term effects of our programme, including unintended and negative ones, from which to consider a series of future options. Nicola didn’t shy away from the challenges some of the findings reported, and as a result we have clarity on the overall process, what we can and can’t claim and, most importantly where and how to direct our future resources to best effect.
Helen Carter
Director / Francis C Scott Charitable Trust
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
When we began the search for someone to work on measuring our SROI, Nicola came highly recommended. It was clear from initial conversations that she had a deep understanding and knowledge of the subject. Nicola took the time to really understand what we do and why and to engage fully with the people we work with and for. Her report gives us a clear, auditable view on our SROI impact which we can use to help grow our offer.”
Alasdair Jackson
Chief Executive / Recycling Lives (Social Enterprises) Ltd
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
/
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Nicola has extensive experience of working across Cumbria, sectors and communities. She has an ability to ‘think big’ connecting projects and plans in a single framework, as well as an ability to plan detail. Nicola has a varied methodology and a range of measurement tools that she can employ to suit the need of the work. Nicola can also translate complex ideas and plans into a simple, user friendly approach.
Kate W
/ Ewanrigg Local Trust
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 0
- 1
- 2
- 3
Social Return on Investment EvaluationThis is an example of a recently completed and external verified SROI (Social Return on Investment Evaluation) report for Recycling Lives Charity and Social Enterprise
|
| ||
Social Impact & Social Value evaluations · Social Return on Investment analyses · Corporate Social Responsibility · Project development · Monitoring & Evaluation · Social Value & Procurement · Partnership Development · Stakeholder analysis & management
