Crafting Events That Matter: Spirit’s Final Report

The final publication from Spirit of 2012, combining over a decade of learnings to inspire the next generation to harness the power of events.

Oct 2025

Connecting the golden thread: Unlocking the UK’s ambition for major events

New report from Warwick Business School building on Creating The Golden Thread’s ambition for major events in the UK

Oct 2025

The Ripple Effect – final evaluation

The final evaluation report for The Ripple Effect – a project led by Swim England which aimed to engage and break down barriers for disabled volunteers in swimming.

Oct 2025

Good Club Guide: Engaging Disabled Volunteers

A guide for engaging volunteers in the aquatics community, courtesy of Swim England and their Spirit-funded project The Ripple Effect.

Oct 2025

Lessons from GOGA

Key takeaways from Spirit’s flagship physical activity project

Oct 2025

Playing Out

Community development project using the theme of play to deliver a listening and storytelling project inspired by the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

London 2012 Legacy Partnership Project

A partnership and co-produced project with LLDC’s Elevate Board to gather people’s views on legacy to date and potential future legacy.

Seafarers

A series of inclusive dance classes in Norfolk to embed into local schools and train local dance teachers.

Volunteering Cities

A funding programme to support volunteering infrastructure in four locations that bid for UK City of Culture 2025

One Million Mentors

One Million Mentors (1MM) was a national initiative dedicated to transforming the prospects of young people by connecting them with a mentor.

Reading Rooms

Reading Rooms, a project by the Verbal Arts Centre, used a unique bibliotherapy model to support the mental wellbeing of people involved with the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.

Do It For Real

Designed to empower young people to make positive changes in their communities, the initiative combined social action, fundraising, access to resources, and community events.

Bay Create

The Bay Create project brought together an intergenerational group of Whitley Bay residents to explore their shared heritage and identity through art.

A Blueprint For Driving Effective Youth Engagement Through Major Events – learning resource

A practical guide to driving meaningful youth engagement through sport, culture, and commemorative moments, born from the Get Set projects

Aug 2025

Establishing Strong Partnerships For Major Event Education Programmes – learning resource

A framework emphasising the importance of establishing a range of strong partnerships for education programmes linked to major events like Get Set and offers guidance on how to effectively leverage them

Aug 2025

Establishing Strong Partnerships For Major Event Education – summary

A shorter summary of a Get Sets partnership framework

Aug 2025

A Blueprint For Driving Effective Youth Engagement Through Major Events – summary

A shorter summary of Get Set’s youth engagement guide

Aug 2025

Get Set: Path To Paris Final Evaluation Report

Evaluation report for Path To Paris – British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association’s youth engagement programme for the Paris 2024 Games

Aug 2025

Get Set: Road To Rio Final Evaluation Report

Evaluation report for Road To Rio – British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association’s youth engagement programme for the Rio 2016 Games

Aug 2025

Get Set: Travel To Tokyo Final Evaluation Report

Evaluation report for Travel To Tokyo – British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association’s youth engagement programme for the Tokyo 2020 Games

Aug 2025

Get Set: Bound For Beijing Final Evaluation Report

Evaluation report for Bound For Beijing – British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association’s youth engagement programme for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games

Aug 2025

Music Challenge Fund: ‘Discover the Song’ Evaluation – Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias

This evaluation report shows how an inclusive music project brought disabled and non-disabled people together through a fantastic partnership between an Arts Centre and the Gwynedd County Council Social Services’ Adult Learning Disability Team.

Jul 2025

Streetwise Community Circus End of Project Report

This internal evaluation report describes the outcomes and achievements of a circus skills project, working with disabled people and their families in Northern Ireland.

Jul 2025

Lessons from Streetwise’s Circus Aurora

This report distills lessons from Streetwise Community Circus circus skills project for disabled people, working in Northern Ireland.

Jul 2025

Carers Music Fund: ‘Sound Out’ Evaluation – Jack Drum Arts

This independent evaluation by Gwyneth Lamb, shares the impact of a music-making project for female carers in Cook Country Durham, identifying features of best practice.

Jul 2025

Carers Music Fund: ‘Sound Creators’ Evaluation – UK Youth

This evaluation shares the impact of a music-making project for young carers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jul 2025

Carers Music Fund: ‘Sound Out’ Project Summary – Jack Drum Arts

This project shares the impact of a music-making project for female carers, from drumming, to songwriting to electronic music-making in Crook, County Durham.

Jul 2025

Carers Music Fund: ‘Monster Extraction’ Case Study Interviews – My Pockets

These interviews by independent researcher Glynis Charlton bring to life the power of My Pockets’ project for female carers of family members with a dementia.

Jul 2025

Carers Music Fund: ‘Hidden Voices’ Project Evaluation

This evaluation shares the impact of a music-making project for carers based at Midland Arts Centre in partnership with Midland Mencap and Quench Arts. It includes a link to a beautiful portrait book of some of the carers created by Emile Holba and Abigail D’Amore.

Jul 2025

Carers Music Fund: ‘My Music’ Evaluation Northamptonshire Carers

This process and impact evaluation is packed with reflections about Northamptonshire Carers and Northamptonshire Music & Performing Arts Trust project with female carers, including the impact of COVID-19.

Jul 2025

Carers Music Fund: ‘Project Alaw’ Evaluation – Barnardos

This evaluation report shares the impact of ‘Project Alaw’ (melody), a music making project for carers aged 8 – 18, delivered by Barnardo’s and Community Music Wales.

Jul 2025

Women’s Work Evaluation

This process evaluation shares reflective learning from Oh Yeah Music in Belfast, as they adapted their project for female unpaid carers following COVID-19.

Jul 2025

Carers Music Fund: ‘Tàlaidhean’ Evaluation – Feis Rois

This evaluation report shares the impact of a project working with new mums across the Highlands to create their own lullabies for their babies.

Jul 2025

Carers Music Fund: ‘Bang the Drum’ Evaluation – Blackpool Carers

This evaluation report by Totem Solutions describes the impact of Blackpool Carers introducing a music offer as part of its support to female carers.

Jul 2025

Carers Music Fund: ‘Beat Syndicate’ Evaluation – Noise Solution

Noise Solution pairs marginalised people with professional musicians. This impact report by TSIC explores their partnership with Suffolk Young Carers as part of the Carers Music Fund.

Jul 2025

Working Together: A research partnership project led by More Music and the International Centre of Community Music

This research explores how partner-practitioners across music, health, and wellbeing sectors work together and communicate value in a social prescribing project—revealing how collaboration, rather than just outcomes, drives impact in tackling health inequalities through community music.

Jul 2025

More Music – Sing It Out – Parent Case Study

This case study shares what a parent thinks her daughter gained from attending Sing It Out sessions, run by More Music in Morecambe.

Jul 2025

Music Challenge Fund: ‘Creative Directions’ Evaluation – Doncaster Community Arts

This evaluation report shows how Darts used folk music to work with men and women experiencing loneliness and poor mental health.

Jul 2025

Music Challenge Fund: ‘My Pockets Music’ Evaluation

This interim report sees external evaluator Glynis Charlton embed herself in My Pockets music sessions in order to identify the ingredients that help make the sessions so distinctive.

Jul 2025

Music Challenge Fund: ‘My Pockets’ end of project report

This vibrant final project report brings to life the impact of My Pockets’ songwriting and music making project for young people.

Jul 2025

Moments That Make Us Proud – pdf

A research report by Public First and Spirit of 2012 which examines the relationship between major events and national pride

Jul 2025

Moments That Make Us Proud – microsite

The online microsite verision of the report by Public First and Spirit of 2012 which examines the relationship between major events and national pride

Jul 2025

PBE – Checklist for wellbeing value for money analysis

Part of the PBE report “Helping funders measure what happens”, a checklist for anyone who wants to assess the wellbeing value for money of investments.

May 2024

Spirit of Rugby Final Evaluation Report

This report presents findings from the monitoring and evaluation of the Spirit of Rugby programme over a two year period between 2015 and 2017.

Oct 2017

Volunteering at Events in the West Midlands

A report by FRY Creative, commissioned by the Birmingham 2022 Legacy Team, exploring volunteering at events in the West Midlands.

Jun 2023

Making Routes Festival Film – Beacon Arts

Documented by Beacon Films, this film documents the Making Routes Festival – a celebration of visual arts, theatre and play co-created by disabled and non-disabled children, young people and artists held across the three venues.

Oct 2017

PBE – Helping funders measure what matters

Research and guidance showing the benefits of using wellbeing cost effectiveness to measure the wellbeing impact of three Spirit of 2012 grants.

May 2024

A Lasting Impact? Tracing the Volunteer Legacy of UK Events

Research from DHA exploring different models of leaving a long term impact from event volunteering programmes including 3 Commonwealth Games, UK Cities of Culture and London 2012.

Jun 2025

A Lasting Impact? Tracing the Volunteer Legacy of UK Events – Highlights

Top takeaways for event organisers and volunteer managers based on DHA’s research into event volunteering

Jun 2025

Reflections on the Volunteering Cities Grants

The final report from Neighbourly Lab’s evaluation of Spirit’s Volunteering Cities Fund, exploring how cultural volunteering programmes can improve place based volunteering infrastructure

Jun 2025

Building better volunteering programmes – Highlights

Top takeaways for place-based volunteer managers based on Neighbourly Lab’s research into the Volunteering Cities Fund.

Jun 2025

14-NOW

A follow up to Fourteen, giving three Northern Ireland communities the means to fund activities for their wider community inspired by the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

The Inspired Action Toolkit

This toolkit from British Red Cross shows how to recruit, support, and retain young volunteers—especially those from underrepresented groups—by breaking down barriers and creating inclusive, meaningful opportunities for social action

Mar 2017

Volunteering Together: Inclusive Volunteering and Disabled People

Mixed methods research by Kim Donahue, Christine Goodall, Veronique Jochum and Daiga Kamerade using Understanding Society data and qualitative interviews to understand how to make volunteering more inclusive for disabled people.

Sep 2022

Unlimited Impact: Colourfull

Unlimited Impact-funded artist Joanne Haines summarises her self-led project “Colourfull”

Jan 2019

Moment to Movement: The Great Get Togethers – summary

This summary evaluation report from Jo Cox Foundation describes the impact of their Great Get Togthers and Great Winter Get Togethers hosted between 2020 and 2023.

Dec 2023

Moment to Movement: The Great Get Togethers – full report

This evaluation report from Jo Cox Foundation describes the impact of their Great Get Togthers and Great Winter Get Togethers hosted between 2020 and 2023.

Dec 2023

The Great Winter Get Together Impact Report 2023

This impact report from the Jo Cox Foundation describes the achievements of the Great Winter Get Togethers.

May 2023

The Great Get Togethers Digital Storytelling Toolkit

This communications toolkit based on the Jo Cox Foundation’s Great Get Togethers gives community event organisers ideas to tell the story across social platforms.

Apr 2020

Reimagining Volunteering – Toolkit

Toolkit by Neighbourly Lab applying lessons from their research about what motivates people informal ‘helping out’ behaviours rather than volunteering.

Jul 2023

Reimagining Volunteering – Research Report

Neighbourly Lab research based on the Coronation exploring what motivates people to ‘help out’ in their communities, and how we can increase the number of people who do.

Jul 2023

Glasgow 2014 Polling Briefing

This report presents findings from a national survey on the legacy of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, revealing strong public belief in its lasting benefits—including increased civic pride, improved sports participation, and enhanced international reputation—while offering insights for future event planning and policy.

May 2024

WOW Foundation – Theory of Change

This image shows the WOW Foundation’s logic model, produced as part of an incubation grant from Spirit of 2012 as WOW established itself as an independent charity in 2019, after being hosted by the Southbank Centre.

Mar 2025

Youth Advisory Panel – learning briefing

This report reflects on the six-year journey of Spirit of 2012’s Youth Advisory Panel, highlighting its impact on decision-making, youth development, and lessons for future youth engagement initiative

Sep 2021

Everyone Can Write A Song: Reflections on the Carers Music Fun

The What Works Centre for Wellbeing explain what projects providing music making for carers can tell us about how to increase wellbeing (6 pages)

Jun 2021

Capital of Sport – briefing paper

Counsel and Lougborough University’s policy paper on the implications of their scoping study for a new model of sporting event based on the UK City of Culture Competition.

May 2024

Capital of Sport – executive summary

Counsel and Lougborough University’s summary of their scoping study for a new model of sporting event based on the UK City of Culture Competition.

May 2024

Case Study of Hull 2017 City of Culture by InFocus

This case study, conducted midway through Hull’s UK City of Culture year, explores the impact of Spirit of 2012’s funding on community engagement, wellbeing, and volunteering, with a focus on the LGBT50 Pride Festival and Depart, a visually stunning Circus show performed in a graveyard.

Oct 2017

Case Study of Voluntary Arts by InFocus

This case study explores the impact of a £1m grant to Voluntary Arts for work to support Voluntary Arts Week, and strengthen their support for community arts organisations across the UK.

Sep 2016

Case Study of Inclusive Futures by InFocus

This case study examines the Inclusive Futures project by the Youth Sports Trust, focusing on how it was engaging young disabled volunteers in Manchester through sports events and regular volunteering, and its success in empowering young people and promoting social inclusion .

Sep 2016

Moment to Movement e-learning module

This training course takes community event organisers through the steps they can take to make it more likely that their one-off events lead to longer term change.

Oct 2020

Do It For Real: Funny Business – Evaluation

Through the energy of Red Nose Day, ‘Do It For Real’ inspired thousands of young people to step up as community changemakers—boosting confidence, fostering connections, and proving that social action can be fun, impactful, and life-changing.

Jun 2016

Do it for Real: Sport Relief – Evaluation

This report evaluates the ‘Good Sports Wanted’ initiative, showing how Sport Relief 2016 inspired young people to lead community events, develop skills, and foster positive social change

Jul 2016

Volunteering Spirit Wales – Evaluation Report

This evaluation of the Volunteering Spirit Wales project examines how event volunteering can be better managed, more inclusive, and more rewarding—offering key insights, practical tools, and lessons learned for organisations looking to improve volunteer experiences.

Aug 2017

Fourteen

Giving local people the means to fund activities that make a difference to wellbeing and social connection in fourteen communities across the UK.

Get Out Get Active – Evaluation of Phase 2

This evaluation by Wavehill shows how Activity Alliance’s GOGA brought disabled and non-disabled people together to increase their physical activity, with a high social return on investment.

Jul 2024

Get Out Get Active – Evaluation of Phase 1

This full evaluation report from Wavehill shows how the first phase of Activity Alliance’s GOGA brought disabled and non-disabled people together to increase their physical activity.

Mar 2020

Get Out Get Active – Summary of Phase 1

This evaluation report slide deck shows how the first phase of Activity Alliance’s GOGA brought disabled and non-disabled people together to increase their physical activity.

Mar 2020

Camp Glasgow and the Pop Up Games

This evaluation report from Streetgames shows the impact of activities to engage young people with the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

Nov 2014

Coventry 2021 Caring City Evaluation

This evaluation describes the impact of Caring City, one of the major programme strands of Coventry 2021 UK City of Culture.

Mar 2023

Why Windrush Matters Today

Public opinion research by British Future exploring how the anniversary of Windrush can be used to create impactful events in communities across the UK.

May 2023

Celebrating Windrush: A Toolkit for Event Organisers

Practical guidance for event organisers on how to design and deliver inclusive events to mark the anniversary of Windrush.

May 2023

Festivals Connect: An Evidence Review

This literature review from the Centre for Culture, Sport and Events at the University of the West of Scotland summarises the evidence on the ways events and festivals can support equality, diversity and inclusion impacts.

Jun 2024

Festivals Connect: EDI Playbook

This guide produced by the Centre for Culture, Sport and Events and the University of the West of Scotland, based on research with Glasgow events such as the Mela and UCI World Champions 2023 provides step by step advice on how to build equality, diversity and inclusion into festivals and events.

Dec 2024

Moments to Connect: The Year of the King evaluation report

This evaluation explores the impact of Jack Drum’s intergenerational festival to mark the Coronation of Charles III in Crook, County Durham.

May 2024

Moments to Connect: The Spirit of Windrush evaluation report

This evaluation report explores the impact of the Maritime Museum and Caribbean Social Forum’s festival to mark the 75th anniversary of Windrush.

Mar 2024

Big Big Sing Evaluation Report

This report describes the impact of a UK-wide mass singing initiative connected to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games that reached over 800,000

Mar 2015

National Paralympic Day Research Report

This report shares audience research on the impact of the National Paralympic Day festivals, designed to introduce disabled and non-disabled people to paralympic sport as part of the ongoing legacy of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Aug 2015

Our Day Out: The Perspective of Carers

This research looks at the impact of Creative Arts East’s participatory project on the unpaid carers taking part.

Jan 2019

Our Day Out: Wellbeing Dosage Research

This research looks at the use of the Canterbury Wellbeing Scale to understand the wellbeing impact of creative activity on people with a dementia.

Jan 2019

Creating a Moment for Someone Else: Artist Reflections on Our Day Out

This research looks at the impact of Creative Arts East’s participatory project for people with a dementia and their carers, on the artists leading the work.

Jan 2019

Our Day Out Evaluation 2016 – 2022

This evaluation explores Creative Arts East’s arts and culture project for people living with a dementia and their carers.

Mar 2023

Legacy 2014 Physical Activity Fund Evaluation

This report covers the outcomes of the Scottish Government’s innovative physical activity programme from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Jun 2017

Legacy 2014 Physical Activity Fund Executive Summary

This executive summary covers the outcomes of the Scottish Government’s innovative physical activity programme from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Jun 2017

Leeds 2023 and Bradford 2025: Shared Cultural Futures

This report explores how we can improve knowledge transfer between events, exploring how ringfencing time and funding for collaboration supported knowledge transfer between two large-scale Years of Culture in Yorkshire.

Aug 2024

Making Routes Guide To Accessible Recruitment

Learning from Oasis Play on how to make recruitment for cultural festivals inclusive for disabled artists.

Feb 2018

Making Routes Festival

This evaluation by Oasis Play describes the outcomes of a three day inclusive family festival run in collaboration between South London Gallery, Battersea Arts Centre and Osis Play.

Feb 2018

The Impact of Making Routes Festivals on Perceptions of Disability

Learning from Oasis Play on how their cultural festival contributed to improving perceptions of disability – a replicable model for gathering rich qualitative insights on topics that are hard to measure through surveys.

Feb 2018

Making Routes – Artist Residencies

This report by Oasis Play summarises the process, impact and challenges of artist residences at 3 South London locations in the months before a 3 day community festival.

Feb 2018

Making Routes – Festival Picture Book

This illustrated picture book depicts the events of the Making Routes festival, a 3 day inclusive family event run by Oasis Play, the South London Gallery and Battersea Arts Centre.

Feb 2018

Making Routes Evaluation Methodologies

Oasis Play’s summary of the evaluation approach taken across the Making Routes community festival, packed with replicable ideas for inclusive evaluation.

Feb 2018

Making Routes – An Illustrated Introduction

This illustrated picture book introduces the Making Routes festival, a 3 day inclusive family event run by Oasis Play, the South London Gallery and Battersea Arts Centre.

Feb 2018

Social Value of Community Events – Final Summary Report

This process report describes how the Centre for Culture, Sport and Events at the University of the West of Scotland put together the resources for community event organisers as part of the Social Value of Community events project.

Dec 2021

Social Value of Community Events- Literature Review

This literature review from the University of Westminster and University of the West of Scotland simply summarises the evidence for the social impact of events, finding 6 main areas for community event organisers to consider.

Mar 2021

Social Value of Community Events Toolkit

This easy to use guide can support community event organisers to think through how to understand and measure their social impact.

Dec 2021

Social Value of Community Events – editable template

This simple template can be used by community event organisers to plan their evaluation.

Dec 2021

A Model for Community and Individual Wellbeing

As part of Different People, Same Place the team mapped mechanisms that link community and individual wellbeing, and inequalities, together. The result is the Model of Individual and Community Wellbeing.

Mar 2022

Different People, Same Place – technical report

Investigating the relationships between individual and place-based community wellbeing through Understanding Society and qualitative interviews. Research by Laura Kudrna, Oyinlola Oyebode, Laura Quinn, Sarah Atkinson and Sarah Stewart-Brown in partnership with the What Works Centre for Wellbeing. Funded by Spirit of 2012 and the Centre for Aging Better

Mar 2022

Different People, Same Place – briefing

A policy and practice briefing based by the What Works Centre for Wellbeing on a new model for the relationship between individual and community wellbeing.

Mar 2022

Creating The Golden Thread

This report by Warwick Business School proposes how we can strengthen the UK events ecosystem to make sure events are more than the sum of their parts.

Jun 2024

Aggregating Events Data

This report examines how data from major cultural and sporting events can be aggregated, using examples from UNBOXED, Birmingham 2022 Festival, and Coventry City of Culture 2021 to highlight the challenges bringing together audience data, with recommendations for improving future data collection and analysis

Jan 2024

Events Data observatory – A feasibility study

This report by FRY Creative sets out a clear case for a UK Events Data Observatory to improve knowledge transfer and impact analysis for major events.

Jun 2024

Volunteering Cities Insights: Conditions for Success

This research by Neighbourly Lab, explores some of the factors that support City of Culture bidding cities to build on the momentum of their bid and improve their volunteering infrastructure, regardless of whether they are successful in securing the designation.

Jun 2023

Belong’s findings on the Power of Community Events

Report on the findings from the Spirit of 2012 archive about the impact of events on social cohesion and connection

Sep 2024

Creative Pathways to Wellbeing – Case Study Synthesis

This report from the What Works Centre to Wellbeing explores the impact of Spirit of 2012’s grant funding on wellbeing using case study synthesis – an approach that could be widely used across the third sector to provide compelling insights into how projects achieve wellbeing impacts.

Apr 2024

Do It For Real: impact and learning report

Discover how Comic Relief’s Do It For Real programme empowered over 3,000 young social entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into impactful ventures

Sep 2018

England Athletics’ Team Spirit evaluation report

This report explores the impact of the Team Spirit programme on volunteering in athletics, highlighting key insights, case studies, and lessons learned to improve engagement, diversity, and volunteer experiences

Jan 2020

EmpowHER Legacy Report (Slides)

A summary version of the evaluation of a three-year follow up project to a highly successful youth social action project, exploring if and how the model could be scaled.

Sep 2023

EmpowHER Legacy – report

An evaluation of a three-year follow up project to a highly successful youth social action project, exploring if and how the model could be scaled.

Sep 2023

EmpowHER Final Evaluation report

An evaluation of EmpowHER, a three year social action programme for girls and young women inspired by the centenary of Women’s Suffrage.

Feb 2022

EmpowHER Leaders of the Future

The research answers two questions: What is the strategic benefit of providing youth social action for the youth organisation? And What is the journey of participants following their engagement with youth social action?

Feb 2022

EmpowHER – Learnings for policy

A briefing for policy makers based on findings from UK Youth’s social action project for girls and young women.

Feb 2022

EmpowHER – Learnings for funders

A briefing for funders based on findings from UK Youth’s social action project for girls and young women.

Feb 2022

EmpowHER – Learnings for youth sector

A briefing for the youth sector based on findings from UK Youth’s social action project for girls and young women.

Feb 2022

EmpowHER – core and flex model

A one-page summary of UK Youth’s EmpowHER model, showing how the project design included core elements that research showed helped to drive impact, with flexibility for local delivery.

Feb 2022

Shared Goals – Research report

This report examines how football clubs can foster social connections across diverse communities, using case studies from Brentford FC and Huddersfield Town AFC to highlight the role of clubs in building inclusive belonging, tackling prejudice, and strengthening local identities

May 2024

Cultural Transformations – the Impact of Hull 2017 City of Culture

The interim evaluation report from Hull 2017 outlines the initial impact of the year long cultural festival.

Mar 2018

Square Peg (Hull 2017 City of Culture) Evaluation

This evaluation examines how the Square Peg programme, delivered by Artlink as part of the Hull 2017 UK City of Culture, supported disabled and diverse artists and audiences, highlighting lessons for future accessibility in cultural programming.

Jun 2018

Hull Volunteering – report

This in-depth evaluation of Hull 2017’s Volunteering programme during its City of Culture year celebrates the impact of the programme whilst providing key insights for future event volunteering programmes.

Nov 2019

Briefing – Creative Pathways to Wellbeing – Case Study Synthesis

This briefing from the What Works Centre to Wellbeing summarises the impact of Spirit of 2012’s grant funding on wellbeing using case study synthesis – an approach that could be widely used across the third sector to provide compelling insights into how projects achieve wellbeing impacts.

Apr 2024

Breaking Boundaries: Final Evaluation Report

This report shows how Youth Sport Trust and Sporting Equals’ Breaking Boundaries used youth social action and the Cricket 2017 and 19 World Cups to bring diverse communities together and fostering meaningful connections across five English cities.

May 2023

Breaking Boundaries: Final Evaluation – Exec Sum

This executive summary shows how Youth Sport Trust and Sporting Equals’ Breaking Boundaries used youth social action and the Cricket 2017 and 19 World Cups to bring diverse communities together and fostering meaningful connections across five English cities.

May 2023

Critical Mass Evaluation

An in-depth evaluation of the Critical Mass inclusive dance project, highlighting its success in fostering genuine inclusion, improving participants’ wellbeing, and creating lasting social connections through mass cast participation in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival.

Jan 2023

Critical Mass Playbook for Inclusive Events

A step by step guide produced by Fabric and the Birmingham 2022 Cultural Programme on how to create more inclusive major events, based on learnings from the Critical Mass programme.

Jan 2023

Critical Mass Evaluation (Easy Read)

An Easy Read version of the Critical Mass inclusive dance project as part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival

Feb 2023

Team London Young Ambassadors Evaluation

This report explores the impact of the GLA’s schools-based social action programme for young people, which began during London 2012.

Nov 2016

Carers UK – Reflections on the Carers Music Fund

A two page summary from Carers UK on the role of music making for improving the lives of carers

Jun 2023

Volunteer Wellbeing: What Works and Who Benefits?

An 8 page briefing from the What Works Centre for Wellbeing summarising the results of a rapid evidence review on the link between volunteering and subjective wellbeing

Oct 2020

Volunteers and Wellbeing: A Theory of Change

A model for how volunteering can lead to increased wellbeing.

Oct 2020

Changing Lives Through Sport and Physical Activity – Executive Summary

The executive summary of the final evaluation of the Changing Lives Fund, a partnership between Spirit of 2012, The Robertson Trust, Sport Scotland the Scottish Government to support sports and non-sports organisations to partner up to achieve social outcomes through sport.

Aug 2022

Changing Lives Through Sport and Physical Activity – Final Evaluation Report

An evaluation of the Changing Lives Fund, a partnership between Spirit of 2012, The Robertson Trust, Sport Scotland the Scottish Government to support sports and non-sports organisations to partner up to achieve social outcomes through sport.

Aug 2022

Fourteen – Final Evaluation

An evaluation by Wavehill of a three year UK wide project led by UKCF and Springboard, putting residents groups in the lead of creating fun, participatory activity for their wider community, sparked by the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Sep 2018

Inspire 2022 Final Evaluation

This evaluation report of UK Youth’s Inspire 2022 explores the impact of events-based social action on young people and their wider community.

Mar 2024

Get Out Get Active – Summary of Phase 2

This summary report highlights key achievements of the second phase of GOGA, a UK-wide inclusive physical activity programme led by Activity Alliance.

Jul 2024

GOGA Volunteer Resources Roadmap

A poster showing stages of the volunteer journey based on learning from Get Out Get Active

Feb 2025

Inquiry – Report 2: The Economic Impact of Sporting, Cultural, Commemorative and Community Events

An IPPR summary of the evidence related to the economic benefits of evidences produced as part of the Power of Events Inquiry

Aug 2022

Inquiry – Report 3: Seizing The Moment: Why events matter for social connection and shared identity

A British Future summary of the evidence related to the social cohesion potential of events produced as part of the Power of Events Inquiry

Sep 2022

Power of Events Inquiry – Final report

This report presents the results of a major national inquiry into how events can help build connected, happy, and thriving communities

Jan 2023

Power of Events Inquiry – Executive summary

This report provides the executive summary of a major national inquiry into how events can help build connected, happy, and thriving communities

Jan 2023

Spirit of 2012 Detailed Theory of Change

A poster showing Spirit of 2012’s original theory of change with the detailed outcomes pathways mapped out when designing its funding programmes.

Mar 2016

The Wellbeing Impacts of Liverpool’s Eurovision 2023

This report explores the social impact of Liverpool hosting Eurovision 2023, highlighting how the event fostered community pride, increased social connections, and enhanced well-being for residents and visitors, with insights into the lasting benefits of major cultural events.

Oct 2023

Sporting Equality Fund Evaluation

This evaluation summarises the impact of the Scottish Government’s Sporting Equality Fund, 14 projects aimed at removing barriers for girls and women to take part in physical activity.

Mar 2019

Investing In Happiness: Creating impact through funding event legacies

A Spirit of 2012 authored report exploring the impact of our first three years of funding

Oct 2017

Carers Music Fund – a summary

A Spirit of 2012 authored executive summary of the impacts of the Carers Music Fund, ten projects designed to support the wellbeing of unpaid female carers through music-making.

Jun 2023

Our Impact: Ten Years of Investing In Happiness

Published on Spirit’s tenth birthday, this report summarises the impact of our grant funding.

Nov 2023

Carers Music Fund – Final Evaluation

Apteligen’s independent evaluation of the Carers Music Fund, a programme of ten music making projects for unpaid carers, funded by the DCMS Tampon Tax.

Jun 2021

“When we sing it sounds like there are more of us”: Findings from the first cohort of the Carers Music Fund

The What Works Centre for Wellbeing’s insights on the first cohort of the Carers Music Fund, a programme of ten music making projects for unpaid carers, funded by the DCMS Tampon Tax.

Nov 2020

Capital of Sport – technical report

This report by Loughborough University and Counsel explores the feasibility of a UK Capital of Sport initiative, assessing models for a national event that could boost health, wellbeing, and community engagement through sport, with insights from over 150 stakeholders and recommendations for policymakers.

Jul 2024

Capital of Sport Policy Briefing

This policy briefing explores the feasibility of a UK Capital of Sport initiative, assessing models for a national event that could boost health, wellbeing, and community engagement through sport, with insights from over 150 stakeholders and recommendations for policymakers.

Oct 2024

Improving Social Connectedness Lessons learnt from social sector organisations funded by Spirit of 2012

A report by Renaisi as part of their three year learning partnership to understand Spirit’s learning on social connection.

Feb 2023

Changing perceptions of disability through sports, arts, and culture

A report by Renaisi as part of their three year learning partnership to understand Spirit’s learning on disability inclusion

Sep 2022

Understanding, supporting, and measuring wellbeing

A report by Renaisi as part of their three year learning partnership to understand Spirit’s learning on wellbeing.

Dec 2022

InFocus Evaluation 2013-2017

Spirit’s first independent evaluation report by InFocus, covering the first three years of our grant funding.

Oct 2017

Spirit’s Reflection on InFocus Evaluation

A summary report from Spirit on our achievements in our first three years.

Oct 2017

The Spirit of 2012 Funding Approach

This case study explores how Spirit of 2012 evolved as a learning organisation and funder between 2014 and 2017, highlighting its adaptive approach to grant-making, stakeholder engagement, and commitment to outcomes-based funding inspired by the legacy of the 2012 London Games.

Oct 2017

Case Study of WOW Bradford by InFocus

This case study explores the impact of three Women of the World festivals in Bradford, including a map of the many connections sparked by the event.

Dec 2017

Case Study of Get Out Get Active by InFocus

This case study examines the early implementation of Activity Alliance’s Get Out Get Active (GOGA) programme in one location (Manchester), highlighting its inclusive approach to physical activity for disabled and non-disabled people, its strong emphasis on volunteering and partnership working, and its potential to improve wellbeing, confidence, and community connectedness

Oct 2017

14-NOW Final Evaluation

This evaluation report explores the impact of 14-NOW, a three year follow up to the Fourteen project in Northern Ireland, exploring how community resident groups in Belfast, Derry/Londonderry and Limavady put on activities for their wider community with support for Springboard

Apr 2022

Case Study of Springboard’s Fourteen programme by InFocus

This case study explores how the Fourteen programme used the inspiration of Glasgow 2014 to give community groups powers to decide what to fund in their local areas. It looks at the programme mid-delivery in Northern Ireland.

Oct 2017

Case Study of Spirit of Rugby by InFocus

This case study explores the Spirit of Rugby project by the Rugby Football Union, which used the inspiration of the 2015 Rugby World Cup to engage 16-24 year olds in rugby through community-led projects, increasing participation and volunteering, and promoting social connectedness and empowerment

Sep 2016

Case Study of Inspired Action by InFocus

This case study details the Inspired Action project by the British Red Cross, which aims to inspire young people to volunteer, improve access to volunteering for young disabled and non-disabled people, and challenge negative perceptions of disability

Sep 2016

A case study of Unlimited by InFocus

This case study evaluates how Unlimited Impact supports young disabled artists and cultural organisations to challenge perceptions of disability and increase accessibility in the arts.

Oct 2015

Infocus ASDA case study

This case study examines how the Asda Active Sports Leaders Programme expanded sports leadership training, particularly in disadvantaged areas, to empower young people, promote volunteering, and challenge perceptions of disability

Oct 2015

A case study of StreetGames’ Glasgow 2014 by InFocus

This case study examines how StreetGames’ youth engagement programme for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, including Camp Glasgow and Pop-Up Clubs, engaged disadvantaged young people in sport, empowered volunteers, and fostered community cohesion

Oct 2015

A case study of Sporting Memories by Infocus

This case study explores how Sporting Memories Foundation uses sports reminiscence and intergenerational activities to improve the wellbeing of older people, particularly those with dementia, while empowering young people through meaningful social connections

Oct 2015

Moment to Movement InFocus report

How can community events best spark longer lasting change? Infocus worked with the Jo Cox Foundation, WOW Foundation and Springboard to explore the common ingredients and barriers to success.

Oct 2020

Evaluation of the Thrive Toolkit

This report reviews how users were accessing the early versions of the online Thrive Toolkit, designed for physical activity practitioners. It could be used by others creating digital resources for training.

Mar 2019

Helping grantees reach their target audiences – reflections on Spirit of 2012’s approach

A reflective research report by InFocus on how Spirit of 2012’s grantees chose the ‘target groups’ for their activities, and what impact that might have on their outcomes.

Mar 2019

Helping grantees reach their target audiences – a guide for grant managers

A step by step guide produced by InFocus for grant managers to support their grant holders to reflect on how they decide who their projects could most benefit and why.

Mar 2019

The Impacts of Volunteering on the Subjective Wellbeing of Volunteers: A Rapid Evidence Assessment

This report provides a comprehensive assessment of how volunteering positively impacts the subjective wellbeing of volunteers, offering valuable insights for practitioners, policy makers, and funders to enhance volunteer programs and opportunities. Authored by Joanna Stuart, Dr Daiga Kamerāde, Dr Sara Connolly, Dr Angela Ellis Paine, Dr Geoff Nichols, and Dr Jurgen Grotz

Oct 2020

Step Change: Working Together Towards and Active Society

A synthesis of Spirit of 2012’s evidence on increasing physical activity with 8 core principles to follow.

May 2022

Inspiring A Generation: Lessons from funding youth social action

A synthesis of Spirit of 2012’s evidence on why and how you can use events to provide high quality youth social action opportunities.

Aug 2024

Inspiring A Generation – Executive summary

A summary of our thematic report into youth social action and volunteering at and inspired by events.

Mar 2025

Music and Wellbeing – Insights from Grant Funding

A synthesis of lessons from Spirit of 2012’s grant funding to music-making projects explaining how they can best be delivered to increase wellbeing.

Feb 2024

Making Events Work For Everyone

A synthesis of Spirit of 2012’s evidence on disability inclusion and events.

Dec 2023

Inquiry – Report 1: How Events Can Boost Volunteering – Executive summary

Executive summary of the launch report to Spirit of 2012’s independent inquiry into major events focusing on volunteering impacts.

Nov 2021

Inquiry – Report 1: How Events Can Boost volunteering

The launch report to Spirit of 2012’s independent inquiry into major events focusing on volunteering impacts.

Nov 2021

Sound Creators Evaluation UK Youth

Apr 2025

Shared Cultural Futures

A partnership between two major events organisers to share knowledge and insights and create a guide for other cities hosting events.

Moments to Connect – FestivalsConnect

A research project which will be conducted by the University of the West of Scotland

Moments to Connect – Our Lives, Our Legacy

Using the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement to bring young people together across the sectarian divide.

Moments to Connect – The Spirit of Windrush

Participatory community activities and an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush.

Moments to Connect – Windrush 75: Shared past, shared future

A research project seeking ways to make the anniversary of Windrush a national, inclusive moment.

Eurovision 2023

A £200,000 grant to support a schools engagement programme and an evaluation to measure the impact of Eurovision on the health and wellbeing of Liverpool’s residents.

Moments To Connect

£300,000 to seven programmes designed to explore how the major national events of 2023 can connect individuals and communities across social divides.

Inspire 2022

A programme of youth-led social action and community events across the UK but with focus on the needs of the whole community.

Get Set

An extension of London 2012’s education programme to inspire young people to get active and live the Olympic and Paralympic values.

Team Spirit

A programme designed to get people involved in grassroots Athletics, running, and to transform the experience and diversity of volunteering.

Cultural Shift

A comprehensive three-year programme of dynamic arts activity involving disabled people at every level.

Moments To Connect – Year of The King

An community arts festival using the Coronation to bring together different generations

Birmingham Volunteering Legacy

A grant to help establish a volunteering legacy in Birmingham following the 2022 Commonwealth Games

City To Sea

A project to empower young people to enter the game of rugby-increasing players, volunteers, coaches, event managers and other roles in 15 England communities

Spirit of Rugby

A project to empower young people to enter the game of rugby-increasing players, volunteers, coaches, event managers and other roles in 15 England communities

Hull 2017 City of Culture

Hull’s transformative City of Culture year

Hull Volunteering Programme

Hull 2017’s flagship volunteering programme

EmpowHER

To mark the centenary of women’s suffrage, our EmpowHER programme, jointly funded with the #iwill Fund aims to develop and skill up young women and girls to use their voices for positive change – just as their predecessors did 100 years ago.

WOW – Women of the World

We funded the Southbank Centre to support communities across the UK in developing their own Women of the World festivals.

Unlimited Impact

Unlimited Impact focused on developing and inspiring the next generation of disabled people passionate about making change through art.

Team London Young Ambassadors

Team London Young Ambassadors is the Mayor of London’s volunteer programme for schools.

Camp Glasgow & Doorstep Sports

Bringing the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games to young people across the UK – and bringing young people to Glasgow for the Games!

Sporting Equality Fund

Working with the Scottish Government, our Sporting Equality Fund supported no fewer than 12 projects targeting women and girls to participate in sport and physical activity.

Our Day Out

Spirit funded Creative Arts East to deliver Our Day Out, a unique dementia-friendly programme of creative arts for rurally-isolated older people in Norfolk.

National Paralympic Day

National Paralympic Day is a celebration of the Paralympic movement and an opportunity for people in the UK to come together to relive the wonder of London 2012.

Making Routes

A unique partnership between Oasis Children’s Venture, South London Gallery and Battersea Arts Centre.

Legacy 2014 Physical Activity Fund

Spirit of 2012 is a legacy partner of the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and was awarded £1.3 million by the Scottish Government to get the least active people in Scotland more active and generate learning for the benefit of the rest of Scotland.

Inspired Action

Inspired Action was run by the British Red Cross and aimed to remove barriers to volunteering for young disabled and non-disabled people.

The Great Get Together

We supported the Jo Cox Foundation to explore community connection and social action through The Great Get Together.

Get Out Get Active

Get Out, Get Active is an initiative to get people active in locations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Critical Mass

A major part of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 Cultural Festival, Critical Mass saw nearly 250 disabled and non-disabled young people from diverse backgrounds take part in inclusive dance and perform to a worldwide audience.

Coventry City of Culture

Spirit of 2012 awarded a major £1m grant to Coventry City of Culture Trust to rollout a community programme of cultural activities that address the city’s most significant social issues.

Changing Lives Through Sport And Physical Activity Fund

The Changing Lives Fund was a partnership between the Scottish Government, sportscotland, the Robertson Trust and Spirit of 2012.

Carers’ Music Fund

The Carers’ Music Fund put women and girls with caring responsibilities front and centre, providing opportunities for fun, creative expression and self (re)-discovery through music making.

Breaking Boundaries

Breaking Boundaries is a £1.8 million project bringing together young people, their families and communities through regular engagement in cricket: playing, spectating and volunteering.

Big Big Sing

In 2015, Spirit was one the funders of Big Big Sing – a project that inspired hundreds of thousands of people the length and breadth of the UK to unite in celebration of singing.