GYM's Outcome Focus and Evaluation: Measuring our Impact

Outcome focus & evaluation

We need to see results

The Guiding Young Minds service is committed to achieving outcomes. If our work did not result in changes in young people’s lives and reduced violence in our society then the service would not be worthwhile.

GYM uses the following accredited psychometric tools to measure outcomes:

Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ
Revised Impact of Event Scale (R-IES)
Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire
Buss & Perry Aggression Questionnaire
Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions (3) (ESYTC)

Getting Recognised

Guiding Young Minds work has been rigorously evaluated and highly commended by some of the most prestigious organizations in the industry.

Click to read about more these evaluations

GYMs Youth Endowment Fund Evaluation

From 2019 to 2022 Guiding Young Minds underwent comprehensive evaluation by the Youth Endowment Fund.

This involved both comprehensive collection and evaluation of outcome data and also interviews with young people, parents, teachers and social workers.

Comments from the YEF report included:

"All interviewees were positive about the support they had received from GYM"

“A strength of the project was the deployment of mentors with lived experience who were considered credible and relatable by the client group (a point reinforced by service users).”

“The young people targeted by GYM were regarded as being largely neglected or overlooked by local services. Families could often be found in a state of crisis. Trauma, crime and violence were consistent features of the young people’s lives. The absence of a stable, pro-social male role model in many children’s lives was common.”

“Parents described being grateful for the support offered by GYM as often there was limited alternative provision on offer”.

In March 2024 a Joint targeted area inspection of Coventry was carried out by inspectors from Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP).

The Inspectors highlighted Guiding Young Minds as a highly effective practice within the city:

” The Guiding Young Minds project is an outreach community-based provision that offers mentoring and specialist holistic services to children. Guiding Young Minds has established four youth clubs in areas of high crime and antisocial behaviour. These youth clubs offer a safe space and access to support for children and young people who require it. Children benefit from positive activities that occupy their time purposefully, meaning they avoid spending time unsupervised on the streets. A mobile outreach van is also offered to engage with communities at times of heightened tensions and antisocial behaviour to offer the community a safe space and source of support. “

The importance of feedback

Collecting feedback is another very important way of finding out to what extent GYM has helped a young person.

Click on the links to read feedback from:

Young Mentees Feedback

The voices of young people themselves are the most powerful testament to GYM’s impact. They speak of finding support, new friendships, and mentors who care about their futures. Many share how the programme has helped them build self-confidence, discover new talents, and envision a future beyond gang life.

"You’ve sent me down the right path when my life wasn't really going right."

“They just know, like, what it’s like to be naughty and that, because they’ve all done it, so… they just understand you, and they’re just good to speak to.”

“At first I thought it was just like a therapy type thing, but then I realised its not; its like the complete opposite. …It’s like you are talking to your mate really. (...) He just tells you what’s what…what’s going to happen if you do this, if you carry on.”

Parents Feedback

Parents offer a unique perspective on the positive changes in their children’s behaviour, attitudes, and well-being. They share stories of improved relationships, renewed trust, and a hopeful future – highlighting the profound impact GYM has had on their families.

“I was very, very sceptical: how are you going to put some ex-gang worker with a child that likes to cause trouble…? And really – GYM is brilliant, genuinely... My son’s really changed his ways, which is lovely because he was a kid that wanted to go out and do nothing but cause trouble.”

“I had been in contact with CAMHS……I had been in contact with absolutely everybody, and nobody managed to get through to my child the way GYM has”.

“Hey, it's J’s mum just updating you on J. He’s done amazing! He has got into college doing bricklaying! I'm soo proud of him and I thought I'd let u know how far he has changed and how much your help and support for him and us has got him a better future. Thank you”

Police Feedback

Feedback from the police shows the wider community benefits of GYM’s work. Officers report a reduction in gang activity and anti-social behaviour among those involved in the programme. They recognise GYM as a key partner in diverting at-risk youth from crime, helping to build trust between young people and law enforcement.

“As far as I am aware he hasn’t been involved in any incidents since starting work with GYM, I have heard nothing of concern”

“No nothing (arrests or incidents) She is doing really well. I’ll be looking to close her file”.

“FS hasn’t come to our attention since his initial referral. There has been nothing coming through on him and there is nothing new on the police system since your involvement.”

Schools Feedback

Schools witness the transformation of young people daily. Teachers report improved attendance, behaviour, and academic performance among students involved with GYM. They also note a decrease in gang-related issues, making schools safer and more inclusive environments.

“The workshop was pitched at the right level and has made the young people much more aware of gang culture in their area. GYM has become our ‘go to’ service for support if we encounter problems.”

“The workshop message was blunt but extremely effective. Hard-hitting lessons were addressed in a very contemporary manner, relevant and pertinent.

This school would highly recommend every school working with you (GYM).”

“L has made some massive improvements in comparison to his behaviour and attitude last year.”

“From our perspective we felt that the engagement you had with S was excellent. The work carried out by yourself gave her a focus and the opportunity to talk openly about her difficulties, and I firmly believe was an invaluable and a crucial piece of work. Thank you very much and would welcome working with you again if ever we unfortunately had a pupil who was requiring such intervention.”

“Motivation towards his education has very much improved since J started support from his GYM mentor”

Outcome focus & evaluation

We need to see results

Getting Recognised

GYMs Youth Endowment Fund Evaluation

From 2019 to 2022 Guiding Young Minds underwent comprehensive evaluation by the Youth Endowment Fund.

Ofsted Evaluation

The importance of feedback

Young Mentees Feedback

Parents Feedback

Police Feedback

Schools Feedback

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