How we assess our impact
We listen to the feedback from young people supported by our partners, analyse outcome data and track financial and organisational development.
£2.4m
Grants made to partner charities
15
Charities in active portfolio
54%
Avg. income growth per charity 2022-25
Testimony from young people
Our portfolio partners support thousands of young people a year. This is what they say:
I have done other forms of therapy before, but nothing has been as life changing and effective as this.
Dose of Nature participant
The Running Charity gave me my life back and more. They helped me take control of the mental health problems that were consuming my life, which I thought was impossible. I’m forever grateful.
The Running Charity participant
When you're sitting down, drawing how you’re feeling, it's easier to talk about how you’re really feeling. But without having that pressure.
Comics Youth participant
The transformation in our daughter has been nothing short of extraordinary. She now has a future and she wants to be part of it.
Empire Fighting Chance parent
Of all the therapies I've had, this is the only one that has actually been helpful.
Strength and Learning Through Horses participant
Prior to coming to Dandelion, we were desperate for help with our daughter’s anxieties. Now she’s confident, happy and goes to school. She’s still got her worries but they’re under control. Just a really big change.
Dandelion Time parent
Outcome measures
In addition to qualitative feedback, we encourage our partners to adopt consistent, validated outcome measures and track the real-life impact of their interventions in helping young people re-engage with education, training or employment. For example:
- Results from an LSE-led randomised control trial showed Dose of Nature’s nature prescriptions were as effective as NHS talking therapies at a much lower cost.
- The Running Charity saw the % of their young people in employment, education or training rise from 37% to 81%.
- GRIT report 71% of their children improved their school attendance by an average of >6 days over a 5-month period due to improved mental health.
- Data on over 1,300 young people from 7 of our partners showed an average 21% improvement in wellbeing (based on SWEMWBS*).
* SWEMWBS is the short version of the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). WEMWBS was developed to enable the monitoring of mental wellbeing in the general population and the evaluation of projects, programmes and policies which aim to improve mental wellbeing.
I have done other forms of therapy before, but nothing has been as life changing and effective as this. I think the inclusion of nature in connecting to your mental health and wellbeing is such a unique and fantastic outlet and perspective and one I’ve never had in therapy beforehand. It really has changed my life and saved my life in so many ways. I will be thankful for that for the rest of it.
Dose of Nature
Partner feedback
Our time, money and experience support our partners' impact, sustainability and scaling strategies.
This is what they say about us:
We have found Chimo to be incredibly helpful as they have enabled us to network and connect with other charities. Chimo is more involved and engaged with our work than most other funders and their advice has steered our thinking on sustainability.
Dandelion Time
Partnering with Chimo has been a really exciting journey and process for us and helped us progress and professionalise in ways we hadn't anticipated.
Odd Arts
The energy Chimo bring is something that is different. They are looking for solutions and movement.
Empire Fighting Chance
Chimo’s focus on rigorous evaluation has been invaluable to our strategic goals. Their time and analytical approach to understanding our data have directly supported recent growth and efficiency gains. Their support and challenge have been invaluable.
The Wave Project
I appreciate how Chimo invests time in understanding our work and values. This helps build a genuine partnership, rather than a transactional funder-grantee relationship.
Comics Youth
It genuinely feels like being part of a supportive family with Chimo funded organisations working collaboratively and generously sharing knowledge and expertise rather than being competitive with one another
Strength and Learning Through Horses