What Our 2025 Evaluation Told Us — And How We’re Responding

Sleeping Giants has completed our 2025 internal evaluation: a detailed review of our work, impact and future opportunities, shaped by the voices of our clients, partners and stakeholders. The findings were incredibly encouraging, with powerful reflections on the difference our support has made and clear direction on where our work is most needed next.
 
What people told us about our work
💛 100% satisfaction
Every single respondent rated our work as excellent, very good, or good. Clients consistently described us as:

• “Inspiring”
• “Knowledgeable and professional”
• “Really listening and understanding our organisation”

One partner shared:
“The team were knowledgeable, proactive and responsive… They worked within a challenging environment and still provided excellent advice and guidance.”

The difference our work is making
The evaluation showed strong evidence that Sleeping Giants is helping organisations build confidence, clarity and long-term sustainability.

Stronger organisations

• 100% said they now had a clearer vision and values
• 100% felt better able to plan for the future
• 93% reported more effective leadership
• 79% improved governance

More sustainable and more capable
Among those who received relevant support:

• 87.5% now have more effective systems and policies
• 85.7% feel more fundable and sustainable
• 88.9% are better at gathering evidence

More confident staff and volunteers

• 95.2% said their teams were now more knowledgeable, skilled and confident
• 76.5% felt they were better able to connect and collaborate

As one respondent put it:
“It has re-ignited passion in the staff team.”
Another shared:
“It offered the opportunity to look outward rather than inward… the benefits of working collaboratively, inclusively and in partnership.”

What people want Sleeping Giants to do next
Clients and partners highlighted a number of areas where our support is especially needed:

1. Training, mentoring and peer support for new third sector managers
A striking 92.9% said there is a clear need for this.
 
2. More training in key areas
Most useful current courses included:

• Engaging excluded groups
• Safeguarding
• Confidence-building

Top requested new courses:

• Inclusive participation and co-production
• Accessible evaluation (both selected by 65.5% of respondents)

 
3. Lived experience participation
89.3% want to see us continue and expand our work in this area.
 
4. Capacity building for grassroots organisations
Lots of people want:

• Better support with bidding and commissioning
• Support with Community Wealth Building
• More accessible, relational capacity building services

 
5. Fairer, more neuroaffirming workplaces
Respondents told us this is a growing priority locally and nationally.
 
How we’re responding: linking to our new strategy
We have listened closely. These findings helped shape our 2026–2029 Strategy, and you’ll see these themes reflected directly in our strategic priorities:

• Strengthening leaders and organisations, especially small and equality-focused ones
• Building ethical, meaningful lived experience participation
• Expanding our training and mentoring offer
• Embedding neuroaffirming and inclusive practice in workplaces
• Strengthening partnerships between communities and public bodies
• Investing in our internal resilience so we can continue delivering high-quality, values-led support

👉 Read how our new strategy responds to the evaluation findings here