The Bereavement Supporter Project: Evaluation Report

Introduction

This report evaluates how the Coronavirus Community Support Fund (CCSF) supported community organisations during the COVID‑19 crisis. It was produced to understand how organisations used the funding and what it helped them achieve for volunteers and communities.

It’s intended for policymakers, funders and voluntary sector organisations working in crisis response.

Methodology

The evaluation used a mixed‑methods approach, combining:

• large‑scale surveys of grant holders and volunteers

• grant management data

• interviews

• case studies collected between November 2020 and June 2021

This approach assessed organisational, community and volunteer experiences to understand CCSF’s contribution during the pandemic.

Findings

The research found that CCSF funding helped organisations keep running during the pandemic. It also helped them provide essential support to people most affected by COVID-19. Grant holders used funds to sustain services, adapt provision, and reach vulnerable groups.

The evaluation also found widespread positive results for beneficiaries, including:

• improved mental health

• improved wellbeing

• reduced loneliness

• increased social contact

Volunteers played a vital role, contributing capacity and community connection.

Additional benefits included strengthened organisational resilience, enhanced partnership working, and the ability to meet basic needs quickly during crisis conditions.

Considerations

These findings reflect evidence gathered during an emergency period and may not apply beyond the pandemic context. The research is based on self‑reported results and rapid‑delivery conditions, meaning results should be interpreted as new evidence of impact. Experiences may differ for organisations or communities not represented in the sample.