Thoughtful evaluation to build safer systems.

We believe evaluation should do more than prove something works, it should help us understand why, for whom, and under what conditions. It should challenge assumptions, create space for reflection, and lead to practical learning that improves outcomes for people and communities.

In the context of violence, abuse, and harm, this kind of thoughtful, ethical evaluation is essential. It helps us strengthen systems, hold ourselves accountable, and design interventions that are trauma-informed, culturally competent, and rooted in real-life experience.

Our Approach

Our evaluations are built on the principles of care, curiosity, and collaboration. We work closely with organisations, frontline teams, and people with lived experience to design and deliver evaluation activity that is both rigorous and respectful.

We use a blend of methods, qualitative, quantitative, and creative, to capture the full picture. This might include interviews, surveys, case file audits, data analysis, reflective practice, or peer-led approaches. Every project is tailored to your context, capacity, and goals.

Our evaluations include both:

  • Formative approaches: to shape delivery and strengthen work as it unfolds

  • Summative approaches: to assess outcomes and generate learning for the future

Whether we’re evaluating a new intervention, developing a theory of change, or working alongside you as a critical friend, we make sure that insight leads to action, and that people feel supported throughout the process.

  • We evaluate services, projects, and models to understand both how they are delivered (process) and what difference they make (impact). This includes groupwork, training, multi-agency approaches, pilots, and longer-term programmes.

  • We work with you to map out how and why your work creates change, helping clarify outcomes, assumptions, and evidence pathways that support evaluation and strategic planning.

  • We can act as a critical friend throughout your project, embedding reflection, helping you adapt as you go, and ensuring learning is captured and used.

Examples of our research and evaluation work.

  • Evaluation of a peer based group intervention for young men that had used harmful sexual behaviour. The intervention was funded through Trust for London and was aimed at young men who used this behaviour within peer groups to work contextually with the peer group in its entirety.

  • Research to understand the needs of male victims of sexual violence and abuse. This involved a mixed methods approach including quantitative data (police reported incidents) and qualitative approaches (speaking with practitioners, officers and male victim/survivors). We conducted an online survey which received over 600 responses from men in Hertfordshire, making it the largest male survivors survey in the UK at that time. A case audit of reported cases was also undertaken to understand poice responses.

  • Literture review: Coercive control: Impacts on children and young people in the family environment. (Note: this was undertaken by our Directior whilst in a previous role at SafeLives. Davis and Associates were not directly commissioned)

  • Process evaluation of Derby City Council's Children Social Care Strategy Process for children who had experience sexual exploitation. This was participatory research with young people that had been through the process to understand what worked well and wherethere were opportunities to improve the process. (Note: Our Director was commissioned to undertake this research through her associate role with Safe and Sound)

  • Evaluation of a whole family intervention to support families that were experiencing domestic abuse. The intervention was aimed at families that were not considered to have been at high risk of harm or homicide, as an early intervention option working with those causing harm to change their behaviour, whilst supporting the adults and children in the family who were experiencing abuse. The model included a coordinator role, and embedded the principles of CRAFT including CRAFT group work programmes.

  • Research in to the needs of older adults experiencing domestic abuse. his research supported the development of a Greater Manchester wide training resource for professionals.