Our Portfolio

We believe in the importance of sharing research outputs with a wide range of audiences and use the office window to raise awareness of our work among the many thousands of people who pass by each day.

We delivered an impact and thematic evaluation of relationship-based policy and practice for the Life Changes Trust. This is the idea that positive, caring and supportive human relationships are of paramount importance and should be at the heart of work with young people who have care experience.

The evaluation spanned two strands of activity; the Creative and Active Lives Programme, and the Workforce Development Programme. Our approach to involving staff and young people was warm, inclusive and engaging; exploring experiences and learning across a series of workshops, creative evaluation sessions, interviews and events. We also analysed self-evaluation material, such as monitoring reports.

For the full report see: https://bit.ly/3GCg57z

Other recent examples include evaluations for NHS Lothian, Glasgow Film Theatre, TimeBank, One Digital, YouthLink Scotland, Princes Trust and Community Energy Scotland.

The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) commissioned our team to recruit and carry out focus groups and interviews with members of the general public who have protected characteristics.

Our cohort included LGB people, people with physical disabilities, those with learning disabilities, people with experiences of poor mental health, and people from minority ethnic communities.

The research informed SLAB’s work to refresh their equality outcomes. In addition to a final report, we made a short film to help SLAB cascade learning from the research across the organisation. Based on the strength of this approach, other clients have commissioned us to present findings in similar ways.

We have also carried out research with seldom heard groups for the National Libraries of Scotland, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Carnegie UK Trust and NHS Lothian.

In early 2022 we carried out an independent analysis of responses to the consultation on supporting Scotland's recovery from coronavirus. The consultation contained 86 questions (43 closed questions, each with an optional free-text response box). Over a two-month period, our team analysed and reported on 2,905 consultation responses. Questions covered a broad range of changes, spanning education, public health protection, public service reforms, and the impact of covid in the justice system.

For the full report see: https://bit.ly/3GjffMN

Our appointment by the Scottish Government to carry out the consultation analysis built on extensive experience, spanning strategy, policy and legislation across a range of directorates. Some of these contracts have included a requirement to deliver high-profile presentations; for example to entire directorates or selected groups of senior staff; others have involved incorporating responses shared at stakeholder engagement sessions.

Examples of our consultation analysis work for the Scottish Government are wide-ranging. They include the Land Use Strategy, Public Engagement in Climate Change, the Home Energy Equity Loan Pilot, Just Transitions to a Net Zero Economy, Offshore Wind Policy, Temporary Accommodation, Forestry, Land Ownership, Climate Change Adaptation, Environmental Protection and Governance and Rural Economic Development.

We regularly facilitate partnership workshops for this consortium of youth organisations. This involves developing and delivering half-day events with self-evaluation activities, energisers, training and creative exercises.

Each event is carefully planned, resulting in excellent feedback about the value of our sessions and how much they are enjoyed by attendees. Stemming from this success, a range of other organisations have commissioned us to facilitate partnership events, or workshops for funded programmes.

We have also delivered workshops, events or training for Prince's Trust, Life Changes Trust, the Young Women's Movement and SCVO.

Our ground-breaking work with young people for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra explored perceptions and experiences among current and potential audiences, through a series of focus groups. Some young people were recruited at concerts; others were supported to attend a concert for the first time, then took part in a focus group directly afterwards; we also facilitated the participation of young people with no experience of attending a performance.

Recent examples of focus groups include work for NHS Lothian, Scottish Legal Aid Board, and Edinburgh International Book Festival.

We have history of delivering national surveys across specific communities or sectors, often to identify unmet needs, or evidence impact. For example, The Lines Between has delivered and analysed the Union’s membership survey since 2012, covering issues such as the impact of Brexit on artists, rates of pay and contractual experiences.

Other examples of our work for membership organisations include research for the David Hume Institute, Scottish Contemporary Arts Network (SCAN), Haemophilia Scotland and the Scottish Infected Blood Forum.

Our team has carried out a number of evaluations for SCVO, exploring the impact of programmes to develop digital capacity within the voluntary sector and improve the lives of excluded people in Scotland.

Case studies of effective practice and approaches are a key feature in this work; drawing on our skills in effective storytelling, photography and design. This expertise has been honed across numerous projects and stand-alone commissions for case studies produced by The Lines Between.

An essential part of our holistic approach, is supporting the inclusion of all perspectives, including people who may be wary of taking part in research or evaluation activity and require gentle support, encouragement and reassurance in order to have their voice heard.

Recent examples of case studies include work for Life Changes Trust, Youth Scotland, Boys Brigade, Scouts Scotland and Girl Guiding Scotland.

We delivered comprehensive mapping and analysis of HES’s international activity. Our investigation of global reach and contribution went beyond the cross-border movement of staff; extending to participation in networks as well as international work taking place within Scotland.

This research involved analysis of a staff survey and follow up interviews with a sample of staff across directorates. (new line) Other examples of strategic research include work for Waitrose, Corra Foundation, Forestry Scotland and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.