Information for organisations
Statisticians for Society links charitable organisations to volunteer statisticians at no cost. We support organisations that want to use data and evidence for decision making by connecting them with statistical experts in our membership.
'Having the support of a skilled dedicated resource has been beneficial for a small charity; this level of support cannot be overstated in value.'
Tracey Bancroft, Cardiff Deaf Centre
What’s our process?
When an organisation registers interest, we will contact them to determine whether they meet the criteria for pro bono support. If eligible, we will arrange a call for them with a member of our pro bono scoping committee, who will determine what form of statistical support is needed. The committee member will produce a scoping brief which we will send to the organisation for approval.
When the signed scoping form is returned, we will put a call out to our members asking them to express of interest in the opportunity. We will then match the organisation with a volunteer statistician, or team of statisticians, with the relevant expertise for the project. The statistician will be introduced to the organisation and, following this meeting, they will work together to produce a detailed project plan containing the agreed timeline, which will be signed by both parties.
During the project, a mid-way review call will be arranged for the volunteer with a member of our review panel, an independent volunteer statistician who reviews the project outputs and provides guidance and advice before they are handed over to participating organisation. After the volunteer has a draft version of the deliverables written up, the reviewer will help identify areas for attention and check that the needs of the organisation have been met.
Once the project is complete, we will arrange a call with the organisation and volunteer to discuss their experience and providing feedback.
Apply for pro bono support
We draw on the expertise of our members to support organisations right from the start. We will help your organisation define its statistical request and support you until the project is complete.
Selection criteria
To be eligible for the initiative, an organisation must be:
- A third sector organisation
- Based in the UK
- Have an annual turnover of less than £1 million
If your organisation does not meet the main criteria but wishes to be considered, we would like to hear from you. Please contact Emma Lawford to discuss your potential project.
Disclaimer: S4S operates on a pro bono basis. While the scheme incorporates mechanisms to assess the quality of the work undertaken and to disclose any limitations to the organisation, this does not constitute a statistical consultancy service. The Royal Statistical Society cannot be held liable for any outcomes or consequences arising from the use of the outputs of the S4S scheme.