Content by
Case study template: how to write about your community project
Content by
A simple template for writing a community case study, with prompts for each section and a real worked example to show the style and voice to aim for.
What should a community case study include?
Say who the case study is about and describe the area and the people who live there. Explain why action was needed, then set out what happened: the activities, who was involved, how many people benefited, the challenges and the impact. Finish with lessons learnt, future plans and a contact for press enquiries.
How do you write a good case study?
Speak to the people involved and use their own words where you can. Include specific details, such as numbers and dates, and be honest about challenges as well as successes. Get consent from anyone you name, quote or photograph before you publish, and agree who should be the contact for any press enquiries.
What is this guide and who is it for?
This template from Local Trust helps you write a case study about a community project, local group, place or person. It gives you prompts for each section, from background and local context to impact and future plans. It includes a worked example about the Grove Co-operative, a community shop in Skinningrove, East Cleveland.
The example shows the style and voice to aim for, but it was written in 2015. Its facts and details are historical and shouldn’t be reused as current information.
This guide will be useful to community groups, community organisations and residents who want to capture their work for funders, partners, local media or their own website.
What will I learn?
- Choosing who your case study is about
- Describing your area and who lives there
- Explaining why action was needed
- Setting out what happened, who was involved and the impact
- Including challenges and how you overcame them
- Capturing lessons and future plans
- Choosing a contact for press enquiries
- How a finished case study reads, using a real example
Attribution
Produced by Local Trust as How to write a case study (July 2015). The worked example features the Grove Co-operative in Skinningrove, East Cleveland. Adapted by Locality for MyCommunity.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike licence.
You might also like
Find your voice and tell powerful stories
Tell powerful community stories that connect with people and inspire action.
Content by
Tips for sharing your story with the media
Prepare for media interviews and share your community story clearly and confidently.
Content by
How to tell your story in a compelling way
We connect to people’s stories better than facts and figures.
Content by
The digital toolkit for communities
Find digital tools to collaborate, communicate and engage your community online.
Content by
Evergreen Collective: A sense of belonging
Evergreen, a Muslim female-led organisation, offering everything from boxing to cycling to arts.
Content by
Giving power to young people through youth engagement
Give young people influence with practical tips on creative participation and youth-led decisions.
Content by
Effective communications and media relations
How to communicate the work of your charity or community group effectively
Content by
Content by
Media coverage that benefits your organisation and beneficiaries
Building effective relationships with the press and media
Content by
Create a free account
Create a My Community account today and get our latest resources and tools delivered straight to your inbox.