Delta Community Support Trust: Building the data foundations to tell the story
Delta used Foundations Evidence to better understand the difference its free Advocacy and Budgeting Advice service makes, reflect on its practice, and know what data would best support its decisions.
"Now we know what good data looks like, it is helping us make better, more informed decisions. We understand what we need to measure, why it matters, and how to use that information to guide what we do.” - Grahame Burgess, Chief Executive Officer, Delta Community Support Trust
"Now we know what good data looks like, it is helping us make better, more informed decisions. We understand what we need to measure, why it matters, and how to use that information to guide what we do.” - Grahame Burgess, Chief Executive Officer, Delta Community Support Trust
We worked with Delta Community Support Trust to strengthen how it collects and uses data for its free Advocacy and Budgeting Advice service.
Delta Community Support Trust is a community development and social support organisation based in Christchurch. It supports older people, adults with intellectual disabilities, and people facing personal or financial hardship.
Its services range from emergency food support and pastoral care to four community cafes that use rescued food to serve affordable meals and wrap around support and education. In the year to 31 August 2025, Delta recorded more than 35,000 client engagements across its programmes.
Delta completed Foundations Evidence with ImpactLab, focusing on its free Advocacy and Budgeting Advice service. The service offers practical advocacy, budgeting support and guidance, helping people work through challenges, access their rights and entitlements, and build confidence and independence. The team wanted to better understand the difference the service makes, reflect on its practice, and know what data would best support its decisions.
What Foundations Evidence showed
- The service has a strong evidence base. The report found evidence for 10 GoodMeasure outcomes, including 'reduce debt', 'improve mental health' and 'reduce risky behaviour'.
- Delta supported 151 clients between September 2025 and February 2026. 32% returned for a second appointment and made a plan, but some of the other 68% may get what they need in that first conversation.
Better tracking of each client's journey would give a more accurate picture of engagement and impact.
What changed for Delta
Some of the most valuable work happened before any data was analysed. Agreeing what to measure meant addressing some key questions together. Working through them openly gave the team a shared view and a clear starting point.
Delta now has a consistent system for collecting data, and a clearer understanding of how evidence can inform its decisions, accountability, and strategic planning. It also gives the team a way to keep learning: seeing what's working, where people drop off, and where to adapt the service.
"For us, this work is about looking beyond the number of people we support and asking what difference our work is making, and how we can better understand that. It has given us an opportunity to step back and examine our practice, connect what we see every day with the wider evidence base, and be clearer about the outcomes we are working towards.
"Importantly, it has also helped us recognise where our information and systems need strengthening. We see that as part of being a responsible organisation: being prepared to ask difficult questions, learn from what we find and use that learning to inform our decisions. Ultimately, we want to combine the strength of our grassroots community connections with evidence-informed practice, so we can continue to develop our services and make a meaningful difference.” - Kate Palmer, Funding and Community Partnerships Manager, Delta Community Support Trust
From insight to funding conversations
With clearer insights, Delta can tell a more coherent story about the difference its service makes. That makes funding conversations easier, strengthens its advocacy for the people it supports, and builds the case for a full GoodMeasure analysis to estimate the social value of its work.
“Now we know what good data looks like, it is helping us make better, more informed decisions. We understand what we need to measure, why it matters, and how to use that information to guide what we do.” - Grahame Burgess, Chief Executive Officer, Delta Community Support Trust
Delta was able to complete this work thanks to the support of Rātā Foundation.
If your organisation knows its work makes a difference but isn't sure what to measure, Foundations Data Readiness or Foundations Evidence is a practical place to start.
Find out more about Foundations
We worked with Delta Community Support Trust to strengthen how it collects and uses data for its free Advocacy and Budgeting Advice service.
Delta Community Support Trust is a community development and social support organisation based in Christchurch. It supports older people, adults with intellectual disabilities, and people facing personal or financial hardship.
Its services range from emergency food support and pastoral care to four community cafes that use rescued food to serve affordable meals and wrap around support and education. In the year to 31 August 2025, Delta recorded more than 35,000 client engagements across its programmes.
Delta completed Foundations Evidence with ImpactLab, focusing on its free Advocacy and Budgeting Advice service. The service offers practical advocacy, budgeting support and guidance, helping people work through challenges, access their rights and entitlements, and build confidence and independence. The team wanted to better understand the difference the service makes, reflect on its practice, and know what data would best support its decisions.
What Foundations Evidence showed
- The service has a strong evidence base. The report found evidence for 10 GoodMeasure outcomes, including 'reduce debt', 'improve mental health' and 'reduce risky behaviour'.
- Delta supported 151 clients between September 2025 and February 2026. 32% returned for a second appointment and made a plan, but some of the other 68% may get what they need in that first conversation.
Better tracking of each client's journey would give a more accurate picture of engagement and impact.
What changed for Delta
Some of the most valuable work happened before any data was analysed. Agreeing what to measure meant addressing some key questions together. Working through them openly gave the team a shared view and a clear starting point.
Delta now has a consistent system for collecting data, and a clearer understanding of how evidence can inform its decisions, accountability, and strategic planning. It also gives the team a way to keep learning: seeing what's working, where people drop off, and where to adapt the service.
"For us, this work is about looking beyond the number of people we support and asking what difference our work is making, and how we can better understand that. It has given us an opportunity to step back and examine our practice, connect what we see every day with the wider evidence base, and be clearer about the outcomes we are working towards.
"Importantly, it has also helped us recognise where our information and systems need strengthening. We see that as part of being a responsible organisation: being prepared to ask difficult questions, learn from what we find and use that learning to inform our decisions. Ultimately, we want to combine the strength of our grassroots community connections with evidence-informed practice, so we can continue to develop our services and make a meaningful difference.” - Kate Palmer, Funding and Community Partnerships Manager, Delta Community Support Trust
From insight to funding conversations
With clearer insights, Delta can tell a more coherent story about the difference its service makes. That makes funding conversations easier, strengthens its advocacy for the people it supports, and builds the case for a full GoodMeasure analysis to estimate the social value of its work.
“Now we know what good data looks like, it is helping us make better, more informed decisions. We understand what we need to measure, why it matters, and how to use that information to guide what we do.” - Grahame Burgess, Chief Executive Officer, Delta Community Support Trust
Delta was able to complete this work thanks to the support of Rātā Foundation.
If your organisation knows its work makes a difference but isn't sure what to measure, Foundations Data Readiness or Foundations Evidence is a practical place to start.
Find out more about Foundations
Delta Community Support Trust: Building the data foundations to tell the story
Delta used Foundations Evidence to better understand the difference its free Advocacy and Budgeting Advice service makes, reflect on its practice, and know what data would best support its decisions.
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