Social Capital,

Health and
Wellbeing
A planning and evaluation toolkit
Edinburgh Health Inequalities Standing Group
FOREWORD
We believe that increasing social capital is important and that its contribution to positive
mental health, confidence and connectedness can have real health benefits for individuals
and communities. That’s why it’s one of the four key themes in Making Edinburgh
Healthier, Edinburgh’s Joint Health Improvement Plan 2008-2011 (JHIP) and why we’ve
developed a toolkit to support organisations to identify, measure and evaluate the work
that they do to promote and develop social capital.

While measuring impact and effectiveness in these areas can be challenging, over the
past few years methods have been developed which help to demonstrate the true
value of social capital approaches. We hope you’ll agree that this resource provides a
framework for us to work together - with common aims and shared outcomes - to show
the importance of developing social capital and measure the individual benefits and
collective impact on the health and well-being of our communities.

Lynne Porteous
Chair, Social Capital Task Group
Health Inequalities Standing Group of Edinburgh CHP
CONTENTS
Section 1 • Introduction.................................................................. 1
Social capital: defining what we mean
Social capital: a positive impact on health inequalities
Organisational self-assessment checklist for social .
capital and health

Section 2 • Using the toolkit............................................................ 5

Appendix 1 • Blank logic model template.............................................. 14

Appendix 2 • Logic model template with suggested content..................... 16

Appendix 3 • Short-term outcomes for social capital: bonding,

bridging and linking........................................................ 17

Appendix 4 • Tools for gathering evidence of impact on social capital . ...... 20

Tool 1: The relationship map
Tool 2: Weekly diary
Tool 3: The Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale
(WEMWBS)
Tool 4: Assessing impact on social capital -
sample questions

Appendix 5 • References and resources................................................. 34

SECTION 1 • Introduction Social capital is of benefit to health and This toolkit does not replace existing
well-being. This toolkit provides a way forms of evaluation and planning,
of understanding and measuring this. but provides ways of evidencing how
social capital leads to positive health
For organisations whose work and wellbeing outcomes.
increases social capital, it will give
a way of measuring what they We have drawn heavily on existing
already do. For others it will provide good practice in this field and
a framework to plan and evaluate have worked with practitioners to
new social capital activities. It will develop and test this toolkit. A list of
be useful, therefore, for managers, references and resources is provided
management committee members at the end of the toolkit for people
and funders to: who want to find out more.
Measure the impact
of existing work on Action on social capital contributes to
social capital and several of the Scottish Government’s
health Clarify health national outcomes, but the key ones
and social capital are the following:
outcomes. • 6: People live longer, healthier
lives.
• 11: We have strong, resilient and
Plan or supportive communities where
Develop ideas to
commission people take responsibility for their
increase social
new work. own actions and how they affect
capital.
others.

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 1

Social capital - defining Bonding: strong supportive ties
what we mean which occur within a group, e.g.
a family, circle of friends, club,
Since the 1970s academics and religion, ethnic group etc.
policy-makers have used a range of
definitions of social capital. Using Bridging: weaker ties that
their work we have defined social connect people across group
capital as: boundaries, for example with
• The resources people develop work colleagues, acquaintances,
and draw on to increase their individuals from different
confidence and self-esteem, communities etc. These are
their sense of connectedness, critical to providing access
belonging, and ability to bring to new ideas, resources,
about change in their lives and communities and cultures.
communities.
Types of social capital Linking: connections between
The toolkit describes three types of those with different levels
social capital: bonding, bridging and of power or status. They
linking. connect people that may have
similar ideals but who move
in different social classes
and circles. Linking ties
are important for strategic
outcomes, and for increasing
the ability of individuals and
communities to influence
change.

2 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

 Social capital: a positive strong networks, good levels of
impact on health support and positive relationships
inequalities which help to integrate individuals
and communities. These benefits
Health inequalities arise when some include:
people have less access than others • Increased confidence and self-
to resources that support health esteem.
and well-being. There are many risk
factors which contribute to health • A sense of connectedness and
inequalities including poverty, low belonging.
educational achievement, poor • The ability to bring about change
environment, and lack of self-esteem in your own life or in your
and hope. People may, in addition, community.
experience problems in accessing Evidence shows that all of these
services on the grounds of age, are protective factors in relation to
disability, ethnicity, gender, faith/belief health.
or sexual orientation. These can
result in lower levels of physical and
mental health, reduced well-being
and shorter life expectancy.

Developing social capital is one way

to tackle the health inequalities that
result from social isolation, low levels
of support and low self-confidence.
This toolkit identifies the protective
health factors that can result from

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 3

Organisational self-assessment checklist for social capital and health
Many organisations already do work that increases social capital and improves health; others might like to start doing so.
The following list provides examples of services, activities and ways of working that can contribute to this increase.

Type of Social capital Type of Activity

Bonding Buddying activities
Mentoring activities
Informal group activities that bring people together and reduce social isolation

Bridging Volunteering opportunities

Time banks
Opportunities for different groups of people within a community to get together to share
information and experiences e.g. organising groups, activities and events
Opportunities for people to develop new skills
Providing information on local issues to stimulate awareness and discussion

Linking Gathering input from service users on the services offered and the organisation’s priorities

Facilitating people and/or organisations from different communities to get together to share
information, discuss common issues and/or engage in joint action e.g. campaigning
Providing opportunities for people to communicate their views to institutions/structures with
power and resources e.g. lobbying

4 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

SECTION 2 • Using the Many organisations and communities Outcomes are usually expressed as
toolkit are working to increase social capital statements of change and written in
and health and therefore want to the present tense. The logic template
measure how well they are doing. at Appendix 2 lists examples of the
This section describes the steps an kind of things that would be included
organisation can take to achieve this. in each column.

Social capital: an Long-term outcomes are those

outcome-based approach that show changes in health,
economic, social or environmental
This toolkit uses a logic modelling conditions. Two long-term outcomes
approach to show how short- for social capital and health have
term outcomes make a long-term been identified through our work:
difference. It is therefore important
to know what outcomes are and to
be clear what level of outcomes you
can realistically achieve and measure
in your day-to-day work. Social capital long-term
outcomes
In logic models there are three levels Edinburgh residents have improved
of outcomes; long-term, medium- well-being and resilience.
term and short-term. The logic Edinburgh has vibrant communities,
model expresses these outcomes as where citizens are actively involved.
a hierarchy, with long-term outcomes
presented on the right hand side of
the page and the others inserted in
turn moving left across the template.

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 5

Medium-term outcomes show the Short-term outcomes are the
policy, practice or behaviour changes more immediate results of an
that result over time from actions organisation’s activities or services
taken. Three medium-term outcomes and include increased awareness,
have been identified, one for each of knowledge, motivation and
the three types of social capital. aspiration. These will be the main
focus of an organisation’s work and
therefore of this toolkit. A list of
Social capital medium-term short-term social capital outcomes
outcomes
is given at Appendix 3 on pages
Type of Social capital Outcomes 17-19: there is one page for each
Bonding More people have strong and supportive of the three types of social capital:
friendships and contacts to draw upon. bonding, bridging and linking.

Bridging
More people have community connections.
Linking More people who experience inequality influence
decisions that affect their life or community.

6 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 7
Creating your own social Step 1: Look at the self-assessment
capital logic model checklist on page 4 and consider
whether you are already doing work
A blank template is provided for to increase social capital or would
you to complete at Appendix 1 on like to do.
pages 14 - 15 and in the flap at
the end of the toolkit. Alternatively Step 2: Select from page 5 the
you may find it more convenient to long-term outcome that best fits
complete this template online. It can this work. Insert it into the right-hand
be found at this website: http://www. column of the blank template on
uwex.edu/ces/pdande/evaluation/ page 14.
evallogicmodelworksheets.html Step 3: In terms of the work you
are doing or plan to do, select the
As you follow each step, insert into type of social capital it best fits with:
this template the outcomes, actions bonding, bridging or linking. Then
and indicators that are most suitable select from the list on page 6 the
to your work. You will end up with a medium-term outcome that fits
template that sets out in a logical way best. Insert it into the template in the
the work you are doing to increase relevant column.
social capital. Step 4: Short-term outcomes for
the three types of social capital are
listed on pages 17-19. After thinking
about your work, select up to three
short-term outcomes that fit best.
Insert these into the template.

8 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

 • If you are working with vulnerable Step6: Identify the activities
clients, you may find that you are doing or plan to do to
bonding outcomes fit best. These achieve the short-term social capital
are listed on page 17. outcomes. Insert the relevant
• If your project is focussed activities into the template under the
on strengthening community heading Outputs - Activities. (These
networks, you may find that will be specific to your organisation.)
bridging outcomes fit best. Step 7: Identify the resources, or
These are on page 18. inputs, you are investing in your
• If your work has a campaigning activities e.g. staff time and financial
element you may find linking resources. Insert information on
outcomes fit best. These are on these into the template on the left-
page 19. hand column.
Step 5: Identify who it is you want
to reach - who are your target If you’ve completed these steps,
groups? Check that they are you will have completed the first
sufficiently inclusive. Insert these side of the logic model that reflects
into the template under the heading your work and demonstrates
Outputs - Participation. its contribution to social capital
outcomes.

The next stage is to consider how

you will measure success and
complete side 2 of the logic model.

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 9

Gathering the evidence/ The following pages offer examples To complete side 2 of your logic
measuring impact of useful tools to help you explore model, please use the following
with a service user how they feel, steps. Taking these steps will help to
When it comes to social capital, much what social networks they have, ensure that your planning takes into
of the evidence involves looking and how involved they are in their consideration all relevant factors.
for changes in people and their life community. More information is given
circumstances (for example, changes under each tool on how to use it. Step 8: Think about your actions
in attitude, behaviour and quality of
and activities and decide how you
life.). Tool 1: A relationship map will measure success. Some ways of
Tool 2: A weekly diary doing this are suggested on pages
There are several ways to gather this
Tool 3: The Warwick Edinburgh 17 - 19 under short-term outcomes
evidence, including the following:
Mental Well-being Scale and you may have others you are
• Individual work with a service user (WEMWBS) already using. Insert your chosen
when the person first arrives and
Tool 4: Assessing impact indicators into side 2 of the template
then again 6/12 months later. This
on social capital - sample under Approaches to Self-
can take the form of an individual questions evaluation.
interview or informal chat. We
offer several tools that can be Step 9: Decide how you will gather
used at this interview. The key thing is to select the right evidence of the work you are doing.
tools for your organisation and your Again some methods are suggested
• Discussions with project staff and service users, so you can measure on pages 17 - 19 and you may have
other professionals working with impact in the most effective way for others you are already using. Insert
the individual. you and the easiest way for your your chosen methods into side 2 of
• Focus group with a few project users. the template under Approaches to
users or participants in an activity self-evaluation.
to gather feedback.

10 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

 Step 10: My assumptions: in should identify key risks, recommend
planning our work we all make a strategy to reduce each risk and
assumptions. Please note in side ensure that progress is monitored for
2 any major assumptions you are the life of the project. These should
making that will impact on the be entered in side 2 under risk
outcome of your work e.g. there register and risk responses.
is considerable demand for these
services; partners are keen to Other ways to gather evidence,
work jointly; funding will continue at analyse and present data
current level; this particular area
There is a wide range of methods
of work will remain a government
useful in gathering evidence of social
priority in medium-term etc.
capital outcomes in a community,
Step 11: External factors: including focus groups, interviews,
consider the external factors that will case studies, and visual techniques.
influence the success of your work, This is a large topic in its own right
and note here actions and policies of and other works already cover this.
external organisations that will impact For example, a useful guide that
on it. This might include the economic links to social capital outcomes
situation, Scottish Government or local is “Befriending and mentoring:
government strategies or funding; key an evaluation resource pack”. It
staff remaining in place; willingness of can be found at the website www.
partners to change how they work etc. evaluationsupportscotland.org.uk along
Step 12: Risk management is a with a wide range of downloadable
process to reduce the impact of materials on self-evaluation.
events that might lead to failure to
achieve outcomes. Organisations

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 11

 Another interesting example involves Checking for equity of access
the use of ethnographic methods:
Wherever appropriate, encourage all
going into the community, talking
service users to complete equality
to local people, stakeholders and
monitoring forms. You can then
service users about key events,
audit these to ensure that you
collecting anecdotes, photos and/or
are reaching all sections of the
videos, and conducting interviews.
community to increase integration
There is software available to help to
across equality strands (age,
record and code this evidence e.g.
disability, ethnicity, gender, faith/belief
NVivo. You can then sit down and
and sexual orientation). Where there
work out what is meant and what
are gaps in involvement consider
people are really saying about a
ways that you could make your
service and their community.
service more inclusive e.g. through
Good practice in addressing partnership and/or joint working with
health inequalities single issue organisations such as
a local disability or minority ethnic
Carrying out a Rapid Equality Impact group.
Assessment on your project can
help to demonstrate whether your
project is inclusive or accessible.
Local councils, NHS Boards and
Scottish Government websites can
supply impact assessment tools to
help with this.

12 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 13
APPENDIX 1 • Blank logic model template for your use - side 1
Program:........................................... Logic Model (Add/change boxes and arrows as needed)
Situation:
Inputs Outputs Outcomes/impact
Activities Participation Short-term Medium-term Long term

}
14 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit
 Blank logic model template for your use - side 2
My assumptions Approaches to self evaluation Risk register
Key performance indicators
and methodologies

External factors creating influence Risk responses

Sociological, technological, environmental,
economic and political factors

Additional notes

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 15

 APPENDIX 2 • Logic model template with suggested content (based on University
of Wisconsin model)
Program:........................................... Logic Model
Inputs Outputs Outcomes/impact
Activities Participation Short-term Medium-term Long term

What we invest What we do Who we reach What the short- What the medium- What the
term results are term results are ultimate
Staff Conduct workshops, Participants impacts are
meetings Learning Action
Volunteers Clients Conditions
Deliver services Awareness Behaviour
Time Agencies Social
Develop products, Knowledge Practice
Money curriculum, Decision-makers Economic
Attitudes Decision-making Civic
Research-base Resources Customers
Skills Policies Environmental
Materials Train Satisfaction
Opinions Social action Health
Equipment Provide counselling
Aspirations
Technology Assess
Motivations
Partners Facilitate
Partner
Work with media

Evaluation
Focus - Collect data - Analyse and interpret - Report

16 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

Assumptions External factors
APPENDIX 3 • Short-term outcomes for social capital: bonding, bridging and linking
A. BONDING - (Select those that are most relevant for your organisation)
Example indicators Example ways of gathering Short-term Medium-term Long term
the evidence outcomes outcome outcome
1 Number of participants • WEMWEBS survey Participants have
reporting increased confidence undertaken with individual at increased confidence
in tackling problems and the beginning and after 6-12 and self-esteem
enhanced self-esteem months participation
• Use of evaluation questionnaire
after a period of time

2 Number of participants • WEMWEBS survey Participants feel

reporting improved mental undertaken with individual at happier and better in
health and wellbeing the beginning and after 6-12 themselves More people Edinburgh residents
months participation have strong and have improved well-
• Evidence from other supportive friendships being and resilience
professionals and contacts to draw
• Observation by staff upon
3 Number of participants who feel • Questionnaire/interview and/ Participants feel
they have more opportunities to or case study they have more
improve their lives • Individual goal-setting influence over their
session life circumstances

4 Number of participants who feel As above Participants feel

they have more support from more supported by
other people other people

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 17

Short-term outcomes for social capital
B. BRIDGING - (Select those that are most relevant for your organisation)
Example indicators Example ways of gathering Short-term Medium-term Long term
the evidence outcomes outcome outcome
1 Number of participants who are • Monitoring number of people More people are
participating in volunteering who volunteer participating in
• Monitoring amount of volunteering
volunteering by using
individual weekly diary

2 Number of people taking part • Monitoring number of More people are

in community groups, activities attendees at volunteering taking part in
and events sessions, groups or activities community groups,
activities and events More people Edinburgh residents
have community have improved well-
3 Number of people who know • Questionnaire People know connections being and resilience
more about their community • Local survey more about their
community

Number of times per year • Keep record of number of More people are
4 that people from different such get-togethers getting together to
organisations or groups meet • Record level of attendance share information
to share information at get-togethers e.g. events and discuss common
and meetings (including issues
participation by people from
equality groups)

18 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

Short-term outcomes for social capital
C. LINKING - (Select those that are most relevant for your organisation)
Example indicators Example ways of gathering Short-term Medium-term Long term
the evidence outcomes outcome outcome
1 Increase in number of project • Minutes of meetings People who
users participating in influential • Interviews with participants experience inequality
networks • Surveys influence wider
• Policy change reflects • Policy documents decision making
participant contributions • Interviews with participants processes
• Increase in levels of • Letters of offer from funders
funding/other resources • Changes to services
going into the communities
• Changes in ways services
are delivered e.g. more More people who Edinburgh has
integrated services experience inequality vibrant communities,
influence decisions where citizens are
2 Number of issues on which • Check reports, meeting People from different that affect their life actively involved
people from different papers/ minutes to identify communities or community
communities or equality groups actions on relevant issues undertake collective
engage in joint action action around a
mutually agreed
issue

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 19

APPENDIX 4 • Tools for gathering evidence of impact How to use
on social capital Step 1
Ask the individual to place themselves
at the centre of the page and then to
Tool 1:The Relationship Map mark on the diagram the people they
This may be helpful where the focus is on developing someone’s networks, feel they have strong ties and bonds
support systems, relationships or friendships or where social isolation is a to - those closest to them, that they
particular issue. Using this tool, an individual can identify the important people know and see regularly. These can be
in their life by plotting on the sheet the people they know, putting them closer to family members, friends or colleagues
or further from themselves (in the middle), depending on the closeness of the and it’s important that the emphasis
relationship. is on quality not quantity! This may be
a difficult exercise for someone who
This will give a snapshot of levels of “connectedness” at a given point in time. If feels very isolated. Working outwards,
the tool is used at intervals throughout an individual’s involvement with a project ask them to mark on the diagram
(or at least at the beginning and end) it can help assess how social networks or those they have less ties or bonds
supports have increased. to (again this can be anyone, family,
friends, acquaintances etc).
This tool can be also used to help someone identify specific relationships that
can be strengthened or deepened e.g. family members the person has lost touch Step 2
with or with community members they would like to get to know better. Once they have drawn the map,
discuss it with them. The following
questions may be helpful in this
process: “What do you think about
your map?” “On a scale of 1 to 10,
how happy are you with what the map

20 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

shows?” “What if anything, would
you like to change about your map?”
“What groups do you go along to
at the moment?” (Remember, open
questions encourage discussion or
actions.)

Step 3
Remember to revisit the diagram after
a period of time. Encourage changes
to be recorded, perhaps in a different
colour on the same diagram, so that
progress is mapped. This will help the
individual to see the changes that they
have made.

This tool can be used in conjunction

with others in this resource or as
part of a group work process.

This tool is taken from a person centred

planning tool called Personal Futures Planning
and reproduced in “Mentoring and befriending:
evaluation and monitoring toolkit” by Jo Kennedy, Ian
Mackenzie, and Helen Wilson. Reproduced with kind
permission of the authors.

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 21

Tool 2: Weekly diary How to use
This can be helpful where the focus Step 1
is on helping someone to develop Ask the individual to note down what they have done in the last week. You can
their activities and social networks. help with prompts and examples e.g. “What do you do when you go out?” “What
Using this tool, an individual can activities do you take part in?”
identify how much they do in a week,
who they mix with and what kind of Step 2
things they do. This can help them to
Once the diary is completed, discuss it with them. The following questions may be
consider whether they wish to make
helpful in this process:
any changes to their activities and to
“What do you think about your diary?” “On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy are
plan what they would like to do.
you with what the diary shows?”
“What if anything, would you like to change about your diary?” “What groups
do you go along to at the moment?” (Remember, open questions encourage
discussion and identification of actions.)

Step 3
Ask them to make a note of any actions they intend to make in the future,
together with a timescale.

Step 4
After a period of time (a few weeks or months), ask them to complete a new
diary for the preceding week. Work with them to compare this with the original
weekly diary. Ask them to assess what changes and progress have been made.
You can then repeat step 2.

22 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

Tool 2: Weekly diary
Where do I go? What do I do? Who am I with?

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 23

Tool 3: The Warwick- How to use
Edinburgh Mental Well- Step 1
being Scale (WEMWBS) Hand the sheet to the individual on an appropriate occasion early on in their
This tool is useful if you work with contact with your project. Ask them to tick the box that best describes their
individual clients or groups and want experience over the last 2 weeks. This can be done informally, almost like a
to measure the progress they are magazine quiz. Be sensitive to whether or not the person can read. You may
making against “soft” indicators such want to ask “Would you like me to read out the statements and the options?”
as well-being, confidence, optimism, Encourage them to tick the relevant box, so they have ownership.
and ability to deal with problems
etc. The advantage is that it shows Step 2
both the person and the project Discuss the completed sheet with the person. The following questions may be
the progress made. The person helpful in this process: “What do you think about your answers?” “On a scale
should find it empowering to see the of 1 to 10, how happy are you with what the sheet shows?” “What if anything,
changes they can make in their own would you like to change?” “Where would you like to be in future?”
life that lead to an improvement in
their feelings and experience. Step 3
Help the person to identify any actions they can take to feel better, with agreed
This tool has been evaluated and
timelines. A small number of simple steps are best so that they are achievable.
is approved for use with adults.
Further work is being undertaken to Step 4
develop an equivalent tool for use
with young people. After a suitable time period, conduct step 1 again, then discuss the two forms
with the person. It’s useful to ask “What changes do you see between the old
The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale and the new forms” and “What do you think are the reasons for this change”.
was funded by the Scottish Government National
Programme for Improving Mental Health and
Well-being, commissioned by NHS Health Scotland,
developed by the University of Warwick and the
University of Edinburgh, and is jointly owned by NHS
Health Scotland, the University of Warwick and the
University of Edinburgh.

24 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

Below are some statements about feelings and thoughts
Please tick the box that best describes your experience of each over the last 2 weeks
Statements None of Rarely Some of Often All of
the time the time the time

I’ve been feeling optimistic about the future 1 2 3 4 5

I’ve been feeling useful 1 2 3 4 5
I’ve been feeling relaxed 1 2 3 4 5
I’ve been feeling interested in other people 1 2 3 4 5
I’ve had energy to spare 1 2 3 4 5
I’ve been dealing with problems well 1 2 3 4 5
I’ve been thinking clearly 1 2 3 4 5
I’ve been feeling good about myself 1 2 3 4 5
I’ve been feeling close to other people 1 2 3 4 5
I’ve been feeling confident 1 2 3 4 5
I’ve been able to make up my own mind 1 2 3 4 5
about things
I’ve been feeling loved 1 2 3 4 5
I’ve been interested in new things 1 2 3 4 5
I’ve been feeling cheerful 1 2 3 4 5

Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) © NHS Health Scotland, University of Warwick and University of Edinburgh, 2006, all rights reserved

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 25

Tool 4: Assessing impact on social capital - sample questions
The following questions can provide evidence for an organisation’s impact on the different kinds of social capital. Please
select the questions most appropriate to your outcomes, activities and client groups. Do not use all of these questions. Long
questionnaires can seem intrusive and boring, so keep questionnaires short and relevant.

1. Self-confidence, social networks, and trust (examples of bonding social capital)

Self-confidence
1 2 3 4 5
On a scale of 1-5 how able do you feel to tackle any problems you face?

On a scale of 1-5 how high would you rate your confidence?

On a scale of 1-5 how high would you rate your self-esteem?

On a scale of 1-5 how happy do you feel?

Where1 is very high and 5 is very low

26 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

Social networks

If you have a personal crisis, who* do you go to for advice?

If you have a personal crisis, who* do you go to for comfort and support?

Who* do you socialise with?

Who* would you go to for a small favour?

* Other option is to ask “how many people would you go to…”

Not counting the people you live with, how often do you contact your relatives, friends or neighbours -
either face-to-face, by telephone, letter, email or through the internet? Please tick the option that applies.

On most days

Once or twice a week

Once or twice a month

Less often than once a month

Never

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 27

Would you say that you know: Please tick the option that applies.

Many of the people in your neighbourhood?

Some of the people in your neighbourhood?

A few of the people in your neighbourhood?

Or that you do not know the people in your neighbourhood?

Yes No
Are you aware of any organisations and groups in your community?

Please name any organisations you are aware of:

What local activities, groups and events do you go to? Please name them:

28 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

2. Participation, knowledge, openness to new ideas (examples of bridging social capital) Please tick the
option that applies.
Yes No
Thinking back over the last 12 months, have you given up any time to help
any clubs, charities, campaigns or organisations, in an unpaid capacity?

Thinking about ALL the unpaid help you give to organisations, how
frequently do you do this?

Several times a week

About once a week

Less than once a week but at least once a month

Less than once a month, but a least five or six times a year

A few times a year

Less often

Never

Questions taken from Scottish Household Survey

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 29

What local activities, groups and events do you go to? Please list them:

1 2 3 4 5
On a scale of 1 - 5 how would you rate your knowledge and understanding
of community issues?

On a scale of 1 - 5 how involved do you feel in your local community?

On a scale of 1 - 5 how would you rate your openness to new ideas?

Where 1 is very high and 5 is very low

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your local area is a place where people from different
backgrounds get on well together? Please tick option that applies.

Definitely agree

Tend to agree

Definitely disagree

Don’t know

Too few people in local areas

People living here are all from same background

30 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

Do local organisations help you to meet and discuss with people from other communities? Please tick option
that applies

Never

Rarely

Occasionally

Frequently

If yes, which organisations have you used?

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 31

3. Influence, power, access to decision-makers (examples of linking social capital)

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements:

Strongly agree Agree Neither agree Disagree Strongly

nor disagree disagree

I can influence decisions affecting my local area

I find easy to deal with people in authority

In the last 12 months have you contacted any of the following people? Please tick all that apply.

Local councillor

Local MP or MSP

Council official (e.g. local office, housing, social services, education)

Representative of voluntary or community organisation

None of the above

Yes No
Have you ever participated in a community campaign to improve local
facilities or services?

32 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

Are you aware of any of the following partnership bodies working locally? Please tick all that apply.

Neighbourhood Partnership

Community Council

Local health project

Within the last 12 months have you contributed your views on a local service or policy to the council, NHS
or other local agency? Please tick option that applies.

Yes

No

Don’t know

Did you vote: Please tick all that apply.

In the last Council election?

In the last Scottish Parliament election?

In the last General Election?

In any of these elections?

Not eligible to vote?

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 33
APPENDIX 5 • References and resources
Assist Social Capital, June 2008: Here we are: a social capital case study.
Edinburgh. See also website: www.social-capital.net/

Community Evaluation Northern Ireland, Department for Social Development.

January 2006: Toolkit to Measure the Added Value of Voluntary and Community
Based Activity, Belfast.

Cote, S. Healy, T. (2001) The Well-being of Nations. The role of human and social
capital. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris.

Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS) publishes a series of support guides on

evaluation. Particularly relevant is Support Guide 1: Clarifying your aims,
outcomes and activities. Available at: www.evaluationsupportscotland.org.uk

Field, J. (2003) Social Capital: Routledge, London. Also (2005) Social Capital and
Lifelong Learning: Policy Press, Bristol.

Institute for Volunteering Research, 2004: Volunteering Impact Assessment Toolkit.

Kennedy, Jo, Mckenzie, Ian. and Wilson, Helen. Befriending and Mentoring:
evaluation and monitoring toolkit. Commissioned by Befriending Network
Scotland, the Scottish Mentoring Network and ESS.
Available: www.evaluationsupportscotland.org.uk

NHS Health Development Agency 2004: Social Capital for Health: issues of
definition, measurement and links to health, London.

34 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

 Portes, A. 1998. Social Capital: its origins and applications in modern sociology
Annual Review of Sociology, 24, 1-24.

Scottish Community Development Centre, 2008. LEAP: A Manual for Learning
Evaluation and Planning in Community Learning and Development. Published by
the Scottish Government, Edinburgh. Available at: www.scdc.org.uk

Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC), 2008. Understanding the Logic

of Community-Led Health. Glasgow.

Taylor-Powell, E., Steele, S., & Douglah, M. (1996). Planning a program

evaluation. Retrieved April 2002, from University of Wisconsin-Extension-
Cooperative Extension, Program Development and Evaluation Unit Website:
http://learningstore.uwex.edu/Planning-a-Program-Evaluation--P1033C0.aspx

Tett, L, Crowther, J and Edwards, V, 2008: Building Connections, Getting

Involved: Measuring the Social Capital Outcomes of Community Learning and
Development. Scottish Government, Edinburgh. From: www.scotland.gov.uk/
Publications/2008/06/20121049/0

Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) User Guide Version 1,

June 2008. NHS Health Scotland, University of Edinburgh and University of
Warwick. Available at: www.healthscotland.com/documents/2702.aspx

World Bank Social Capital thematic Group. Information available at the World Bank
website: www.worldbank.org

Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit 35

Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to Margaret Barbier, members of the Social Capital Working Group and the organisations which tested the
toolkit and gave feedback.

Designer: Julie Barclay Design T. 07702704828

Printed by Edinburgh Print Services T. 0131 529 5830

36 Social Capital, Health and Wellbeing: a planning and evaluation toolkit

You can get this document on tape, in Braille, large print and various computer formats if you ask us. Please contact
Interpretation and Translation Service (ITS) on 0131 242 8181 and quote reference number 091312. ITS can also give
information on community language translations.