Short Abstract

Building an evaluation culture in a national volunteer-led widening participation charity. A case study of how participatory, reflective practices drive learning, inclusion, and evidence-based decision-making in widening access to medical education.

Description

In2MedSchool is a UK-registered charity founded in 2020 to widen participation in medicine by connecting aspiring medical students from disadvantaged backgrounds with volunteer mentors—doctors and medical students—across more than 100 schools. With over 3,000 mentors and 2,000 mentees, the organisation has achieved remarkable reach but faced the challenge of sustaining evidence-based practice without paid evaluators or formal research infrastructure.

This presentation explores how In2MedSchool embedded evaluation as a collective learning process rather than a compliance exercise. Using participatory and mixed-methods evaluation, including annual mentee and mentor surveys, regional focus groups, and feedback loops with schools, the organisation developed a “learning culture” that informs every level of decision-making—from safeguarding training to programme design.

The session will share findings from three years of practice:

Quantitative impact: 78% of mentees reported at least one medical-school offer, compared with 40% nationally.

Qualitative insight: mentors and mentees describe increased confidence, belonging, and professional fulfilment.

Cultural learning: regular “evaluation huddles” and trustee learning meetings embed reflection in governance.

Lessons include the importance of simple, iterative methods that build ownership; co-producing evaluation questions with stakeholders; and prioritising learning over reporting. The approach demonstrates how small organisations can democratise evaluation and turn it into a driver of inclusion, transparency, and strategic improvement.

By illustrating how volunteer communities can create meaningful, ethical evaluation cultures, this session contributes to Theme 2: Building Evaluation Cultures, offering a replicable model for evidence-led, community-based educational change.