Invitation to Tender - Evaluation Impact Case Studies

CONTEXT

The Future Parks Accelerator (FPA) programme ran from 2019 to 2022 working intensively with 8 Local Authorities to help identify and develop new ways to care for the urban natural environment, create a step change in how people engaged with parks and greenspaces in the participant cities; and identify new ways to fund parks and greenspaces for the long term, putting the management and funding of green space on a more sustainable footing.

7 of the FPA Cohort remained closely involved with the project partners following the completion of the programme and helped to co-design the follow-on ten-year programme. Nature Towns and Cities, launched in 2025, was designed to support transformative change in up to 100 towns and cities. These 7 places form the Nature Towns and Cities pioneer cohort continue to receive support from the programme while also supporting and mentoring new participants.

Although evaluated throughout the programme, it was anticipated that on-the ground impacts would lag behind the implementation of these changes.

THIS COMMISSION

This commission seeks to understand and evidence the change that has taken place in each of the 7 places that have remained involved. We are seeking a consultant to undertake a follow-up study of the 7 places still participating in the Nature Towns and Cities Pioneer Cohort to understand what has happened since 2019 (and especially since 2022), and to generate robust, independent evidence of longer-term impact, including write up stories of whole place change, evidence the benefit to places and communities of investing in capacity-building and systems-change approaches and support Nature Towns and Cities & Pioneer Cohort to understand and articulate the causal link between the interventions and their longer-term impacts.

INFORMATION TO BE RETURNED

Submissions should include the following information:

· Outline of your proposed approach to the project, including project plan and high-level risk log

· Description of your relevant experience and abridged CVs of the proposed project team.

· Proposed budget breakdown.

· Details of any matters or concerns not covered by this brief

· Answers to the mandatory questions and company information included in the Annex (not included in page count).

Submissions should be no more than 6 pages in length. Abridged CVs can be included as appendices.

These should be returned to anne.mackinnon@nationaltrust.org.uk by the deadline of 9am Monday 14th September 2026.

The budget available for this work is £20-25k incl. VAT.

Please see the full attached ITT document for further details.