The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS): Framework Outcomes Workshops
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) commissioned M·E·L Research to support the development of an organisation-wide outcomes framework that could provide a consistent and shared understanding of the impact of RHS activities across the organisation. The framework was intended to create a common language for discussing outcomes, support future evaluation activity, and help align teams around shared objectives and priorities.
The project was designed to bring together perspectives from across the organisation to identify, refine and structure the outcomes that RHS activities sought to achieve for audiences, stakeholders and the wider horticultural sector. Given the breadth of RHS activity – spanning public engagement, learning, environmental advocacy, horticultural training, inclusion and sector leadership – it was important that the framework reflected multiple organisational perspectives while remaining practical and usable.
M·E·L Research facilitated the development process through a collaborative and participatory approach, working directly with RHS staff through a series of in-person workshops held at RHS Bridgewater and RHS Wisley. The workshops were designed to encourage discussion, consensus-building and shared ownership of the final framework.
Approach
The project was delivered through two half-day onsite workshops with RHS staff. These sessions were structured to gather insight from staff working across different areas of the organisation and to collectively define the key outcome areas and supporting outcomes that would underpin the framework.
Workshops encouraged participants to discuss, challenge and refine potential outcomes across different strands of RHS activity.
Facilitation techniques were used to support collaborative thinking, identify overlaps between organisational objectives and build consensus around shared terminology and priorities.
During the workshops, participants explored the different ways RHS activities create impact for audiences, communities, learners, volunteers, partners and the wider horticultural sector.
M·E·L Research worked with participants to group and structure outcomes into overarching thematic areas and associated branch outcomes.
Discussions focused on ensuring the framework captured both individual-level outcomes and wider organisational and sector-level impacts.
Outputs
The final output was a visually designed RHS Outcomes Framework which articulated a series of overarching outcome themes alongside detailed supporting outcomes.
The framework identified six core thematic outcome areas:
- Wellbeing and Personal Restoration
- Enjoyment and Delight
- Learning and Inspiration
- Connection and Belonging
- Access and Inclusion
- Environmental Awareness and Care
The final framework was designed to function as a practical tool that could be used across the organisation to support planning, evaluation and internal alignment. It established a shared structure for understanding and discussing impact while allowing flexibility for future development and refinement. The framework itself explicitly recognised that it would continue to evolve as it was applied across RHS activities and programmes. The outputs were delivered in a clear visual format to aid accessibility and engagement across teams, helping ensure that the framework could be readily understood and adopted by staff across different functions and disciplines.
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