In 2021, Together launched the first-ever Thank You Day, a nationwide moment of appreciation that brought together people from all walks of life across the UK. From street parties and local performances to small acts of kindness, the event was designed to reconnect communities and celebrate the contributions of neighbours, volunteers and key workers.

But for Together, this wasn’t just about putting on a one-day celebration - it was about building a movement. And to do that, they needed evidence of real impact.

Measuring what matters, at street level

To help grow the initiative and rally more partners, funders and campaign champions, the team at Together wanted a robust way to measure the outcomes of Thank You Day - not just with numbers, but with stories. They turned to Makerble Surveys to make that happen.

Rather than hiring a traditional research firm, Together took a different approach: they empowered local volunteers to become community-level researchers. Equipped with tablets and smartphones, volunteers conducted face-to-face interviews and surveys with attendees at their local Thank You Day events.

With Makerble, each volunteer could collect responses directly on the platform — including quantitative answers, qualitative feedback, and even photos capturing the energy of each gathering.

Qual and quant, beautifully combined

The data that came back was rich and immediate:

• Clear metrics showing participation, reach and community sentiment
• A bank of powerful quotes and stories from attendees
• Visual documentation that brought the events to life

Together’s team could view the results as real-time charts and dashboards, while also browsing a feed of images and stories submitted by volunteers on the ground. This mix of insight helped them demonstrate the campaign’s success, fine-tune future efforts, and grow the coalition behind Thank You Day.

A platform for growth

Since that first Thank You Day in 2021, the event has grown in scale and significance. With each year, the campaign has been able to draw on a growing bank of evidence to support its story, build stronger partnerships, and inspire even more community participation.

For Together, Makerble Surveys wasn’t just a research tool - it was a platform for community voice, data-driven storytelling and sustainable campaign growth.

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