The Aziz Foundation’s vision is for a society that is inclusive and fair, where individuals and communities feel a sense of belonging and thrive. Across a decade of impact, since 2016, it has awarded 700 Masters scholarships to talented British Muslims striving to enact change in their communities and beyond. In 2020 the Foundation introduced an internships programme through which 71 British Muslims to date have gained professional experience in their chosen fields following academic study. These fields are deliberately varied, ranging across areas like media, journalism, the arts and the law.
Coinciding with its 10th anniversary, The Aziz Foundation sought an independent review of its impact. The Foundation commissioned Sonnet Advisory & Impact CIC to evaluate its programmes, and to assess other opportunities to promote the social mobility of British Muslims. Sonnet’s report for the Foundation can be found here.
Sonnet’s research took a story-telling based approach, exploring how alumni are dismantling barriers and building bridges to support their own success and the success of other British Muslims. Based on real life experiences of alumni, we tell the stories of five different archetypical alumni, and how a Foundation-funded scholarship, internship, or a combination of the two, can change their career and life trajectories.
These stories range from Hassan, whose career as a civil servant is turbo-charged by his Master’s degree and the confidence he gains to build networks, to Zahra whose scholarship and internship are vital in securing a permanent role in a national newspaper. In this role she can influence the stories the paper runs, and how the paper writes about Muslims.
To deliver this story-based evaluation, Sonnet drew on its skills in mixed-methods social research, appraisal, evaluation and economic cost/benefit analysis. Our work encompassed:
- A review of The Aziz Foundation’s existing evidence base and a rapid review of relevant external evidence, including other programmes offered by similar organisations.
- Workshops with The Aziz Foundation staff to discuss what success looks like for alumni.
- Twenty-four interviews with Foundation alumni and with universities and employers that partner with The Aziz Foundation.
- Long-listing ideas for new programmes that The Aziz Foundation could offer, narrowing these down to a shortlist by scoring them against a researched and agreed set of criteria.
- Cost/benefit analysis of The Aziz Foundation’s existing programmes and of potential new programmes the Foundation could offer.
- Reporting on our findings and exploring the systems change delivered by The Aziz Foundation
Sonnet concluded that The Aziz Foundation’s scholarship and internship programmes bring confidence and opportunity and improve outcomes for alumni and those around them. The Foundation can and should celebrate its programmes, which deliver social impact and offer a positive return. Clearly, it is building on strong foundations for continued success over the next decade.
Sonnet is proud that our work, including our assessment of further programmes the Foundation could offer, will feed into the Foundation’s future strategy.
You can find the full report on The Aziz Foundation’s website.
