Case studies

Transformation Cornwall in collaboration with Wadebridge Trussell Foodbank have produced a toolkit on collating case studies, to help food bank staff and volunteers collect safe, anonymised and meaningful case studies that show the full impact of food bank support.

It begins with a simple, accessible quick guide and then takes you step by step, through safeguarding, consent, story-gathering and writing, supported by clear templates and practical tools to make the process straightforward and confident for everyone involved.

Why Case Studies Matter

Case studies help Cornwall’s food banks show impact, secure funding, inspire volunteers, encourage donations, strengthen partnerships, and influence local systems.

Safety First

Always obtain consent, anonymise details, avoid distressing detail, and follow trauma-informed practice.

How to Collect a Case Study – 7 Steps

1. Spot a story.

2. Get consent.

3. Ask gentle questions.

4. Write using the Template.

5. Anonymise.

6. Colleague review.

7. Store securely.

What NOT to Include

No exact ages, villages, workplaces, dates, medical history, or traumatic detail.

Optional Tools & Extras

Templates, consent forms, mini-guides, example case studies, training materials, optional upload portal.

Adapting Stories for Different Audiences

Volunteers (encouraging), food donors (impact of items), funders (outcomes), advocacy (short vignette + system insight).

Using Case Studies for Different Audiences

Section 6 (in the full toolkit) explains how to adapt a single anonymised case study for different audiences. Volunteers need warm, encouraging snapshots; food donors respond to clear links between donated items and real impact; funders require measurable outcomes and stability indicators; and advocacy audiences benefit from short vignettes linked to wider system issues. See Section 6 for full guidance.