Community Franchising Insights - Franchise Effectiveness

In January-March 2011, the Cinnamon Network conducted research into Community Franchising. Several thousand Churches in the UK were contacted as well as franchisors/ees of 9 ‘ministries’.  We had responses from 190 churches/ministries. Results are as follows:

How effective are the Full Franchises* in ministry?

We asked franchisees to rate their franchise on various external aspects on the following scale:
1 = Poor, 2 = OK, 3 = Good, 4 = Excellent

Helping you keep Christian distinctive in social action?

3.45

Meeting the needs of your community?

3.33

Mobilising people in your church not involved directly with the 'franchise' into other forms of social action?

2.41

Seeing people saved/church growth?

2.30

As you would expect the Full Franchises were ‘good to excellent’ in meeting the needs of the community. What was also good to see was the franchises did help churches keep a Christian distinctive in social action with a ‘good to excellent’ rating as well.

Seeing people saved/church growth was weaker as ‘ok to good’ with some franchises ‘poor to ok’. This is to be expected as the focus of the franchise is ‘mercy and justice’ rather than evangelism. But obviously there is fruit.

The franchises were also helpful in mobilising people in the church into other forms of social action with a rating of ‘ok to good’. So they are helpful in creating an outward facing church.

There is also another effect and that is the higher profile of the church in the community reported by text comments made.

Quotes:

“Being able to help desperate people and see them change and grow.”

“Seeing the weight lifting from clients as we speak to them and start to work with them.”

“The numbers of people helped. The numbers coming to Christ.”

“Lives being changed.”

“The enthusiasm of several of the volunteers has been wonderful.”

“Realising how many individuals have given time freely to help.”

“It has become a springboard to other areas of social action and many people now volunteer who didn't before.”

“The service has placed our church on the map in the Borough.”

“Great way to build relationships with local people.”

“Opportunity to engage with large numbers of unchurched community with a valuable service and the love of God.”

How effective are these Full Franchises internally?

We asked franchisees to rate their franchise on various internal aspects on the following scale:
1 = Poor, 2 = OK, 3 = Good, 4 = Excellent

Materials provided by the Franchisor?

3.56

Methodologies/Computer software provided by the Franchisor?

3.56

Training by the Franchisor?

3.54

Communication to/from the Franchisor?

3.36

Ease of operation?

2.96

Costs?

2.54

Materials, methods, training and communication are rated highly – between good and excellent. These equip and support the Franchisee in running the franchise. Any aspiring franchisor should note the importance of these aspects.

Ease of running the Franchise is good. Costs are seen as ‘ok to good’.

*The Full Franchises reported on were; Christians Against Poverty, Street Pastors, Black Boys Can, Care Confidential, The Lighthouse Group, Romance Academy and Trussell Trust Foodbanks.

How effective are Course Franchises** in ministry?

82% of those running The Marriage Course have had people other than the Church congregation attend. 78% of those running The Parenting Course have had people other than the Church congregation attend.

About 1/3rdof each course an average is made up from people outside of the church.

We asked the churches to rate the courses on various external aspects on the following scale:
1 = Poor, 2 = OK, 3 = Good, 4 = Excellent

External effectiveness

External Aspect

The Marriage Course

The Parenting Course

Helping you keep Christian distinctive in social action?

2.79

3.00

Meeting the needs of your community?

2.75

2.88

Seeing people saved/church growth?

1.92

1.88

Mobilising people in your church not involved directly with the 'franchise' into other forms of social action?

1.67

1.8

These ratings are a lot less than Full Franchises. Is that because people are not ‘in crisis’?

Quotes:

“The ability to open dialogue with people needing help in these areas.”

 “Seeing marriages deepened and rescued, and couples grow closer as a result, therefore stabilising families.”

“Bringing people from the fringes into the church for practical, everyday help with life issues.”

“The response from the parents involved and seeing the difference it makes in the lives of the people involved with their children.”

“How easy the course was to put on.”

**The Course Franchises reported on were; HTB's The Marriage Course and Care for the Family Parenting Course.