Social Value UK

Country: United Kingdom

  • The Social Value of the OnSide Network of Youth Zones

    The Social Value of the OnSide Network of Youth Zones

    “OnSide commissioned this Social Return on Investment study to further their understanding of the social value generated by the OnSide Network of Youth Zones. Social value is defined by Social Value International as “the importance people place on different aspects of their wellbeing and the changes they experience in these aspects of wellbeing.” Measuring social value, therefore, is a useful way to determine how organisations are impacting upon the wellbeing of individuals and communities.

    While Youth Zones undoubtedly create ripples of change that likely affect wellbeing of families, staff and volunteers, OnSide’s vision is clear: “Our vision is for every young person across the UK to be happy, healthy, and able to thrive. We want to empower the UK’s youth to lead positive, fulfilling lives […].” In keeping with this key priority and to provide insights to better manage value created for young people, this analysis zooms in on their experiences, placing young people at the heart of the study to better understand and measure the impact these spaces have on their wellbeing.

    This study was carried out by a team of 3 Accredited SROI Practitioners supported by OnSide delivery and management staff. The researchers had access to OnSide’s own bank of relevant data and visited 4 Youth Zones to carry out independent qualitative research. 51 young people were interviewed and a further 784 responded to an online survey.

    The headline findings from the study are that…

    OnSide Youth Zones support young people to feel free to have fun, to feel safe and to feel confident in themselves

    AND

    For every £1 of costs there was a return of over £13 of social value in terms of young peoples’ wellbeing.

    Other positive outcomes reported by the young people involved include ‘being myself’, feeling ‘less lonely’, having ‘more confidence around other people’ and ‘discovering who I really am.’ Although much smaller in scale than the positive outcomes some negative outcomes were also reported by young people as shown in the table below. The valuations in the study have been calculated using the WELLBY methodology – the only wellbeing valuation methodology recognised by HM Treasury’s Green Book supplementary guidance: wellbeing (UK Government, 2021).”

  • Age at Work: A National Lottery Community Fund funded 5 year programme across 3 Nations – A Social Return on Investment Analysis

    Age at Work: A National Lottery Community Fund funded 5 year programme across 3 Nations – A Social Return on Investment Analysis

    “Executive Summary

    This research was commissioned by the Age at Work programme, run in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales over five years, supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, and conducted by Bean Research. It focuses on how the programme created social value through supporting older workers and Employers in each nation, and what its social return on investment is.

    This project was conducted through quantitative and qualitative research, using the Social Value International (SVI) Principles as a guide to make decisions and to consider the broader definition of value. The specific focus of the social valuation was on the Older Workers who participated in the programme, and Employers in the three nations participating. Age at Work Older Workers were actively involved in the evaluation process, so their experiences have been respected, and their voices have influenced the process.

    This research project and report show that Age at Work creates significant social value to society through its work with Older Workers, generating outcomes based on the development of financial capability, employability and vocational skills, a more positive mindset, and employment opportunities.”

  • Report on Social Value created by Offploy in 2023

    Report on Social Value created by Offploy in 2023

    “This research was commissioned by Offploy CIC and conducted by Bean Research. It forms part of a project to understand how the organisation creates social value, what its social return on investment is, and the development of a toolkit to support the wider rehabilitation sector in measuring and reporting the difference it makes.

    Offploy supports people at risk of offending and re-offending, empowering them to access greater opportunities and achieve their full potential. They focus on tangible opportunities, such as skills development and access to resources, alongside tackling the mindset and self-belief challenges that individuals face.

    This project was conducted through quantitative and qualitative research, using the Social Value International (SVI) Principles as a guide to make decisions and to take into account the broader definition of value. The specific focus of the social valuation was on the Candidates who participated in the programme. Offploy Candidates were actively involved as those affected by the programme, so their experiences have been respected, and their voices influence the process.

    This research project and report show that Offploy creates significant value to society through its work with Candidates, generating outcomes based on the development of financial capability, employability and vocational skills, a more positive mindset, and employment opportunities.

    Overall, the research shows that Offploy has generated just over £7 million of social value through their activities in 2023. When factoring in the investment required, this means the Social Return on Investment (SROI) ratio is £1: £12.09, although based on further sensitivity analysis, this should be more truly shown as a range between £1: £9.20-£15.30.

    Our analysis shows that the largest contribution to social value is the increased positive mindset of Candidates created through working with Offploy, measured by an increase in scores of wellbeing. This accounts for 37% of the overall social value.

    Offploy is keen to use the research to provide greater insight into how to better support its Candidates and create the most social value for them. Through this research, Offploy has been working with the researchers to not just understand how and how much social value is created but to develop the tools, systems and understanding to conduct future social value measurement themselves.

    In addition, Offploy is keen to go one step further and share these systems and processes with the rest of the sector, as well as the details behind the valuations, causality, and sensitivity assumptions made. Our joint hope is that this report is the first step in the journey.”

  • The value of giving back – the social return of Charity Shops

    The value of giving back – the social return of Charity Shops

    Executive Summary

    The value of charity shops goes far beyond what is captured in financial terms.

    This Social Return on Investment (SROI) has been carried out to understand the social value of charity shops in the UK. Aligning to the International Principles of Social Value and conducted in accordance with the Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework published by the Cabinet Office of the UK Government, this analysis uses a stakeholder informed approach to show the social value generated. Accordingly, it uses the views of people that are most materiality affected (staff, volunteers, customers and donors) to determine what outcomes charity shops create and involves them to estimate their quantity, duration, value and causality. It is not an assessment of the savings to the state, environmental value or benefit to the economy.

    The results conclude a total of £75.3 billion of social value generated by UK charity shops in 2022, an SROI ratio in the range between £1: £4.1-17.8 and a vast total positive impact on those people whose lives charity shops touch.

    Nearly a third (29%) of this total social value is through increasing individuals’ feeling of giving back to others and almost half (49%) of the total social value is about giving back to others or the planet. The highest social value per person was created for volunteers, whilst the highest total social value per stakeholder group was for the large group of customers across the UK. It was shown that for staff, volunteers, customers and donors ‘giving back’ to other people is the most important outcome for all groups, and it is through enabling this, charity shops are making the most difference to people’s lives. Other important outcomes also include:

    • ‘Feeling that charity shop staff meet me with friendliness and compassion’
    • ‘Feeling that I am ‘giving back’ to the planet’
    • ‘Excitement from the shopping experience’

    It is recommended that findings from this SROI analysis, and the use of the toolkit that will follow, is used to:

    1. Evidence value: Help the charity retail sector in demonstrating its immense social
      value to our societies.
    2. To be responsive: Through illustrating what outcomes are most important to
      stakeholders, this study can help charity shops to put actions in place where it
      matters, to continue to increase and maximise the positive social value created.
  • The Social Value of Explorer Cluband Young Rangers

    The Social Value of Explorer Cluband Young Rangers

    Explorer Club and Young Rangers have significantly increased the environmental awareness and responsibility of participants. Young people are more resilient, and families are stronger. When this impact is extended to households who have barriers to accessing activities like these, the value is increased. The average value per person for lottery funded cohorts is higher than for core funded cohorts (24% higher on average). And specifically, in lower income households represented in the 2020/21 cohort, respondents valued their outcomes more than others.

    1.1 Background

    The North York Moors National Park Authority’s (NYMNPA) Outdoor Learning Team works with educational providers, families and young people within and outside of the National Park.

    1.2 Scope

    The analysis evaluated two of the Team’s activities:

    • Explorer Club is for families to engage in environmental play and conservation tasks in the National Park. Children are usually aged between 4-11 and take part for 6 months.
    • Young Rangers is a monthly club for young people aged 11-17 who are interested in learning about the work of the ranger service and how they too can practically help look after the National Park.

    This report brings together five evaluations of these two projects. The evaluations took place from 2019 to 2023 with 2 distinct groups of cohorts, according to funding streams:

    • Core funded cohorts: Two pilot projects were undertaken to engage with young people and families in helping them to understand and care for the National Park. These core funded projects have continued.
    • Lottery funded cohorts: A grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) has enabled families and young people, for whom there are barriers to engaging with the National Park, to participate in the projects.

    The aims were to:

    1. Evaluate the social value of the lottery funded cohorts; and
    2. Contrast the results with core funded cohorts.

    All five evaluations, therefore, followed the same method to enable comparisons. This report does not recommend any actions. It is simply an account of the social value. Business planning, strategic and management processes should conclude what actions should be taken now the value of stakeholders’ outcomes are known, the most important outcomes revealed and contrasts observed.

  • Social Return on Investment Evaluation Report Mencap’s Supported Internship programme 2021 – 2022

    Social Return on Investment Evaluation Report Mencap’s Supported Internship programme 2021 – 2022

    Executive Summary

    This report presents an evaluation of social return, based on the 2021/2022 cohort engaged in the Mencap’s Supported Internship (SI) programme. It builds on the previous work undertaken to produce a forecast of the impact of the 2020/21 cohort.

    The evaluation was constructed with information from a number of processes:

    • A Literature Review to identify material outcomes and stakeholders
    • Engagement with a Sounding Board including ex-learners from the Mencap Supported Internship programme to guide the analysis
    • Interviews with learners, parents, referral agencies and Local Authorities and employers
    • Undertaking deep dives at two of Mencap’s Supported Internship projects
    • Development of an overall Theory of Change and a chain of outcomes for learners
    • Data collection from Mencap’s review documentation used with learners
    • Determining valuations based on undertaking the Values Game with learners
    • Creation of a value map to present the findings
    • Calculation of the Social Return on Investment ratio.

    This evaluation follows the previous forecast SROI process undertaken with the 2020/21 learner cohort, which yielded an SROI ratio of 2.35, with a range between £2 and £3. It was concluded that this ratio was considered to likely to be an underestimate. This was a result of the limitations imposed on delivery of the programme, the research and the stakeholder engagement due to Covid 19 measures. Secondly, there were limitations on the evidence which could be derived from Mencap’s records to support some of the outcomes. Mencap undertook a revision of their paperwork on the basis of recommendations made.

    Hence the second phase of the research reported here, concentrated on the 2021/22 cohort where the programme retuned to more normalised programme of delivery and as a result of which the research could also include more direct connection with stakeholders. The issues of data gaps could be largely resolved, therefore a more realistic and accurate assessment of social value could be determined. The calculations yielded an SROI ratio of 3.22, with a range between £1.61 and £4.83 returned for every £1 invested in the Supported Internship programme.

    Mencap’s Supported Internship programme overview

    The Supported Internship (SI) programme is one of Mencap’s ‘Three Ships’ skills and employability programme components, alongside Traineeships and Apprenticeships. The overall aim is to help young people (16-24) with learning disabilities and young people with autism to get paid employment and to thrive in a job.

    Each year, Mencap’s employment support programmes help over 1,000 people with a learning disability to develop employability skills, undertake personal skills development and then gain paid employment. Mencap is the largest multi-site provider of Supported Internships and the 6th largest overall in the UK. In 2020/2021 Mencap delivered supported Internships across 11 project locations in England, with 10 locations in the following year.

    In 2021/2022 the programme was further extended through the introduction of a Study Programme, in recognition of the fact that many people who had been referred to the SI programme were too far away from the labour market to benefit from a programme lasting only one year. Learners on the study programme therefore had the opportunity to engage in a programme of classroom learning for up to two years, before moving onto the SI programme to help develop their employability skills and competencies.

    Mencap’s SI delivery includes classroom group training, one-to-one support from tutors and job coaches, and individualised work placements with employers. The programme period is in academic years, recruiting learners each autumn. The programme gives approx. 600 hours input for each learner, normally 300 hours of classroom delivery and 300 hours on work placement (s).

    Generally speaking, employer placements start towards the end of the year or early in the New Year. Mencap has access to a wide range of employers from many sectors, with a broad range of employee sizes. There were a number of national and local hospitality providers, but there were also care homes, garden centres, supermarkets, charity shops and NHS employers.

    In 2021/2022, 161 young people with learning disabilities and autism were recruited to the programme and 144 completed the programme.

    During the Evaluation Phase of the research in 2022, Mencap’s employment programmes were inspected by OFSTED, with an overall grade of Requires Improvement. The SI programme is funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and Local Authority contributions to support the implementation of Education Health and Care Plans. These Plans set out what the Local Authorities’ expectations are for each learner on the SI programme, and the outcomes they expect the programme to deliver.

  • Social Value at Universities: Policy and Practice Guidance

    Social Value at Universities: Policy and Practice Guidance

    Universities globally can be major hubs of social and economic activity which drive change in society. We know that they can create multiple and diverse routes into employment, can have significant purchasing power which can inform standards across supply chains, can create learning opportunities which directly nourish and enrich local communities, and can deliver research and innovation which impact health for the better.


    However, the measurable difference these make to lives – and how universities and the funding bodies account for this impact – is still unknown. We created the Global Symposia for Social Value at Universities in 2022, as a way to accelerate the movement. Over 130 joined from 12 countries to contribute to the analysis, from different disciplines such as health, arts, environmental sciences, alongside private, public and third sector stakeholders.


    There were two symposiums. The first was related to understanding policy and practice across disciplines at universities; the second was focused on one of the biggest sectors, business and management studies.
    This report presents the findings from both symposiums from the perspective of different stakeholders:


    1. what is currently being done that is valued
    2. recommendations for improvement


    The Global Symposia at Universities 2022 was co-hosted between Social Value UK and Liverpool John Moores University, the British Academy of Management (Sustainable and Responsible Business SIG), Principles for Responsible Management Education (Working Group on Poverty), University Vocational Awards Council, Social Value International, The Academy of Business in Society, American International Accreditation Association for Schools and Colleges, and the National Society for Experiential Education.

    Supported by Liverpool John Moores University’s Quality Research Funds.

    View Report
  • Re-Connect Project SROI

    Re-Connect Project SROI

    “Down to Earth Project is a Not–for–Profit Social Enterprise working with members of the community for the past 15 years to deliver relationship centred and meaningful, outdoor experiences to vulnerable and disadvantaged young people and adults. Having worked for the last ten years with local National Health Service (NHS) Trust Swansea Bay University Health Board (formerly Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board), delivering programmes, and Swansea University, developing a long–term clinical research programme, Down to Earth have a robust evidence base and reliable track record as to the health benefits of its programmes and approach to health and education. Bringing together two Welsh Government public health bodies, NHS Wales and Natural Resources Wales, Down to Earth created a project that aims to  encourage and evidence the benefit of sharing resources and best practice across health care departments for the benefit of patients with long term chronic health conditions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of Down to Earth’s Re–Connect Project using the Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology. The project ran for 18 months from July 2018 until December 2019.”