We’ve got some exciting news to share – we are proud to announce that we are now a pioneer member with Social Value UK!
Social Value UK are a member-led professional body for social value and management of impact, who help to standardise the Principles of Social Value and its practices. Their vision, and the collective vision of over 100 member organisations and 2000+ supporters, is to see a world where important decisions incorporate consideration for wellbeing, equality and the environment, to benefit individuals and communities and to make sure organisations are accountable for their impact on people and their environment.
As well as becoming part of a community of like-minded organisations making a difference in the world, a number of our changemakers have also been embarking on additional training with Social Value UK around the importance of social value. Head of Research, Eloise and Social Researcher and Data Analyst Daisy, have recently completed accredited Social Value and SROI Practitioner Training, to not only support the growing needs of our clients to embed and measure social value in their work, but to also help us maximise the impact that our work creates.
We are looking forward to collaborating and sharing ideas with a lot of inspirational organisations, to continue making a difference and supporting other organisations to embed social value principles in their future projects.
What does social value mean?
Social value in its simplest form is the importance that people place on changes they experience in their lives. It encompasses any changes that affect an individual’s quality of life, including health, wellbeing and sense of community.
For example, the personal benefits to an individual of living near a community park are significant i.e. increased mental wellbeing, having access to increase physical activity. These benefits are subjectively important to the individual i.e. they have a ‘value’, but this is not necessarily expressed or considered in the same way a financial value would be.
Why is social value important?
Recognising the importance of social, environmental and economic wellbeing across communities is key to supporting positive change in these areas. Having a way to measure how much social value is being created by an organisation or others allows you to find ways to maximise the potential impact and promote positive wellbeing for more people.
Want to learn more about social value and the impact we are creating? Check out our whitepaper on the importance of Social Return on Investment, or speak to a member of our team about how you can maximise your social impact.
