Social value

Using social value to improve outcomes

Our policy aims to use social value to make the most difference across a variety of social, environmental and economic priority areas.

For people: Stronger communities (increased community strength and resilience)

• More volunteering – This means individuals, groups and communities learning and sharing skills and expertise whilst providing assistance and support to others.
• More young people in employment, education and training – This means they gain skills and work experience, possibly money in their pockets, an opportunity to realise their aspirations and a greater sense of wellbeing.
• More people saying that they have good wellbeing – This means they are likely to be healthier, happier and more able to learn, work, earn and be socially active.

For the planet: Improve environmental sustainability (improved impact of the local environment on people’s wellbeing)

• Less waste – This means cleaner streets, reduced fly-tipping, more recycling and each of us thinking ‘do we really need to buy it (whatever that thing is) before we do?’ Could we borrow it instead?
• More recycling – This means more materials being reused and less waste going into the ground.
• More green travel – This means less congested roads, better air quality and greater choice of how and when we travel.
• More use of parks – This means fitter and healthier individuals with positive wellbeing and communities who are better able to learn, work, earn and be socially active

For prosperity: Stronger local economy (increased number of quality employment opportunities and reduced poverty for local citizens)

• More companies paying the Living Wage – This means increased numbers of employees earning a wage on which to live on and being able to spend money within their local communities.
• More local people from vulnerable groups accessing new jobs, apprenticeships, training and work experience placements – This means increased numbers of disabled people, LGBT and other often excluded or under-represented communities gaining skills and work experience, possibly money in their pockets, an opportunity to realise their aspirations and a greater sense of wellbeing.
• Less fuel poverty – This means that more households do not have to spend more than 10% of their income on fuel, energy and do not have draughty homes with old and inefficient heating systems.
• More purchasing from locally based companies – This means increased numbers of new jobs, apprenticeships, training and work experience placement opportunities, money being spent in local communities and a greater sense of wellbeing