In 2017 Envoy Partnership was commissioned to conduct a follow-up Social Return on Investment (SORI) analysis of the updated Community Champions programme.
SROI is a stakeholder-informed cost-benefit analysis that uses a broader understanding of value for money. It can assign values to social and environmental measures of change (outcomes) as well as economic outcomes, and helps organisations make improved spending decisions.
The evaluation concluded that the Community Champions programme continues to generate important benefits to local communities, households, statutory services, and local authorities.
The value created annually is almost £5 million (including c.£1.9 million for the local authority), from an investment of £930,000. This is double the amount described in the 2014 evaluation.
This SROI analysis estimates between £5 and £6 of social and economic value is generated for every £1 invested – of which over £2 is generated for the local authority or housing from recourse savings.