1Energy: Creating a Social Value Framework for Renewable Energy

1Energy is an independent developer of Low-to-Zero Carbon (LZC) heat networks in urban areas across the UK. 1Energy has the potential to significantly contribute to Net Zero targets, enhance air quality and public health, influence behavioural changes and support local economies through job creation and skill development. 1Energy asked RealWorth to develop a proposal for the creation of a Social Impact Strategy and general approach to measuring, optimising and reporting on the social value created by their activities.   

First, RealWorth developed a Strategic Framework that provided a clear and concise overview to 1Energys social impact. Second, a Social Impact Report was created, including of a gap analysis to demonstrate the additional social impact that could be created with similar levels of resource. 

Mount Anvil & Peabody: Delivering a Local Partnerships Strategy for Friary Park & Burridge Gardens

Developers Mount Anvil and Peabody Housing Association commissioned RealWorth to support their development partnership, developing over 1,600 new homes across two sites in London, over 45% of which will be affordable housing.

RealWorth worked with the development partnership to establish and deliver a Local Partnerships Strategy. This included working with local VCSE’s to establish and deliver partnerships that could operate in the two sites over a 1-3 year period. This project is helping the development partnership to establish and deliver positive social impact for residents and the wider Acton and Ealing communities.

Perkins&Will: Creating a Bespoke Social Value Framework

Perkins&Will is a global design practice with a strong internal culture of social purpose. Much of its social impact activity has historically been ad-hoc or untracked. With social value now a growing requirement in bids — especially in the public sector — the firm identified a need to define and measure its impact more strategically.

RealWorth developed a bespoke Social Value Framework based on the national TOMs (Themes, Outcomes, Measures) model. The framework bridges Perkins&Will’s internal values with external expectations and outlines a roadmap for implementation, reporting, and continuous improvement — with Year One positioned as a pilot phase.

RiseUp: Evaluating the Impact of a Young People's Programme

RiseUp is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation founded in 2015, which works with prisons, schools, the long term unemployed and those at risk of offending within the wider community. It uses the ‘Hero’s Journey’, a narrative pattern often used in storytelling that describes a cycle of departure, initiation, and return, as a model for personal growth and transformation, guiding people through various stages to navigate their challenges and achieve their potential. The programme typically utilises creative arts to guide participants through the Hero’s Journey. RealWorth worked with RiseUp to evaluate the impact of the pilot Young People’s Programme, demonstrating its effectiveness in generating social impact for young people.

2-3 Degrees: Measuring the Value of The Crown Estate Youth Panel

2-3 Degrees is a social enterprise that aims to inspire and equip young people with personal development skills needed to fulfil their potential. In partnership with The Crown Estate (TCE), 2-3 Degrees set up a Youth Panel to provide a youth voice on regeneration projects across London and within the Crown Estate properties.

RealWorth was commissioned to evaluate and quantify the social value generated by the young people as a result of their experience on the Panel. The study assessed the programme’s capability to deliver social value from the youth participant’s perspective, including growth in confidence, skills, career aspirations and knowledge, with the benefits expressed both quantitatively through case studies and qualitatively through a social return on investment (SROI) value.

Everton Football Club: Assessing the Social Value of ‘The People’s Project'

Everton Football Club is currently in the process of building a new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock in Liverpool. The Club wanted to understand and optimise the social value created by the stadium move. “The People’s Project” was created, combining the development of the new stadium with a legacy project for the use of the existing stadium ground.

Everton FC appointed RealWorth to understand, measure and communicate the social value associated with its stadium move from Goodison Park to Bramley-Moore Dock.

This comprised a review of the Club’s charity Everton in the Community (EitC), the new stadium itself and the effect that the Legacy Project at Goodison was likely to have in the future.

The Liverpool City Region: Reviewing the Impact of the Spatial Development Strategy

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) is a statutory planning document that provides a strategic plan for the development and use of land across six local authorities. The SDS will set out an integrated economic, environmental, transport and social framework for the development of the Liverpool City Region.

RealWorth has a long-running appointment with the LCRCA to deliver an ongoing social value evaluation of the SDS. Since 2019, RealWorth has been tasked with evaluating the social value of every policy within the SDS at every stage in its development, to ensure that it considers social impacts in areas such as health and wellbeing, as well as their economic outcomes.

Young Voices: Evaluating the Economic and Social Impact of a National Music Programme

Young Voices are the largest school choir in the world. Their programme links skill and educational development to the power of music and has developed a reputation amongst educators and venues that sees repeat and increased participation year on year, making a positive impact on those involved and their wider community.

To explain the impact the choir has on its young people, Young Voices tasked RealWorth in collaboration with Sound Diplomacy to understand the economic and social value of 27 concerts between January and February 2023. RealWorth conducted a Social Return on Investment study and calculated the value of the social impact of music education. Over time, our report will allow Young Voices to expand its reach and make the project even more accessible to children from all backgrounds.

U+I Plc: Reviewing the Social Impact of its Portfolio

Now known as Landsec U+I, the company is a specialist mixed-use regeneration developer that has excelled at re-imagining and re-purposing buildings and places that are no longer fit for purpose. In 2021, U+I asked RealWorth to assess the social value of 20 different projects within its portfolio with a combined value of over £1.5bn

RealWorth analysed and reported on the social value created by the U+I developments. RealWorth also provided a series of recommendations highlighting areas of best practice both within U+I and in the wider sector to further enhance the social value potential of the portfolio.

The report was used to show analysts and potential investors how social value featured in U+I’s thinking when they planned for and designed regeneration schemes.