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Hamelin Trust is a charity formed in 1979 to provide additional services for children with disabilities. Hamelin Trust now has many projects supporting people with disabilities and their families across Essex. One of these is Roots and Shoots, a horticultural project that offers training and work experience in gardening and maintenance to residents of South East Essex who have learning disabilities.

A Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis has been conducted to evaluate the social value created by Roots and Shoots between April 2009 and March 2010. The analysis evaluates the social return created for the students who attend Roots and Shoots, their parents and carers, the customers who use the service regularly, and Local Authorities who fund the attendance of some students. The SROI analysis was carried out according to the standard approach to SROI as documented in the Cabinet Office sponsored Guide to SROI.

The analysis showed that the activities of Roots and Shoots resulted in two immediate changes for students, these changes led to others, which ultimately resulted in the students feeling better about themselves and what they can do and feeling more comfortable talking to people or have more friends. A few students also moved to more independent living and another got a job. Outcomes are also achieved for the students’ parents and carers, for example becoming more relaxed and improving relationships, and for customers, who enjoy supporting a social enterprise but can feel frustrated due to receiving a somewhat slower and less reliable service. In addition, students, customers and Local Authorities save money through using the Roots and Shoots service.

This SROI calculates that, for every pound invested in Roots and Shoots, the likely social value created through these outcomes is about £2.07. This is based on the information currently available. This social value is divided between the students, for whom 42.7% of the social value is created, their parents and carers who receive 25.6%, the customers who receive 0.9%, and the Local Authorities, for which 30.8% of the social value is created.

As in all SROI analyses, this calculation was based on estimations and assumptions. The sensitivity of the social return ratio to changes in a number of these was tested. As a result, the social return for each pound invested ranged from £ 1.76 to £3.92.

A number of recommendations were made as a result of the analysis, which may help shape data collection and improve future social impact measurement at Roots and Shoots. The recommendations included: ensuring Roots and Shoots has a data collection system which regularly monitors whether the outcomes identified are being achieved and how long they last, and investigating the possibility of having a minibus to transport students to and from the service.

This report provides a forecast Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis of the Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEFA).

CEFA is a national not-for-profit organisation which assists rural and remote communities around the country establish Local Education Foundations. These local foundations raise funds that are used to provide ‘non-cash’ grants to local youth to assist them with their transition from high school into further education, training or vocations.

CEFA’s mission is to ensure that a greater number of young people as possible from rural Australia have the opportunity to pursue their chosen area of tertiary study or vocation by providing much needed catalytic financial support and community encouragement.

In 2010, a total of 28 active foundations have awarded 338 grants for a total value of $520k ($370k of CEFA grants plus $150k in partner’s co-funding).

In order to assess the social value that is created by CEFA’s operations, CEFA engaged Social Ventures Australia (SVA) Consulting to conduct a Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis. SROI is a framework for measuring and accounting for the broader concept of value which incorporates social, environmental and economic benefits for a range of stakeholders. It is an internationally recognised methodology that is guided by principles and a standard process.

The Kesho Organisation’s aim is to improve the life chances through the education of disadvantaged young people in the Kilifi, Bahari and Ganze district in Coast Province, Kenya. The SROI analysis sets out to forecast the effect that the Kesho Organisation’s, Secondary School programme will have on the community. All forecast student data is based on past results.

The results:

SROI Ratio 2009/2010

90 students are sent to secondary school for a total investment of GBP 36,944. It is forecast that the social capital generated over 20 years will be GBP 697,915.93, concluding that for every one-pound invested, GBP 18.89 of social capital is created. An SROI ratio of 18.89. This exceptionally high ratio, is unsurprising in the Kenyan setting where no other opportunities to improve life chances exist.

Who are the Beneficiaries?

Eleven stakeholders were identified as potential beneficiaries, but only four stakeholders were taken forward as those that will materially benefit from the project. These are:

• The students
• The students’ families
• The project staff
• The Republic of Kenya

39% of the benefit goes to the secondary school students, who are given the long term chance of increased social mobility, and economic activity. An additional 39% of the benefit goes to the students’ families whose lives change as a reflection of their offspring’s success. As the sensitivity analysis demonstrates, the higher the number of Kesho students that progress to university, the better the life chances – increased education and health care – for the students’ families, the extended family and even the whole village in some cases.

5% of the benefit is produced by the creation of two new jobs. Against a background of a country with no safety net and where official rates of unemployment range between 40% to 83%, this project gives the two staff members the opportunity to improve the lot of their families. An average of 27% of net salaries is spent on their siblings education and family welfare.

17% of the benefit is felt by the Republic of Kenya which benefits because an average secondary school graduate will produce five times the average GDP. Capacity will be built so that Kenya can fulfil its own goals of being a middle income economy by 2030.

The Millennium Development Goals challenges the world to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and promote gender equality and empower women by 2015. This project, in its small way, contributes to these goals.

The benefit of this type of SROI forecasting is that it enables donors to see beyond the simple unit cost of how many students are served per administrator, and focus on the long-term effect of the activity that they are funding. This SROI demonstrates value for money. Donors can be assured that their Grants will permanently improve the life chances of the 90 students, the 2 project staff and their families, totalling well over 500 people. The assessment will also inform the Kesho Organisation of the areas and activities where maximum benefit can be derived.

It is intended that an SROI evaluative analysis for the Kesho organisation will become a regular report, and it is recommended that setting up a system to keep contact with Kesho students, once they graduate from secondary school, will greatly help data collection.