ECT’s new Social Value Toolkit demonstrates ‘unique value’ of community transport
Community transport organisations across the UK have been offered a huge boost to help them prove their value amidst declining public and social sector budgets – thanks to a pioneering new toolkit created by ECT Charity.
Measuring Up: The CT Social Value Toolkit was launched at the London Strategic Community Transport Forum Annual Conference on 21 March.
ECT hopes the methodology, made possible thanks to a donation from the Monday Charitable Trust, will help community transport organisations across the UK to demonstrate the value of their work – from battling isolation and loneliness, to providing access to health and social care services.
The toolkit is made up of two parts: A Practical Guide to Measuring Community Transport Social Value, and the Community Transport Social Value Calculator. The guide sets out how and why social value should be measured, while the calculator will enable organisations to demonstrate their social value in numbers.
A key aim of the toolkit is that community transport organisations will be able to more clearly communicate their value to councils, commissioners, communities, passengers and government policymakers.
Anna Whitty, CEO at ECT Charity, said: “Looking at existing social value methodologies, we realised there was no tool that could accommodate the uniqueness of community transport and the crucial impact it delivers in helping millions of people every year across the UK – whether in accessing key services, having a day out or simply getting to the shops.
“On a daily basis, we see how community transport serves as a lifeline for many, but while anecdotal evidence is powerful, robust figures are needed.
“As local councils are reducing their budgets and community services are increasingly being cut, it is essential that CT organisations are able to measure the social value they provide in a quantifiable way.
“ECT Charity hopes that these resources will allow many more community transport organisations to demonstrate their social value and, by doing this, enable the sector to continue its vital work in communities across the UK.”
The methodology was independently reviewed by the charities and social enterprise team at Buzzacott accountants.
Edward Finch, Partner at Buzzacott LLP, said: “I believe that the toolkit is an excellent support for CT organisations in demonstrating the social value their activities create.”
Please contact socialvalue@ectcharity.co.uk for further information.
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