Intr Intr
oduction oduction
It is important to remember that SROI is a
framework based on principles. Often there
are no right and wrong answers and you will
need to use your judgement to respond to the
question appropriately. The main points
at which this is required are highlighted with
this symbol.
‘Involve’. This symbol highlights points where
you should involve your stakeholders to refine
and confirm your decisions.
Language used
For simplicity we have used the following language throughout this guide:
• ‘Social value’ is used to describe social, economic and environmental value.
• ‘The social return of your acti vity’ is used rather than ‘the social return of your
organisation’. If you are analysing the social return of all your activities then this
would be the same as the social return of your organisation.
• Where ‘impact’ is used we mean your outcomes after taking into account what
would have happened anyway, the contribution of others and the length of time the
outcomes last.
• The guide is written for ‘you’ although ‘you’ may be a single person or a team.
Wheels-to-Meals – The worked example
Throughout the guide we will use the fictional example of Wheels-to-Meals, which
is presented in this format.
This is a hypothetical example. It is used to explore the principles and processes of
SROI. Some elements of the impact map have been included to support learning and
provide an appropriate example.
Wheels-to-Meals is a charity that developed from a meals on wheels service
provided by volunteers. Increasingly, it realised that its clients not only needed the
good hot meals it provided but, equally important, the contact and socialising with
the volunteers who brought them.
Wheels-to-Meals provides a luncheon club to eligible elderly and disabled local
residents and the majority of the volunteers are also elderly. The luncheon club
is delivered with the same resources as a meals on wheels service, except that
residents are transported to meals, rather than the other way round. The service
includes provision of hot, nutritious lunches, transport, opportunities to socialise,
and mild exercise. The service is available for up to 30 residents, 5 days a week and
50 weeks a year.
1 A guide to Social Return on Investment
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