SROI
Social Return on Investment is a way of reporting on social and environmental value. Developed in the USA, it uses accounting methods for calculating the return from an investment. SROI identifies and describes social value created through an organisation's activities (and the investment needed to deliver them) and seeks to place a financial value on it.

In Scotland, a range of partners explored SROI methodology and SROI as a predictor of future social return. The resulting report, "Investing In Impact, Developing Social Return On Investment" provided a series of key lessons learned, practical guidance on using and developing SROI analysis, and recommendations for future work in this area. Download the report here (3.2MB)

SROI research conducted in 2007 found that for every £1 invested in Solstice, £2.93 is returned in social added value.  At Six Mary's Place the interim findings established that, for every person employed with a mental health issue within the guesthouse, the Social Firm is effectively saving the NHS alone approx. £21,000 per year.  The studies present a powerful argument for investment in further Social Firm support and development. 

Health Impact
Social Firms Scotland worked in partnership with Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health to develop a method of measuring the health impact of working in a Social Firm.  Sponsored by the Scottish Government through the Small Research Projects Initiative, results will be available around August 2008 the full report and 2 page summary are available to download below.

Making an Impact: Exploring how to measure the mental health impacts of working in a Social Firm (Summary)
Making an Impact: Exploring how to measure the mental health impacts of working in a Social Firm (Summary)

Please contact us or visit our Resources Section for further information.