What is Social Value?
- Olivier Cavaliere
- Apr 16
- 2 min read
Social Value isn’t always easy to define — it’s not something you can measure with a simple financial report. At its heart, it’s about people. It’s about improving wellbeing, reducing harm, and creating opportunities that genuinely make lives better.
In a world full of challenges, it’s easy to get caught up in definitions, benchmarks, and proving value. But the core purpose remains the same: to make a positive difference with the resources we have.
That’s why social value should begin with a simple question : what needs to change?
From there, it’s about listening. Listening to the people affected, understanding the root causes of the issues they face, and working collaboratively on meaningful solutions. This isn’t just a strategy, it’s about putting people at the centre and shaping action around what truly matters to them.
Measurement is part of the journey, not the destination. It should help us understand whether our actions are working not just to show results, but to learn from them. Whether that means tracking outcomes in a small, local programme or aiming for impact on a regional level, what we measure should match the scale of what we’re trying to achieve.
And it’s not always about numbers. Listening to people’s experiences, being open to feedback (positive and negative), and adapting based on what we learn that’s where real impact starts. Proxies and indicators have their place, but only if they’re relevant to your context and community.
It’s also clear that no one can do this alone. To create real, lasting change, collaboration is essential. That means working across sectors with local communities, councils, education providers, health services, VCSEs, and businesses and combining our resources, insight, and energy. It also means being honest, transparent, and less afraid to share what isn’t working as well as what is.
Social Value isn’t about ticking boxes or winning contracts. It’s about changing lives. And if we stay focused on that, together, we can make a difference that actually matters.
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