Social Audit The Better Project

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Social AuditThe Better Project

• Barbara Beaton
• The Better Project Management Group
• Voluntary and Community Sector Forum
• 12th May 2009

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Some background

• Capacity Builders social enterprise programme
• Runs till March 2011
• Working across Sussex
• West Sussex WSSEN WSCC
• East Sussex - ESSEN AirS
• Brighton and Hove More Than Profit Network The
  Business Community Partnership
• Part of regional portfolio of projects
• run through SE2 Social enterprise South East
  Partnership
• Linking with ChangeUp consortia

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Our ambition

• Improve access to public procurement
  opportunities
• amongst social enterprises
• Social impact information
• Clear and consistent information available to
  procurers and commissioners
• Increase understanding amongst support
  organisations
• about use of social impact measurement
• Increase understanding amongst social enterprises
  and their advisers
• about the requirements of commissioners and
  procurers
• about how to measure social impact

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Why measure social impact?

• Demonstrates the full value and impact of a
  social enterprise as service deliverer
• social as well as financial benefit
• Using one model
• helps to be able to evaluate the success of the
  organisation

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In practice

• Researching social impact measurement tools
• and their use to various audiences
• Piloting a method of measuring activities
• selecting one tool to pilot
• introducing within a selected number of social
  enterprises
• Active communication
• with key stakeholders
• to increase their understanding and appreciation
  of the value of social enterprises
• influence their commissioning policies
• Sharing learning
• Support organisations, Public sector, Social
  enterprises

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Social enterprise service delivery

• The market place
• Suppliers
• Social enterprises in Sussex
• Commissioners
• Public sector procurers and commissioners
• Local authorities, health authorities, government
  agencies

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Meeting of minds ?

• How does social impact measurement fit with the
  requirements of procurers and commissioners?
• Drivers for procurement
• Sustainability
• Outcomes based accountability
• Intelligent commissioning NHS

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Whats happened so far

• Initial desk research
• identify different models
• initial discussions with commissioners and social
  enterprises
• Lots of interest
• from those contacted both social enterprises and
  commissioners and procurers
• Expert help
• on board
• Criteria developed
• for selection of social enterprises

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Next stage

• Invitations to social enterprises
• Expressions of interest required to be involved
  in the project
• 2 per area
• Criteria to be published shortly www.wssen.org.uk
• Event for procurers and commissioners
• from all three areas of Sussex
• will inform our choice of which tool to use

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Please can you help ?

• Put your social enterprise forward
• to take part in this project
• Please spread the word
• Contacts please
• Other social enterprises
• Individuals involved in commissioning or
  procuring services

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More information ?

• For West Sussex
• West Sussex Social Enterprise Network WSSEN
• ana.fajardo_at_westsussex.gov.uk
• For Brighton Hove
• The Business Community Partnership
• emma.mongan_at_bhbcp.org.uk
• kate.mcphee_at_bhbcp.org.uk
• For East Sussex
• East Sussex Social Enterprise Network ESSEN
• Barbara.beaton_at_ruralsussex.org.uk