Community Safety Initiatives Demonstrate Impressive Social Return on Investment
/In a recent evaluation of community safety initiatives funded by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), three projects have shown remarkable social value and return on investment. These initiatives, located in Lisburn, Portadown, and West Belfast, have demonstrated that for every pound invested, they generate over three pounds in social value. This analysis provides valuable insights into the impact of community-driven safety programs.
Understanding Social Return on Investment (SROI)
SROI is a method for measuring and accounting for a much broader concept of value. By incorporating social, environmental, and economic costs and benefits, it seeks to reduce inequality and environmental degradation and improve well-being.
SROI measures change in ways that are relevant to the people and organisations that experience or contribute to it. It tells the story of how change is being created by measuring social, environmental, and economic outcomes and uses monetary values to represent them.
This process can significantly inform a project going forward by:
Helping organisations understand and maximise the social value they create
Enabling better planning and evaluation of activities
Improving the targeting of resources for maximum impact
Enhancing the communication of created value to funders and stakeholders
Identifying common ground between what an organisation wants to achieve and what its stakeholders want to achieve
Anita Doonan, the Funding and Social Value Officer at Supporting Communities, works with groups to conduct SROI analyses so they can quantify their impact and make data-driven decisions about future initiatives.
Lisburn SAFE: Building Community Resilience
The Resurgam Trust's Lisburn SAFE project has shown a social return on investment (SROI) of £3.03 for every £1 invested. This Lisburn area community safety volunteer service aims to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour while increasing feelings of safety among residents.
Key activities of the project include
Engaging 100 volunteers, contributing 10,000 volunteer hours
Conducting 1,200 neighbourhood interventions
Supporting local events and festivals
Collaborating with partners such as the PSNI and youth teams
The project has benefited approximately 4,000 residents in Lisburn and surrounding areas. Denis Paisley, Regeneration Manager at Resurgam Community Development Trust, expressed delight at the SROI results, stating, "The £3 to £1 ratio was excellent news! This support from NIHE for Lisburn SAFE to work with vulnerable people in the community is invaluable and demonstrates the value and impact of working with and managing volunteers."
YZone Youth Initiative: Empowering Young People in Portadown
The YZone Youth Initiative, run by Portadown Elim Church under the leadership of Campbell Best, has achieved an impressive SROI of £3.26 for every £1 invested. Established in April 2000, the initiative focuses on reaching young people identified as 'at-risk' or 'marginalised' in the Portadown area.
The project's activities include:
Creating outdoor spaces for young people
Offering cooking and budgeting classes
Teaching life skills and citizenship
Collaborating closely with local schools
The YZone initiative aims to reduce youth offending and improve community safety by engaging with young people early and providing support and guidance. The project has successfully connected with a large number of young people, benefiting both the direct participants and the wider community.
West Belfast Community Safety Initiative: Bridging Communities and Authorities
The Upper Springfield Development Trust's Community Safety Initiative in West Belfast, led by Michael Donnelly, has demonstrated the highest SROI of the three projects at £3.40 for every £1 invested. This specialised community safety team supports residents in reporting crime and anti-social behaviour to relevant authorities.
Key features of the initiative include:
Hosting monthly community safety forums across West Belfast
Providing awareness and engagement sessions
Training volunteers and staff to offer additional support
Bridging the gap between residents and authorities
Contributing approximately 3,000 hours of volunteering
The project covers a wide area, from Castle Street and Divis Street in the city centre to the outskirts of West Belfast, including Suffolk Road, Poleglass, Twinbrook, and Lagmore. By encouraging residents to report incidents and facilitating communication with agencies such as the NIHE, PSNI, and Belfast City Council, the initiative has significantly improved community safety and resident confidence.
A data-driven approach
These three community safety initiatives demonstrate the substantial impact targeted, community-driven programs can have on local areas. These projects have not only enhanced community safety but have also provided excellent value for the invested funds.
The impressive SROI figures highlight the importance of continued support for such initiatives, as they clearly deliver tangible benefits to their communities. As these projects evolve and adapt to local needs, they serve as inspiring examples of how community-led efforts can create lasting positive change in safety, youth development, and community cohesion.
Anita Doonan, Funding and Social Value Officer worked with all three groups to produce SROI reports for their projects. She explained, “Our SROI analysis provides these organisations with valuable insights that can shape their future strategies. By understanding the social value created per pound invested, project leaders can make informed decisions about resource allocation, program expansion, and stakeholder engagement. This data-driven approach ensures that community safety initiatives maximise their positive impact on residents' lives.”
Learn More
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