Charity SROI report wins government approval

Finance | Gareth Jones | 7 Apr 2011

A social return on investment (SROI) study looking at disability charity Whizz-Kidz has been cited by health secretary Andrew Lansley as “very clear evidence” of how the social enterprise model "does deliver”.

Conducted by Frontier Economics Ltd on a pro bono basis, the study calculated that every £1 invested in the charity’s wheelchair provision scheme delivers between £10 and £65 in wider benefits.

It looked at life stories of three children supported by the charity, taking in benefits received by the child’s family, its school and also the NHS.

Speaking at the Voice 11 social enterprise conference in London last week, Lansley (pictured) quoted figures from the report and said: ““We have to foster the enterprise and innovation which is the hallmark of all successful organisations.

“Frankly, I don’t think it’s about public sector versus private sector versus voluntary sector. It’s about the characteristics of successful organisations.”

Speaking about the report, Whizz-Kidz CEO Ruth Owen said: “This report has helped us to put a value, for the first time, to something hugely valuable.

“This report makes a compelling and economic case for making wider reform of NHS wheelchair services for disabled children an absolute priority.”

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