Kevin Curley, outgoing chief executive of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action, has congratulated the government on the addition of a new social value annex to its major policy publication, the Green Book.

The two-page Valuing Non-maket Impacts annex was added to the Green Book, which provides guidance for central government in setting out a framework for the appraisal and evaluation of all policies, programmes and projects, in July. It was launched alongside an HM Treasury and Department for Work and Pensions discussion paper on valuing social impacts.

The annex outlines some of the existing methods for measuring social impact and terms used to describe different forms of social impact, and also provides advice on where a study into social impact should be launched. 

The addition is the first time that social value has been built into the Green Book. Curley, who in his role has supported the Big Society agenda and urged local councils not to make cuts to the not-for-profit sector, welcomed the move.

"I would like to congratulate the Treasury," he said. "Navca strongly supports the inclusion of social impacts in government policy formulation and appraisal and welcomes the recognition that impacts cannot always be adequately monetised. We believe that this approach supports local voluntary and community action."

Curley is to retire from his role at Navca next year.