Social Value Evidence: A Simple Framework for Capturing Outcomes as You Deliver
- Yohlar
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Social value is the positive impact your organisation creates for people, place, and the wider economy—alongside the services you deliver and the revenue you generate. It’s not “extra”. It’s evidence that your work improves lives, strengthens communities, and contributes to long-term, sustainable progress.
For many organisations, social value only becomes a priority when a tender asks for it. The problem? If you wait until the end, you’re left trying to reconstruct impact from memory, scattered notes, and partial data.
This guide gives you a simple, repeatable framework to capture social value outcomes as you deliver—so you can report with confidence, strengthen partnerships, and improve your bids without creating a heavy admin burden.
What is social value
Social value is the measurable difference your work makes beyond the immediate output.
Outputs are what you do (e.g., delivered 10 workshops)
Outcomes are what changed as a result (e.g., 60% of attendees improved confidence to apply new skills)
Impact is the broader, longer-term effect (e.g., improved employability, reduced exclusion, stronger local supply chains)
Social value evidence is simply the proof that those outcomes happened.
Why social value matters to organisations
Social value strengthens your organisation in three practical ways.
Better tenders and funding applications: Clear outcomes + credible evidence = higher trust and stronger scoring.
Stronger partnerships: Partners want to know what changed, not just what was delivered.
Better decision-making: When you track outcomes, you learn what works and where to improve.
It also helps you avoid “tick-box” reporting by showing a genuine commitment to inclusive, sustainable progress.
How it works a simple social value evidence framework
Use this 6-part framework for any project, programme, or partnership.
1) Start with a one-line social value intent
Before delivery begins, write one sentence.
We will create social value by [who benefits] through [what we will do] so that [what changes].
Example:
We will create social value by supporting underrepresented founders through practical tender-readiness support so that they can access new opportunities and grow sustainably.
2) Define 3 to 5 outcomes not activities
Choose a small set of outcomes you can realistically evidence.
Good outcomes are:
Specific (clear change)
Observable (you can see it)
Measurable (you can capture it)
Examples:
Increased confidence or skills to do X
Improved access to opportunities
Reduced barriers to participation
Increased local spend or supplier diversity
Improved wellbeing or belonging
3) Choose your evidence types mix light and credible
Aim for a blend of quantitative and qualitative evidence.
Numbers: attendance, completion, progression, retention, repeat engagement
Before and after: confidence ratings, capability self-assessments, baseline vs follow-up
Stories: short case studies, quotes, what changed narratives
Signals: referrals, partnerships formed, new opportunities accessed
Proof points: policies adopted, processes improved, new practices embedded
Tip: you don’t need perfect data—just consistent capture.
4) Build evidence capture into delivery not after
Make it easy for your team by attaching evidence to moments that already happen.
At onboarding: baseline questions (2 to 5 minutes)
After each session or milestone: one-question pulse check
At completion: short outcome survey + optional quote
30 to 90 days later: follow-up to capture sustained change
If you only do one thing, add a baseline + endline measure.
5) Assign ownership and create a simple evidence log
Social value fails when it’s everyone’s job. Make it someone’s job.
Create a lightweight log (spreadsheet or form) with:
Outcome
Evidence to collect
Collection method (survey, attendance, interview)
Owner
Frequency (weekly, monthly, end)
Where it’s stored
Keep it boring. Keep it consistent.
6) Turn evidence into a usable narrative
When it’s time to report or write a tender response, structure your story like this.
Need: what problem or barrier exists
Action: what did you do
Outcome: what changed
Evidence: what proves it
Learning: what will you improve next time
This is how you move from “we delivered” to “we made a difference—and here’s the proof”.
Practical templates you can copy and paste
Outcome statement template
As a result of [activity], [group] will experience [change] by [timeframe].
Three-question pulse check
What is one thing you can do now that you couldn’t do before?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident do you feel applying this?
What’s the biggest barrier still in your way?
Mini case study structure 150 to 250 words
Who they are and starting point
What support happened
What changed (specific)
Evidence (quote + metric)
What happens next
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake: tracking activities instead of outcomes
Fix: always ask “so what changed?”.
Mistake: collecting too much data
Fix: 3 to 5 outcomes, a few evidence types, done consistently.
Mistake: leaving evidence to the end
Fix: baseline + endline built into delivery.
Mistake: vague claims like “we improved inclusion”
Fix: define what inclusion means in this context and how you’ll evidence it.
A simple starting point if you’re busy
If you want the minimum viable version.
Write one-line intent
Pick 3 outcomes
Capture baseline + endline
Collect 2 quotes
Log it in one place
That’s enough to transform your reporting and strengthen your tender responses.
The importance of Social Value
Social value isn’t a separate workstream. It’s the evidence that your work creates meaningful progress. When you capture outcomes as you deliver, you don’t just improve your reporting. You improve your delivery.
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