East Lothian Council plays a key role in supporting community-led development, ensuring that funding decisions align with measurable social impact. As part of the Scottish Government’s Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) programme, organisations in Scotland were required to collate social impacts for each Project funded.
Jayne Adamson, Tyne & Esk Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) Officer, was tasked with improving the measurement and reporting of social value to better inform stakeholders, including the Scottish Government, local councillors, and the Local Action Group.
Challenge
Historically, the measurement of social value within community-led projects had been limited to simple outputs—such as the number of volunteers or events—without capturing their broader impact. “Many projects we fund have a social value that we’re unable to show in monetary terms,” explains Jayne. “It could be volunteering, reducing social isolation—things that are difficult to quantify.”
This lack of concrete impact data made it challenging to report back to decision-makers and funders. Under previous funding frameworks, such as LEADER, reporting requirements focused on activity counts rather than outcomes. “You would just be saying back to them, ‘this project had 20 volunteers.’ But you couldn’t explain what that actually meant in terms of impact,” Jayne recalls. The Programme needed a more robust approach to demonstrate the real-world benefits of funded initiatives.
Solution
The introduction of the Social Value Engine (SVE) offered a structured method for quantifying social impact. Initially, there was a learning curve. “The first year was difficult because we didn’t fully understand it, and we only had about two months to use it,” Jayne notes. However, by the second year, she worked closely with the SVE team to refine the approach. “We developed an Excel spreadsheet so I could send it to projects, they just had to provide a number, and I was then able to input it into the software.”
This structured approach allowed projects to provide specific data—such as the size of a surveyed building or the tonnage of recycled materials—which could then be converted into meaningful social value metrics. “One project looked at the environmental impact of a building survey, which was straightforward because they just had to input square meter values. Another project, the Fringe by the Sea festival, tracked its recycling efforts, calculating the CO₂ savings based on waste diverted from landfill.”
Benefits
Using the Social Value Engine has significantly improved Tyne & Esk ability to capture and communicate impact. The tool has enabled the council to generate reports that provide a clearer picture of the return on investment for funded projects.
“We now publish reports on our website, detailing project outcomes over the past two years. This not only helps us with internal reporting but also supports projects when they apply for further funding,” Jayne explains.
Additionally, the SVE platform has evolved, making it even easier to use. “The new software is fantastic—it’s much more user-friendly, and I can now do everything myself without relying on the SVE team for data entry.”
Beyond individual projects, the insights gained have influenced council-wide strategic planning. “East Lothian Council Economic has taken out a subscription to use SVE for Community Wealth Building and UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) reporting,” Jayne shares. She is now working to integrate the platform into the wider Economic Development team. “My line manager and I see the benefits, and we’re working to get more staff to utilise it.”
Working with the Social Value Engine
Throughout the implementation process, the Social Value Engine team provided continuous support, ensuring that Jayne and her colleagues could maximise the platform’s potential. “I’ve had a lot of support. Even if I had a silly question, they always got back to me,” she notes.
By collaborating with the SVE team, Tyne & Esk was able to refine its approach to social value measurement. “In the beginning, we weren’t sure how figures were generated, but working with the team, we simplified the process. Now, with the new version, I can handle it independently, and it’s much more intuitive.”
Jayne has become a champion for social value measurement within the council. “I love it. At the end of the day, when you see that a government grant has delivered much more in social value terms, it’s not just useful for reporting—it’s essential for justifying future investment in our communities.”
Conclusion
Tyne & Esk’s use of the Social Value Engine has transformed how it measures and reports social impact. By moving beyond simple outputs and embracing evidence-based reporting, the council can now demonstrate the real value of its funded projects, helping to inform decision-making and secure future funding.
For Jayne and her colleagues, being able to quantify social impact has made a significant difference in their work. “Volunteers are often undervalued because their contributions don’t have a direct financial figure attached. Now, we can evidence the difference they make, which means a lot—not just for funders, but for the communities we support.”
