This letter calls on the Scottish Government, Members of the Scottish Parliament, COSLA, councils, and the third sector to commit to developing shared, open measurement frameworks and indicators rather than building separate and incompatible systems. We believe Scotland should establish the digital and data infrastructure needed for collective learning, enabling everyone to contribute to a consistent understanding of what creates community wealth.
Scotland’s Opportunity and the Risk of Fragmentation
Scotland already leads in social value measurement through programmes such as Community Led Local Development. However, current variation in how community benefits are tracked and reported risks creating duplication and fragmentation. The Improvement Service has found that two-thirds of local authorities are developing or implementing Community Wealth Building action plans. Without coordination, Scotland could end up with 32 separate systems using different proxies and methodologies, limiting shared progress and comparability.
The Third Sector Challenge
Third sector organisations face multiple reporting frameworks and funders’ bespoke requirements, turning impact reporting into a compliance exercise rather than a meaningful reflection on outcomes. A shared measurement framework would simplify reporting, recognise the inherent value of purpose-driven organisations, and enable collaboration between councils and the third sector.
An Emerging Foundation: The Social Value Library
Work is already underway to create a shared foundation for social value measurement through the emerging Social Value Library. Led by the Social Value Engine, this initiative curates and aligns proxy values and indicators relevant to Scotland’s National Performance Framework and Place Standard. Drawing on over 600 existing measures, it identifies those most applicable to Scotland and sources open proxies where gaps exist. The Social Value Library demonstrates how open data standards can be created and maintained collaboratively as a public good. It is not proposed as a proprietary system but as a shared building block towards a fully open, co-governed framework for measuring social value and community wealth across Scotland.
Principles for Open Infrastructure
Scotland’s approach should be guided by the following principles:
- Free and open access to proxy definitions and methodologies
- Alignment with the National Performance Framework and Place Standard
- Shared governance across public, private, and third sectors
- Interoperability between systems
- Transparent data sharing and ethical data use
Recommendations
- Adopt a Shared, Open Framework for Social Value Measurement
Include within the Community Wealth Building Bill’s implementation framework a commitment to open, co-owned measurement standards freely available to all sectors. - Build on Proven Foundations
Use the Social Value Library and the Improvement Service’s mapping work as the starting point for shared standards that are openly accessible and collaboratively governed. - Champion Active Data Sharing
Encourage transparent sharing of proxy definitions, methodologies, and outcomes data to support collective learning and continuous improvement. - Ensure Third Sector Centrality
Place third sector organisations at the heart of framework design and governance to ensure fairness, inclusivity, and proportionality. - Support Interoperability and Comparability
Allow councils flexibility in their local approach while maintaining comparability through shared proxies and transparent methodologies. - Prioritise Adoption Support Over New Development
Provide resources and guidance to help organisations adopt shared frameworks rather than creating multiple bespoke systems.
A Call for Parliamentary Support
We call on Members of the Scottish Parliament to champion shared, open measurement frameworks within the implementation of the Community Wealth Building Bill. Parliamentary scrutiny should focus on preventing duplication, ensuring comparability across Scotland’s 32 councils, and securing alignment with the National Performance Framework. MSPs can strengthen this vision by encouraging collaboration, supporting purpose-driven organisations, and ensuring transparency in how community wealth is measured and reported.
The Path Forward
Scotland has the building blocks needed to create a shared, open framework for measuring community wealth and social value. Initiatives such as the Social Value Library, the Improvement Service’s mapping, and the Scottish Government’s use of shared proxies already demonstrate what is possible. By aligning these efforts, Scotland can establish a model that is transparent, equitable, and rooted in collective learning. Every new bespoke system represents a missed opportunity for collaboration. A shared, open framework will ensure that all sectors work from a common evidence base and continue learning together about what truly builds community wealth.
This letter will be presented to MSPs and published with all signatories following the COSLA conference in November 2025. We’ll keep co-signers updated on the response and next steps as the Community Wealth Building Bill moves through Parliament. For questions about this letter or to discuss Scotland’s social value measurement infrastructure, contact Maddie Kortenaar at maddie@socialvalueengine.com.
