1. Social Value Public Services (Social Value ) Act introduced January 2013 Requires people who commission public services to think about how they can also provide wider social, economic and environmental benefits. Commissioners should consider social value before the procurement starts A value for money approach - not lowest cost - to assessing contracts Applies to central government and NHS contracts worth more than £113,057 and local government contracts worth more than £173,934. It applies to contracts for services but not to those for goods. This is currently being reviewed

2. Case Study: Croydon Croydon Council went out to tender for a £150 million housing repairs contract. It consulted prospective suppliers to produce innovative ideas that added extra value to the service. The final contract award encompassed social value commitments: Providing apprenticeship opportunities Delivering careers advice in schools and offering work experience to NEETs and the long-term unemployed. Offering mentoring and business support to SMEs in the provider’s supply chain, as well as collaboration with social enterprises. Providing volunteering opportunities for staff, allowing them to contribute to local community projects.

3. Case Study: Gateshead Troubled Families contract included a commitment to increase the number of voluntary and community organisations involved in service delivery and a commitment to establishing a sustainable family mentor volunteering programme including opportunities for volunteers to progress into paid employment o

4. Islington Scrutiny Review of voluntary and community sector Procurement Action Plan produced July 2013 and reviewed March 2014 Commitment to publish a forward plan of opportunities Guidance for commissioners on social value – this is subject to review including meetings with the local voluntary and community sector Commitment to review annually and include VCS in the process

5. More information http://socialvaluehub.org.uk/ http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/sites/default/fil es/social_value_guidance_2014.pdf http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/sites/default/fil es/social_value_guidance_2014.pdf Local resources: http://www.vai.org.uk/wp- content/uploads/2014/05/2014-05-12-Forward-plan- April-2014.pdf http://www.vai.org.uk/wp- content/uploads/2014/05/2014-05-12-Forward-plan- April-2014.pdf http://www.vai.org.uk/services/model-policies-and- toolkits/toolkits/ http://www.vai.org.uk/services/model-policies-and- toolkits/toolkits/