Measuring the Social Return on Investment of community sport and leisure facilities

Rationale/Purpose: There is a growing demand from managers and policy makers for evidence on the wider impacts of sport and physical activity. This is driven by the need to demonstrate accountability for public expenditure and effectiveness in relation to public policy. The research presented in this paper addresses a gap in knowledge relating to the social impact of local sport and leisure facilities. Design/methodology/approach: A Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework was used to measure the impact of sport and physical activity across 12 community sport and leisure facilities in Sheffield. A range of methods were used to measure general participation by regular visitors and a targeted therapeutic exercise programme for specific participants. Findings: The research found the social value of outcomes related to general and targeted participation were £21.67 m and £0.26 m, respectively, and that for every £1 spent a SROI of between £1.20 and £3.42 was generated. Practical implications: The research enables managers to identify the value of facilities beyond the financial indicators commonly used in performance management. Contribution: It contributes to knowledge on valuing the non-market benefits of sport. The research provides a methodological example of using SROI to measure the value of local sport and leisure facilities.