Study title

The project responds to the current UK Government strategy for the third sector where there is an evidence gap in relation to understanding the size and characteristics of individual organisations and the difficulties measuring their impact on people and places. It will use social measurement techniques developed with Jesmond Swimming Project, specific to community based organisations working within the leisure sector, and will then be shared through Sporta, the national network of leisure trust and social enterprises. A large problem facing leisure services providers is measurement of their impact on communities. The UK Government ask providers to demonstrate their impact on communities and how their service benefits users and the environment in which they operate. One possible tool to identify and demonstrate impact is through social measurement techniques. Jesmond Pool found that financial accounting information did not provide the level of social information that the organisation required. To address this information gap they introduced social accounts. The project is specific to third sector leisure sector providers and will develop and share best practice of social measurement across a UK network. It will research and share understandings of approaches to social measurement practice through a participatory action research approach.