Better places for a better quality of life: measuring social value outcomes
The Quality of Life Foundation has released a new report in conjunction with Stantec: Better places for a better quality of life.
The short report explores the use of evidence in monitoring social value outcomes. It draws on our Quality of Life Mapping project for Harlow and Gilston Garden Town. Through this project we worked with Stantec to map both ‘passive’ (existing socio-economic) data alongside the ‘active’ data that we collected through extensive engagement with local communities.
By drawing together both of these datasets, and analysing them through the lens of our Framework, we were able to record a social value baseline, against which progress can be tracked over time.
Making the case for a focus on outcomes
This report makes the case for focusing on outcomes in social value, rather than simply counting the outputs, and describes a methodology that can be used to do this.
Matthew Morgan, our Director, explains: “Using the Quality of Life Framework as a lens through which to analyse and map data about their residents’ quality of life can help local authorities and developers to shape their spatial and design strategies in ways that centre on improving health and wellbeing outcomes.
“The Framework can also act as an important tool for talking with communities – engaging them in conversations about their local area in a way that they understand, but also in a way where the findings of engagement can be mapped and measured over time.”