A groundbreaking roadmap has been launched in Cheshire and Merseyside to transform the region into a thriving Social Value Economy.

This ambitious initiative aims to maximise the social, economic, and environmental benefits delivered by organisations across the region, in particular how social value can be realised through more systematic working with the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector.

The roadmap was collaboratively commissioned by Voluntary Sector North West and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, and developed by Social Value Portal, an organisation dedicated to enhancing social, economic, and environmental wellbeing. This collaborative approach ensures that the report is closely aligned with regional priorities, such as addressing health inequalities and strengthening community resilience, making it a powerful tool for driving strategic and integrated working to achieve impactful social value outcomes across Cheshire and Merseyside.

Power yet to be utilised

At the heart of the Social Value Economy concept is the belief that every organisation—whether public, private, or within the VCFSE sector—should contribute to creating additional benefits for people, places, and the planet. To understand the challenges and opportunities, over 20 cross-sector system leaders were interviewed. The consultations revealed the transformative potential of Social Value is not yet fully realised in Cheshire and Merseyside. A critical gap identified is the underutilisation of the vast potential offered by the VCFSE sector in driving Social Value outcomes. 

Partner VCFSE

To address this, the roadmap introduces the "Partner VCFSE" commitment—a strategic call to action for all organisations in the region to deepen their collaboration with the VCFSE sector by 2025 as a catalyst to moving towards a social value economy. Organisations making this commitment pledge to baseline their current engagement with the VCFSE sector, identify key opportunities to enhance collaboration, and set ambitious year-on-year targets to increase their support.

For the public sector, this may involve directing more of their supply chain spending towards VCFSE organisations or fostering cross-sector partnerships that leverage the unique strengths of the VCFSE sector in addressing local challenges. Private companies are encouraged to engage more deeply with the VCFSE sector through initiatives like resource donations, volunteer programs, and integrating VCFSEs into their business operations.

Stay accountable

Accountability is a core aspect of this commitment. Organisations are urged to measure their progress using specific indicators from the Cheshire and Merseyside Social Value TOMs framework and embed these within their social value strategies and measurement. This approach ensures that the commitment leads to real-world impacts, driving investment and resources into the VCFSE sector, which in turn strengthens its capacity to deliver vital services and support to the community.