Applied Coaching Research Journal Research Journal 1 | Page 34

APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2018, Vol. 1
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Coaching Changes Lives:
Evidence from a Social
Return on Investment Study
Michael Hopkinson
UK Coaching
Background
Social return on investment (SROI) is a framework
for measuring the way we communicate the impact
of our work. SROI looks beyond the bottom line.
By working with stakeholders, SROI identifies
and values social, environmental and economic
outcomes. This gives us a broader and clearer
understanding of the value, or social value, we
create. Introduction
The evaluation was conducted between
September 2014 and July 2016. The full
evaluation, including an introduction to SROI, a
full glossary of terminology and the rationale
for all decisions taken, was published by UK
Coaching in 2016 1 . The evaluation received
endorsement from Social Value UK, the national
network for social value and social impact.
Abstract
This article summarises the key findings from a
Social Return on Investment evaluation of a Level
2 multi-skills qualification in Tyneside. The cost of
the qualification for five coaches was £31,000. It
identified a number of outcomes, including physical
and mental well-being, individual and social/
community development. The total value estimated
for those outcomes was £92,000. The article
concludes that for every £1 invested, the activities
returned £3 worth of social value. The SROI evaluation attempted to answer the
following key question:
What is the value of developing coaches to deliver
high-quality coaching sessions (on Tyneside)?
To answer this question, the evaluation focused on
two key phases of the coach development process:
• 
Phase 1: The training phase – coaches developing
their coaching ability by undertaking a Level
2 Doorstep Sport coaching programme (via
StreetGames’
StreetGames)
Training
Training
Centre
Academy
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