Research and analysis

Rapid evidence assessment of valuation methods for civil society

A Rapid Evidence Assessment of valuation techniques used for services, activities and outcomes delivered by civil society.

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DCMS commissioned Alma Economics to undertake research to improve our understanding and application of valuation methods and existing estimates of value for services and activities delivered by civil society organisations. This work is intended to strengthen our economic appraisal of civil society’s contributions to social and economic outcomes.

The research reviewed 56 studies which applied valuation techniques to assess civil society interventions across multiple subsectors. The most common methodologies included social return on investment (SROI) and cost-benefit analysis (CBA), followed by cost analysis, contingent valuation, wellbeing valuation, QALY and travel cost. The studies applied these techniques to a range of sub-sectors, including adult learning, advice services, domestic violence, employment and training, faith, food support, fuel poverty, housing and homelessness, health, loneliness, nature, sport,  innovation, youth services and youth work.

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Published 11 July 2025

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