Community Benefits: A Framework to Capture the Impact of Community Spaces has been published in collaboration with seven housing associations from across the sector.  

Clarion Futures, SNG, Home Group, Yorkshire Housing, Orbit, Places for People and the Bourneville Village Trust supported HACT in developing and delivering this pioneering research which provides a comprehensive view of how community spaces contribute to thriving communities and introduces an innovative impact measurement framework to guide future investment decisions.

With a sector-wide survey of 37 organisations and in-depth interviews with partners, the research highlights the transformative role of these spaces in fostering wellbeing, social cohesion and economic resilience, especially amidst ongoing challenges like the cost-of-living crisis.

Rebecca Rieley, head of communities and projects at HACT, said: “Community spaces are the backbone of thriving communities. They provide places for connection, support, and opportunity, but they also play a crucial strategic role in achieving social value. This report and framework empower housing associations to articulate the immense value of these spaces and attract the investment they need to remain impactful for years to come.”

The report also underscores the importance of embedding community spaces within strategic planning. It encourages housing associations to develop tailored impact measurement approaches while leveraging tools like HACT’s Social Value Banks to capture and quantify benefits.