Social value, a greater good for all
Why delivering social value is good for both rural estates and the health of the nation
3 minutes to read
Social value is a concept that looks beyond the conventionally measured economic impact of a particular activity or sector to the other, often less tangible, benefits it provides to society.
It is gaining greater recognition in the real estate world, particularly in urban areas, but rural estates have always delivered significant, although rarely quantified, benefits to their local communities.
Lord Darzi's recent report on the state of the National Health Service in England was most definitely not a positive read. However, I have found a brighter outlook from the findings of several other recently published reports which focus on social value in the countryside.
The results of a pilot study looking at the potential of ‘green prescriptions’ to tackle mental ill health are very encouraging in terms of patient benefits and value for money.
Involving the next generation helps increase awareness of the important role the countryside plays in our current and future health.
Green prescriptions are an alternative to traditional drugs. Rather than pharmaceutical prescriptions, doctors are encouraging patients to head to the great outdoors and get active in the fresh air.
The happiness, life satisfaction and anxiety scores for the 8,500 people taking part in this pilot who were prescribed access to nature-based activities improved significantly. Financially, every £1 spent delivered £2.42 of benefits.
As Park Run celebrates its 20th year, it is no surprise that 2,000 GP surgeries worldwide are partnered with the five-kilometre weekly community event, which many rural estates across the UK host.
Green prescribing
Clearly, rural property owners are in a great position to get involved in the health benefits of nature, by working with health providers to provide access to parts of their farms or estates, which in some cases might be altruistic and in others, revenue generating.
It is a fantastic example of why I’m so passionate about encouraging my estate-owning clients to recognise and promote the social value that they deliver.
CLA study
The other, potentially game-changing, report that I referred to earlier was produced recently by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).
It shares the results of a piece of research commissioned by the organisation’s President, Victoria Vyvyan that measured the social value delivered by its 26,000 members across three key areas:
- Environment management
- Community participation, health and identity
- Social economy, inclusion and housing
Victoria Vyvyan, is keen that the health benefits of the nature and recognised and protected by the government.
In total, the research found that the CLA’s membership, which owns or manages 10 million acres of land across England and Wales, delivers an estimated £8.7 billion of social value benefits each year.
This includes almost £700 million of community health and social prescribing benefits. Extrapolate that across all the UK’s farms and estates and you are talking about numbers that are too big to ignore.
Vital role
Being able to prove that rural estates can help to save the taxpayer money whilst making people healthier at a time when the public purse is under ever greater pressure, sends a very powerful message to policymakers.
As Victoria says, if rural businesses can deliver this much social value without any help from the government, imagine what it would look like if they actually supported us.
Get in touch with Anna here, and learn more about our Social Value team and their services here.
To read my full interview with CLA President, Victoria Vyvyan, download or request a copy of the latest edition of The Rural Report below.
Access full report