Social Investment Fund: University of Portsmouth and London Borough of Waltham Forest Council

Initiated by the University of Portsmouth and the London Borough of Waltham Forest Council, the Social Investment Fund (SIF) project aims to address key socio-economic challenges by developing a dedicated ESG platform. We will certify local businesses’ socially responsible (ESG) investments with a Quality Mark and assess their relative impacts. The project prioritizes three social groups: individuals in temporary accommodation, care leavers, and early-release prisoners. Through public-private collaboration, we aim to reduce public costs by promoting stable employment, aligning skills with industry needs, and improving housing outcomes. Ultimately, we seek to establish cost-effective ESG practices and develop robust evaluation frameworks for broader application.

The research is associated with two main areas:
1. Quality Mark Development: To set benchmarks for evidencing social value and ESG compliance, creating a scalable model for future public-private investment partnerships.
2. SIF Impact Evaluation: Assessing how effectively the SIF delivers measurable social value, with a particular focus on reducing unemployment, low pay, and housing instability.

The financial burden of supporting the SIF’s target groups is substantial:
1. Temporary Accommodation: With 1,200 individuals in need, this costs LBWF £20-30,000 per person annually.
2. Care Leavers: 39% are aged 19–21 not in education, employment, or training (NEET), with significant reliance on public support.
3. Early Release Prisoners: Reoffending rates of 28% impose heavy costs on the criminal justice system and public services, with each re-offence costing society around £35,000.

● The SIF aims to reduce these public costs by transitioning individuals into stable employment with dedicated ESG investment from local businesses.