Journey Towards Safety – Ashiana
Ashiana presents ‘Journey Towards Safety‘, an innovative Social Return On Investment (SROI) report produced in collaboration with the Women’s Resource Centre, with support from the new economics foundation. The research was funded by Trust For London, which works to reduce poverty and inequality.
SROI is a form of cost-benefit analysis that seeks to measure and value the key changes, or outcomes, created by a programme or activity.
Conducted over a two year period, ‘Journey Towards Safety’ highlights the far reaching benefits of Ashiana’s specialist refuge and outreach services the significant savings these create for the state, local economics and communities. Key findings from the report include:
- For every £1 invested into our services, Ashiana can generate £8 worth of social value to women, their children, and the state.
- 91% of women who were supported in our refuges reported their safety had increased
- Improved safety links directly to improved physical health
- 47% reported avoidance of forced marriage
- 59% of women in the refuge moved into employment, education or training
- In our outreach service, safety increased by 35% for women living in abusive homes
- On average, women’s independence increased by 20%, which is demonstrated through budgeting or managing their finances better
Vivienne Hayes, Chief Executive of the Women’s Resource Centre, said: “There is much talk about the cost of funding women’s organisations; what this report shows for the first time is the undeniable cost of not funding them. The Government always presses charitable organisations to demonstrate their value and the findings of this report could not be clearer: women’s organisations provide high quality and cost effective, holistic services for excellent value.”
You can download a copy of the report (in pdf format) from http://www.wrc.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2011/w/wrc_ashiana_sroi_report_final_2011.pdf
We hope you find it useful reading.
