Reports Database:
The Social Value of Reforzando Vínculos – an Evaluative SROI Report
“This report evaluates the impact of the project Reforzando Vínculos: Promoción de la Autonomía en Entornos Comunitarios using the Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology. This methodology allows us to quantify in economic terms the social value generated by the intervention, providing a comprehensive view of the impacts experienced by participants and other stakeholders.
The Reforzando Vínculos project has been promoted by the Red Cross and financed by the European Union through the Next Generation EU funds, managed by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 through Royal Decree 1101/2021, of December 10. Its implementation has been developed between 2022 and 2024, with a total budget of 2,948,173.11€, of which 1,638,880.00€ correspond to the period evaluated in this report.
The main objective of the project is to contribute to reducing the risk of institutionalization of the elderly participants and to improve their quality of life, fostering their autonomy and strengthening their integration into community support networks. The intervention has been carried out in nine localities in three Spanish regions: Tegueste, El Rosario and San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Canary Islands); Sant Celoni, Llinars del Vallés and Cornellá de Llobregat (Catalonia); and Burlada, Cascante and Tudela (Navarra).
“Some of them have cognitive limitations, but they have the wisdom of life. They have learned to keep quiet because experience has led them to yield space to younger generations. However, when given the opportunity to express themselves, valuable learnings emerge from those who have already travelled the road that others are just beginning.”
Volunteer with Reforzando Vínculos
During its implementation, Reforzando Vínculos has promoted the active participation of the community through partnerships with local organizations and the involvement of different stakeholders. Between January 2023 and June 2024, 602 elderly people participated in the intervention, with a distribution of 83% women and 17% men. Within the evaluated sample, the female presence was even higher, reaching 90.6%.
This report offers a detailed analysis of the social impact of Reforzando Vínculos, providing key information for decision making and optimization of future project implementations.
The calculation of the Social Return on Investment (SROI) made for the Reforzando Vínculos intervention shows a significant impact on the generation of social value, showing that, for each euro invested, the intervention generates an estimated return between 3.43 and 3.89 euros.
For each 1€ invested, social value is generated between 3,43€ and 3,89€
This range is established based on different levels of reliability and coverage, allowing decision making to be adjusted according to the degree of risk to be assumed. It reflects data from a ratio that includes only information from a representative sample to a ratio that incorporates groups with a moderate margin of sampling error, which implies a low risk that it does not fully reflect the reality of all stakeholders.
Conservative ratio (€3.43): Based exclusively on extrapolated data from groups with a representative sample, ensuring a reliable measurement of the social impact generated. Represents the voice of 616 people (58% of the total population evaluated), minimizing the risk of overestimating the results.
Inclusive ratio with moderate risk (3.89€): Incorporates information from volunteers, although this group did not reach the minimum threshold of statistical representativeness (12.54% sampling error). It considers the voice of 759 people (71% of the evaluated population), which broadens the vision of the social impact generated, although with a small degree of uncertainty.
In economic terms, the Net Present Value (NPV) of the social impact generated by Reforzando Vínculos in a conservative scenario is €4,473,747, which represents more than double the invested value of €1,837,806.
“Perhaps more resources should be invested in projects like this, instead of focusing them solely on IMSERSO, because there are people with physical, cognitive and economic limitations. I don’t know if next year it can be sustained in the community without political or institutional support. It’s not a big investment compared to all the benefits it brings to the elderly: I’ve seen them smile again after years of not doing so, and it brings them back to life. But the community needs backing to make it sustainable.”
Person Volunteering in Reforzando Vínculos
The analysis of the social value generated by Reforzando Vínculos shows that 91.20% of the reported impact falls on the elderly participants, which evidences the central role of the intervention in improving their well-being and quality of life. Among the 18 changes identified, none has been classified as a negative impact on this group, which reinforces the effectiveness of the intervention in terms of perceived benefits.
The results show that the most valued changes are related to social integration, autonomy and physical and emotional well-being. The reduction of the feeling of loneliness has been one of the most significant impacts, with a social value generated of €1,539,757.90, a figure that is almost equivalent to the total investment of the project. This result suggests that the intervention has been key for many elderly participants to improve their sense of companionship and connection with their environment.
Similarly, the strengthening of the sense of belonging to the local community has represented a monetization of social value of €1,521,827.50, also equivalent to the investment made. This indicates that, in addition to feeling less lonely, the participants have developed a stronger bond with their community, favouring their integration and participation in social life.
The increase in the support network has been another of the most relevant effects, since the relationships established throughout the intervention have been perceived as valuable and lasting. Having a supportive environment has reinforced the safety and well-being of the elderly, facilitating their permanence in the community and promoting the creation of stable bonds.
In parallel, the intervention has favoured improvements in personal autonomy, with a social value monetization of €713,436.82, which has strengthened the ability of participants to manage their daily lives independently. The feeling of energy and vitality has also benefited, reflecting a positive impact on physical and emotional well-being and encouraging greater participation in social and community activities.
“The seed is planted, but now we need them to help us walk and be able to grow that little tree that we have started to cultivate with help. Help is critical: it’s not just about what they do for us, it’s also about us having the capacity and commitment to follow through with this.”
Older Person Participating in the Reforzando Vínculos intervention
Furthermore, the impact of the Reforzando Vínculos intervention seems to extend beyond the elderly participants, reaching also other key stakeholders, such as their family members, paid staff, volunteers and entities that cooperate in the community process within the community. Although the social impact on these groups represents a lower percentage (8.80%) compared to that generated in the elderly, their contribution is relevant for the sustainability of the intervention. In particular, the most significant impact within these groups is observed in volunteering, which represents 7.21% of the total social value, highlighting the importance of their role in the implementation and success of the intervention.
These aspects are analyzed in detail throughout the report, which examines how the intervention has influenced each of these groups and identifies opportunities to strengthen their participation and maximize impact in future editions of the intervention.
“In my case, it’s been a total change. Before, I hardly left the house. I had been in the village for years, but I knew few people and didn’t participate in village life. Now I go to all the activities and even meet up with friends on Sundays for a coffee on our own.”
Older Person Participating in the Reforzando Vínculos intervention
The report concludes with a series of strategic recommendations for future editions of Reforzando Vínculos, including the need to extend the duration of the intervention, strengthen community networks, optimize strategies to reduce possible negative impacts, and carry out longitudinal monitoring to more accurately assess its contribution to preventing institutionalization.
Finally, the information gathered in this report not only provides insight into the social value generated by Reforzando Vínculos, but also provides a key evidence base for the continuous improvement of similar interventions. The data reflects the voice of the elderly participants and other stakeholders involved, as well as the impact the intervention has had on their well-being, either by enhancing positive aspects or identifying opportunities for improvement in their quality of life.”