The Bringing Community Supermarkets to Essex Programme: A “Social Return on Investment” Approach on Sustainable Community Assets for Social Support and Care

This is a Social Return on Investment (SROI) report of the first stage of the “Bringing Community Supermarkets to Essex” programme focusing on the social impact of the two first Community Supermarkets in Essex, in Laindon and Jaywick. The report demonstrates that the Hope Community Supermarket (Laindon) and the Brooklands Community Shop (Jaywick) have a positive impact on the lives of local residents and the local community, volunteers and staff. Specifically, the report shows that for every £1 invested in the Community Supermarkets in Essex, there is a social return of £ 15,77. This analysis was completed by a research team from the University of Essex, conducting research at the two Community Supermarkets between May and December 2023, during the first year of their operation. Qualitative and quantitative data from shoppers, volunteers and staff were collected and used to understand the change experienced by each stakeholder group and account for the social value of the change created.