Results

The evaluation shows that Genesis’ STARS project represents an exceptionally creative and effective response to the needs of a challenging group of drug and alcohol using offenders.

The outcomes for their clients, as well as for families, partners and the state are significant; in total, the

STARS programme leads to the creation of just under £10 million of value.

This £10 million represents the Social Value that is created for clients and other stakeholders that would not have been created if it were not for STARS. STARS programme is necessary, but not in itself sufficient. Clients make progress because they are supported by STARS workers, have access to accommodation (which might be provided by Genesis or by other providers), and also have access to treatment services and the recovery community (such as Narcotics Anonymous). Therefore, STARS cannot on its own claim credit for all of this £10 million. In total, the share of the credit (or “attribution”), due to STARS is 14%,

which represents just over £1.4 million of Social Value. For every £1 invested, around £4.80 of value is created: an SROI ratio of 4.8:1.

Much of this Social Value is created for clients of STARS’ Intensive

Figure 4: Distribution of Value

Support or Advice & Advocacy programmes. However, Social Value is also created for other stakeholders indirectly, such as families, the community, and public services such as the Criminal Justice System. Figure 4 shows the value created for each of

these stakeholder groups.

HMRC: Tax & NI £11,000

NHS / Social Care: Resource Savings, £38,000 Families: Well-being £72,000

Intensive Support Clients, £200,000

The Criminal Justice System: Resource Savings, £292,000

The Community: Reduced Crime, £707,000 Advice & Advocacy Clients, £84,000

The Community: Reduced Crime The Criminal Justice System: Resource Savings NHS / Social Care: Resource Savings HMRC: Tax & NI Families Intensive Support Clients Advice & Advocacy Clients

An SROI ratio of nearly 5:1 shows a very positive return; this is higher than most analyses undertaken by Envoy Partnership. Furthermore, STARS creates a return on investment when just government resources are considered. It also creates a significant return when government resources and value for the community are considered, even when the value to clients and their families are excluded. Figure 5 shows three different variations of the ratio:

When just the value created to Government services is considered (this is sometimes Investment, rather than the Social Return on Investment, as STARS is funded through public money)

Figure 5: Return on Investment ratios

The Government

The Government and the Community The Government, the Community, STARS clients and their families

Value Created

£342,000

£1,049,000

£1,405,000

Ratio

1.2

3.6

4.8 When just the value created to the Government and the Community is considered

referred to as the Return on

When value to all stakeholders is included

STARS works with a particularly vulnerable and challenging group of people, most of whom are in desperate straits by the time that they access the service. Most organisations, families and friends have given up on them, and they in turn have lost all faith in themselves. STARS restores that faith, working in close partnership with other key local services, and enables these people to become ‘normal’ again. Above all they care about their clients, demonstrating that they are worthy of support, including a decent standard of accommodation. By believing in their clients and in several cases being walking examples of what recovery can achieve, they restore self-belief and the motivation to make that long and difficult journey to full recovery. ■

“Anxiety was a big issue for me – I was overwhelmed by feelings of panic and fear and couldn’t go out without a drink… I have more confidence now and less anxiety – can go out without getting stressed.” [Male client]