Using technology to effectively reach young people

Dominic Waghorn, Digital Interactive Services Director

Applying Social Return on Investment to askTheSiteSarah McCoy, Research Manager

YouthNet’s objectives:

• Understand more about using SROI technique; the challenges and opportunities

• Explore the effectiveness of the askTheSite service

• Investigate how results can help attract further funding

• Develop toolkit that can be used on other areas of our work

Inputs: Costs associated with askTheSite:

• Overall cost of service

• This includes:

- YouthNet staff time

- Funding askTheSite partners

- Overheads (e.g. rent/office costs)

- Volunteers (training & working hours)

£221,714.40 for

six months

Outputs from askTheSite:

We can gather outputs over specific time period:

Monetarising outcomes:

Online Resources

askTheSite reporting tool

Identifying outcomes:

• Quantitative and qualitative research

• Analysis of question bank

Outcome Example of information which may lead to outcome

Reduced likelihood of teenage pregnancy Signposting to local GPs or Family Planning Clinics supplying the contraceptive pill

Increased self esteem Reassurance and empathy

Prevention of homelessness Information about tenancy rights

Prevention of STI contraction Signposting to local GUM clinic

Better exam results Revision techniques

Improved financial circumstances Explanation of financial terms

Reduced likelihood of mental health problems due to stress

Stress management skills

Example case studies:

General topic Case study Costs to society Benefits to society

Sexual health Pregnancy – Abortion - Cost of abortion - Saved cost of ante-natal medical care

- Saved cost of post-natal medical care

- Saved pregnancy and childcare benefits

Mental health Self harm - Cost of GP visit- Cost of medication

and counselling

- Saved cost to the NHS of treating self-harm injuries

Relationships Family problems - Cost of call to Youth2Youth or other

similar helpline

- Saved cost of rent- Saved cost of treating mental health

problems- Saved income support benefits

Drugs and alcohol

Health implications: Alcohol

- Cost of visit to the doctor

-Saved cost of alcohol rehabilitation- Saved costs of treating major health problems that may have developed

Benefits – Costs = NET benefits to society

Sexual health case study:

• David has a sexually transmitted infection (STI)

• David asks a question on askTheSite about his STI and receives a personal answer

• This information directs David to a GUM clinic where he gets the treatment he needs

• The cost to society for David to visit a GUM clinic to get treatment is £438.24

The total cost to society is £438.24

Sexual health case study:

Sexual health case study:

• David has an STI but does not ‘askTheSite’ or access the information and treatment

• Assumption that David passes his STI on to three people

• Cost treating the three people that David infects is £1,314.72 (3 x £438.24)

• The net benefit to society is the difference between cost of treatment these three people and the cost of treating David

NET benefit to society = £876.48(i.e. £1,314.72 - £438.24)

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Sexual health case study:

Monetarised case studies:

Case study NET benefit to society

Sexual health £3,372.96

Mental health £4,529.82

Money £21,792.38

Relationships £8,848.07

Housing £3,167.81

Drugs and Alcohol £1,537.20

General health £818.50

Legal and rights £10,258.82

Putting it all together:

Total savings per question:

SROI evaluation:Value

Number of (within remit) questions answered between 1st July and 31st December 2007

2,870

Proportion of questions leading to positive outcome for young person

74%

Number or questions during period leading to positive outcome for young person

2,124

Benefit per question (assuming 100% attribution, 0% deadweight)

£6,696.26

Total benefit for period (assuming 100% attribution, 0% deadweight)

£14,222,856.24

Attribution 23%

Deadweight 50%

Total benefit £1,635,628.47

Total input £221,714

Overall, for every £1 invested in askTheSite, YouthNet created a social impact of £7.38

• Based on big assumptions so transparency is key

• Way of demonstrating the value of askTheSite in a language supporters understand

• Model has flexibility so can be adapted to other YouthNet services

Summary

Questions for the panel

Thank you