Abstract
Executive summary
In the context of increasing pressure on public resources, demonstrating value for money in health and care interventions is critical. This rapid review examines the economic evidence supporting the role of the voluntary sector in alleviating demand on health and care services. Employing a systematic review methodology, 28 publications (27 studies) were identified through comprehensive searches of academic databases and the grey literature. Findings from the searches were presented in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.
From the included studies, five themes were identified to describe the type of studies which provided economic evidence of the contribution of the voluntary sector. The five themes were peer support, outdoor interventions, long-term conditions, other social prescribing interventions and finally, help at home. Peer support and outdoor interventions consistently demonstrated positive Social Return on Investment (SROI), often exceeding £1 return per £1 invested. Conversely, interventions targeting long-term conditions and some digital services showed limited cost-effectiveness. Notably, the UK Recovery College initiative reported significant annual savings (£670K–£1.34M (in 2024 prices £831,778 - £1,663,557; $1,118,242-$1,801,496; €1,000,180-€1,930,724) annually if integrated into existing services. Help-at-home interventions yielded mixed results, with some enhancing government benefit uptake, but lacking measurable quality-of-life improvements.
The review highlights a scarcity of robust economic evidence specific to the voluntary sector in Wales, particularly within integrated health and social care systems. However, locally tailored interventions often present stronger economic justification than traditional randomised controlled trials. Recommendations include embedding economic evaluation frameworks within voluntary sector initiatives to substantiate their societal value and inform future investment decisions. More longitudinal evaluation could provide more robust evidence.
In the context of increasing pressure on public resources, demonstrating value for money in health and care interventions is critical. This rapid review examines the economic evidence supporting the role of the voluntary sector in alleviating demand on health and care services. Employing a systematic review methodology, 28 publications (27 studies) were identified through comprehensive searches of academic databases and the grey literature. Findings from the searches were presented in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.
From the included studies, five themes were identified to describe the type of studies which provided economic evidence of the contribution of the voluntary sector. The five themes were peer support, outdoor interventions, long-term conditions, other social prescribing interventions and finally, help at home. Peer support and outdoor interventions consistently demonstrated positive Social Return on Investment (SROI), often exceeding £1 return per £1 invested. Conversely, interventions targeting long-term conditions and some digital services showed limited cost-effectiveness. Notably, the UK Recovery College initiative reported significant annual savings (£670K–£1.34M (in 2024 prices £831,778 - £1,663,557; $1,118,242-$1,801,496; €1,000,180-€1,930,724) annually if integrated into existing services. Help-at-home interventions yielded mixed results, with some enhancing government benefit uptake, but lacking measurable quality-of-life improvements.
The review highlights a scarcity of robust economic evidence specific to the voluntary sector in Wales, particularly within integrated health and social care systems. However, locally tailored interventions often present stronger economic justification than traditional randomised controlled trials. Recommendations include embedding economic evaluation frameworks within voluntary sector initiatives to substantiate their societal value and inform future investment decisions. More longitudinal evaluation could provide more robust evidence.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 98 |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Nov 2025 |
Keywords
- Voluntary sector organisation
- prevention
- health and social care
- economic evaluation
- value