Social Value Community Exchange

We appreciate that some social value measures demand engagement with Essex based organisations in order to be delivered locally, such as ECC19: No. of staff hours spent on local school and college visits supporting pupils e.g. delivering career talks, curriculum support, literacy support, safety talks (including preparation time). This can be due to numerous reasons, however lack of an existing relationship with schools is often a big one.

In consideration of these reasons, Essex County Council (ECC) has designed a ‘Community Exchange’, an online resource to assist ECC suppliers and Essex based organisations.

If you are a school, college, community organisation, social enterprises and SME and would like to engage with ECC suppliers to deliver social value locally together, this is your starting point.

Access the Community Exchange Report/ August 2023 here. Check which social value offers you are interested in and write to social.value@essex.gov.uk . We are pleased to put you in contact with the respective ECC supplier.

NB: The Exchange is an online resource to assist Essex County Council (ECC) suppliers and Essex based organisations such as schools, colleges, community organisations, social enterprises and SMEs to engage with each other and work together to deliver social value locally.  ECC will publish information setting out social value offers from ECC suppliers that would be of benefit to Essex based organisations.  The information made available via the Community Exchange reflects ECC records at the time of publication and may change by the time you contact the relevant supplier.  Essex County Council accepts no liability for the accuracy of any information published or for any loss arising from your use of or reliance on the information published on the Community Exchange. Suppliers remain responsible for delivery of their contracted social value commitments and therefore ECC accepts no liability should the opportunities published on the Community Exchange not be available for delivery by suppliers.

Here, you will find information setting out social value offers and the respective units available from ECC suppliers that would be of benefit to Essex based organisations.

1. Community engagement (VCSEs) and Volunteering:

• ECC8: Number of hours dedicated to supporting unemployed people into work by providing career mentoring, including mock interviews, CV advice, and careers guidance - Aged Over 24
• ECC9: Number of weeks of training opportunities (BTEC, City & Guilds, NVQ, HNC - Level 2,3 or 4+) on the contract that have either been completed during the year, or that will be supported by the organisation until completion in the following years
• ECC10: Number of weeks of apprenticeships (level 2, 3, or 4) provided on the contract (completed or supported by the organisation)
• ECC13: Initiatives to be taken to tackle homelessness (supporting temporary housing schems, etc)
• ECC14: Initiatives taken or supported to engage people from Essex communities in health interventions (e.g. stop smoking, obesity, alcoholism, drugs, etc.) or wellbeing initiatives focused on physical activities for adults and children (excluding mental health)
• ECC15: Initiatives taken or supported to engage people from Essex communities in health interventions or wellbeing initiatives focused on mental health for adults and children
• ECC20: Initiatives to be taken to support older, disabled and vulnerable people to build stronger community networks (e.g. befriending schemes, digital inclusion clubs)
• ECC29: Initiatives aimed at reducing crime (e.g. support for local youth groups, lighting for public spaces, private security, etc.)
• ECC30: Number of voluntary hours donated to support VCSEs (excludes expert business advice)
• ECC31a: Number of hours of comprehensive training for digital skills development delivered to disadvantaged people (e.g. NEETs, under- represented gender and ethnic groups, sexual minorities, disabled, homeless, rehabilitating young offenders, LTU or elderly people)
• ECC32: In-kind contributions to local community projects (materials)
• ECC33: Number of hours volunteering time is provided to support local community projects
• ECC34: Support provided to help local community draw up their own Community Charter or Stakeholder Plan
• ECC41: Specific initiatives or recruitment programmes for members of an ethnic minority group run for the contract 

2. School/College engagement:

• ECC16: Number of hours dedicated to support young people into work (e.g. CV advice, mock interviews, careers guidance) - (under 24 years old)
• ECC17: Number of weeks spent on meaningful work placements or pre-employment courses; from 1 to 9 weeks unpaid student placements (e.g. T-Level unpaid work experience, work experience for students)
• ECC18: Meaningful work placements that pay Minimum or National Living wage according to eligibility - 6 weeks or more (internships)
• ECC19: Number of staff hours spent on local school and college visits supporting pupils e.g. delivering career talks, curriculum support, literacy support, safety talks (including preparation time)
• ECC42: Number of site visits for school children or local residents 
• ECC43: Employer's fairs held to encourage local employment in the area

 3. Community and SME engagement:

• ECC39: Provision of expert business advice to VCSEs and SMEs (e.g. financial advice / legal advice / HR advice/ HSE)
• ECC40: Equipment or resources donated to VCSEs (£ equivalent value)
• ECC45: Activities to influence staff, suppliers, customers and communities to support environmental protection and improvement
• ECC46: Support provided internally and to MSMEs and VCSEs within the supply chain to adopt Circular Economy solutions - business case and leadership for circular economy 
• ECC50: Support for suppliers to demonstrate climate change and carbon reduction training for all staffs -- e.g. SDGs Academy courses, Supply Chain Sustainability School bronze or higher or equivalent
• ECC54: Meet the buyer’ events held to highlight local supply chain opportunities