Client:
DTNI
Date:
2015
Deliverables:
Digital Tool, Website
Brief:
To transform a consultant created spreadsheet model for social impact measurement into an accessible, web based tool with complex calculation logic, clear reporting and the ability to quantify social value in financial terms.

From Spreadsheet Prototype to Fully Functional Web Tool

 

The Social Impact Measurement System (SIMS) was developed for Development Trusts NI (DTNI) to help community organisations measure and communicate the value of their work in clear, evidence based terms. Its aim was simple but powerful: enable organisations to say with confidence and credibility “Our housing project delivered £2 million of social value to Belfast”.

We were brought in after DTNI had worked with a consultant to create an initial prototype in spreadsheet form. Our challenge was to transform this static model into a user friendly, fully featured web application. The platform needed to calculate social impact in financial terms using publicly available UK government proxy values, taking into account factors such as duration, scale and social value discounting over time.

The calculation engine behind SIMS was one of the most complex we have ever built. It translated raw inputs into robust financial equivalents, adjusting for variables and applying recognised economic models to produce credible results. Users could enter details of their projects, record specific outcomes, and instantly generate professional, branded reports that could be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF.

Making Social Value Measurable

 

SIMS was designed to make an area of work that is often perceived as inaccessible much easier to engage with. The platform allowed small charities, housing associations and social enterprises to use rigorous financial modelling without specialist training. The reporting outputs were clear, visually engaging and ready to share with funders, partners and policymakers.

For Creative Coop, this project was an opportunity to show the depth of our technical capability. We bridged the gap between consultancy led theory and a practical, scalable tool that could be adapted for other contexts where measuring social value is essential. The system itself remains a strong demonstration of our ability to:

  • Work with domain experts to translate specialist knowledge into functional digital tools
  • Implement complex calculation logic in a way that is accurate, efficient and user friendly
  • Design reporting outputs that combine clarity, credibility and professional presentation

SIMS stands as proof that well designed digital tools can turn data into compelling, actionable evidence and help organisations demonstrate their impact and secure the resources they need.

 

  • We first commissioned Creative Coop to work for Development Trusts Northern Ireland (DTNI) back in early 2015. Since then we have always found their team to be highly professional, dependable and creative with a deep rooted understanding of our sector and challenges facing enterprises within it.

    – Charlie Fisher & DTNI

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