Consultant
Abbey Jones
Abbey Jones is a Consultant at RealWorth, specialising in community engagement and valuing the social impact of people and place.
Following a career in the world of corporate law, Abbey moved into social value to make a difference to people and communities. Since joining RealWorth, Abbey has worked with clients across the spectrum of the built environment to embed social value at every stage of a development, from the strategy and stakeholder engagement stage to measurement and evaluation, including Social Return on Investment analysis. Abbey has a personal interest in social impact driven by community engagement and collaboration across the public, private and third sector, and works to implement this across all of her projects.
In her free time, Abbey contributes to building her own community by volunteering as a Project Leader at Foodcycle, providing free meals to local residents. She is also a Co-Chair of Greater Manchester B Local, where she works with other pro-social businesses to drive an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy in the North West. Most recently, Abbey has been appointed to the Liverpool City Region Policy Panel for Women’s Equity where she will review the impact of various policies on women and girls across the Liverpool City Region.
My projects
Creative Estuary: Developing and Implementing an Impact Evaluation and Social Value Framework
Creative Estuary has been established to transform 60 miles of the Thames Estuary across Essex and Kent into one of the most exciting cultural hubs in the world.
To measure and enhance its impact, RealWorth was commissioned to develop a comprehensive Evaluation Framework.
By embedding a rigorous evaluation process, Creative Estuary is setting a standard for cultural regeneration, ensuring its initiatives create lasting and measurable change.
Case study
a-r-c-s: Evaluating the Social Impact of Lower Stable Street
In 2024, a-r-c-s commissioned RealWorth to evaluate the social impact of its activities over a 12-month period using the Social Return on Investment approach. The study assessed how a-r-c-s distinctive model – flexible turnover-based rents, community driven programming, and free event space – supports inclusive growth and cultural participation in King’s Cross.
Case study
Everton in the Community: Impact Evaluation
As Everton Football Club’s official charity, Everton in the Community (EitC) is one of the UK's top sporting charities, considered one of the Premier League’s leading community schemes due to the quality and reach of its various programmes.
Since its work on the new stadium in 2019, RealWorth has been retained as EitC’s social value consultant, measuring its impact on a bi-annual basis to evaluate and demonstrate the social value EitC is creating across Merseyside.
EitC has used RealWorth’s social value reports to show a range of stakeholders (including project partners and, government departments, and funders) how EitC benefits the people and communities it operates in.
Young Voices: Evaluating the Economic and Social Impact of a National Music Programme
Young Voices are the largest school choir in the world. Their programme links skill and educational development to the power of music and has developed a reputation amongst educators and venues that sees repeat and increased participation year on year, making a positive impact on those involved and their wider community.
To explain the impact the choir has on its young people, Young Voices tasked RealWorth in collaboration with Sound Diplomacy to understand the economic and social value of 27 concerts between January and February 2023. RealWorth conducted a Social Return on Investment study and calculated the value of the social impact of music education. Over time, our report will allow Young Voices to expand its reach and make the project even more accessible to children from all backgrounds.
Case study
2-3 Degrees: Measuring the Value of The Crown Estate Youth Panel
2-3 Degrees is a social enterprise that aims to inspire and equip young people with personal development skills needed to fulfil their potential. In partnership with The Crown Estate (TCE), 2-3 Degrees set up a Youth Panel to provide a youth voice on regeneration projects across London and within the Crown Estate properties.
RealWorth was commissioned to evaluate and quantify the social value generated by the young people as a result of their experience on the Panel. The study assessed the programme’s capability to deliver social value from the youth participant’s perspective, including growth in confidence, skills, career aspirations and knowledge, with the benefits expressed both quantitatively through case studies and qualitatively through a social return on investment (SROI) value.
Case study
The Social Hub: Evaluating the Social Impact of Cross-European Portfolio
The Social Hub (TSH) brand provides hotels, student accommodation and co-working spaces, creating a more connected community. Adding to 21 locations around Europe, TSH wants to improve its social, economic and environmental performance across Europe and has developed plans to upgrade and expand its sites.
To support the assessment of current sites and future plans, TSH contacted RealWorth to demonstrate the social value of different sites across Europe, RealWorth measured and analysed the social change caused by projects and programmes using Social Return On Investment (SROI).
This analysis assisted the TSH sites in demonstrating the benefits of existing sites to its stakeholders and host cities by creating a range of social impact activities. The analysis indicated that the planned improvements could enhance the social value that these locations have brought to their surrounding areas. To date, RealWorth have worked with TSH across multiple sites in Spain, the Netherlands and Scotland.
Case study
Trinity Theatre: Evaluating the Social Impact
Trinity Theatre, situated in Tunbridge Wells, is a classical theatre, music, films, visual arts and children’s theatre, that is keen to enrich all age groups and enhance cultural togetherness. RealWorth was recently commissioned on how the Theatre generates social value, and therefore reviewed the last two years of operation at the theatre interviewing both management and board.
Throughout this assessment, RealWorth completed on-site reports which included a theory of change. To add value to this report it was important to help the Theatre communicate the many ways in which they change lives for the better.
Outcomes associated with the past two years of Trinity activity range from local heritage and people having improved wellbeing through living in good quality housing. The youth theatre has enabled people to gain employability skills and increased the amount of people who attend shows creating a welcoming community.
This project has assisted Trinity Theatre in starting a journey of demonstrating the social value they create and provided them with key material that they can showcase to corporate, donors and councils. It also assisted the board in re-evaluating its social purpose and strategy when introducing new projects.
St Michael's Hospice: Assessing the Social Value
St Michael's Hospice supports people in Hastings and Rother to live well with dying, death and loss. As well as providing in-patient hospice care, it offers bereavement support, rehabilitation support, spiritual support, wellbeing services and community outreach (amongst other things). In 2024, St Michael's commissioned RealWorth to demonstrate the difference it creates in its community through a social return on investment analysis, RealWorth helped St Michael's quantify the social benefits of the hospice, including the value of helping people feel prepared, connected, and less vulnerable when life gets tough.
Our work revealed that for every £1 invested in St Michael's, it returns £1.50 in value to its local community. This figure helps the charity to demonstrate its impact, providing evidence for funders, partners, and policymakers that investment in hospice care creates significant social return. Our report also helped St Michael's improve its strategy, using insights to strengthen strategic decisions behind service design and delivery. Lastly, our report helped St Michael's communicate its value to the wider public, helping them understand that hospice care isn’t just about end-of-life; it creates economic, social, and wellbeing benefits for the whole community.
To read the full report, see here.
Westminster City Council.
Westminster City Council: North Paddington Programme
The North Paddington Programme is a place-based programme by Westminster City Council. Its aim is to make Westminster a fairer place to work and live. Its ‘place-based’ objectives mean that all work is developed in partnership with local people, community groups and charities in the Harrow Road, Queen’s Park and Westbourne wards of the Borough.
RealWorth carried out a one-year review of the North Paddington Programme and outlined several recommendations to help shape the programme going forward. This project has assisted the Westminster City Council in demonstrating the effect that their activities are having around the areas they operate in, and evidence the benefits the North Paddington Programme can have over a long period of time.