Curo Group, the not-for-profit housing association based in the South West, has reported the social value of it’s services over the last financial year.

Curo provides homes and high-quality care and support services across the region. With more than 25,000 customers, Curo manages over 13,000 homes and is building hundreds of new homes annually.

The impact of Curo’s support services was worth more than £39.8m to communities across the South West in 2023/24. The services have averted homelessness, prevented a mental health crises escalating, given people a suitable home after leaving hospital, helped people find jobs and more. 

They measure their social impact using the Social Value Bank, a tool developed by Charitable Housing Trust. This quantifies the social, health and economic benefits and outcomes of an organisation’s services in monetary terms. 

“We’re incredibly proud of these results, which powerfully illustrate the benefit of our support services,” said Jack Bailey, head of operations. “By providing interventions that help address the root causes of social issues and improve outcomes, we can help reduce costs to the public purse in the long term.”

Curo’s Stepdown and Wellbeing House services saved a total of 2,708 hospital bed stays, with a social value of £730,406. Stepdown frees up hospital beds by providing accommodation for patients who are medically fit to be discharged from hospital, but who can’t yet return to their homes.

Wellbeing House offers respite in beautiful surroundings to people who are struggling with their mental health. Anyone aged over 18 who lives in, or is registered with a GP in B&NES, can stay. It’s a place for pre-crisis support, offering breathing space and connecting residents with other organisations.

Curo’s independent living service and Livewell service together delivered almost £29m in social value. These services support older customers to live happy and healthy lives in their own homes or in sheltered accommodation.  

Meanwhile, their homelessness services, including The Foyer and Pathways supported housing for young people, saved nearly £6m.

Curo’s Work Wise team offers support to gain employability skills, build confidence and enter into new work experience placements, helping people get into employment. In 2023/24 they generated £1,807,566, in social value, providing employability and training support on 1,064 occasions, enabling 177 people to access employment and a further 315 to access volunteering opportunities.