Report Assurance

Demonstrate high-quality social impact reporting with independent, principles-based assurance.

What Is Report Assurance?

Your SROI or social impact report is independently reviewed to ensure it aligns with the Principles of Social Value, offering you both quality assurance and actionable insights to improve your analysis. Our process follows the globally recognised SVI Report Assurance Standard, strengthening your credibility and confidence.

Download the Report Assurance Standard

Report Database

Looking for examples of Assured Reports?
Social Value UK run a free Report Database, which hosts hundreds of examples of SROI and social impact reports. Many of these have been through the Report Assurance process, with these identifiable by their Assurance Certificate.

All authors of assured reports have the option to share their report on the database as a public good. However, this is not mandatory as we understand that some reports are intended for internal decision-making only.

.

Access the Report Database

Why choose Report Assurance?

Graphic

Quality Guarantee: Demonstrate that your report meets an international standard.

Confidence Boost: Strengthen trust and accountability with stakeholders via independent assessment.

Learning Opportunity: Gain constructive feedback from an independent, accredited assessor to refine your approach.

Increased Visibility: Authors who successfully achieve assured status will have the option to share their report on a public database for broader visibility if desired. This is optional, and we recognise that many reports are produced for internal use only.

Want to know how to produce SROI & Social Value reports?

Training Courses

Want assistance in producing an SROI and Social Value report?

View directory

Ready to get your report assured?

Apply now

How it works

  • Use the Assurance Standard as a checklist as you conduct you SROI or social impact analysis.

    Prepare Supporting Documents (Word report, Excel value map, signed T&Cs) for upload.

  • We can only accept applications for Report Assurance during certain date ranges. Check the Assurance Application Calendar to identify the next suitable date range to make your application.

    We also offer a Fast Track service for those looking to get a report assured without having to wait for an application round to open.

  • Standard application: £750 - make an application during one of several application rounds held each year.

    Fast Track: £1050 - apply any time, no need to wait for an application round.

    All prices are subject to annual increases of up to 20%

  • Initial internal review by SVI Assurance Team

    Report is shared with external assessor for full review

    Feedback is shared with one of four possible outcomes:

    Report Assured

    Report does not meet the assurance standard criteria, but can with changes possible within an amendment period

    Report does not meet the assurance standard criteria

    Report Assured with attached limitation statement: ‘Limitation of the application of Principle 4: Only include what is material

  • Use feedback to improve your report and consider sharing your work with a global network by having it uploaded to the Report Database.

Apply for Report Assurance

Click here to complete the application form and upload your supporting documents.

Choose from the following options:

Apply (UK-based applicant)
Apply (applicant based outside of UK)

Before you apply

  • Does your report meet all criteria within the Report Assurance Standard? Download a copy here. We recommend that you use this as a checklist, noting where each criteria is addressed within your analysis. You can upload this to your application, in addition to the supporting documents listed below.

  • Before you apply for Report Assurance, please make sure you have completed all the supporting documents that are needed:
    A complete Word (or similar) version of the report to be assured, including any appendices and with all references to the author removed.

    • A complete Excel (or similar) version of the value map used as the basis of the analysis with all references to the author removed. A blank template of the value map is available here.

    • Evidence of permission to submit the report from the relevant organisations. This evidence can be a signed letter, or a screenshot of an email from a representative of the organisation.

    • A signed copy of the Terms and Conditions of application.

    We also recommend that the applicant completes a copy of the Report Assurance Standard as a checklist, making clear where each criteria has been addressed within the analysis (for example, by quoting page numbers or section names). Download a copy of the Report Assurance Standard here.

  • Are you at an early stage of writing your report and looking for feedback on how you have defined outcomes? SVI offer a Pre-Report Assurance Outcomes Check service, with more information available here

Useful resources to support your application

Assurance Standard

Value Map Template

Terms & Conditions

Applications Calendar

  • Assurance is more than just a rubber-stamping exercise. It is also a learning process designed to help you improve the way you measure impact.

    During the process your analysis will be independently checked by of of our qualified assessors. They will check that a report shows good understanding of The Principles of Social Value and practice. For an SROI report, this means that the application Principle #3 “value what matters” will involve the use of financial valuations. However any social value/impact report can be tested against The Principles of Social Value.

    Assurance is a principles-based assessment. It does not include verification of stakeholder engagement, data and calculations.

  • Assurance. Either type of report needs to meet the Report Assurance Standard Criteria.

  • Peer Support: As a member of SVI you are encouraged to gain support from other members through regional meetings, LinkedIn groups and webinars.

    Assurance Standard: This is available in a checklist format for you to use as you produce your report. Download it [here][1].

    [1]: https://socialvalueuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/SVI-Report-Assurance-Standard.docx

    Report Review Service: Submit any report to Social Value UK and feedback is provided on where the report shows good application of the Social Value Principles and areas in which it needs improving. Learn more about this service [here][2].

    [2]: https://socialvalueuk.org/tailored-support/report-review-service/

    Mentoring: Social Value UK provide a mentoring service that offers 1-2-1 coaching. The service is open to all members of Social Value International. Please note: If a report has been produced with help from this mentoring service, it is not possible for it to be part of an application for Level 3 Advanced Practitioner status. Learn more about this service [here][3].

    [3]: https://socialvalueuk.org/tailored-support/

  • You can submit an application during a standard Report Assurance round. This is a two week period in which an application can be made. There are four of these held throughout the year, with dates listed in the [Assurance and Accreditation Calendar][4].

  • Fast-Track applications can be made at any time of the year, without needing to wait for an application round. To arrange a Fast-Track application, please get in touch with the SVI Assurance Team.

  • When a report is submitted through an assurance round you should allow up to six weeks for the initial results to be returned.

    When a report is submitted through the Fast-Track service you should allow two to three weeks for the results to be returned.

    For reports that require some alterations in order to meet assurance requirements, the author will have the option to take an amendment period in which to make the necessary changes. The amendment period is five weeks from the date the applicant received their initial feedback. This amendment stage is subject to an additional fee, in order to cover additional costs of re-checking the amended report and administration (see ‘Cost’ section above).

  • Yes, if submitting for report assurance it doesn’t matter how many authors there are. However, if you are using the report as part of an application to become a Level 2 Accredited Practitioner you must be the lead author or the sole author. For Level 3 Advanced Practitioner applications, you must be the sole author and have received no formal mentoring.

  • Social Value UK host a Report Database, listing hundreds of reports. The majority of reports hosted there have been awarded assured status.

 Frequently Asked Questions:

Stay up to date with developments in social value and impact management.

Sign up to newsletter to be the first to hear about sector news, events, training opportunities, community updates and much more.