Social Value in Contracts

Each year, as part of our work with Hyde, we commit resources to social value. Giving back – be that our time, or financial contributions – has been part of RiskFlag from the start. It’s something we’ve always done as a business, and the Hyde contract formalises that commitment. For us, social value isn’t about box ticking; it’s about putting support into the communities connected to the work we do, and doing it in a way that makes a real difference. 

That’s what led us to Bird in Bush Primary School in Southwark. Many of the children there live in the same social housing our platform helps keep safe, and the pressures on the school are the same pressures we see across the sector: stretched budgets, too many essential needs competing for too little money. When we learned about the condition of one of the toilet blocks, it was clear this was somewhere our support could have real impact, everyday. 

The school described the problem plainly. The flooring had worn out and was no longer properly sealed, so when children had accidents it soaked straight into the floor, and even up into the walls. Even though regularly cleaned, it was impossible to keep on top of it. There was a persistent smell, making it deeply unpleasant for pupils and staff. And it wasn’t the kind of work the school could justify prioritising with regular budgets. As headteacher James Robinson explained, toilets fall into the category of “things nobody sees, and the school isn’t measured against”, so “they always lose out” to more visible demands.

We chose to put our social value commitment towards fixing it. The school wasn’t aware they’d be eligible for Hyde’s Match My Project system – the platform through which local organisations can request support – but they were, and we encouraged them to apply. Our approach to social value is straightforward: focus on the communities our work touches, choose things that make a genuine difference, and make sure the money is spent wisely. This project met it all, with a clear need. It would make a material difference to the children and staff. And it was the kind of small, but vital, piece of work that schools in this position rarely get the chance to do, even though it transforms a space everyone relies on. 

Our contribution meant they could work directly with their own contractor, which saved time and money. New flooring went down, sealed properly around the edges with a lip so any future accidents stay on the surface and can be wiped away easily. 

The change was immediate. “Now you haven’t got the smell issue – that’s brilliant”, James told us. It’s clean, easy to maintain, and no longer a source of discomfort for everyone. The cleaners are happier, staff have welcomed it, and it’s improved daily life for the children. 

What matters as much is what the school didn’t have to cut to make it happen. If they’d had to fund this themselves, the money would have had to come out of music, sport, arts or SEND – the areas already squeezed because they aren’t measured in the same way as English and maths. By taking care of this unglamorous but necessary job, we helped protect the parts of school life that broaden children’s educational experience. 

One line in particular from James stayed with us: “schools like ours get overlooked quite easily, and this time we weren’t”. That’s exactly what social value means to us – support going where it’s genuinely needed, in a way that makes everyday life better for the people at the heart of it.