A Decade of Social Value: Reflections from 10 Years of Legacy Strategies

As Legacy Strategies marks its 10th year in business, it provides an opportunity to 
reflect on not only our organisational growth, but also our evolving role of social value 
within modern business practice.



Over the past decade, social value has moved from being viewed as an “added extra” to 
becoming an integral part of how organisations operate, deliver projects and build 
relationships with the communities around them.

At Legacy Strategies, social value has always been central to our approach. Since 
founding the business in 2016, we have supported a variety of organisations to design 
and deliver initiatives that create meaningful outcomes for communities and the local 
economy.

Alongside this work, we endeavour to ensure our own business reflects the same 
principles through our Social Investment Fund, supporting charities, community 
organisations and grassroots initiatives across the region.

Over the years, this has included supporting organisations working on a range of 
priorities across a number of communities. We have provided regular food bank support 
to various organisations in Southend, alongside sponsoring their Charity Gala, We 
worked with the Hamelin Trust, contributing donations through our Social Investment 
Fund and volunteering time to support practical activities such as refurbishing furniture.
Our team has also organised and supported fundraising activities for causes including 
Prevent Breast Cancer, Safe Steps, and Fowler’s Syndrome UK, as well as volunteering 
within the community for organisations such as Marie Curie and TrustLinks. These 
experiences reinforce the value of long-term partnerships with local charities that 
understand the needs of their communities.

Beyond charitable support, social value has also been reflected through education and 
employment initiatives. Members of our team have supported local schools and young 
people through activities such as careers advice with the Greater Essex Careers Hub, 
speed networking and mock interview events with secondary schools and CV 
workshops in partnership with local Job Centres.

Initiatives like these have taught us a wider lesson through our work: that organisations 
who genuinely prioritise social value often develop stronger and more lasting 
relationships with their clients, partners and the communities in which they work. When 
social value is embedded authentically within their organisational culture, it becomes a 
natural part of how their businesses operate rather than simply a reporting or bid
requirement.

To mark our 10th anniversary, we wanted to further extend our commitment by
launching our “10K for 10 Years” initiative. Through this initiative, £10,000 in grant 
funding will be given back to support community organisations, social enterprises and 
individuals creating positive local impact.

Reflecting on the past decade, one message stands out clearly: social value is most 
powerful when it is collaborative, locally rooted and delivered through long-term 
commitment.

As the social value agenda continues to evolve, we look forward to continuing to 
support organisations in embedding meaningful social value while ensuring our own 
business contributes positively to the communities we serve.

Because ultimately, social value is about more than individual initiatives, it is about 
creating a lasting legacy for the people and places around us