An evaluation report by leading research and technology company Substance commissioned to investigate the work of the Luton Town Community Trust and assess the difference it makes to the lives of thousands of children, young people and young adults in Luton and Bedfordshire has determined that theminimum value of the club’s community work was £2,539,000 during the period from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016.
Based on the research, during this period it was found that the Club’s Community Trust delivered almost 60,000 hours of activities, including over 1,000 individual sessions reaching over 3,500 individual participants every week.
The research that underpins the report was informed by an analysis of data relating to community projects delivered over the year; consultation with key personnel at the football club and the range of public and voluntary sector organisations that the club currently works with. This suggests that for every £1 spent to deliver the Club’s Community Trust’s programmes during 2015, approximately £4.60 is generated in social cost savings to the local community.
Given the progress of the Trust over the last 12 – 18 months and an increased focus on delivering outcomes and impact in the next twelve months, if the trajectory of an annualised average spending growth of between 10 - 20% is achieved Substance forecast comparable increases in social cost savings in future years.