Strengthening impact measurement and social value reporting

Overview
Substance has worked in partnership with Manchester United Foundation since 2020, supporting the organisation to strengthen how it measures, manages and communicates the impact of its work. Over several years, this collaboration has helped the Foundation develop a clear strategic framework for impact, improve data collection processes, and produce robust annual reports that demonstrate the social value generated across Greater Manchester and beyond.

The challenge
Manchester United Foundation delivers a wide range of community programmes focused on improving outcomes for young people through education, health and wellbeing, and personal development. As the scale and reach of this work expanded, the Foundation identified a need for a more structured and consistent approach to impact measurement.
The challenge was to ensure that impact measurement aligned closely with the Foundation’s values and strategic objectives, while also being practical and proportionate for staff and delivery partners to use day to day.

How we helped
Since first being engaged in 2020, Substance has developed a strong and collaborative partnership with Manchester United Foundation, providing strategic, technical and reporting support over multiple years. Our work has focused on building a robust foundation for impact measurement while continuously improving systems and processes as the organisation has evolved.
This partnership has delivered:

• A Theory of Change for the Foundation, aligned to its core values and strategic business plan.
• An outcomes and data collection framework to support consistent measurement across programmes.
• Enhanced functionality within the Views system, supporting digital consent processes and streamlined questionnaire data collection.
• Annual social value and impact reports that clearly communicate the reach and outcomes of the Foundation’s work across Greater Manchester and beyond.

The impact
The Foundation continues to use the tools, frameworks and systems developed with Substance to strengthen its annual impact reporting and organisational learning. This has enabled Manchester United Foundation to more clearly evidence the difference its programmes make, while also supporting transparency and accountability with funders, partners and stakeholders.
The most recent Manchester United Foundation Impact Report highlights the significant social value generated through its work and can be found here.

A long-term partnership
This ongoing collaboration reflects Substance’s commitment to long-term partnerships that support meaningful and sustainable social impact. By combining strategic insight, practical tools and clear reporting, Substance has helped Manchester United Foundation embed impact measurement into the heart of its work, supporting continuous improvement and long-term value creation.