Published: October 22, 2025
Are you involved in organising community events? Do you need support in demonstrating value for money to funders? Our new tools – an interactive digital learning platform and a social value estimator – may be just what you need.
These resources were developed as part of Belong’s Power of Events project, drawing on Spirit of 2012’s archive and other relevant literature to help event organisers enhance social cohesion and connection. These tools are best used together, with the knowledge acquired through the digital learning platform then taken and applied to the estimator to give you a calculation of the social value of your event based on the best available research and data.
The tools build on learning from Belong’s Power of Events report which makes recommendations on four areas: understanding people and place; evaluation methods; volunteers/participants/audiences; and creating a legacy. This report contributes to the knowledge base on how events can strengthen people’s sense of belonging, build trust and contribute to the positive identity of a place.
Who are these resources suitable for?
These resources are ideal for anyone involved in organising events, but will be especially useful for:
- Event organisers looking to connect communities
- Funders and local authorities commissioning events
About the Power of Events Digital Learning Platform
When events are done well, they can bring people together to hold conversations, bridge divides, and foster a sense of belonging. But there’s also a risk that events contribute to divisions in a place.
The Power of Events digital learning platform is based on evidence from Spirit of 2012’s ten-year archive showing what works in using events to foster social cohesion – offering users a step-by-step guide to planning inclusive events that bring people together in meaningful ways. Through a combination of guided learning, videos and interactive exercises, the tool guides users through creating a theory of change for their event which can then be used to maximise social value.
Completion time: Between 1-2 hours to complete depending on users own current familiarity level with social cohesion issues.
About the Belong Social Value Estimator
Most projects can tell a story about their impact, but that’s often not enough for funders. The Belong Social Value Estimator weighs your social cohesion and wellbeing benefits against the costs of investment. Designed to be completed after the digital learning resource (although not necessary in all cases) – the Belong Social Value Estimator enables organisers to place a social value in £ on the positive benefits they expect from their event or series of events. The Estimator has been devised by State of Life whose work meets HM Treasury standards for calculating social value. It utilises the most up-to-date research and data available.
Completion time: Around 15 minutes if you have all your details about your event already prepared.
How do I get started using the resources?
Power of Events Digital Learning Platform
It’s really easy to get started – just register for an account here
Belong Social Value Estimator
Just click here to access the estimator. No login is required for this tool.
Ruth Hollis OBE, CEO of Spirit of 2012 said:
“Events can play a powerful role in bringing people together in their communities – but this doesn’t not happen automatically. Spirit of 2012 is delighted to support the launch of these resources, as part of our Legacy Learning Partnership with Belong. They combine rich evidence from across our grant portfolio, with Belong’s deep expertise in social cohesion and will help to ensure learning from Spirit’s work continues to have an impact long after we close in January 2026.”
Kelly Fowler, CEO of Belong said:
“It has been a privilege to work as a Learning Partner with Spirit of 2012 on the development of these important tools, particularly as the organisation approaches closure and leaves such an important legacy. Belong’s Power of Events research into Spirit’s archive really shone a light on the potential of events to bring communities together. We are proud to launch these new resources that will help those planning events to really demonstrate their value – which is so important for those smaller organisations who often struggle to evidence the social impact of their work.”
Want more support in getting started with these tools?
We will be offering a series of guided workshops for those who would like a little more support to get started using these tools. Dates will be announced shortly – sign up to our mailing list for updates on this.
About our partners
These resources were developed in partnership with Spirit of 2012, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games social legacy organisation, founded by the National Lottery Community Fund. The Belong Social Value Estimator was built by State of Life. Explore more of their work – https://www.stateoflife.org/.
Spirit of 2012’s research, learning and insights from over a decade of funding projects to inspire a social legacy can be found at www.spiritof2012.org.uk. As a learning partner of Spirit of 2012, Belong will be ensuring that the lessons learnt from the wide-ranging projects funded across the four nations of the UK are not lost. Belong will continue to influence policy and funders beyond Spirit of 2012’s closure at the end of the year, drawing on the rich source of data they leave behind.
Our expert Advisory Panel brought their knowledge, experience and expertise to help shape this resource. The Panel included Department for Culture, Media and Sport and local authority officers, funders, researchers and community practitioners.
If you have any enquiries about these tools or any of Belong’s work in general please contact hello@belongnetwork.co.uk
Explore our other digital learning resources: