Join In's Hidden Diamonds research set out to capture the true social value generated through volunteering in sport and physical activity.

We were interested in the wellbeing not just for the volunteer but for those they helped to be active, as well as the wider value for the host organisation and local community. We concluded that each sports volunteer generates around £16k of social value every year, over 90% of this measurable in wellbeing benefits.

As part of the team that delivered Hidden Diamonds at Join In, I undertook the initial desk research on existing methods of capturing volunteer value, on top of which we built some pioneering new methodologies. I also built a number of stakeholder partnerships in support of the research, translating its value for those working in sport, those running community activity programmes outside of sport and a number of public health agencies and think tanks.

In this 2014 post for the What Works Centre for Wellbeing, I unpack the numbers, methodologies and thinking behind Hidden Diamonds. If you're new to the research, it's a great place to start.