Health Bronze Online Application

These are the main requirements for achieving Bronze. Each will need to be evidenced when you submit your application. If you need support, Social Value Quality Mark CIC and NHS Arden & GEM CSU will be happy to help.

Social value commitment starts at the top. It should be part of your senior decision-making, culture and how you do business.

Your development group will help embed social value throughout the organisation, so we recommend it includes department heads and influential representatives from different parts of your business.

Social value is the positive impact you create for society. We invite you to make this definition specific to your organisation, in collaboration with your team.

You will be asked to provide evidence that you’ve considered your stakeholders’ needs. We recommend undertaking community and patient engagement. You should seek to understand local issues, what people need and expect from their healthcare provider and where you can make a difference.

You’ll also be asked to confirm the number of active volunteers in your organisation and the total number of hours they’ve donated.

This is your outward-facing statement of your organisation’s role in society, so it should feel impactful. Think beyond your products and services to the difference your organisation makes to people’s lives in the longer term.

For example: ‘We exist to support our patients to live rich, inclusive, independent and fulfilling lives for longer.”

You will need to submit a minimum of 6 pledges, aligned to the mandatory Community Themes. There are also four discretionary themes. You are not required to make a pledge against all of these; focus on the ones where you can make the most impact.

For example: ‘We pledge to support a more resilient local health system by integrating with local delivery partners.’

Your KVIs are the targets against which you’ll measure progress against your pledges. These should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Bound. An example might be:

‘Raise £10,000 for our mental health charity partners in 2024’
Or, ‘Provide 12 weeks of work experience for medical students in 2024.

You need to provide a 3-page roadmap setting out how you will deliver your plans over a 12-month period. This should include statements and milestones around research, consultation, delivery, measurement and reporting.

You will be asked for evidence of your carbon plan, environment and social value policies. Your carbon plan must include Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. When you commit to Bronze, you also agree to gather the data necessary to support your pledges. So be prepared to report this data transparently.