Launch of Evaluation Report at Mansion House, Dublin. June 2024.

We are committed to the impact our health intervention through recreational football delivers. In 2021, we formed an enterprise-academic partnership with South East Technological University (SETU) to undertake a Social Return on Investment (SROI) study investigating the social value of the Football Cooperative delivery model. The results from this research established many positive outcomes for various stakeholders including including participants, Game Coordinators, significant others and community partners.

The event presented details of the research data collection journey, stakeholder outcomes and social value placed on the Football Cooperative initiative. For every €1 invested in Football Cooperative, the Social Return on Investment achieved would be €17.60.

“It is evident that the social value returned from this volunteer-led, community based initiative is substantial. In fact, when compared to other sports clubs or community-based projects the findings would indicate that the social return is exemplary.” SROI evaluation report of Football Cooperative.

The launch event also marked International Men’s Health week (IMW) with the theme for 2024 being ‘Know Your Numbers’. So the SROI economic assessment of Football Cooperative was quite fitting. 

An excellent list of speakers included:

• Colm Burke, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy
• Daithí de Róiste, Lord Mayor of Dublin
• Prof Roger O’Sullivan, Director of the Ageing Research and Development,Institute of Public Health in Ireland 
• Dr Paula Carroll, Senior Lecturer, South East Technological University (SETU)
• Prof Michael Harrison, Head of School (Dean) of Health Sciences, South East Technological University (SETU)

Along with a panel discussion hosted by Lorcan Brennan from the Men’s Development Network who was joined by John Logue, CEO, Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, Biddy O’Neill, National Project Lead in the Health and Wellbeing, Department of Health and Liam McGroarty, Strategic Development Manager, UEFA.

The SROI Evaluation Analysis of Football Cooperative, a community based ‘pick-up’ recreational football initiative for men in Ireland was the subject of a PhD studentship at the South East Technological University

If you would like to view a copy of the evaluation report, please do contact us.