A better way to value and think about charities
By Martin Brookes, Chief Executive of London Plus, co-founder of PBE
At the start of the pandemic in 2020, pharmacists in Camden in London found that they were suddenly unable to deliver prescriptions to vulnerable residents who could not get out of their homes. Drivers were unavailable, and there was a risk people would not get their medicines. The normal market economy was not working.
However, a solution was easy to find. Pharmacists told GPs about the problem and they, in turn, contacted the charity GoodGym. This charity helps people to perform good deeds alongside group runs, walks or bike rides. Going for a run, say, and doing something useful for others along the way, is a simple but powerful idea. All the runners, walkers or cyclists of GoodGym are volunteers and the charity currently works in 59 areas across the country. It was straightforward in Camden to set up group runs that included the collection and delivery of medicines by volunteer runners.
This is a heart-warming tale of community solidarity as well as one about the failure of a market economy and the superior performance of actions driven by altruism, goodwill and community spirit.
It is, though, an alarming tale about the state of statistics in our country and how they help or hinder understanding. The Camden van drivers’ work and wages count in statistics about the size of the economy and levels of economic activity. The time spent by GoodGym volunteers does not. The shift to using volunteers to deliver prescriptions would reduce GDP. On any sensible metric, this does not make sense.
The Law Family Commission on Civil Society offers a large number of very practical recommendations about data. They offer the prospect of improving how we measure the value and contribution of people like the runners of GoodGym in Camden.
One must also think about the wider value of the runners’ efforts. First, there are palpable improvements in community solidarity and wellbeing from these efforts. Second, the Camden runners are healthier and less likely to impose burdens on the health service in the future. Both of these have value which should be accounted for.
This is, though, not just a tale about Camden nor about GoodGym. Such actions, and their neglect and lack of appreciation in official statistics can be found across the country in myriad ways. Thanks to the work of Pro Bono Economics and the Commission’s recommendations, these benefits can be valued and a better way for how we value and think about charities is in prospect. We will all be better off as a result.
This piece was written in response to the publication of the report ‘Unleashing the power of civil society’