The Results of Our Social Return on Investment Report
At DEG, we are passionate about creating lasting value for our communities in northwest Wales. Last year, when we celebrated our 10th birthday, we wanted to know just how much value we had created. How much difference were we really making?
That’s why we commissioned a Social Return on Investment (SROI) report through Social Value Cymru. The report gives us a clear picture of the social return on investment from what DEG’s team does; that is, the real financial, emotional, social, and environmental impacts of our work.
Key Findings from the Report
The report found:
1. Return on Investment: For every £1 invested in DEG’s projects (from grant funding or other sources), £3.58 of social value was generated.
Social value includes not only real cash savings for communities, but also improvements in wellbeing, increased knowledge, access to services, and potential for future income generation.
2. Through Prosiect Sero Net Gwynedd last year, DEG’s Gwasanaeth Ynni supported 659 individuals, many of them facing fuel poverty. Our Energy Officers’ advice and support led to:
- Over £35,000 in direct savings
- 100% of surveyed individuals saying they felt more knowledgeable about energy efficiency
- 100% reporting less stress about energy bills
3. Community members in our GwyrddNi communities reported feeling more connected to their neighbours, with 76% noting a stronger sense of community and 66% expressing more hope about the future.
4. Through Cyd Ynni, DEG worked closely with community groups to improve financial sustainability and secure funding for renewable energy projects. This helped generate £518,000 in grants to build renewable energy projects.
5. Sustainability and Long-Term Benefits: The renewable energy projects we have supported are projected to:
- Generate over £4.7million for local communities over the next 25 years.
- Leading to carbon savings of 7,632.5 tonnes over 25 years, around the equivalent of taking 200 cars off the road or planting 30,000 trees.
- Generate 1,582,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually, or enough to power 585 average homes.
What this means
These findings confirm that our work provides real value for the money invested. It has far-reaching impact, from helping communities to feel empowered, to reducing people’s stress about energy bills.
“DEG has always sought to create more than just economic value through our work — social, environmental, and cultural impact are just as important to us. With the help of Social Value Cymru, we can now say with confidence that what we do makes a real and lasting difference for individuals and communities across northwest Wales,” says Grant Peisley, DEG’s director.
“Seeing the tangible impact of our work in this report is deeply rewarding. It puts evidence behind what we’ve always believed — that when we invest in people and communities, the returns go far beyond pounds and pence. They come back as stronger, more confident, and more connected places to live. The real value of what we do isn’t just in the numbers — it’s in helping people feel warmer, more hopeful, and more empowered to shape their own futures.
The findings in our Social Return on Investment report also give confidence to our funders — showing that every pound invested in DEG generates more than three times its value through the work our team delivers. It’s a testament to the dedication, determination, and skill of everyone at DEG that we continue to achieve such impressive results and deliver meaningful change for the people and communities we serve.”
If you are a community group looking to cut down on your energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint or generate your own power, or you are looking for advice to navigate the complicated world of energy and renewables – get in touch with us!
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