We are looking for passionate, dedicated and resourceful people to join us. If you have an interest in nature conservation and a passion for our values, we would love to hear from you.
Take a look, through some of the common species of wildlife that live in the South Yorkshire area around Sheffield and Rotherham.
A recently extended patch of heathland and woodland, neighbouring Wyming Brook.
Our Acorn Fund is a pot of money allocated specifically to help release money from the Landfill Communities Fund. Your donation can be the key to unlocking funding worth thousands of pounds to make a huge difference for local wildlife.
Unveil the hidden world of insects in Sheffield & Rotherham with the newest issue of Kingfisher magazine.
Under the Social Value Act, public sector organisations are required to consider how the services they procure contribute to the wellbeing of local communities. For companies seeking public contracts, it’s crucial to demonstrate meaningful, locally focused social value to differentiate themselves and appeal to public sector buyers.
As a local focused charity, Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust helps organisations embed social value in their bids, offering businesses the opportunity to fund and collaborate on place-based projects that directly align with framework agreements and recognised social value models, such as Themes, Outcomes, and Measures (TOMs).
We support bid teams in delivering social value that is directly relevant to their projects and creates long-term benefits for nature and local communities.By engaging early in the process, we ensure your social value offer is strategically positioned, locally meaningful, and resonates with commissioners. Whether your focus is on enhancing health and wellbeing, developing green skills, creating nature-rich environments, or increasing community engagement with nature; we’ll help you select the right initiatives and define clear, measurable outcomes.
The projects below are live or ready to launch, they can also be adjusted to a funding and engagement level that works with you.
Support the delivery of Natural Flood Management projects in South Yorkshire:
More Details: Nature-based Solutions Overview
Support woodland creation in South Yorkshire:
More Details: Woodland Creation Overview
Support our green social prescribing programme; boosting wellbeing in the community through nature connections:
More Details: A Natural Health Service Overview
Support a nationally rare habitat:
More Details: Nature Reserve Guardian
If you’d like more information about any of the projects above or how your SME or large company can create social impact in South Yorkshire please contact Paul via p.hodges@wildsheffield.com
The Social Value Act (2012), effective from 2013, requires public bodies to consider how the services they commission and procure contribute to the economic, social, and environmental wellbeing of local communities. Its core principle is to ensure that public spending delivers long-term, sustainable benefits beyond the immediate scope of goods or services.
The Crown Commercial Service defines social value in procurement as “ensuring that public spending generates additional economic, social and environmental benefits beyond just the goods or services being procured”
In 2025, the Act was strengthened to place greater emphasis on the role of social impact in determining the success of public contract bids.
In February 2025, the UK Government introduced a revised Social Value Model for central government departments, executive agencies, and non-departmental public bodies. This model outlines five key missions and eight intended outcomes that social value initiatives should aim to achieve.
You can find out more about the Social Value Model on the government website.
Local authorities have developed their own social value strategies to guide suppliers. These strategies help bidders understand how councils will evaluate social value in procurement decisions. Resources such as the Local Government Association’s TOMs (Themes, Outcomes, Measures) framework support councils in measuring and managing social value across procurement, bid evaluation, and contract delivery.
Useful Links:
-Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) Social Value Toolkit and Social Value Procurement Resources.-Sheffield City Council (SCC) Procurement Information-South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) Procurement Policy, were ‘Social value criteria with a weighting of at least 10% must be included in all contracts above £100,000 including VAT and in excess of 12 months in duration.’
With growing legislative emphasis on the ‘Social’ component of ESG, demonstrating social value is becoming essential. Partnering with us can help your organisation stay ahead of policy changes while delivering meaningful impact for nature and communities. This also opens new avenues for employee and customer engagement.
As a Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE), Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust is well-positioned to support suppliers in meeting social value requirements. We offer expert guidance, tailored resources, and a federated structure that combines national reach with local expertise.
Our pipeline of place-based projects delivers measurable outcomes aligned with recognised frameworks like TOMs. We also provide early-stage support with reports, case studies, and metrics to strengthen your bid and demonstrate impact.