Social Impact Report shows importance of Leeds Rhinos Foundation's work

Leeds Rhinos Foundation has revealed the findings of the first ever Social Impact report into its work, which found that for every £1 invested into the charity, £10.49 of social value is generated.

Social value refers to the positive impact that a charity's activities has on society and the community and the benefits the charity provides to individuals and communities, considering factors like well-being, quality of life, and environmental sustainability. 

The headline valuation for Leeds Rhinos Foundation equates to just over £14.78m and is formed by individual values across the charity’s programmes.  

The success of Leeds Foundation’s work is demonstrated in the report and shows that it is over 150% more valuable than the national average that was calculated by Sport England, which found that for every £1 spent on community sport and physical activity across the whole of England, a return of £3.91 is generated.

The charity, which is celebrating its 20th year in 2025, commissioned research and technology company Substance to analyse its wide-ranging projects and produce a report to demonstrate the social, economic and health-related impact its work generates, as well as providing a measure of the Social Return on Investment (SROI) that work delivers and how it measures and aligns with the Foundation’s strategic ambitions. 

Social Return on Investment (SROI) is a form of cost-benefit analysis and branch of social value assessment that attempts to quantify the social change created by a programme, policy, investment or entity. It is a particularly useful form of analysis for not-for-profit organisations, which seek to generate positive social changes that are difficult to measure in traditional financial terms.

Through the delivery of over 60 projects and initiatives, the Leeds Rhinos Foundation continues to demonstrate the positive role it plays in the community to change lives through the power of sport.  The report shows that not only does the charity deliver work that impacts the individual, but also the wider reach on the whole community, with a ripple effect that has positive outcomes for areas such as NHS resources. 

Rugby League development is a huge area that the Foundation has had a significant impact, with a £2.64 million return on investment.  Through support for grassroots rugby in clubs, schools, colleges and universities, the charity has been able to deliver positive social change with indicators such as increasing physical activity, reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour, improvement in educational attainment, as well as creating positive mental health. 

The charity’s inclusion work through its Wheelchair, Physical Disability and Learning Disability teams produces a £386.37k return, and in schools, projects such Healthy Assemblies, after-school and lunchtime clubs there is a return of an incredible £8.34m.

Through health and wellbeing projects such as the In Touch Dementia Support Group, Parkinson’s Physical Activity group and the Rhinos Run Club, Leeds Rhinos Foundation offers a reduction of anxiety, depression and social isolation.

In summary the breakdown for each are is: 
Disability and Inclusion: £386.37k
Schools/Community: £8.34m
Rugby League Development: £2.64m
Health and Wellbeing: £507.33k
Education: £574.45k
Netball: £563.80k
Other: £1.80m

Bob Bowman QPM, Chief Executive of Leeds Rhinos Foundation, said: “For twenty years we have known that Leeds Rhinos Foundation provides opportunities, across a vast range of services, to positively impact the lives of who we support. Especially those who are vulnerable, less fortunate and often overlooked. 

“Working with Substance to analyse our work, and socially valuing our impact, now provides us with the evidence to showcase what we know. I am confident that this will help us deliver additional vital services going forward, allowing even more people to be better versions of themselves.” 

The report was unveiled at AMT Headingley Stadium, home of Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Club, who is the current chair with guests including the charity’s trustees and Baroness Sue Campbell CBE, who is the current Chair of England Netball with previous roles including Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, Chair of UK Sport and a Director of Women’s Football at The FA.

Baroness Campbell CBE said: “The Leeds Rhinos Foundation is having a far-reaching impact on the local community through sport. Like me they believe that sport can change lives for the better.”

Tim Crabbe, Chief Executive of Substance said: “Substance has been delighted to work with the Leeds Rhinos Foundation on this pioneering study into the impact and value of Rugby League’s engagement with and contribution to its local communities. The breadth, depth and reach of Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s work is striking and helps to explain the scale of value creation which is represented in this report. As the organisation moves forward with its impact journey, we are confident that these findings will be re-enforced and new dimensions of impact revealed.” 

To view the full report CLICK HERE