£500,000 social impact delivered through believe housing and JPS contract

A partnership between one believe housing and its stores provider has generated more than £500,000 in social value in two years. 

In 2023, JPS (Jewson Partnership Solutions) secured a five-year, multi-million-pound contract to operate two dedicated stores for believe housing, supplying essential materials to support the maintenance of over 18,000 homes across the region. 

The stores, located in Seaham and Croxdale, provide everything from toilets and doors to paint and loft insulation for believe housing’s in-house Repairs Team. 

As part of the contract, JPS committed to delivering meaningful social value in the communities where believe housing operates. This reflects believe housing’s broader approach to working with contractors and suppliers to ensure that local people and places benefit beyond the financial bottom line, often connecting them to projects to support within their neighbourhoods. 

Social value is the positive impact a contract or organisation has on people, the economy, and the environment. It is measured using the Social Value TOM System (Themes, Outcomes and Measures), which puts a financial value on these benefits. 

According to the TOM evaluation, the JPS contract has delivered £500,000 in social value through: 

  • Creating local employment: Eight people employed in the believe housing stores live in and around County Durham. 
  • Supporting local businesses: £635,597 spent in the supply chain with County Durham-based companies. 
  • Community donations: £3,348 worth of materials and toolkits donated, including support for Howletch Primary School in Peterlee and new construction workshops at Hartlepool College of Further Education. 
  • Volunteering: JPS staff contributed 12.5 hours to a beach clean in Seaham, removing 20 sacks of rubbish from the coast. 
  • Environmental impact: More than 475 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill and recycled. 

Rachel Cox, Director of Property Repairs at believe housing, said: “This partnership not only ensures we get the materials and products we need, when we need them, to look after people’s homes — it also shows how embedding social value in our procurement can be a powerful way to support our communities. 

“We’re proud to have worked alongside JPS to reach this milestone of delivering half a million pounds in social value, and, most importantly, we’re seeing real, tangible benefits for our residents and the local economy.” 

Paul Lee, Regional Partnership Director at JPS, said: “This milestone is a great example of what’s possible when genuine partnership and shared values come together.  

“The impact delivered so far is a credit to the dedication of our store teams and the support from believe housing throughout. 

“It’s about more than materials, it’s about creating opportunities, supporting local people, and doing the right thing for the long term.  

“We’re proud of the journey so far and excited to build on this success as the partnership continues to grow.”