Value-for-money appraisal of formal and deemed national amenity societies

Historic England is seeking to commission one or more facilitative evaluators to work with representatives of the national amenity societies and Historic England over a 6-month period not only to illustrate the value of the work of the societies but also to provide evidence for a new settlement with the eight organisations treated as national amenity societies which currently receive a financial contribution from Historic England towards the costs of their activities in relation to heritage conservation. This work will include an assessment both (a) of the value for money currently obtained from supporting the societies and (b) of the potential for additional public value should more funding be made available.

The purpose of the study is both to illustrate the value of the work of the national amenity societies, which are currently financially supported through Historic England to carry out their activities in relation to heritage conservation, and to provide evidence for a new settlement with the eight relevant organisations (listed in Appendix A).

The study aims are:

i) To illustrate the value-creating activities of the national amenity societies;

ii) To assess the relative value for money of the current work of each society;

iii) To identify potential for more public benefit from higher public investment;

iv) To inform Historic England's judgement of future support for the relevant organisations.