Social Impact
Framework Description
The East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub's Social Impact framework is an open framework for preventative, community-based and VCSE-led services that address the wider determinants of health. It has 23 lots, from mental health and domestic abuse support to food security, supported living and respiratory health. Governed by the Procurement Act 2023, it runs from 8 December 2025 to 7 December 2033 and reopens in 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2031 to admit new suppliers.
Context & Use Case
Integrated care boards, NHS trusts and local authorities use the framework to commission community services that reduce demand on health and care, such as homelessness prevention, carer respite, employment support and weight management. Call-offs are by direct award or further competition, and the framework is aligned with the 10 Year Health Plan and Core20PLUS5.
Scope of Services
Lots 1–2: Voice and representation; VCSE system leadership and infrastructure Lots 3–5: Children and young people; domestic abuse support; employment and skills Lots 6–10: Green health; financial and digital inclusion; food security; housing and homelessness; inclusion health Lots 11–13: Mental health; physical health; offender rehabilitation Lots 14–19: Post-16 SEND; community cohesion; supported living; mobile outreach; carers; learning disability and autism Lots 20–23: Tobacco dependence; weight management; alcohol harm; respiratory health
Lots
Lot 1: Voice, Influence and Representation Services; Lot 2: VCSE System Leadership and Infrastructure Representation; Lot 3: Children and Young People Services; Lot 4: Domestic Abuse and Violence Support Services; Lot 5: Employment Support and Skills for People Facing Barriers; Lot 6: Green Health and Wellbeing Services; Lot 7: Financial and Digital Inclusion Services; Lot 8: Food Security and Access Services; Lot 9: Housing Stability, Homelessness Prevention and Crisis Support Services; Lot 10: Inclusion Health and Refugee/Migrant Wellbeing Services; Lot 11: Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Services; Lot 12: Physical Health and Wellbeing Services; Lot 13: Offender Rehabilitation and Criminal Justice Support; Lot 14: Post-16 Special Education and Life Skills Support for Young People with SEND; Lot 15: Social and Community Cohesion Services; Lot 16: Supported Living Services; Lot 17: Mobile Outreach and Community Access Services; Lot 18: Carer Support and Respite Services; Lot 19: Learning Disability and Autism Support Services; Lot 20: Tobacco Dependence Prevention and Treatment Services; Lot 21: Weight Management and Obesity Prevention Services; Lot 22: Alcohol Harm Reduction Services; Lot 23: Respiratory Health Improvement and Prevention Services
Who Can Apply
Suits VCSEs, social enterprises, SMEs and other community providers. Over 200 suppliers were awarded places, and as an open framework it admits new suppliers in reopening windows, with the remaining windows in 2027, 2029 and 2031.
Buyer Benefits
Commissioners get one compliant route to a large and varied pool of community providers, many of them small local organisations that rarely bid for standard tenders. The lots map onto national prevention priorities, helping them award quickly and show alignment with the 10 Year Health Plan.
Next Steps
If you missed the 2026 window, prepare for the 2027 reopening: pick your lots, gather outcome measures, safeguarding policies and case studies, and watch the hub's Social Impact page at eoecph.nhs.uk. Appointed suppliers should build relationships with ICB and council commissioners to win direct awards and further competitions.
How Athena Can Help
The Social Impact framework's reopenings are the way in, and Athena helps community providers get ready early. Our help with framework reopenings covers lot selection, the full application and a compliance check before submission.
For appointed suppliers, our bid writers for VCSEs help win further competitions with evidence of outcomes and social value, and our public sector bidding guidance supports pricing that covers the real cost of delivery, including staff, volunteers' support and overheads.
