At NPLCC, everything we do is rooted in one core purpose: to create meaningful, lasting impact for the people and communities we serve. Today, we are proud to share the findings of our 2026 Social Impact Report – a comprehensive look at our work over the past year, the progress we’ve made, the lives we’ve touched, and the lessons that will guide our work ahead.
This report is more than just a collection of data. It is a story of collaboration, commitment, and collective effort – from our team, our partners, our volunteers, and every individual who has joined us to build stronger, more inclusive communities. Below, we break down the key results and milestones that define our impact this year.
Key Results from the 2026 Social Impact Report
1. Supporting Individuals to Thrive
Our core programmes focus on equipping people with the skills, confidence, and resources they need to overcome barriers and achieve their potential. This year’s results show clear, tangible progress:
- 3,200+ individuals accessed our training and wellbeing services – a 18% increase compared to 2025.
- 72% of participants in our employability programmes moved into sustainable work, education, or further training within 6 months of completing support.
- 89% of service users reported improved confidence and a greater sense of control over their future after engaging with our services.
- We delivered 145 training workshops and skill-building sessions, covering digital literacy, financial capability, mental health awareness, and career development – reaching over 1,800 people directly.
2. Strengthening Local Communities
We believe strong communities are built on connection, belonging, and shared action. In 2026, we expanded our community-focused work to bring people together and address local needs:
- We supported 28 local community groups and grassroots organisations with funding, training, and practical resources – helping them deliver projects ranging from youth activities and food support to environmental initiatives and intergenerational work.
- 12,000+ people benefited directly from community events, networks, and spaces we facilitated – including family days, community hubs, and neighbourhood action projects.
- 94% of partner organisations said our support helped them increase their reach, improve their services, or become more sustainable.
- We mobilised over 30 volunteers who contributed over 5,500 hours of energy, skills, and perspectives to everything we deliver.
3. Advocating for Fairer, More Inclusive Systems
Impact isn’t just about direct delivery – it’s about changing the systems and structures that shape people’s lives. This year, we amplified the voices of the communities we work with to drive meaningful change:
- We conducted 8 targeted research and consultation projects, gathering insights from over 1,500 people to understand key challenges around housing, employment, health, and access to services.
- Our findings informed 3 policy submissions and 6 local service improvements, helping shape decisions made by local authorities, health bodies, and regional partners.
- We led or joined 11 collaborative partnerships and campaigns, working with cross-sector allies to tackle inequality, reduce poverty, and improve access to essential support.
- 85% of stakeholders said our advocacy work helped raise awareness of underrepresented issues and influenced positive change in local policy or practice.
4. Environmental & Sustainable Impact
We recognise that social justice and environmental action go hand in hand. This year, we integrated sustainability into our operations and programmes:
- We reduced our organisation’s carbon footprint by 22%, through energy efficiency measures, sustainable procurement, and remote-working practices.
- We delivered 18 community environmental projects, including community gardens, clean-up initiatives, and sustainability workshops – engaging over 2,300 people in caring for their local environment.
- 78% of our service users reported being more aware of environmental issues and taking steps to live more sustainably as a result of our activities.
What We’ve Learned: Challenges & Opportunities
The 2026 report also highlights important challenges we have faced, and opportunities we will prioritise in the year ahead:
- Growing demand: We saw a 25% rise in requests for support, particularly around cost-of-living advice and mental health – reflecting ongoing pressures facing local communities. This reinforces the urgent need for sustained, targeted investment in community support.
- Digital divide: While our digital skills work made great progress, 31% of people we supported still face barriers to accessing online services – highlighting the need for more accessible, hybrid delivery models.
- Partnership power: Our strongest results came from working in partnership – proving that collective action delivers far greater impact than working alone. We will deepen these collaborations to reach more people and address complex issues more effectively.
Looking Ahead: Our Commitment for 2027
The results from our 2026 Social Impact Report are something to be proud of – but we know there is still more to do. In the coming year, we will:
- Launch new programmes to address the digital divide and ensure no one is left behind in an increasingly digital world.
- Strengthen our advocacy work, using evidence and community voice to drive change at local, regional, and national levels.
- Continue to embed sustainability across everything we do, helping communities build resilience for the future.
Thank You
None of this impact would be possible without you – the people we support, our volunteers, our partners, our funders, and our dedicated team. Your trust, commitment, and passion are the heart of NPLCC, and every result in this report is a reflection of what we can achieve together.