When we hear the word “investment”, our minds immediately go to money. However, investing in services is not only about the amount of resources that are needed, it is also about the approach taken in their design and delivery. In our view, services should be people-centred and tailored to meet each individual’s needs. They should promote users’ human rights and aim to empower people and make them more independent. In addition to addressing present needs with immediate effect – such as improving people’s skills, health conditions and employability – investment in services can prevent or reduce future needs that would give rise to additional costs and reliance on services, including emergency health care, unemployment benefits, correctional facilities and income support. This approach is known as “social investment”.