Last summer, amidst the world cup frenzy, Frances Harkin wrote about the role HACT was playing in building bridges between social housing providers and sports organisations. Here we reflect on her thoughts a few months on.
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One year on: Local issues, local solutions
We look back at a blog written by Ian Wardle, a member of the Great Places Commission, and Group Chief Executive at Thirteen Group, about the special role Housing Associations can play as organisations in tune with local issues, and how they can contribute to creating ‘great places’.
Great Places Commission: final report
With support from the National Housing Federation, the Commission visited towns and cities across the North and Midlands, meeting housing associations, stakeholders and local residents. Using the learning from this process, the Commission has made ten recommendations.
Making a sustainable community
Authors: Deborah Quilgars, Alison Dyke, Alison Wallace and Sarah WestPublished by Joseph Rowntree Foundation, February 2019This report presents the results of a six-year evaluation of Derwenthorpe, an urban extension of about 500 homes in York, developed by the...
Taking the first steps
I don’t think there’s ever been a more important or pressing time for housing associations to breathe life into their social purpose and step up to the community plate.
Learning from history
The Welsh Government’s rent settlement announcement at the beginning of the year was greeted with dismay by many social housing providers in Wales. It has already resulted in many assessing cost-cutting strategies, and may result in a significant reduction in community investement activities by some Welsh housing associations.
A new funding opportunity
Last week, I attended an interesting event to showcase the Community Impact Partnership, a £3m social investment fund run by Clarion, Peabody L&Q and Orbit. The programme provides an alternative option to traditional models of funding by offering a blend of grants and loan of between £25,000 and £150,000 to community businesses, social enterprises and charities.
What’s not working
This report assesses the barriers to employment and the impact of rent fluctuations and housing benefit.
What works? Evaluation of the DOSH financial capability programme
The evaluation of the DOSH programme is based on answering the following question: is digital support, therapeutic mentoring or a combination of these elements more effective in improving the financial capability of A2Dominion residents?
Developing skills and building careers: Hayat Ahmed
Hayat is a Clarion Housing resident originally from Somalia and a single mother to seven young children. In Somali culture it is typical for women not to work, and combined with a language barrier and lack of knowledge about how to enter the job market, Hayat had never worked in the UK.
Pembury Children’s Community: Impact Report
The 10 year Pembury Children’s Community programme in Hackney is now three years old. This report summarises its achievements and outlines plans for the future.
Positive Steps Thamesmead: The story so far
This is the evaluation report of Peabody’s Positive Steps Thamesmead (PST) programme that started operating in Thamesmead in April 2015.
Our funders
The Centre for Excellence in Community Investment is supported by:
HACT
The Centre for Excellence in Community Investment is an initiative from HACT, UK housing’s ideas and innovation agency.
If you need help in developing a community investment strategy, measuring your social value or demonstrating the business case for community investment, please contact us.
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