Here’s the latest news, and the latest views about community investment across the UK.

The future of civil society

Society has changed a lot over the last two decades in England. What implications are there in these changes for the role of civil society?

First national conference dedicated to community investment

This year, for the first time, we will be hosting the first national conference dedicated to community investment

Driving community investment

Our approach to social value is simple: it’s about making a positive difference to the communities we serve.

The poverty premium

Say the term “poverty premium” to people and many won’t know what it is. But when you use the “Boots Theory” to describe it, then it makes complete sense.

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.

The benefits of community investment

Sovereign recently committed to triple its investment in communities. This step change in investment was won off the track record set by our work in our priority communities, and the fantastic results our employment and training service deliver.

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.

The view from Bristol

We wrapped up our tour of Centre for Excellence Roadshows in Bristol last week, at the rather brilliant Armada Rooms. The conversation was lively with attendees coming from as far apart as Plymouth and Newcastle, and it was nice to see a few familiar faces.

The view from Cardiff

Yesterday I was invited to a workshop in Cardiff being run by Barry and Adam from HACT to develop the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect…

The devil is in the detail

Following the budget announcements last week we welcomed the top level announcement on the additional support and funding for Universal Credit roll out. With 61% of customers in receipt of Universal Credit in arrears, Orbit have been actively looking at how we support customers and are successfully reducing levels of arrears.

The view from Glasgow

Sure enough, Kevin from CoControl was true to his promise, turning up at his third consecutive roadshow. Despite being warned by Barry that all the roadshows follow the same format, Kevin was no doubt conscious there are regional and national differences that emerge through the discussions we have at roadshows. Glasgow proved to be no different.

The view from Birmingham

As we continue our journey around the UK to talk with community investment colleagues to shape the Centre for Excellence, some of our intended outcomes are already being realised (albeit in a small way!).

The view from London

We’re making our way around the UK and visiting seven cities to develop the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment. On Monday we hosted our third roadshow and got the view from London.

The view from Belfast

As we develop the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment, we’re hosting a series of roadshows around the UK. On Thursday, we were in Belfast and I had two key takeaways from this session.

The view from Leeds

The first roadshow was kindly hosted by colleagues at Yorkshire Housing. Attendees came from far and wide to hear about the Centre and input their view, with some  making the journey from Bolton, Manchester, and Blackpool. The atmosphere in the room was lively from the start, with a warm buzz and friendly chatter setting the scene for the rest of the afternoon.

The fourth pillar of excellence: Inspire

In this blog, I’m focusing on the fourth pillar of the Centre: inspire.

The third pillar of excellence: Insight

Building evidence that drives insight and demonstrates the impact of community investment, is the third pillar of the Centre. By focusing on evidence and research, we believe we can support community investment to be perceived as a robust area of business, rather than a nice add-on.

The second pillar of excellence: Innovate

To encourage and promote innovation, we will curate a programme of thought leadership for the Centre, as well as developing ways of identifying and promoting best practice across the community investment sector.

The first pillar of excellence: Influence

Influence is one of the key functions of the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment: to provide a platform to champion the importance and impact of community investment across the UK.

Sovereign joins the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment

HACT is delighted to announce that Sovereign Housing Association has signed up to be one of the five core funders of the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment.

Easing the worries

By using the UK social value bank and using its recommended questions to understand of the impact of financial circumstances on wellbeing, we may then be able to get to the source of a problem

HACT announces the launch of the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment

“The Centre for Excellence in Community Investment will advance the impact of community investment at the core of social housing,” said Andrew van Doorn, Chief Executive of HACT. “The online Centre will curate resources, research and evidence to support community investment professionals as they demonstrate their value and impact.”

Sport and housing

Sport and physical activity plays a key role in people’s lives: you only have to look at the frenzy surrounding the World Cup in Russia to see the significance people place on sporting activity and the events surrounding them.

Stop reinventing the CLH wheel!

Two years ago, at the end of the empty homes community grants programme, we brokered a number of discussions about community-led housing with some of the leading proponents in the sector. One issue that cropped up repeatedly was the need for one central resource hub.

Bringing housing and sport together for community impact

At HACT we support and champion the role of housing in their communities, and have been doing so for decades. Over the coming week we will be publishing a series of blogs that explores some of the great things our sector does.

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.

Address:
49-51 East Road
London N1 6AH