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

What’s happened across our networks in July

Our networks, like the rest of the UK, remain focused on the cost of living crisis. Our networks are responding by improving their connections and working relationships with each other, and discussing more formal collaborations. Several networks met in person this...

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New Skills Academy – Tackling the challenge of scalable upskilling as part of a HA community investment programme

New Skills Academy – Tackling the challenge of scalable upskilling as part of a HA community investment programme

PWC recently ran a poll of 4,000 people who cited their lack of relevant skills as their biggest barrier to success and social mobility. Housing Associations have been focused on how to address this need for accessible and engaging upskilling for some time. However, the challenge has been in finding a scalable solution given the resources constraints experienced by most HA community investment teams.

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Post-Covid Recovery Funding Available for VCSE Sector

Post-Covid Recovery Funding Available for VCSE Sector

Offering repayable and flexible finance, the Recovery Loan Fund will work under the terms of the British Business Bank Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) – which supports access to finance for UK businesses as they recover and grow following the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Operation WiFi: An opportunity for housing associations

Operation WiFi: An opportunity for housing associations

#OperationWifi is a campaign to create the largest open and free to use wireless network that enables people in low-income communities to get online, and is fully supported by the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment. When the first national...

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Be Kind fund

Be Kind fund

“The Be Kind fund was created to give all residents somewhere to turn when things got tough.” Claire Higgins, Chief Executive of Cross Keys Homes explains their Be Kind fund.

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Updated guidance on impact measures

Updated guidance on impact measures

As of October 2020, we are into Phase 2 of this project. The figures in this second phase are have been expanded and are designed to capture the range of ways that housing associations support their residents. The purpose of these measures is to record...

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Black History Month: What next?

Black History Month: What next?

Our recent event with the Racial Equality Group explored how to take discussions around racial equality within the housing sector, and community investment, forward.

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Bags full of kindness

Bags full of kindness

Connie Jennings, Head of Health and Wellbeing at whg, explains why their organisation are giving out kindness bags this Christmas and beyond.

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Lessons from History

Lessons from History

This blog takes a look at the role that United Communities, a local community-based housing association in Bristol, has played in the history of the city’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community.

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The view from: L&Q

The view from: L&Q

In this blog, Megan Cannons, Evaluation and Impact Manager, discusses how L&Q has responded to the Covid-19 crisis.

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£1 million in support

£1 million in support

Between March and June 2020, UK social housing organisations provided almost £1m in financial assistance, provided over 110,000 residents with advice and guidance, and made over 600,000 welfare calls.

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The view from: Gateway Housing

The view from: Gateway Housing

In this blog, Shahanara Akhtar, Employment and Training co-ordinator at Gateway Housing Association, discusses the renewed appreciation for their community investment work from residents and colleagues.

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Going The Mile

Going The Mile

The Mason Mile supports hard to reach communities become more physically active through the delivery of one mile structured and unstructured routes, and has recently partnered with housing associations to do so.

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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. We partner with organisations across the social housing sector to drive value for residents and communities. We do this through insight-led products and services that encourage innovation and foster collaboration.

If you need help developing a community investment strategy, measuring your social value or demonstrating the business case for community investment, we can help make it happen. Get in touch and let’s start the conversation.