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

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.

In conversation with David Lammy… how to be an anti-racist organisation?
On Tuesday 25 May 2021 we were joined by David Lammy MP for a webinar to discuss how to be an anti-racist organisation, and what that means for the housing sector.
More calls, more support, more impact
Between March and May 2020, social housing organisations provided almost £500,000 in financial assistance, made almost half a million welfare calls and identified just over 175,000 vulnerable residents.
The view from: Stockport Homes
In this blog, Tanya King, Customer Engagement and Inclusion Manager at Stockport Homes, discusses their support with local food pantries, partnership working and next steps.
The view from: Catalyst
Our blog series, The View From, explores how housing associations have been responding to the Covid-19 crisis. In this blog, Rhys Evans, Community Engagement Manager at Catalyst, discusses their proposed summer programme for young people. Historically,...
Homes at the Heart campaign
The Centre supports the Homes at the Heart campaign
The view from: Peabody
Stephen Burns from Peabody discusses the ways the organisation has responded to the Covid-19 crisis.
The view from: Bromford
Janette Vizard from Bromford discusses the checklist she’s developed for charities looking to remobilise.
A quarter of a million calls
The first set of impact measures evidence the phenomenal work the social housing sector has been doing.
The view from: Orbit
Sam Scharf, Director of Community Investment at Orbit, discusses their webinar series.
The view from: Look Ahead
In this blog, Kate Bawden, Head of Communications at Look Ahead, recalls how they’ve responded to the crisis.
NIFHA members response
Tracey Ellis, Policy and Practice Officer at NIFHA, discusses how its members have been responding to the crisis as well as how to build on and sustain that community resilience.
The impact of Covid-19 on charities and community centres
Janette Vizard, who is a Grants and Social Value Officer at Bromford Housing, discusses the financial impact of Covid-19 on small charities and considerations around reopening community centres.
The view from: Derventio
In this blog, Jackie Carpenter, Assistant Director Strategy at Derventio, discusses how they’ve been responding.
The view from: Coastline Housing
This blog comes from Justin Ricks, Community Navigator at Coastline Housing which is based in Cornwall.
The view from: Clarion Futures
In this blog, Phil Miles, Director of Clarion Futures, discusses how they’ve been responding to Covid-19.
The view from: Optivo
In this blog, William Miller, Director of Social Impact at Optivo, discusses how they’ve been responding to covid-19.
The view from: Pobl Group
Our blog series, The view from, explores how housing associations have been responding to the Covid-19 crisis. In this blog, Samantha Howells and Dafydd Hellard from Pobl discuss how they’ve been responding to the crisis, particularly around funding and prescriptions.
Measuring the impact we’ve made
We are asking the sector to report nine measures that will help us to evidence the impact of the social housing sector during the Covid-19 crisis.
SFHA Members Humanitarian Response
Michael McLaughlin, HACT Social Insight Lead in Scotland, the ways in which Scottish housing associations are working with community groups and services during the covid-19 crisis.
The view from: MTVH
Our blog series, The view from, explores how housing associations have been responding to the Covid-19 crisis. This blog comes from from Sarah Willis, Head of Strategic Partnerships & National Delivery, MTVH, who are based in London.
The view from: Gloucester City Homes
Our blog series, The view from, explores how housing associations have been responding to the Covid-19 crisis. This blog comes from Mandi Holt, Community Investment Team Leader, Gloucester City Homes, who are based in Gloucester.
The view from: Community Impact Partnership (CIP)
Our blog series, The view from, explores how housing associations have been responding to the Covid-19 crisis. In this blog, Jules Tompkins, Investment Manager at CIP, discusses how Covid-19 has rewritten the rules and the risks.
The view from: Community Gateway
Our blog series, The view from, explores how housing associations have been responding to the Covid-19 crisis. In this blog, Sian Coulton, Community Engagement Manager at Community Gateway, discusses how they’ve been responding to the crisis, particularly around food distribution.
The view from: settle
Our blog series, The view from, explores how housing associations have been responding to the Covid-19 crisis. In this blog, Gavin Cansfield, Chief Executive, at settle, discusses how their social purpose has been brought into focus by the crisis.
Mapping community investment
The Centre is delighted to announce it is launching the first interactive map of community investment projects across the UK.
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.