Here’s the latest news, and the latest views about community investment across the UK.
A quarter of a million calls
The first set of impact measures evidence the phenomenal work the social housing sector has been doing.
Mental health and social housing: responding to Covid-19 webinar
On 18 May, the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment hosted a webinar about mental health and social housing, responding to Covid-19. You can view the webinar in full below. The webinar featured: Main presentation: (04:00) Simon Lieberman and Trudy...
Stressed at work? Try Breathing Space
Breathing Space, which teaches Mindfulness Based Approaches (MBA) to help people look after their mental health, is now offering concessionary rates to public sector workers.
Preston’s largest social landlord signs up to the Board Charter
HACT is delighted to announce that Preston-based housing association, Community Gateway, has signed up to the Board Charter for Community Investment.
Defining community investment
Community investment is the work social housing organisations do alongside people and communities to help them thrive.
Swimming to success
A guest blog by Swim England, the national governing body for swimming in England, on the social value of sports.
Building bridges, engaging minds
The Urban Crew project, a joint initiative between Manchester Communication Academy and Northwards Housing, is teaching children across Manchester about good citizenship, health and safety and teamwork.
Gentoo becomes first social landlord to sign up to Board Charter for Community Investment
Gentoo is the first signatory of the Board Charter
Uncover>Action: Reflections on the edges of community
The Uncover>Action conference in London in November, hosted by the Local Trust, focused on community research. Billy Holt summarises some questions which emerged from the sessions concerning community investment and its future.
The Future of Community Investment: the story so far
By Robert Sugden and Adam Chester Since 20 November, the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment has hosted four roundtable discussions on the future of community investment – in Swansea, London, Manchester, and Glasgow. And we’re still not done! Ahead of the...
London & South East network meeting updates
Updates from the first London and South East regional network meeting.
Updates from North East regional interest group meeting
Updates from the second North East regional interest group meeting.
More than a cinema
A community cinema in Redcar and Cleveland funded by Beyond Housing is bringing local people together to enjoy films whilst teaching them about services offered by their housing association, as well as other local organisations.
Let’s dance!
For young people across Lewisham Love2Dance is more than just a streetdance programme. It has built confidence, encouraged creativity, and fostered leadership skills. Love2Dance has demonstrated the power of arts initiatives in building and connecting local communities.
Time to shine a light
How community investment can improve health and wellbeing
The power of a collective community
How C2 have connected residents and service providers, improving the wellbeing of communities.
Geographic networks update
The Centre has been busy setting up geographic networks across England. Here’s an update on what networks have been set up so far, which have held their first meetings, and which networks are soon to be established.
Updates from first North West network meeting
The first North West network meeting in Manchester brought together 32 people from 20 different housing associations across the local area. Sarah Kleuter, Centre’s Network Lead for the North West of England, told us about some of the key outcomes.
Researching housing and community investment
An interview with Professor Anne Power, Head of LSE Housing and Communities
The Board Charter: Committed to Community Investment
The Board Charter demonstrates your commitment to community investment
Making a commitment to communities
Investing in communities, helping them to achieve their aspirations for themselves and their neighbours, is fundamental to our sector’s social purpose.
The Scottish employment scheme helping hundreds into work
Employment scheme Wheatley Works is just over a year old and already it has created nearly 800 jobs and training opportunities in Scotland’s most deprived communities. Here’s their story so far.
Jobs in a Box: Dressing up with a difference
A dressing up box that teaches primary school children about different roles in housing will soon be piloted at three primary schools in the South West. Could this be a solution to the housing sector’s recruitment problems?
One year on: Sport
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.
One year on: Developing insight
Here we reflect on HACT Chief Executive Andrew Van Doorn’s blog in which he outlined the third pillar of the Centre for Excellence in Community investment: insight. Originally published in October 2018, his words are still relevant a year on.
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’.
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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