Investing in our communities
Investing in our communities
Working alongside our customer scrutiny group and community partners, we have delivered a range of projects and initiatives across our four anchor neighbourhoods. Highlights include:
- Installing a new digital kiosk at The Welcome Café in Longridge & Shaw Heath, providing customers with access to the Great Places portal and other online services.
- Renovating the former home of Northmoor Community Centre’s social enterprise to make way for the Northmoor Hub, home to the Next Step project which provides free support on benefits, housing, jobs, CV-writing, online training courses and digital skills
- Coordinating the Build Salford Construction Traineeship programme to help 16-24 year old NET people in Seedley and Langworthy access construction apprenticeships and other work placement opportunities
- Commencing work on a new £2.5m development in Wybourn that will provide our customers with a community café and space for a range of community groups, events, education courses and other activities.
Other activities through the year have focused on supporting our customers’ health and wellbeing:
Here at Great Places, we understand that sometimes we all need a little helping hand. Life can be challenging for many reasons and for some people making ends meet each month can be a worrying time. To help support our customers, our dedicated Community Investment Team offers a range of services and solutions to help them become more independent and financially resilient.
Employment and skills opportunities
It doesn't matter if you're in or out of work or what qualifications and skills you currently have – there are lots of ways we can help. Our specialist Employability Coaches can provide one to one support, or we may point you in the direction of a trusted service or partner. We were delighted to help Mamady set up his own gardening and handyman business through our Boss It programme. Watch this short film on how the help Mamady received has transformed his life.
Fuel, food and furniture provision
If a customer is struggling to access essentials to live on, we may be able to contribute funds from the Hardship Fund. We also work with a range of partner organisations such as food banks, pantries, furniture providers and National Energy Action (NEA), the national fuel poverty charity that can assist with emergency fuel top-ups and sourcing the best energy deals.
Financial Inclusion
The Great Places Tenancy Sustainment Service (TSS) is a holistic service providing advice and support around financial hardship, complex needs, first time tenancies or resettlement, substance addictions, mental or physical health needs or anything where the customer is at risk of losing their tenancy.
John moved into his home in June 2020 having previously been living in a campervan. On moving into his home John found it difficult to manage his money and pay his rent, which lead to him falling into arrears. He was put in touch with our specialist Tenancy Sustainment Service to create a bespoke wellbeing plan and linked into local services and partners with specialist knowledge and expertise.
Digital Hardship Fund for customers
The Fund allows us to provide customers with digital resources such as Wi-Fi access or a digital device such as a laptop or tablet. This can help our customers find employment or access online courses to expand their skills. Through this Fund, we have been able to support a number of customers in our communities, including one customer who moved to the UK over two years ago from Eritrea. Read his story here.
Supporting customers’ health and wellbeing
We have a variety of different projects and initiatives with different wellbeing offers, including free boxing clubs, 1-1 support and group therapy, counselling sessions, digital café coffee mornings and arts and crafts sessions. We also run an in-house befriending project to help with loneliness and isolation and a support group specifically for women, as well as helping signpost and refer customers to support groups such as the Livewell service, This Girl Can, Age Well and the Sanctuary Project.
Great Places' Community Investment Team can support you (and anyone living in your Great Places home or community) with an extensive range of services. Email us now at Community.Investment@greatplaces.org.uk to find out more or visit the Great Places website.