South Region News
A celebration of creativity and community
During the Summer, Meadow Lodge, a Great Places scheme, hosted a vibrant Art Day, uniting residents, a local artist, and the wider community in a celebration of creativity and connection. The event's highlight was the unveiling of a beautiful mural, part of a collaborative project led by the talented artist Richard Preston.
Richard, renowned for his colourful and meaningful murals across Manchester, worked closely with Meadow Lodge residents through art sessions to create the mural. These sessions were not just about painting; they fostered community building, self-expression, and celebrated the unique spirit of Meadow Lodge.
Residents participated in workshops to decide on the theme, colours, and style of the mural, with materials provided by Great Places. They chose to paint two birds: a magpie, reflecting local wildlife, and a robin, symbolising good luck and new beginnings. The design resonated with residents’ daily experiences and aspirations.
Richard commented, “I think this mural will make people smile, give them a positive and hopeful feeling, and a sense of community and direction.” His words captured the project's uplifting and inspiring essence.
Hayley, a resident heavily involved in the project, shared how participating in art activities as a hobby improved her mental health and built her confidence. “These activities have helped me focus on myself and grow,” she explained.
Nine residents actively participated in the art sessions, incorporating positive affirmations into their creations. The Art Day also featured delicious food from local caterer Empire Deluxe.
The event saw attendance from Great Places leaders, including Alison Dean, CEO, and Matt Harrison, recently departed CEO, who met with residents, staff, and the artist, emphasising community support.
Meadow Lodge Art Day beautifully showcased creativity, collaboration, and community spirit, leaving a lasting positive impact on all involved.
Flourish Together’s pop-up spa and holistic therapy course
At Great Places, we take pride in supporting initiatives that make a real difference in our communities. One such initiative is the Pop-Up Spa and Holistic Therapy course, offered by Flourish Together.
This course, designed for women interested in a career in the wellbeing sector, has been transformative for many. Hosted at The Welcome, a community café and support centre we partner with, the course has seen remarkable success.
Flourish Together provides tailored support for women developing social ventures, offering practical training, mentorship, and advice. Their 12-week Pop-Up Spa and Holistic Therapy course teaches skills such as facials, manicures, pedicures, and Indian head massages.
Kirstie, a student, shared her enthusiasm: “I think it’s an amazing opportunity. The tutors offered a course adapted to our needs. It was chilled, interesting, and fit around our schedules.” The course was well attended, with students forming strong bonds and some planning to start their own beauty businesses.
The course isn’t just about learning beauty treatments; it’s about building confidence, making contacts, and understanding business logistics. Participants gain professional skills and hands-on experience. Best of all, the course was free, funded by the Great Places Resilience Fund.
The Welcome played a crucial role by providing space for the course. Over 45 women benefited, with more than 30 accessing holistic therapies and 14 enrolling in the course. The café at The Welcome also saw increased footfall and purchases.
One participant reflected: “It has been a fantastic experience, learning new skills and growing in confidence. I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect and look forward to further developing my skills.”
The Pop-Up Spa and Holistic Therapy course shows how community support can empower individuals. Great Places is proud to support such impactful projects in our communities that can have such a positive impact on the people that live there.
A partnership transforming Longsight
At Great Places, we believe in the power of community and collaboration. Our partnership with the 422 Community Hub is a testament to this belief.
We are thrilled to have contributed to this meaningful project by providing a new storage container, significantly enhancing the services offered at the hub.
The 422 Community Hub, operated by Manchester Vineyard, has a rich history in the Longsight community. Formerly the Longsight Youth Centre and one of England’s first free public libraries, the building has served the community for over a century. After being closed for a decade, Manchester Vineyard renovated the building through a community asset transfer with Manchester City Council, raising over £1 million through donations and grants. The hub now tackles social isolation, provides practical assistance, and delivers long-term support to alleviate poverty in one of England’s most deprived areas. Services include the 422 Cafe, Stay and Play groups, an English Language Cafe, and the 422 Pantry.
Our journey with 422 began post-pandemic, and we were impressed by their commitment to the community. When they applied for a grant, Pete Crean, Community Partnership Manager at Great Places, saw that their vision aligned perfectly with our goal of building stronger communities. One critical need was additional storage space for their Pantry operations. With limited storage, 422 faced challenges in storing food and essentials.
Great Places funded a new storage container for 422, allowing them to store larger quantities of items, free up space within the building, and provide a more organised and dignified shopping experience for Pantry members. This additional storage capacity also enables 422 to accept larger donations and purchase items in bulk at reduced rates, stretching their resources further to help more people.
Naomi Woodcock, the Centre Manager at 422 Community Hub, expressed her gratitude, saying, “The support from Great Places has been vital to the success of the Pantry. This new storage unit allows us to operate in a new way, supporting more people and meeting the growing need for food and essentials in our community.”
We are extremely proud of our role in supporting the 422 Community Hub and look forward to continuing this valuable partnership. The work being done at 422 is transformative, and our collaboration will help further the hub’s mission of uplifting the Longsight community. Together, we are fostering hope, resilience, and a brighter future for all who seek help at 422.
Great Places celebrates Starts at Home Day at Next Step
On Friday, 30 August, we celebrated ‘Starts at Home Day,’ dedicated to highlighting the positive impact of our support services on our customers' lives. The day was filled with activities and stories showcasing the incredible journeys of our customers.
At Next Step in Withington, which provides supported accommodation for adult men with mental health needs, the event was a celebration of community and support. Organised by Matt Deaville (Housing and Wellbeing Manager) and Ali Gell (Housing and Wellbeing Assistant), the day was attended by Guy Creswell, our Executive Director of Customer Services, and local Councillor Gavin White.
Festivities began with a buffet lunch, followed by a "Time to Talk" session, encouraging open conversations about mental health. We hosted a garden workshop where customers learned to make natural lemonade, a refreshing activity in our beautiful garden space.
Robert, a resident for three years, shared his story about the invaluable support he receives. “The whole point of this place is to remove people from situations of violence, insecurity, and distress. The support I get here is more appropriate for my recovery than hospitals and psychiatric centres. This is a more human approach.”
Mark, another resident, performed a song, and Employability Coach Gill Rimmer received heartfelt thanks for her advice. Residents suggested repainting the bathrooms.
Reflecting on the day, Guy Creswell said, “It was great to join Matt and the team, talk with residents, and spend time in the residents' herb garden.”
Starts at Home Day at Next Step was a reaffirmation of our commitment to providing compassionate support to our residents. Thank you to everyone who made the day special. We look forward to continuing our mission of creating great places to live.
Creating safe homes: A success story in Salford
At Great Places, our mission is to create thriving communities where residents feel supported and valued. Recently, our South Neighbourhoods Team and Tenancy Coach Service in Salford achieved a remarkable success, highlighting our commitment to improving our customers' lives.
In Ordsall, our team assisted a resident in transforming his living conditions. This customer had been living in a flat overwhelmed with hoarded rubbish and unwanted belongings. Our Neighbourhood Team’s intervention significantly improved his physical environment and quality of life.
Central to this success was Jan Bennett, a dedicated Tenancy Coach. Jan worked tirelessly on this case for fourteen months. Despite the resident not meeting the statutory safeguarding threshold for formal Adult Social Care involvement, Jan’s unwavering support and ability to build a trusting relationship were crucial. Her compassionate, trauma-informed approach guided the customer through the challenging process of clearing his home.
Our collaborative strategy also involved Aidan Williams, our Neighbourhood Services Manager, ensuring safe living conditions, and Steven Roberts, our Supply Chain Coordinator, who promptly arranged for a skip to remove the accumulated waste. This teamwork significantly improved the resident’s living conditions.
This achievement demonstrates the power of teamwork and a collaborative approach. It highlights our commitment to the wellbeing of our residents and the importance of a supportive community. We are incredibly proud of our colleagues' efforts, embodying the spirit of Great Places and our mission to create great homes in great communities.
If you feel you need support with hoarding, please get in touch with us.
Community collaboration brings new life to Northmoor alleyways
At Great Places, we believe in the power of community. The Northmoor Together Alleyway Project exemplifies what can be achieved when residents unite for a common goal.
Initiated in 2006, this long-term project has transformed a neglected alleyway into a lively, communal space, showcasing community spirit, determination, and collaboration between residents and Great Places.
The alleyways in Northmoor were once plagued by overflowing bins, complaints, and safety concerns. Without a designated caretaker, these spaces fell into disrepair. Recognising the need for action, residents pulled together to clean and secure their alleyways.
Great Places proudly supported this community-led initiative. Residents organised a community clean-up day, with our Neighbourhoods and Ground Maintenance Teams assisting in waste removal and clearing moss. The involvement of Guy Cresswell, Executive Director of Customer Services, further highlighted our commitment to the project.
Judy Donnelly, a key figure in the project, recalls the initial state of the alleyways: “It was unsafe and unsanitary. Something had to be done.” Despite challenges in securing funding, the project made significant improvements with support from Great Places and Council funding. Benches were secured to walls, and ongoing maintenance was ensured.
The project not only improved the physical space but also fostered a stronger sense of community. The cleaner, safer alleyways now provide a secure place for children to play and neighbours to gather. Judy emphasises, “If everyone does their part, the improvements will continue.”
The Northmoor Together Alleyway Project demonstrates the power of collaboration. Great Places is proud to have supported Northmoor residents in turning a long-neglected space into a thriving, shared environment, reflecting our mission to support and improve our communities.
South Repairs Update
Your latest repairs update from your Head of Property Services.
In quarter one, the Great Places South Repairs Team is continuing to review damp and disrepair cases and following up on previous cases.
The area has seen an increase in demand on our multi trades which we are continuing to review.
We have had a few large scale projects which our new Tech Surveyor James Beaman has been managing closely. We are collaborating well with our wider business teams in Assets and Compliance.
How we’re doing at a glance in quarter one:
- Customer satisfaction: The average customer satisfaction rating for the North region was 8.3 out of 10.
- Repairs completed: 9,292 repairs were completed to enhance customers’ homes.
- Timeliness: 64.8% of repairs were completed within target time frames.
- First-visit fixes: 69.2% of all repairs were successfully completed during the first visit.
- Empty properties: 73 empty properties were prepared for new customers, with an average turnaround time of 9.20 days.
- Disrepair cases: At the end of the quarter, 53 disrepair cases were still active.
These surveys are in real time – upon completion of repairs – and different to the TSM surveys.
Continuous improvement
At Great Places, we’re dedicated to continuing to enhance our performance and services for our customers. Here’s how we’re making a difference:
Ongoing improvements
Recruitment has been key to sourcing new passionate and committed people to help us drive the business forward with a fresh outlook and can do attitude. We have welcomed a new Planning Team Manager, two new Property Services Managers and several new operatives. As well as this, we also have a new apprentice joiner.
We are working towards system enhancements to simplify the way repairs are reported through to our Hub, which will hopefully reduce the call handling time.
We are continuing to work with our customer service teams to actively seek your feedback to improve our services and help us introduce new measures to continue to provide you with the best experience.
Thanks for your continued support and remember if you have any questions or need any further support you can contact us via Chatbot on our website or email: customerhub@greatplaces.org.uk.
James Cosgrove, Head of Property Services – South Team