South Region News
Great Places and ALL FM: Empowering communities through radio
At Great Places, we are committed to supporting our customers and communities to grow and expand their skills. Our recent work with ALL FM on the Docherty Project – one of Great Places’ Independence and Wellbeing schemes for people experiencing homelessness and alcohol dependency – is a great example of this. This partnership has not only provided valuable skills to our customers but also boosted their confidence and mental wellbeing.
ALL FM, a local radio station based in Levenshulme, has been running a successful radio training programme for several years. This programme focuses on developing skills, improving confidence, and positively affecting participants’ mental health. In the 2023/24 Resilience Funding round, ALL FM was awarded £5,000 from Great Places to continue delivering this programme, targeting our customers in the Levenshulme, Longsight and Gorton areas.
Despite initial challenges in participant numbers, ALL FM adapted by offering off-site training. Our Employability Coach, Gill Rimmer, suggested the Docherty Project as an ideal location. Shelby, our Housing & Wellbeing Manager, coordinated the involvement of five customers, two of whom went on to present their own show.
Training and progress
The main aim of this project was to train the service users of the Docherty Project in radio production and enable them to produce and present a live radio show on ALL FM. The training began at Docherty House, where participants were introduced to the equipment and the training plan. Very soon, a core group emerged, showing great enthusiasm and teamwork.
As the training progressed, it was moved to the ALL FM studio. One participant, Mike (not his real name), shared his experience:
“I love the fact that you guys made it so easy, step by step, and you were there for us every step of the way. The training started at Docherty and then moved to ALL FM. My plans are now to improve my broadcasting skills and bring more interesting topics to the forefront. It’s boosted my confidence and mental health.”
The Live Show: Manc Bees
The end result of the training was the live broadcast of the show “Manc Bees”. The participants, now confident in their skills, presented a terrific show, handling the mic, driving the desk, and using the software with ease. Also, during the broadcast, they shared their experiences of homelessness and offered advice on the different support that people experiencing homelessness can access around Manchester. Jane, a radio trainer, praised their efforts:
“Manc Bees was a triumph! Come and do a weekly show!”
Future plans
Shelby, our Housing & Wellbeing Manager, reflected on the project’s impact, commenting:
“It’s been a brilliant project – it’s helped to develop the participants’ confidence, listening, and communication skills. They thoroughly enjoyed the project and were very grateful for the opportunity to present their own radio show. We would love to do another round of it in the future.”
Supporting young mums, a spotlight on Lorna Lodge
Lorna Lodge in Wythenshawe is more than just a place to live; it’s a stepping stone to independence and stability for young mums facing difficult circumstances. As one of our Independence and Wellbeing projects, Lorna Lodge offers accommodation and tailored wellbeing support to women aged 25 and under who are pregnant or have a child under five.
Many customers come to Lorna Lodge following experiences of housing instability, domestic abuse or family breakdowns. Housing & Wellbeing Manager Lisa Uzudimma shares: “The history of Lorna Lodge resonates deeply with me. I'm extremely passionate about the work we do, supporting young mums and making a difference in their and their children's lives.”
Each of the 16 individual flats offer a safe and private environment. Support extends beyond housing, with regular one-to-one sessions, financial advice, employability programmes and community activities. “We focus on building customers’ confidence and helping them set their own goals,” says Lisa. “It’s all about preparing people for independent living.”
Customers like Melanie and Leah are living proof of the scheme’s impact. “This is the first time I’ve had a place of my own,” says Melanie, who moved in two months ago. “The staff have been really nice, giving me advice on benefits and answering all my questions.”
Melanie shares that she is really happy with the flat, finding it much better than her previous space. She has a two-month-old baby boy and says the staff have been very helpful, with no problems so far. Previously experiencing housing instability and staying in a hostel, Melanie was accepted into Lorna Lodge only two days before her baby was born.
Leah, a resident for over a year, is grateful for the stability the scheme provides: “They organise loads of activities and I feel supported with anything I need”. Leah finds this location more convenient, as her medical centre is nearby. This is crucial since her eldest son has hearing difficulties and his new doctor is in the same neighbourhood.
Her mum also lives nearby, providing further support. Leah, who has two boys aged three and one, was previously in Olivia Lodge, another Great Places Independence and Wellbeing scheme, but finds this space bigger and more suited to her needs.
Our colleagues at Lorna Lodge work hard to create a safe and warm environment. From arts and crafts with the children to football sessions in partnership with City in the Community, the focus is on building relationships and life skills. As Housing & Wellbeing Assistant, Anne Molloy, puts it: “It’s important to gain trust and be ready to deal with challenges with patience and respect. This scheme gives many of these young women a fresh start they didn’t think was possible.”
Anne Molloy, Housing and Wellbeing Assistant at Lorna Lodge.
A new chapter for The Old Ribbon Mill, Macclesfield
Since taking over The Old Ribbon Mill in 2020 following our merger with Equity, Great Places has faced several challenges—but also achieved some remarkable progress. This historic block of flats, in the heart of Macclesfield, has undergone a significant transformation, both physically and in terms of community wellbeing.
Turning challenges into opportunities
When we took over the building, we faced a number of problems. The exterior needed urgent repairs, including fixing the roof and chimney stack. We had a high turnover of customers, issues with anti-social behaviour (ASB), and general dissatisfaction among those living there.
Recognising the need for change, our Neighbourhoods Team began working closely with existing customers and Cheshire East Council to create a more sustainable and supportive living environment. Their efforts focused on having a mix of customers and building a stronger sense of community.
Investing in safety and appearance
One of the biggest accomplishments has been completing the exterior building repairs. Although the work caused some disruption, it was necessary in improving both the safety and appearance of the building. The roof and windows have now been fully fixed, and the building is a much more secure and welcoming place to live.
We’ve already seen the positive impact of this work:
- ASB has dramatically reduced, with no new cases opened in the past six months, and we’ve addressed squatting and cuckooing issues.
- The number of people living in the flats has grown – only 58% of the building was taken up before Christmas (with nine vacant flats) to now being completely full. No customers are currently planning on leaving.
- Disrepair claims have been resolved, and new customers are moving in without any maintenance concerns.
- Feedback has been positive, with customers saying how the building feels and works much better now.
One of our customers, Christopher Reade, said:
'Over the last couple of years, I would definitely say that the Old Ribbon Mill has become a better place to live. Following the external works it now looks better and has a much better vibe and community feel. I have lived here now for eight years and can honestly say I am the happiest I have ever been in my home.'
Looking ahead
The changes at The Old Ribbon Mill shows what can be achieved when we work together with local councils and customers to build on and support the community. There is still further work to be done, but the journey so far has laid the foundation for a positive future!
South Repairs Update
Your latest repairs update from your Head of Property Services
From January to March (quarter four), the South Repairs Team has faced significant demand which has impacted some of our performance measures, including first-visit fixes and turnaround time. However, we have been able to carry out even more repairs across the region and improve our customer satisfaction score. We will continue to monitor demand and capacity to ensure we can continue to deliver a quality service.
How we’re doing at a glance in quarter four:
- Customer satisfaction: The average customer satisfaction rating for the region was 8.4 out of 10.
- Repairs completed: 4,285 repairs were completed to enhance customers’ homes within our in-house service.
- Timeliness: 53.3% of repairs were completed within target timeframes.
- First-visit fixes: 81.5% of all repairs were successfully completed during the first visit.
- Empty properties: 155 empty properties were prepared for new customers, with an average turnaround time of 51 days.
- Disrepair cases: At the end of the quarter, 42 disrepair cases were still active.
*These surveys are in real time – upon completion of repairs – and different to the TSM surveys
Repairs review
During last year’s Corporate Priorities consultation with customers, you told us that having a really good Repairs Service was one of your top priorities. Over the last six months, we’ve been carrying out a review of the service and surveyed customers on Our Voice to understand what was most important to you when it comes to repairs.
We’d like to thank everyone who shared their views with us! We have been using this feedback, alongside other review findings, to look at how we can improve and shape our future Repairs Service. We have identified key areas for improvement and we’re currently setting out how we can bring these improvements into action for customers. We’ll continue to keep you updated through our regular eNews bulletins and the Great Places website.
As always, we are continuing to work with our customer service teams to actively seek your feedback around how to improve our services.
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