Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly will launch a new practical guide today that shows how housing organisations can make a huge difference to local people’s lives by improving the neighbourhoods in which they live.
Successful Neighbourhoods: A Good Practice Guide, published by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and the Housing Corporation with the support of the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), will be launched at the CIH Annual Conference and Exhibition in Harrogate.
Ruth Kelly said: This new guide brings together some of the best examples of what has been achieved by housing organisations working with local people and empowering them to change the neighbourhood they live in for the better. This is important work. We must work closely at all levels of individual neighbourhoods to ensure that no-one is disadvantaged by where they live.
Successes highlighted in the guide include cutting crime and anti-social behaviour, improving access to health care, boosting employment opportunities and driving up the overall economic opportunities of local people.
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Sarah Webb, CIH deputy chief executive, said: It is clearly in the interest of housing organisations to look beyond simply providing housing. Not only is life better for their residents living in a safer, cleaner, greener neighbourhood, but properties are easier and less expensive to manage. It is so exciting to see housing providers investing in anything from childcare to local labour initiatives with the needs of local people at the centre of what they do. Their work is vital to achieving sustainable change in neighbourhoods and a better life for residents.
Steven Douglas, Housing Corporation deputy chief executive, added:A huge range of innovative and creative programmes have been put in place by housing associations, making a vital contribution to the creation of successful neighbourhoods. This guide highlights the wealth of great ideas out there and should serve as the basis for additional work across the country to sustain great places for people to live and work.
In Greater Lever in Bolton, the Safe and Clean Charter, sets out agreed targets for service providers to tackle crime and grime. The Charter has helped cut burglary and street litter, and there has been a significant increase in the number of people who like living in the area.
In Stoke-on-Trent, a group of local residents of a deprived housing estate in inner-city Stoke rallied the support of the wider community and attracted a £50 million scheme. The Bentilee District Centre provides a community centre, café, Citizens Advice Bureau, youth services and health facilities under one roof.
In the West Midlands, Ashram Housing Association is providing advice and assistance to an enterprising food co-operative run by local Bangladeshi women as well as a number of other credit and savings initiatives.
At Community Counts in Gloucester a focus on health issues has helped the local BME population access drug treatment services, and provided a specialist diabetes nurse to help local GPs offer a targeted service.
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- www.housingcorp.gov.uk
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