tackling worklessness in social housing what works in helping tenants into employment? 30 april 2009...
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Tackling Worklessness in Social Housing
What works in helping tenants into employment?30 April 2009
Victoria WhittleHead of Community InvestmentBroomleigh Housing Association
Erica WattsCommunity Investment ManagerBroomleigh Housing Association
About Us
BHA formed 1992 LBB full voluntary stock transfer 15,000 managed properties across 8
boroughs; Bromley Croydon, Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth, Medway, Merton and Sutton
13,550 properties in Bromley Part of Affinity Sutton Group Over 50,000 properties in group
Our Vision
Broomleigh’s mission is to:
‘help to build better lives’ through secure and affordable homes, stronger communities, improved education opportunities, involvement in decision making, access to good services and an enhanced quality of life.
To achieve this vision there are four key corporate objectives:· Improving efficiency and effectiveness· Growing the business· Providing excellent services· Increasing our influence
As part of Broomleighs commitment to ‘excellent services’ we have a dedicated Community Investment programme. 5 Key areas of delivery:
(i) Financial Inclusion(ii) Youth(iii) Environment(iv) Healthy Living (v) Employment and Training
Our Objectives
Financial Inclusion
Credit Union Basic Bank Accounts Financial literacy Money management
workshops Debt counselling
Environment
Natural Estates• Pilot Project• Creating natural gardens on 2 BHA
estates Allotments
• Encouraging local residents to grow and maintain planting and vegetables – also linked to a Country Markets project
Youth
Summer University In collaboration with LA,
Jack Petchey and London Challenge 46 FREE summer activities and courses
for 8 – 25 years ArtsTrain
Creative and Media arts programme offering accredited training, volunteering and paid work opportunities for 11–16 years
Healthy Living
Bromley Active Living Centre – BALC Over 200 local residents enrolled Diverse groups and bespoke sessions Reduced ASB on the estate Development opportunities for locals –
Volunteers and Olympic hopefuls!
Activate London Pan-London Health and Well-being project Led by Peabody trust, funded by Big Lottery 7 Projects delivered by BHA covering
Physical health Mental health Healthy eating
Employment and Training
Stepping Up 2 year project 85 homeless families within Bromley, Croydon
and Southwark Focus on progressions to accredited training
and part-time employment Outreach IAG and employment support with
high level of wrap-around support Soft-skill employability workshops Key Partners – St Giles Trust, Oasis Trust,
Lifeline
Employment and Training cont
Stepping Up so far…… 68 Participants signed up 42 non-eligible participants also receiving low-
level IAG support Various additional support needs including DV,
Lone Parents, Substance misuse and Ex-offenders
33 participants attended employment skills workshops
14 progressed onto further accredited training 5 entered paid employment (1 self-employed) 1 sustained paid employment for 6 months
Employment and Training cont
Pathways 4 Cray 2 year project 105 individuals within wards of Cray Valley East,
Cray Valley West and Orpington Focus on sustained employment progressions Outreach IAG and programme of short,
accredited vocational courses Ties into to LAA and LSP to reduce
unemployment locally. Works to complement authorities –People into Employment’ project
Key partners – LBB, Bromley Field Studies Centre, Bromley Gypsy Traveller Project
Employment and Training cont
Personal Best New 2 years contract Targeting 200 unemployed residents in
Bromley Providing outreach and IAG to support
participants to access volunteering, training and employment opportunities supporting the capacity building of the workforce for 2012
Supported to complete Level 1 qualification in ‘Preparation for Event Volunteering’ (Pre Volunteer Programme for the Olympic and Paralympic Games) with affiliated partner (Bromley College)
Partnerships - formal
Contracted delivery partners Develop and negotiate SLA’s Deliver to agreed targets and
timescales (usually with paid outcomes) Offer specialist and/or specific support
and services e.g. Job Brokers, training providers, employers, peer mentors, advice agencies etc
Partnerships - Informal
Informal partners Non-contracted but still forming a critical
‘partnership’ Often acts as source of referral from other
agencies and therefore compliments outreach provision e.g. Children and Family centres, In-house tenancy teams
Can provide a source of referral to other agencies
Win-win situation and equally important in terms of delivery
Real collaborative working can help offer holistic support for residents – e.g. CAB, Advocacy services
Pros of Partnership Collaboration
Collaborative working enabling partners to specialise in core areas of expertise
Enables a wider range of services and support to be offered to participants
Able to explore new and wider project opportunities
Enhanced cross referrals and sign-posting opportunities
For formal partners – Enables VfM and excellent service delivery
For informal partners - Maximisation of resources at no extra cost
Questions & Answers