Community Investment

Investing in Contents

Into Employment: 06 Employment and Skills Real Opportunities Talent Pool Wythenshawe Futures Apprenticeships Work Experience Airport Group Business Enterprise Centre

Generation Z: Education 10 and Young People Youth Provision Wow Zone

Healthy Lifestyles: Health 12 and Well-being Real Food Wythenshawe Real Neighbours Health Strategy

Investing wisely: 16 Community Funding Wythenshawe Community Development Grant

Out and About: Our 18 Community Centres Benchill Community Centre Lifestyle Centre Woodville/Norbrook/Bideford Centres

02 Investing in Wythenshawe Contents 03 Welcome

All housing associations invest in young people across Wythenshawe communities. Most do this through the to keep safe, improve their health and development of good quality affordable get into jobs; and with homes, some go further and develop City Council, our local hospital, social community programmes which help enterprises, charities, and colleges build resilient communities. to leverage in Big Lottery funding and deliver towards the vision for Based in South Manchester, Wythenshawe as Manchester’s Wythenshawe Community Housing Garden City. Group is a community landlord that goes further. With some 14,000 homes and The following pages offer a taste of 20,000 tenants within four square miles, the areas we work in and provide the our vision is to create a community contact details of the managers leading where people choose to live and work. the work. We welcome conversations with partners old and new and anyone Working in partnership over the last looking to invest in Wythenshawe. 15 years, Wythenshawe Community Housing Group has developed a Sarah Klueter particularly strong track record in Assistant Director successful community investment. A of Community recent independent analysis showed Investment and that our investments have generated Regeneration a fivefold social return for the Wythenshawe Community. This brochure offers an insight into how we’re working: with private sector partners such as Costa Coffee and Mitie to enable local employment - reducing recruitment costs and getting the right person into the job first time; with to support

“The implementation of Welfare Reform means “Housing Associations have a unique opportunity our interest in the economic and social to strengthen their local communities and bridge wellbeing of the people of Wythenshawe the gap between individuals, neighbourhoods is stronger than ever.” and local government.” Eddy Newman Nigel Wilson Chair of WCHG Group Chief Executive of WCHG

04 Investing in Wythenshawe Welcome 05 Into employment: Real opportunities. Wythenshawe. Employment and Skills

Real Opportunities Talent Pool Our frontline staff are trained to speak to Wythenshawe Community Housing local residents about job opportunities Group provides job matching and when they come into contact during recruitment service for local employers. their normal work. Pam Padmore, from MITIE: Job seekers who sign up to the “When we needed additional staff, I programme are given careers advice contacted WCHG to see if there was and sign-posted to local training anyone suitable in the Talent Pool. I opportunities. They are also alerted to was given the details of two people and any job opportunities that come up. Marie was unemployed for having interviewed them both, I was 7 years before starting with happy to offer one of them the position. He has proven to be an asset to the the group team. I would recommend this route to Wythenshawe Futures “I needed a job. I was only getting any other employers.” Job Seeker’s Allowance, of Our award-winning training which £24 was for bedroom programme offers a tailored bundle tax. I qualified for discretionary Tracy Vardy, Costa Coffee of opportunities such as: paid work payment so it went down to franchisee partner: experience; qualifications; and £12, but I was really struggling. personal development opportunities “I found this a great way to find good I couldn’t afford my gas and % to improve the employability 71 local people who were looking for work my family were helping out of people furthest from the of signups resulted in in their community. The pre-employment as much as they could. full work or training course gave candidates the opportunity job market. to demonstrate insight about working for “Since working, I have a SME, along with their role as a Barista got my independence within the store.” people have back. Being in work 53 taken part in has made a huge Wythenshawe Futures difference to my life 78% of them have and helped me in so gone into employment many ways, especially being able to stand on my own two feet.”

78%

1,500 44% 27% people signed up went into full work went into training

06 Investing in Wythenshawe Into employment 07 Airport Group Alliance of 13 housing associations. In 2011-2012, 319 new jobs were created in one year and 66 frontline projects helped over Business Enterprise Centre 10,000 tenants access advice, work or training. Our Business Enterprise Centre offers support to local entrepreneurs and people interested in setting up their own business. The Enterprise Centre currently has 27 offices and employs two staff. Support available at the centre includes: • Business advice, guidance and sign-posting • Women in business training Social return on investment: programme Apprenticeships • ‘Incubator’ and managed office = £4.4 million space hire Apprentices can be found in all areas of our business: For every £1 invested in apprenticeships by us, Housing • Construction • IT • Finance Since 2011 we have had over 50 232 New start-up 1 in 5 people seeking apprentices through the business, businesses advice have gone on with a 100% retention rate. 38 = supported to start a business apprentices are currently

working across our business in apprenticeships lasting almost £4 of social value is up to 4 years. created for the Wythenshawe community. In 2013, Reece Whelan Bespoke Future for Vicky! Bespoke Services based at the Business Enterprise Centre were looking for a scooped Apprentice Vicky Lawler is a return to work Mum of the Year for his local Admin Officer and turned from who was trying to find to the Talent Pool to recruit. work fitting solar a way back into employment. panels to our homes! Wayne Evans, their CEO, She explains, said “We pride ourselves “I was keen to find part-time work that on employing local people – 82% of our staff are Work Experience fitted in with the school run, but found that I was often getting pipped at the tenants in Wythenshawe A taste of the working world and post at interviews due to my lack of – and we were only too raising awareness of careers in recent experience. A careers advisor at happy to add to this tally Housing. Our programme was the National Career Services put me in with Vicky’s addition Reece Whelan to their workforce.” A Award winning apprentice accredited with Fair Train GOLD touch with the Wythenshawe Standard and gives participants Talent Pool. real Win-Win for all experience in different areas of concerned! the organisation. 08 Investing in Wythenshawe Into employment 09 Generation Z: Education and Young People

Youth Provision Wythenshawe Community Housing Between Group delivers a fully inclusive, quality youth offer available to young people from 11 to 19 years of age across five sites in Wythenshawe. 2009 - 2013 The scale of our work in just one year:

2,000 2,253 young people improved young people engaging through physical or mental health as a open sessions in 2013 result of the youth provision 1,279 WOW Zone Lee (Volunteer) young people accessed structured 100% The ethos of our Widening Opportunities “The WOW Zone has provided an youth programmes in 2013 young people report feeling ‘a bit better’ in Wythenshawe (WOW) zone is based invaluable opportunity for me to get or ‘a lot better’ as a result of access to on the provision of exciting, creative to grips with aspects of teaching the project learning opportunities for groups of and social work. I feel that my work children from schools right across is more rewarding than any paid role Wythenshawe. and has completely changed my 223 outlook on volunteer work.” young people developing a Using our specialist computer suite, portfolio for accreditation in the 400 children a year engage in last 12 months bespoke learning programmes – School’s Comments animation, web design and basic “I am always pleased with the work computer programming. WOW Zone do. An engaging and exciting experience for our pupils” 95% (Dominic Walsh, Teacher, To find out more about our St John Fisher RC) of young people felt Employment Initiatives, Youth that they had a say Provision, Business Enterprise in the running of the and Wow Zone contact: project Victoria McDowell, Senior Community Investment Manager T: 0161 946 9170 | E: [email protected]

10 Investing in Wythenshawe Generation Z 11 Healthy Lifestyles: Real Food. Wythenshawe. Health and Well-being

Real Food Wythenshawe Did you know Real Food Wythenshawe is a 5 year The Wythenshawe Garden £1million Big Lottery funded community City Plan in 1930’s food project. It aims to inspire local included... people in Wythenshawe about the food 57% they eat, with a slogan of “Grow it. more green space than Cook it. Eat it!” the rest of Manchester The project is part of our strategy to help improve the health of the people and was of Wythenshawe, who have some of designed with the highest levels of long-term illness, wide, tree-lined streets disability and heart disease. and a fruit tree in every garden! Real Neighbours 91 7,723 with a value of The Real Neighbours scheme in active volunteer Wythenshawe recruits, trains, £85,648 volunteers hours to the community co-ordinates and enables local volunteers to provide support to their community.

Supported over community 40 initiatives 15 volunteers have gone into employment

22 Julie (Volunteer) local volunteers Julie joined the Real Neighbour’s project over three years ago while In the first year of Real Food were recruited suffering from depression. The hope was that getting involved would help Wythenshawe: to make her feel part of the community and gain self-worth. and trained, themselves Since being involved, Julie has grown in confidence, taken better control of her life and made positive changes to her lifestyle. She is now actively 2,000 giving back people engaged in organised seeking employment and has become one of our lead volunteers at the growing and cooking activities Grand Day Out event each week at the Forum. 1,026 volunteer hrs 12 Investing in Wythenshawe Healthy Lifestyles 13 Health Strategy Smokefree Pregnancy and this sculpture, ‘Air to Breathe’, was unveiled As part of our Health Strategy, outside the maternity department of Wythenshawe Community Housing Wythenshawe Hospital as part of a joint Group are committed to providing project with the Stop Smoking Service support to help improve the health of at Manchester Mental Health and Social the people in Wythenshawe. Care Trust and South Manchester The Group recently sponsored an University Hospital NHS Trust. innovative art project to celebrate

The wire sculpture represents the scans of the babies pictured in the photo.

Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive WCHG Over the last year in said: “We are committed to helping Manchester, smoking people be more aware of not smoking rates at time of delivery during pregnancy and not having went down to smoking in their homes, so that babies in Wythenshawe get the best possible lower than the start to their lives”. 12.5%, England average.

14 Investing in Wythenshawe Healthy Lifestyles 15 Investing wisely: Community Funding

Wythenshawe Community Development Grants are available for local voluntary and community groups for funding of up to £2,500 towards their projects. £50k in the funding pot

Local Morris Dance Troupe, Tudor Rosettes, received a grant for new uniforms for their Junior section

Robert McKenzie is a tenant “I enjoy being a Grants Panel from . member because it allows tenants He is a member of the Grants Panel to give the appropriate financial which reviews all the applications to support to Wythenshawe’s the Community Development Grants community groups when they Scheme. are most in need. It gives a great

(Robert is on the back row, far left in deal of satisfaction, knowing the photo) that I personally have made a difference.”

16 Investing in Wythenshawe Investing Wisely 17 Out and About: Our Community Centres

Community Centres are at the heart of funded through a combination of grant our neighbourhoods. Places to meet, funding and facilities hire. volunteer, learn new skills, play sport, The main funders are: gain qualifications, celebrate with friends

and family or just have a bite to eat. Wythenshawe Community Housing Group supports the delivery of community services through community centres in Benchill and Woodhouse Park. The centres are 3,000 1,000 residents having improved people having improved financial capability physical and social well between 2009-2013 being between 2009-2013

Visits to our IT suite increased over 5 years from

1,589 to 4,845 1,500 user visits per month

Benchill Community Centre • IT facilities for beginners, elderly residents and people wanting to gain Benchill Community Centre is a fantastic qualifications to improve employment 400 hub of activities for all ages and local opportunities people in Wythenshawe. The building people having is owned by Wythenshawe Community • “Talk English” – a programme to improved quality Housing Group and managed by a enable people to learn English at of life in 2013 committee of local people. Its facilities pre-entry level include: • Community Arts programme for local • After School and Holiday provision for disabled residents to socialise with children aged 6 to 14 years other local residents

18 Investing in Wythenshawe Out and about 19 Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre is managed by Wythenshawe Community Housing Group on behalf of Manchester City Council. A popular and vibrant centre, it plays a significant role in local community life.

To mark World Mental Health “All of the Lifestyle Team were A taste of what’s on offer: Day, teams from all over Greater “Please pass on my thanks to the team amazing. The chef and kitchen team Manchester took part in a five-a-side responsible for last night, the whole were fantastic, the food was amazing, • Music recording studio football tournament. Manchester event was a huge credit to you, I have and we had so many compliments • Two dance studios United Foundation’s health projects not attended an evening function at the throughout the three days. Please • Over 50’s art sessions co-ordinator, Steve Hoy, explained; Lifestyle Centre before and was blown pass on my gratitude and enormous away by the transformation of the room, thanks to everyone.” • Multi-use Sports Hall “The more we confront these issues a really super effort and event.” • Indoor short mat bowling the more people will be open to Tina Large, • Disability Sports getting the relevant support to Institute of Leadership & progress in life, instead of suffering Management ILM 100 Event in isolation at home.” “A huge thank you for making our wedding reception such a wonderful and memorable occasion. We felt extremely well looked after, nothing was too much trouble for you and everyone worked with a smile! Many of our guests commented on the wonderful facilities and people at the Lifestyle Centre!” Naomi & Simon: Wedding Reception

To find out more about our community Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre in 2013/14: centres, volunteering opportunities, grant funds and Real Food please contact: Sarah Woolley, Senior Community Investment Manager 23,923 8,316 T: 0161 946 7541 young people under 18 visits over 50’s visits E: [email protected]

5,923 46 groups using

members Over 100,000 visits the centre 20 Investing in Wythenshawe Out and about 21 Growing our services: Thanks to our:

In partnership with Manchester City Partners, sponsors, and all Council we provide youth programmes at Woodville, Bideford and Norbrook other supporters centres to complement our youth services at Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre and Benchill Community Centre.

Real Lives. Wythenshawe.

If you’ve got ideas for investing in Good things are happening… Baker Tilly conducted a Social Return on Investment Wythenshawe or would just like to find so what’s next? analysis of four of community investments, which out more, I’d like to hear from you. found that each year the projects return There are a range of services we It’s an exciting time to be working in offer that we’ve not had space to Wythenshawe! include in this brochure. From our £30 million digital inclusion programme to helping Sarah Klueter worth of social value to the tenants reduce their debt. We also Assistant Director of Wythenshawe Community. have Money Mentors, Neighbourhood Community Investment Wardens and our work with schools: and Regeneration our co-sponsorship of the Manchester T: 0161 946 7544 Enterprise Academy; Real Schools; and E: [email protected] our mentoring programme.

22 Investing in Wythenshawe Thanks to our Supporters 23 “a community where people choose to live and work, having pride in their homes”