This theme seeks to highlight the wider set of activities that housing providers undertake to create well-designed homes and places that meet local needs and provide great places for people to live and enjoy.
Placemaking is central to Great Places’ mission, particularly in our five anchor neighbourhoods and seven community centres. Our Regeneration Project Director leads comprehensive neighbourhood planning, focusing on future masterplans for areas with high housing density. This role enhances existing efforts and establishes a roadmap for achieving measurable outcomes for our customers and communities.
Current plans, being updated with input from customers and stakeholders, outline our commitments across community investment, development, assets, and housing management.
Additionally, our Place and Regeneration Team connects customers to local opportunities and partners with the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises (VCSE) sector.
In 2023/24, we secured £400,000 in funding for support services. Our supply chain partners also contributed over 300 hours of community support, along with 450 hours of apprenticeship experience and 37 weeks of work experience for our customers.
Great Places has partnered with Emmaus Salford to support the local community, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Cost-of-Living crisis. In 2023, Emmaus received £7,000 from our Greater Together Fund, enabling them to meet the rising demand for essential services.
Lucie’s Pantry, a social supermarket, provides affordable food and household items to over 600 households. Emmaus also runs a furniture store offering upcycled second-hand furniture and a school uniform hub that redistributes uniforms to families in need.
The charity supports up to 25 individuals experiencing homelessness, providing a stable home and fostering personal growth through participation in social enterprises. Companions receive tailored support to build resilience and skills for a positive future.
Emmaus has formed partnerships with HMP Risley to repair and sell bicycles and RHS Bridgewater to grow food for community meals.
In early 2024, Great Places Housing Group, alongside Sure Maintenance and Bowker Sadler Architecture, hosted an event for Year 5 students from Manor Park Primary School in Knutsford. This initiative aimed to spark interest in careers in housing and provide hands-on experiences.
Building on the success of the Raising Aspirations Project from 2022/23, the event showcased Great Places’ commitment to community engagement and fostering relationships between businesses and schools. Students participated in various activities, including using equipment, testing infrared thermometers, trying on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and filming interviews in a podcast room.
The Raising Aspirations Project has been extended throughout the academic year, with planned visits to local businesses like Amelia Knight and Manchester Airport, aimed at broadening students’ horizons and enhancing their understanding of career opportunities. The 2022/23 impact report showed a 44% improvement in students’ self-assessment scores, reflecting increased self-awareness and resilience.
Teachers Mrs Smith and Ms Bisson noted,
“The children had an amazing morning exploring different skills and jobs. They were engaged and excited to learn about the world of work.”
Rebecca Banks, Community and Partnerships Manager at Great Places, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s success, highlighting its positive impact on students and the importance of nurturing essential life skills for a bright future.
