This theme seeks to highlight the wider set of activities that we undertake to create well-designed homes and places that meet local needs and provide great places for people to live and enjoy.
Placemaking remains central to our mission, particularly across our four anchor neighbourhoods and seven community centres. Our approach is one of true partnership with local communities, for example at the Pat Midgeley Community HUB in Wybourn where we have set up a charity of residents and community stakeholders to govern and direct the work of the centre.
We’re developing long-term neighbourhood plans focused on high-density housing areas, creating a clear roadmap for delivering measurable outcomes for customers and communities. Our updated Anchor Neighbourhood Plans – shaped by customer and stakeholder input – set out our commitments across community investment, development, asset management and housing services.
In addition, our Community Investment Team’s Place and Regeneration Team connects customers to local opportunities and works closely with the VCSE sector. In 2024/25, this work secured £600,000 in funding for support services.
Great Places is committed to fostering community resilience and empowering our residents. Our recent collaboration with ALL FM with customers at our Docherty Project (supported accommodation for people who are experiencing homelessness and alcohol dependency) exemplifies this commitment, providing valuable skills to our residents while boosting their confidence and mental wellbeing.
Funded with £5,000 from the 2023/24 Community Resilience Fund, the programme targeted Great Places customers in Levenshulme, Longsight and Gorton. Five residents from the Docherty Project took part, with two going on to present their own show.
Training began at Docherty House and later moved to the ALL FM studio, giving participants hands-on experience in a professional setting. The project culminated in a live broadcast of Manc Bees on 2 December 2024, where participants shared personal stories and advice on homelessness support in Manchester.
The project boosted participants’ confidence and skills, with two expressing interest in continuing their radio journey – highlighting the lasting impact of this creative, community-led initiative.
Great Places is committed to enhancing community wellbeing and has provided £7,500 through our Financial Resilience Fund to an arts and social justice project in Accrington, Blackburn, and Nelson to support a new programme of activities for women to explore health through relationships with plants and each other. The Physic Garden was purchased by the community through crowdfunding. The garden features over 130 medicinal plants used globally to support health. Great Places’ funding has enabled the Physic Garden to run monthly workshops introducing medicinal plants and exploring issues such as health, stress, food, recovery, belongings and happiness, fostering a supportive community environment.
Great Places teams and customers came together to create a ‘Celestial Garden’ in Blackburn, which transformed a former flytipping wasteland into a thriving green community space.
