In May 2014 we first set out our commitment to alleviate and reduce poverty amongst our customers and in our communities.
Our pledges responded to and built upon the recommendations made by the Greater Manchester Poverty Commission and covered five priority themes; financial inclusion, fuel poverty, food poverty, digital inclusion and employment & skills.
In January 2017 we refreshed our pledges, building on the five existing themes and making a commitment on two additional themes; social value and housing supply.
We collectively pledge to support, promote, continue and implement a range of activities that help us address these priorities. We are making a commitment to act both individually and collectively, both within the housing sector and in partnership with others.
We recognise that, as separate organisations each with our own governance structures, for some providers some pledges are aspirational.
Our pledges directly contribute to the priorities set out in the Greater Manchester Strategy and the GM Growth and Reform Plan.
You can read about the pledge by downloading the document below.
GM Housing Providers Anti-Poverty Pledges 2017
A total of seven pledges have been made, and you can read more about each one below, with case studies from our members.
Financial Inclusion
We will improve access to financial advice and services for existing and prospective tenants.
Financial Inclusion – City West – Breakfast Club
Financial Inclusion – City West – Mustard Tree
Financial Inclusion – FCHO – Income Collection
Financial Inclusion – IVHA- Denton Outreach
Financial Inclusion – IVHA- Manchester Credit Union Partnership
Financial Inclusion – IVHA- Work with United Utilities
Financial Inclusion – Stockport Homes – One Team Approach
Fuel Poverty
We will promote initiatives designed to reduce energy bills across Greater Manchester.
Fuel Poverty – FCHO – Warm Homes Oldham
Fuel Poverty – Mossbank Homes – Money Matters
Fuel Poverty – Northwards Housing – Carbon Literacy RPS Consortium
Fuel Poverty – Stockport Homes – Energy Advice Service
Food Poverty and Sustainability
We will support the creation of a coordinated and sustainable approach to tackling food poverty.
Food Poverty – BH – Sown in Bolton
Food Poverty – IVHA – Foodbanks
Food Poverty – Stockport Homes – Your Local Pantry
Food Poverty – WCHG – Unit E and Real Food Demo Kitchen
Digital Inclusion
We will reduce the levels of digital exclusion in our neighbourhoods.
Digital Inclusion – Adactus – Retirement Living Get Connected
Digital Inclusion – City West – DigiSmart
Digital Inclusion – Mossbank Homes – Digital Ancestry and Cooking Through the Ages
Digital Inclusion – Salix Homes – WiFi in High Rise Blocks
Digital Inclusion – Stockport Homes – Partnership with Starting Point
Digital Inclusion – Symphony – Connect with Contour
Digital Inclusion – Wythenshawe Community Housing Group – Benchill Community Centre
Social Value and The Living Wage
We will use our influence to achieve social value outcomes that are relevant to our customers and communities.
Social Value – THT – Procurement
Employment and Skills
We will make tackling poverty an explicit aim in our business plans and strategies.
Employment and Skills – BH – Journey Into Work
Employment and Skills – FCHO – Directions Employment Service
Employment and Skills – Stockport Homes – Employment Support Offer
Employment and Skills – Stockport Homes – Skills for Life Sector Based Training
Employment and Skills – Symphony – Talent Match
Employment and Skills – WCHG – Real Opportunities
Housing Supply
We will support the GMCA to deliver the homes needed in the sub region.
Housing Supply – Great Places – Development Programme
Our wider commitment
In addition to our pledges we will:
- Support the voluntary and community sector to address poverty and ensure that, wherever possible, social capital is increased at a community level to promote and enable self-help, independence and community resilience
- Support the development of an economy for all by continuing to work with Greater Manchester Poverty Action, the Greater Manchester Poverty Commission and New Economy.
- Use equality analysis to ensure that all our services and strategies are ‘poverty proofed’.
- Identify and respond to the needs of specific groups affected by poverty in our communities with particular focus on those who are negatively affected by welfare reform, those with mental health or substance abuse issues and those in low paid or insecure