1. Making Places Work

2. SFHA Research Objectives Review housing associations’ current level of, and future ambitions for, involvement in community regeneration;  ‘ Wider role’  Promoting social enterprise  Promoting community empowerment  Engaging with Community Planning processes Explore regeneration stakeholders’ perceptions of associations’ involvement Make recommendations for supporting that involvement and making it more effective

3. Housing Associations are Social Enterprises (I) Business case for involvement in community regeneration: Cheaper and easier task for landlords to manage well functioning communities Cost effectiveness- tackle rent arrears, evictions, tenancy turnover, low demand, and protect investment Organisational effectiveness- diversification and growth, delivery of investment, and management improvements

4. Housing Associations are Social Enterprises (II) Social Case for involvement in community regeneration: Disadvantage amongst tenants, and Specific, sometimes unique, roles based on financial, organisational, human resource and relationship assets; ‘Community anchors’ ‘Trusted intermediaries’ ‘Creative contracting’ Those roles are the HA sector’s ‘offer’ to other regeneration stakeholders Business and social cases, and the ‘offer’, are not just for housing associations to consider

5. Methodology Policy and literature review Carried out 30 interviews – HAs and regeneration stakeholders Web-based scorecards used with HAs and stakeholders – 57 and 94 responded Analysis of grant approval data

6. Wider Role Policy: continue for 3 years / review priorities Current very broad range of activity Stakeholder awareness “mixed” Both HAs and partners wish to see expansion Motivation social more than business Barriers: capacity, policy change, regulation, CPPs, internal attitudes

7. Social Enterprise Policy: more funding and support HA activity: own subsidiary, support new external enterprises, contracting Lower level of activity than Wider Role Shared ethos Role not well understood by partners HAs and others want bigger role Barriers: risk, inertia, lack of experience

8. Community Empowerment For many HAs – “its what we do” Activities: build skills, promote participation, help communities exercise power Especially where major regeneration project Stakeholders poor understanding and little expectation of more involvement HAs have potential role as Community Anchor Organisations Barriers: conflicts with other processes, local politics, difficult for national / regional HAs

9. Community Planning Policy: Greater devolution of regeneration to local level HAs - some involvement in sub-groups Want more involvement and share general frustrations of 3 rd sector Gap created by abolition of Communities Scotland

10. Recommendations: Local Share resources:  HAs with one another / other 3 rd sector organisations  Regional forums – wider coverage / focus on “how” Community Planning  Joint representation HAs / 3 rd sector  Make clearer offer  Community empowerment – carefully consider local implications

11. Recommendations: National Policy:  All relevant policy to reflect HA role  Review Wider Role policy / priorities  How should HA capacity be built? Recognition:  Promote better understanding with partners  National brand / campaign? Monitoring / evaluation:  Social return on investment  Impact on HAs as businesses

12. Contact Details Colin Armstrong Housing & Regeneration Consultant Tel: 0141 578 6744 Mob: 07892 402441 colin_armstrong2004@yahoo.co.uk http://www.eaconsultants.com/profile_colin.shtml Nick Hopkins Nick Hopkins Consulting Tel: 07891 600078 nick@nhhrconsulting.co.uk