Session 5. Case Studies of Effective Approaches (3) Sustainability - Andrew Church, Cambridge Housing Society

Creating the freedom for everyone to flourish cambridgehs.org.uk

Sustainability ‘Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it.’ ‘Winnie the Pooh’ by A. A Milne 1926

Sustainability ‘‘Sustainability is about responding to what different markets want, planning ahead, building infrastructure, increasing efficiency, as well as moving away from a reliance on a ‘begging bowl’ to a more entrepreneurial, trading approach”. –National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), Sustainable Funding Project Planning, earning and fundraising

Our challenges 2000 households 35% are families with children 36% are adults aged under 60 and with no children 48% households include at least one person who has a long term illness or disability Almost half on incomes below £200 p.w. Almost half in receipt of Housing Benefit Rural area – 4000 m 2 Low skills, low aspirations Difficulty of engaging some customers

Tackling worklessness – where does it fit in? We should be improving peoples life chances Community Investment Strategy aims to provide people with a secure home life and opportunities for personal development –Providing people with opportunities to realise their potential –Build people’s financial security to support daily living and the ability to plan for the future

Personal empowerment Stimulate demand Discuss aspirations and previous experiences Identify destination and options for getting there Get there – with appropriate support always on hand Customise package and refer to appropriate provider(s)

Our approach Ear to the ground: understanding needs and aspirations of customers Different roles depending on the issue and the solution: –direct service provider –advocate/broker –partner and capacity builder

As a direct deliverer of services Digital inclusion o100+ laptop computers, outreach tutors Skills Coaching oInformation, advice, guidance; mentoring Financial capability oIncome maximisation, debt advice, hand holding oMoney mentors oPersonal Finance Coach for Young People

As a advocate we’ve brokered new services Skills for Life 1:1 home tuition provided by fe college We recruit customers, skills and risk assessment Access to low cost loans Base rate % through local building society

As partner and capacity builder Vehicle for capacity building within VCS sector Guidance, Employment, Training (GET) Group Vehicle for winning larger contracts Cambridgeshire Voluntary and Community Sector Learning Consoritum

Outcomes More confident about achieving their aspirations More likely to want to: own a pc and use the internet study or work from home More in control of their finances

Contact details

Sustainable Funding Organisational commitment via subsidy for community investment business stream: £75k p.a. External funding: Learning and Skills Council, ESF, Local and Regional Government, Trusts and Foundations, Private sponsorship, Department for Work and Pensions: £150k p.a.

Planning, fundraising, earning Planning Management Information System Contributions to Local Area Agreement Capacity building within team Fundraising Building relationships with key stakeholders Investigate private sector sponsorship Earning Cross-subsidies from ‘Train to Gain’ Charging for some markets

What we’ve learned Being clear about what we’re setting out to do – where we are going Providing a consistent offer to customers Importance of smoothing peaks and troughs of external funding by subsidising the business stream Developing attractive products and services to engage customers The most effective and popular services are often developed by listening to front-line employees Building relationships with like-minded organisations for referrals, customer progression routes and funding Promoting services in a variety of ways Being strategy led, rather than project led

Contact details Cambridge Housing Society Endurance House Chivers Way Histon Cambridge CB24 9ZR Tel: Fax: