One Vision Housing
Customer Voice
Community Development Fund Panel - 2024/25
Background
The One Vision Housing (OVH) Community Development Fund was established to enable individuals, residents’ groups, and community and voluntary organisations to deliver community based projects that will benefit residents living within OVH neighbourhoods.
We celebrate the diverse and unique nature of our communities. Recognising that our staff and customers are integral to this wider community, we understand our responsibilities go beyond housing. We strive to empower our customers with the best opportunities, services, and options, regardless of their location.
Through the Community Development Fund, we empower our communities with exciting new projects, fostering inclusion and driving our mission to create opportunities and change lives.
A total of £15,000 is available in the form of grants to voluntary/community groups. The fund seeks to encourage community projects that contribute to the following five themes:
- Vulnerable persons
- Health and wellbeing
- Support for local veterans
- Improved community safety
- Community environmental initiatives
About One Vision Housing (OVH)
We are an award-winning housing provider offering high quality, affordable housing across the Liverpool City Region, Cheshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester. We currently manage over 14,400 properties across the region.
We provide a range of rental options from Social Housing and Private Rent, to Rent to Buy and commercial lettings of shops, creating equal opportunities for all. We were formed in October 2006, following a successful stock transfer from Sefton Council, and operate as a not-for-profit organisation, regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing.
As a member of The Sovini Group, One Vision Housing believes in providing good quality, affordable homes for rent and to buy, helping to create thriving and inclusive communities. We work closely with partner organisations to build a better future for our customers, supporting thousands of beneficiaries each year.
Externally recognised as a leading provider of homes and services, One Vision Housing is graded G1 for Governance and V1 for Viability by the Regulator of Social Housing.
Our Approach
We believe in the power of collaborative decision-making, particularly when it comes to our Community Development Fund. To ensure that the projects we support truly reflect the needs and aspirations of our neighbourhoods, we actively engage with involved customers in the application review process. We value their local insight and lived experience, recognising that they are best placed to understand the potential impact of proposed initiatives.
To facilitate this collaboration, we arrange dedicated review meetings with our customer panel. These sessions provide a platform for open discussion and detailed analysis of each application. We present the proposals, highlighting their objectives and potential benefits, and then invite our customers to share their perspectives. Critically, we take their advice on board when determining the amount we allocate to each project, ensuring that funding is distributed fairly and effectively. This partnership allows us to make informed decisions that will positively impact the lives of our residents.
Support for Local Veterans
A key theme within our Community Development Fund is the dedicated support of local veterans. This commitment is particularly important to OVH, as we are proud members of The Sovini Group, a recognised Gold Covenant employer. This prestigious status reflects our deep-rooted dedication to supporting those who have served. Through the fund, we aim to provide opportunities and resources that address the unique needs of veterans within our communities, ensuring they receive the recognition and assistance they deserve.
Southport Veterans: We proudly supported Southport Veterans, enabling events for local veterans, including a Remembrance Day event at Altcar Training Camp and a Christmas gathering in Southport.
Veterans HQ: We supported Veterans HQ with their annual Christmas activities, including a Christmas meal for incarcerated veterans, and sponsorship of a commemorative D-Day event.
Sefton Veterans: A two-course Christmas meal was sponsored through the fund for 40 veterans and family members held at the Brunswick Youth & Community Centre.
Involved customer Pam offered the following feedback regarding the projects:
These are wonderful initiatives and it's very important to support our veterans as they have given so much to us.
Health & Wellbeing
Throughout the year the fund sponsored a range of health and wellbeing activities, directly aimed at reducing social isolation and fostering stronger community bonds among residents.
Orrell Lodge Residents' Group: To combat social isolation and improve resident wellbeing, we sponsored the Residents' Association at OVH's Retirement Housing Scheme, Orrell Lodge, to provide a programme of activities for their 49 residents.
Oxford House Residents' Association: We funded a programme of activities for the 91 residents at Oxford House, delivered by their Residents' Group, to promote a culture of community and inclusivity.
Kindfulness Coffee Club: The Thinker Project brought philosophical discussions about mental health to Bootle, creating a safe space for community members to openly share their experiences and anxieties.
Winter Wellbeing Programme: Following a recommendation from our Customer Voice Scrutiny Team, we worked with our Independent Living Schemes to arrange wellbeing sessions featuring arm-chair exercises, complimentary massage therapies and tai-chi.
Community Environmental Projects
The Community Development Fund supported various environmental initiatives, contributing to projects that enhanced local green spaces and promoted sustainable practices. These investments aimed to improve both the environment and the wellbeing of the community.
Stanley Road Community Garden: Residents of Stanley Road, with support from The Sovini Group and Gateway Collective, established a community garden in their housing estate, and were funded by OVH to provide resources, training, and community-building activities.
Gateway Collective: North Park Community Garden received funding to increase their successful open access sessions, which provide social, therapeutic, and community-building benefits to vulnerable individuals, thereby enhancing wellbeing and accessibility.
Involved customer Pam shared her perspective on the projects, stating:
It is important to have a health and wellbeing spaces and this project looks like it will have a positive impact on the environment.
Improve Community Safety
The fund actively supported our community safety theme by sponsoring half-term projects for the Brunswick Youth & Community Centre and Inclusion Network CIC, providing vital activities for youths during traditionally high anti-social behaviour periods like Halloween, Mischief Night, and Bonfire Night. This ensured young people were engaged and occupied, contributing to a safer environment for all.
Support for Vulnerable Persons
Our Community Development Fund provides essential support to vulnerable individuals within our communities, enabling projects that address their specific needs and enhance their quality of life.
Sovini's BIG Community Christmas: For the second year running, Sovini's BIG Community Christmas initiative brought festive cheer to nearly nine thousand people across the North West. 17 different community organisations received some form of support either in the form of a grant or a food pallet donation. All of the initiatives were reviewed by our customer panel who strongly supported the majority of the initiatives, leading us to seek and secure additional external funding for the projects.
Ukrainian Welcome Centre: Sefton's volunteer-led Ukrainian Welcome Centre has provided crucial support to refugees, and One Vision Housing's Community Development Fund has played a key role in enabling this, specifically supporting a holiday camp offering childcare and cultural activities for children, particularly those from single-mother families.
Home-Start Southport & Formby - Funding this project helped to improve home conditions and provide comprehensive support for vulnerable families in north Sefton.
Involved Customer Anthony shared his perspective on the project, stating:
This is a small drop in the ocean for the amount of beneficiaries that would benefit and the value of supporting vulnerable people. I'm happy to approve funding for this project.
In Summary
Our Community Development Fund has generated tens of millions of pounds in social value, as measured by the HACT Social Value Calculator, demonstrating its profound and positive impact on our communities.
Thank You!
We would like to thank our fantastic customer panel for their partnership in helping us to review Community Development Fund applications. Your collaborative spirit and dedication to our communities are truly appreciated. Your input has been vital in helping us make informed decisions about funding allocation.
*HACT figures subject to verification.