How can we demonstrate our commitment to community

How can we demonstrate our commitment to community investment? Mary-Kathryn Adams Deputy Chief Executive HACT

How do we express our social purpose?

An Opportunity Waiting to Happen: Housing Associations as ‘Community Anchors’ (2006)

Anchor Institutions ‘Sticky Capital’ • Fixed/committed to local area • Large institutions • Significant purchasing power • Not-for-profit -CLES

Features of “Anchor Institutions” Long-term view. Resources used to make an impact locally. Focus on social value. Leveraging the power of partnerships. Empowerment and capacity building.

All community anchor institutions, including housing associations, should apply asset-based community development approaches. Housing association boards should review their approach to disposals to ensure an ethical approach and the best outcomes for local communities. Housing associations embed wider community benefit requirements into procurement and asset management – i. e. wealth-building strategies.

So, how DO we position ourselves as “community anchors”?

Areas of high impact: • Community Investment • Wealth-building through procurement and social value • Workforce strategies • Asset management and community assets • Collaboration with other anchors

The Centre for Excellence in Community Investment champions and celebrates the impact of community investment across the UK. The Centre believes that community investment is a core part of social housing.

The Centre is: • Providing a platform to promote the importance of community investment both inside and outside of the social housing sector. • Providing a mechanism for community investment professionals to share and develop their practice. • Ensuring community investment underpins housing providers as they evolve their services and relationships with their customers and communities.

Board Charter 9 simple commitments: Communities Pledge – committing to community investment as central to our social purpose, investing in it, celebrating and measuring its impact, and investing in the people who deliver it Delivery – a Community Investment Strategy and action plan, co-created with residents, with the board actively engaging on the ground Demonstrating – commitment to evidencing impact, publishing key measures of success, and leading and advocating for community investment

The Centre online: Web: www. ceci. org. uk Twitter: www. twitter. co. uk/Centre 4 CI Linked. In group: 'The Centre for Excellence in Community Investment Networking group’ or go to https: //www. linkedin. com/groups/13685245/

Thank you mary-kathryn. rallingsadams@hact. org. uk @MKRallings www. hact. org. u k 020 7250 8500 49 -51 East Rd, London