Manningham Housing Association has unveiled its latest Community Investment Strategy, a comprehensive plan aimed at bolstering the support provided to neighbourhoods in the Bradford district in the wake of the pandemic. Titled “Improving Quality of Life and Making a Difference,” the 22-page document was crafted following an extensive community consultation process, which sought input from Manningham Housing Association tenants, staff, and key partner agencies in Bradford and Keighley.
The previous strategy, covering the period from 2019 to 2022, achieved tremendous success through various community initiatives, including Building Bridges Bradford, Let’s Get On, BAME Ladies Smashing Boundaries, and Young in Covid. These projects actively engaged over 4,800 local individuals and attracted over £391,000 in external capital and revenue support funding.
Recognising Manningham Housing Association’s outstanding efforts, the association was honoured in 2021 with the Outstanding Approaches to Communications award at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Northern Awards. The judges commended Manningham Housing Association staff for their incredible work with tenants and residents during the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, Manningham Housing Association’s Community Engagement Team secured the Northern Housing Team of the Year Award in the previous year, thanks to their success in implementing Building Bridges Bradford—a program designed to enhance community resilience and foster connections among individuals and families from diverse backgrounds through social action activities.
The new Manningham Housing Association Community Investment Strategy for the years 2023 to 2025 focuses on addressing shared community priorities that were identified during the consultation. These priorities encompass reducing health inequality, tackling social deprivation, combating poverty, improving training and employability, addressing fuel poverty, enhancing energy efficiency, sustaining tenancies, and mitigating the impact of welfare reforms, rising living costs, and soaring energy prices on household budgets.
The strategy also outlines a three-year action plan that will be reviewed annually, allowing for the addition of new initiatives that align with emerging opportunities. Sadar Uddin, Manningham Housing Association’s Community Partnership and Investment Manager, expressed confidence that the new strategy, with the lessons learned from the challenges posed by Covid-19 and the insights gained from the consultation, will enable Manningham Housing Association to optimise its internal resources and attract external funding to enhance the well-being of residents and communities.
Ulfat Hussain, Manningham Housing Association’s Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Operations, highlighted the association’s commitment to community investment beyond its role as a housing provider. Hussain emphasised the forward-thinking approach of Manningham Housing Association’s Community Investment Team in driving community development, fostering opportunities, providing housing solutions, promoting learning, supporting health and well-being, and spearheading innovative initiatives to improve residents’ quality of life. Through the newly launched Community Investment Strategy, Manningham Housing Association aims to pioneer projects that bring about tangible positive change.
Barrington Billings, Chair of Manningham Housing Association, expressed the Board’s satisfaction with their involvement in the development and approval of the revamped Community Investment Strategy. Billings acknowledged the previous strategy’s numerous accomplishments, which further solidified Manningham Housing Association’s reputation for delivering exceptional community development programs in the Bradford district. With great anticipation, Billings predicted that the new document would become the next chapter in the association’s success story.
The Manningham Housing Association Community Investment Strategy for the years 2023 to 2025 can be accessed on the association’s official website, providing interested parties with an opportunity to delve into the strategic plan and gain insights into Manningham Housing Association’s vision for community development and support in the coming years.
