Location
Years
2023 – 2025
Purpose
To strengthen and support communities by identifying and building on their existing strengths and potential.
Activity
In partnership with Action Together and We Make Places CIC, we firstly did asset mapping in six neighbourhoods through local connectors in neighbourhoods in Knowsley, Oldham and Salford. Asset mapping is a guide to relationship building and a process for engaging a community to unlock people’s talents to make it better. We produced asset maps for: Stockbridge Village; Fitton Hill; Eccles; Irlam and Cadishead; Little Hulton and Walkden; and Swinton and Clifton.
Asset mapping is only the start of a long-term process by the whole organisation. Our findings and recommendations from asset mapping are reflected in the What Matters to Us report, which outlined key aspects for future development.
Following this, we supported the development and delivery of the ‘next steps’ to embed asset-based approaches (including community-led innovation) and to support the building of relationships within communities and within ForHousing
Impact
ForHousing reflected that the strengths-based project was transformative in shaping its Communities and Engagement approach. The Communities and Engagement service was redesigned, and its relationships with the commercial asset management team were strengthened. The asset maps became used as a key tool and will be evolved with colleagues. The legacy included focuses both on less heard groups and on qualitative and informal feedback from local people and communities.
The longer-term impact on communities themselves will be seen in due course.
Funded by
ForHousing and the Fusion21 Foundation
