2023/24
01 Introduction Executive Summary
We believe that our role extends beyond providing quality affordable homes, and we are committed to making a positive impact in the communities we serve.
Social value is central to our vision of creating a better future and we strive to create opportunities that enhance the health and wellbeing of our customers and communities.
As part of the Regulator of Social Housing’s Value for Money Standard, we measure the social value we generate using the HACT (Housing Associations Charitable Trust) UK Social Value Bank, a tool that quantifies the positive impact of the services we deliver on individuals and communities.
Our commitment to social value aligns closely with our strategic plan objectives.
We are dedicated to creating sustainable communities, promoting social inclusion, and improving the lives of our customers. By measuring and demonstrating our social value impact, we can ensure that we are making a meaningful difference.
Working collaboratively with partners from The Sovini Group, suppliers and other like-minded organisations enables us to allocate funding and resources to projects that benefit our communities and generate positive outcomes.
- Ian Mitchell, Managing Director of Housing
02 Key Impact Summary
Our commitment to social value supports our mission of creating opportunities and changing lives. By maximising value for money for our clients and customers, we create a lasting positive impact on our communities.
Overall social value contribution of £82.3m
• Actual social value of £25.5m in 2023/24*. Providing a social return on investment (SROI) of £43.65 for every £1 spent.
• Indicative social value of £56.7m in 2023/24**. Providing a SROI of £1,854.54 for every £1 spent.
*in-linewiththeUKSVBevidencerequirements.
** in line with alternative data
03 Social Value Contributions
At A Glance
• 44 social value projects delivered
• Supported 581 customers to maintain regular rent payments
• 890 customers received support from our Financial Inclusion Officers to prevent financial difficulties, secure their tenancies, and access essential benefits and assistance
• 404 people in temporary accommodation supported into their own home
• 66 homeless people supported into their own home
• Provided decoration packs to 384 customers to support them in making their house a home
• Over 750 colleagues received training, helping to improve the customer experience*
• 67 homes upgraded with energy-saving features, including external wall insulation, cavity wall insulation and ventilation, estimated to provide efficiency savings of £215 per year for customers.
• 40 talented individuals enrolled onto our apprenticeship programme*
• Our how-to videos supported 138 customers to complete simple home repairs and DIY projects
• 803 adaptations were made to properties, improving the quality of life for our customers and supporting them to remain in their own homes.
• We donated £15,000 to support local projects through our Community Development Fund
• In collaboration with Group partner Sovini Construction, we donated £2k to customers in fuel poverty.
04 Financial Wellbeing And Tenancy Support
To support our customers during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, we launched a campaign focused on providing valuable resources and guidance to navigate financial challenges and reduce energy consumption.
We curated a comprehensive list of local and national organisations offering financial assistance, debt advice, and other relevant support services. The campaign also shared tips and advice for customers to lower their bills and reduce energy consumption, supporting our net zero carbon commitment.
By providing these resources and support, we aim to empower customers to take control of their financial situation, reduce their energy costs, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Tenancy support
Our neighbourhood team helped 1,471 customers maintain their tenancies by addressing rent arrears and providing support. Additionally, we provided quality homes for 470 previously homeless individuals.
This work aligns directly with our mission of creating opportunities and changing lives. By providing stable housing and the necessary support services, we are empowering individuals to rebuild their lives, achieve financial stability, and reach their full potential.
05 Community Initiatives
Our commitment to creating thriving and inclusive communities remains a priority. We actively engage in initiatives aimed at improving the lives of customers and their communities. Over the past year, we’ve delivered 44 projects designed to create a positive impact, addressing a range of social and economic needs.
Neighbourhood Drop-in Sessions
We recognise that there are times when customers may prefer to speak to our colleagues face to face.
To facilitate this, we have introduced Neighbourhood Drop-in Sessions at community centres across Merseyside. These sessions provide an opportunity for customers to connect with our colleagues and discuss any tenancy-related queries they may have. From reporting repairs to addressing anti-social behaviour, we are on hand to provide support and assistance.
This initiative has brought our services directly to our communities, making it easier for customers to get the help they need.
One customer who attended a session at their local community centre said: “I attended theNeighbourhoodDrop-inSessionas Ineededsupportpayingmyrentandto discussanongoinganti-socialbehaviour case.Havinganeutralvenuereallyhelped andIbelieveOneVisionHousingwent aboveandbeyondwhatmyexpectations forcommunicatingwithmylandlord.”
Little Helper’s Programme
The ‘Little Helpers’ programme was created by Equilibrium North West, a Birkenhead based community interest company, in an effort to reduce social isolation of parents and carers, whilst raising the aspirations of young children in the area.
Over 12 sessions, 84 children aged one to three were invited to explore interactive activities designed to help them understand the roles people play in society and how they help us every day.
Through a grant from our Community Development Fund, Equilibrium were able to deliver the programme with over 800 hours of educational fun and memory making at Livingstone Street Play & Community Centre.
Joanne, a local childminder, said: “We come everyweek.There’salwayssomethingnew forthechildrentoexploreandthestaffhere goaboveandbeyond,somuchthought goesintothesessions.Thechildrengetto makenewfriendsandexperienceamazing things.There’sarealcommunityfeelhere.”
Social value generated £212k
Bianca Street Community Garden
Colleagues and customers partnered with Taking Root to create a new community garden in Bootle.
The community garden, located on Bianca Street, was once a hot spot for fly-tipping and is now a thriving community garden which will benefit 350 residents.
Colete, a spokesperson from Taking Root said: “ThankstothesupportofOne VisionHousingwearethrilledtohave transformedanunusedandunlovedspace intoathrivingcommunitygarden.”
Social value generated £550k
King’s Coronation Party in the Park
Local residents were invited to enjoy a royal celebration in Derby Park to mark King Charles III’s Coronation.
The afternoon saw 1750 guests enjoy live music, dance performances and activities for children, delivered in partnership with The Sovini Group, Derby Park Community Volunteers, Sefton OPERA, Green Sefton, Asda Foundation, Gateway Collective, Lotus Brook, Weightmans, Technical Construction Group LTD, Frank Rodgers and Aaron & Partners LLP.
Picnic lunches were provided for those in need as part of the celebrations to ensure they could enjoy an afternoon fit for a King!
Social value generated £13m
United for Uniforms
Ahead of the new school year, in collaboration with The Sovini Group partners, we donated over 500 uniforms to families across the Liverpool City Region.
Around 310 children in Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, St Helens and Cheshire were provided with items which were donated to uniform banks across the region including Litherland Family Wellbeing Centre, T.A.N.G.O Community Project in St Helens, and Compassion Acts in Southport.
Sue Jackson at Litherland Family Wellbeing Centre, said: “ThankyousomuchtoThe SoviniGroupandOneVisionHousingfor donatingsomanywonderfulitemstoour uniformbankthisyear.Manylocalfamilies havereallybeenstrugglingtoprovideschool clothesduetothecost-of-livingcrisis,so theseuniformswillgoalongwayinhelping supportvulnerablefamiliesthisschoolyear.”
Social value generated £1.8m
Other projects include:
Equilbrium North West Magic Christmas
Benefitting 300 local residents.
Social value generated £2.3m
Veteran’s HQ - Kickstart 2 Health
Benefitting 62 local veterans.
Social value generated £156k
Food and hygiene pallet donations
Benefitting over 1,200 local residents.
Social value generated £14m
06 Supporting Our Colleagues
To support our mission of creating opportunities and changing lives, we created 40 apprenticeships across One Vision Housing and The Sovini Group partners, providing meaningful employment opportunities for local people. Of these, 19 are traditional apprenticeships, offering entry-level roles to local people. An additional 21 non-traditional apprenticeships have been created for existing employees, providing opportunities for training and career development within The Sovini Group.
In a bid to attract new talent, earlier this year we hosted an Apprenticeship Showcase event, providing young people from the Liverpool City Region with an exclusive opportunity to explore a career with us. The event, which was attended by over 130 young people, was hosted in collaboration with Elevate EBP.
Furthermore, a total of 751 colleagues have completed 15,522 e-learning courses, helping to improve the customer experience.
07 Sustainability
We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment and are actively working towards achieving the 2030 Global Goals for Sustainable Development, ensuring our activities contribute to a more sustainable future for all.
Through responsible, community driven actions, we are contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Our initiatives impact a number of these goals, including SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, and 17 among others. Some key examples include:
• No Poverty (SDG 1): Our Cost-of-Living Support campaign equips customers with essential knowledge and support to maintain financial wellbeing and enhance their quality of life.
• Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG 3): We actively promote both physical and mental health awareness, supporting our residents through a variety of initiatives aimed at improving their overall wellbeing.
• Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11): We foster a culture that values diversity and embraces people from all backgrounds, promoting inclusivity across our communities made up of 8.7% Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) customers.
• Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17): Our strategic partnership with Merseyside Police is focused on enhancing community safety practices across the Liverpool City Region. Together, we prioritise the needs of our diverse communities, ensuring they remain safe, supported, and inclusive.
Customer feedback is crucial in shaping our social value initiatives. By participating in engagement opportunities, customers can directly influence the direction of our future activities. Your feedback helps us identify areas where we can make the most significant difference, areas of need and interest, and create sustainable solutions that positively impact our customers and wider communities.
For details on how you can get involved and explore customer engagement opportunities, please visit here for more information.
07 Social Value Statement
We believe that every pound spent on our services should have a positive ripple effect on our communities. One Vision Housing follows the Public Services Social Value Act 2013 framework to guide our efforts. We’re dedicated to making a tangible difference in our communities and on the environment.
We continue to contribute to all of the UK Government’s ‘The Social Model’ policy themes which include;
