SKylight Annual Report 2022-23

Annual Report 2022-23

Foreword from Roger Phillips

Chair of SKylight Board

Welcome to SKylight’s (formerly Foundations Stockport) fourth annual report. Our new name represents the evolution of the charitable arm and progression of the many customers who access our services.

SKylight, like many other organisations, has faced particular pressures this year in respect of homelessness services. A range of initiatives are provided to tackle homelessness including a Housing First service which supports homeless people into permanent accommodation and wraps intensive support around them, outreach work to identify and engage rough sleepers, and a range of specialist Officers who work with people who are at a point of crisis in their lives.

Pressures have been particularly pronounced this year due to the impact of the cost-ofliving crisis and the large numbers of possession proceedings, issued by the courts, which were delayed during the Covid 19 pandemic. The shortage of affordable and accessible accommodation will continue into the coming years and represents a significant challenge for SKylight, the Council and wider stakeholders.

Demand for our food and furniture services is higher than ever. Securing new premises for the Furniture Recycling Service allows customers greater dignity and choice as well as generating an income stream to reinvest.

External funding for one of SKylight’s largest projects, Motiv8, sadly came to an end in March 2023. Motiv8 worked with over 6,000 vulnerable customers across Greater Manchester. Of those, 2,171 have progressed into employment, education, training or job searching. Two roles continue to be funded by SKylight whilst alternative funding is explored.

SKylight continues to deliver its ambitious first business plan, supporting some of the most disadvantaged households. We are very grateful for the funding received from the Council, charitable bodies and particularly members of Stockport Homes Group.

A number of key Board members have come to the end of their terms this year and I would like to thank them for their dedication and support for SKylight over the year, and welcome our three new Board members who bring new perspectives and ideas to SKylight. I’d also like to thank all of our SKylight colleagues for their continued enthusiasm, commitment and positivity.

Our Board

Robin Burman

Priti Butler

David Nicholson

Kathryn Hanna

Tessa Wiley

Chair of SKylight Board

Roger Phillips

Marie Gilluley

Welcome to

We are a Charitable Community Benefit Society established in 2018. SKylight has four broad key aims stated in its governing document and activity is structured and prioritised against these four aims.

Our Aims

• Support people into employment, relieving poverty, relieving food poverty and developing digital skills.

• Supporting customers in local communities and delivering support services to help people live independently.

• Empowering communities to develop networks of support, including targeted work with people who may experience disadvantage such as people with disabilities, from BAME communities and those with complex needs.

• Working in partnership to reduce demand on statutory services; and supporting the development of the third sector ensuring additional resources and services are secured.

Motiv8

SKylight delivers several employment initiatives focussed on removing barriers to accessing education, training and employment. The largest of these is the GM-wide project Motiv8, funded by the Big Lottery and European Social Fund. Funding ended in March 2023, but SKylight is supporting two positions for a further year whilst other funding opportunities are explored. Of the 6,000 people supported over the lifetime of this highly successful programme, 1,200 have been through SKylight. Achievements for 2022/23 include:

172 new referrals received

295 people successfully supported

47 people moved into education and training

105 people started job searching

Ella’s story

1,879 outcomes for health, money management & employment

27 people secured a job and nine started volunteering

Ella experienced domestic abuse from her partner, having been forced into marriage and become completely estranged from her family. She was also a victim of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation). She was referred to Motiv8 after attending Stepping Hill A&E following a violent incident, but had no recourse to public funds so could not initially access temporary accommodation. Thanks to Motiv8 initiating strong partnership working with Stockport Homes Housing Options Team and Stockport Without Abuse, she eventually secured European Settled Status and consequently access to benefits. Ella is now an SHG tenant studying online and actively looking for work. She’s settled into her new community and developed support networks.

Employment Support Training

Key achievements include:

• 2022/23 996 referrals were received, with 280 customers moving into employment. 166 sustained employment over a six-month period.

• Steps into Work Programme supports young people identified as SEND*, Care Leavers and NEET** into employment. Of the 59 young people engaging, 35 made progress in employment, education & training with 11 securing employment.

• The DWP use gifted space in Cornerstone to meet customers two days per week; 1,422 appointments were conducted between April 2022 – March 2023

• Fully interactive online job booklet received 375 views in its first month!

• The SKylight Kickstart package was commissioned by partners at Stockport Council and B4Box to train their Kick Starters. 44 placements created across three organisations and 35 young people secured further employment.

Training team delivered

154 accredited and non-accredited training sessions with 1,134 attendances.

9 Sector-Based events delivered including Sky, Vodafone, McDonalds and Carecall; 63 customers completed training and 30 secured employment.

New M&S Food Hall was the most successful sectorbased recruitment activity. 91 attended the assessment centre, 28 did full SHG training, 25 attended the taster day, 13 started a two-week work placement and 11 secured employment.

Apprenticeships

Our range of mentored apprenticeships has expanded to 20, including jobs at higher levels. Apprentices obtain an appropriate qualification whilst working for SKylight in a wide range of roles.

SKylight secured funding from the Government’s Kickstart scheme to provide six-month quality work placements to young people aged 16-24 who were in receipt of Universal Credit and at risk of long term unemployment.

This programme 44 roles created across SKylight, B4Box and SMBC. The Employment Team designed a unique intensive support package with wraparound employment and training, resulting in 35 young people securing employment.

Furniture Recycling Project

The project collects good quality donated furniture and recycles it to help households who need basic items such as fridges, washing machines, cookers, beds and wardrobes. The items are either gifted or sold at low cost from our new customer-friendly premises at Hazel Grove.

Furniture was donated by 338 households and void properties

Furniture was delivered to 433 households in need

49 tonnes was diverted from landfill

£50,000 was secured from the Council’s Household Support Grant to support homeless customers moving into permanent accommodation.

“

The staff were extremely helpful in arranging the collection. I would definitely donate again.”

Donor to Furniture Recycling Service

“Because I had nowhere to live, so this helped massively.”

Customer of Furniture Recycling Service

We are always looking for volunteers to help with cleaning and repairing household items as well as collections and deliveries. Please contact us at furniture@stockporthomes.org if you are interested.

Your Local Pantry is our award winning national network of community food stores, started here in Stockport ten years ago. The network is based on dignity and choice. Local people can become members and access ten items of food each week for a fraction of the supermarket price. The pantries not only provide affordable food but also volunteering opportunities and support with wider health and support needs.

326 new members joined this year

£170,600 saved compared to supermarket prices

The pantries generated £201,503 of social value from volunteering

8,530 pantry shops were completed by members, an increase of 51% from last year.

Secured grants of £32,817

100th Your Local Pantry due to open July 2023

Youth provision

SKylight holiday clubs provide exciting and engaging activities for young people aged 11-17 years every school holiday (except Christmas). Activities include wheelchair rugby, first aid, music and cookery.

“This club was brilliant for my children. It has been a vital resource for me, including a meal package which was sent home every day and they had had days out which I wouldn’t have been able to afford. Thank you so much for enabling my children to have a fantastic summer holidays” Parent

Our Youth Diversionary Officer mentors young people aged under 25 who are involved in anti-social behaviour, at risk of offending or failing in their tenancies. Evening activity sessions are also provided in areas at risk of antisocial behaviour.

• 11 young people were mentored during the year.

• 2,968 young people were engaged in diversionary activities.

• Trips provided included Mam Tor, Jump Heaven and Liverpool Maritime Museum.

Rough Sleeper project

This year the service has:

• Responded to 550 reports of rough sleepers, 151 resulting in confirmation of a rough sleeper

• Made an offer of accommodation to all those rough sleeping.

• 20 rough sleepers currently in temporary accommodation.

• 15 rough sleepers supported into tenancies with intensive support.

• 12 rough sleepers supported with travel arrangements to return home in another area.

GM Housing First (GMHF)

GMHF supports people with very complex needs and behaviours to access permanent accommodation. 14 customers were helped during 2022-23, of which 12 were accommodated in areas of their choice.

CASE STUDY

Archie was referred to Housing First after years of homelessness and unsettled housing including custodial sentences. He has substance misuse issues and lost contact with his children after a relationship breakdown. After building a relationship with his HF worker for several months, he was successful in securing a tenancy. With ongoing support with anxiety, self esteem and bereavements, Archie has sustained his tenancy. He continues to engage with alcohol services, and to work with social care with the hope of reconnecting with his children. GMHF welcomed Archie’s feedback on how the service can improve, when he attended several of their workshops.

Specialist Support Roles

SKylight has a range of specialist officers working with vulnerable people including a Mental Health Support Worker, Domestic Abuse Case Officer, Exploitation Protection Officer and Offender Worker.

318 cases of domestic abuse supported

103 53 9

Offender Outreach

132 people supported during 2022-23

• 89% sustainment rate for Community Accommodation Support (CAS) placements.

• 11 people rehoused into private rented tenancies from CAS placements after leaving prison.

Mental Health

Work

to a mental health support worker

130 referrals 75 people supported

pre- and post- discharge from Stepping Hill psychiatric ward

Working in partnership to support and grow our local Third Sector

SKylight continues to work closely with Sector 3 to support the growth and development of the Third Sector in Stockport, including:

• Delivering a range of events including ‘Funding the Future’ which brought 170 community groups to Cornerstone to meet funders and access support to bid for grants.

• SKylight has supported the securing of £502,361 grant income into Stockport in 2022/23.

• Highlights include a range of grants for Ongoing Women’s Local Support (OWLS) to support women experiencing or recovering from domestic abuse, and a 3-year £145k National Lottery grant for Drywave recovery who support people recovering from substance misuse.

SKylight are also part of a range of partnerships including:

• The Prevention Alliance securing £960k borough wide contract with Adult Social Care and partners including AgeUK, Jigsaw, NACRO and Talk, Listen, Change.

• With PURE for the delivery of Community Hub.

• With Age UK for the delivery of the Hep at Home Service.

• Secured Domestic Abuse contract with Talk Listen Change, SWA and AgeUK Stockport.

SKylight Community Fund

SKylight’s Community Fund provides funding for projects and activities which improve the neighbourhoods where SHG manage properties and make a genuine difference to people’s lives.

44 £1,514 73% applications

average award secured funding

FAME

Awarded £1,971 to run family events across the year at Summer, Halloween, Christmas and Easter. An average of 50 people attended each event.

Art Attack

Youth Group

Awarded £1,920 to run 16-weeks programme of creative activities for young people in Heaton Norris and Lancashire Hill. Included stitching, painting, filming and theatre trip.

Offerton

Community Kitchen

Awarded £1991.61 to run activities and events for care home residents and those who are socially isolated.

Refugee Support

A dedicated manager, part funded by the Council, is supporting refugee households. The initial priority is supporting the Homes for Ukraine scheme, particularly households needing alternative accommodation where the placement has come to an end. Weekly drop ins are held for hosts and Ukrainian households to provide support particularly with employment.

Investing in our communities

SKylight is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and its finances are independently audited with a set of statutory accounts produced each year. Our main source of income is Gift Aid donations, funding to deliver services by the local authority and through other government contracts, and membership/subscription fees. SKylight would like to thank all those who have provided financial and other support during 2022/23. The chart below shows how funding was utilised to deliver services through SKylight in 2022/23

How much we invested in services

Total

£3,007,000

Your Local Pantry

Housing

First

SKylight

Furniture

Recycling

Youth Work

ASB

Delivery

Rough Sleepers Initiative

Apprenticeships

Motiv8

Rough Sleepers (RSAP)

Offender

Engagement

Access & Support

Preventative Services

Employment

Customer Engagement & Inclusion