Foreword from Marie Gilluley
Chair of SKylight Board
Welcome to SKylight’s sixth annual report. This is my first report as Chair of SKylight Board, though I have served on SKylight Board since 2022. I hope you will find the report interesting and informative.
SKylight continues to work with some of the most vulnerable households within our local community, delivering a range of initiatives. These include services to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, to address food and furniture poverty, and to provide support for people from all backgrounds and communities to achieve positive outcomes.
The current economic climate means that many residents and communities across Stockport are struggling. The on-going cost of living pressures and the housing crisis means that SKylight continues to play a vital part in providing help and support to tackle disadvantage, so that customers can reach positive outcomes and progress within their lives.
I hope that this report demonstrates the difference that SKylight continues to make. The very personal and inspiring case studies that are included show, in a compelling way, some of the impact that Skylight is making.
SKylight works closely with Stockport Council colleagues, other housing providers, and a range of local and regional partners to identify and explore opportunities to do more for Stockport residents and to bring more resources into the borough. I am delighted that recently this has resulted in additional resources being secured from the DWP and the Big Lottery.
SKylight continues to deliver its first Business Plan which provides an ambitious framework to develop and grow. We are very grateful to all those who contribute to funding our work including Stockport Council, partner charitable bodies, and particularly members of Stockport Homes Group.
Our Board
Marie Gilluley
Nicola Firth
Tess Wiley
Kathryn Hannah
Chair of SKylight Board
Marie Gilluley Priti Butler
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 to deliver against these aims.
Our Aims
• Supporting 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. 4
The Motiv8 service, funded by the Department of Work & Pensions, works with individuals that face barriers to employment to move towards education, training and employment.
Delivery partners work together to provide wrap around support for six months to remove barriers to employment by developing a personal action plan which is unique to a person’s needs. SKylight also fund Complex Needs Keyworkers to complement Motiv8 provision and support those most removed from the labour market.
Intensive wrap around support for
43 customers
26 people started job searching
Abbie’s story
10 people successfully secured employment
116 outcomes for money management, health, & employment
19 people completed training or moved into education Complex needs role supported
129 customers
Out of work for over six months, Abbie’s extended unemployment was primarily due to a challenging experience at her previous workplace, where she faced anxiety resulting from discrimination as a young single mother.
Abbie worked with her Keyworker to create an updated CV and participate in mock interviews, which boosted her confidence and allowed her to begin job searching. Soon after, she secured an interview for a sales consultant position with Vision Express.
Thanks to the confidence she gained from her preparation, she felt more at ease during the interview and received an offer for the full-time role to support both her and her daughter.
In Stockport Motiv8 delivered the following outcomes: 5
Apprenticeships
SKylight continues to undertake significant work to identify roles within Stockport Homes to be transferred to SKylight and form part of a comprehensive apprenticeships programme. This was previously limited to entry-level roles but has since expanded to higher level positions due to the continued growth of apprenticeship qualifications. Levels have ranged from 2 (GCSE) all the way up to 7 (Master’s Degree).
During the last 12 months, 36 colleagues have undertaken an apprenticeship programme covering a wide range of service delivery areas which include:
Furniture Recycling Project
The project collects good quality donated furniture and recycles it to help households experiencing furniture poverty. The project helps alleviate financial hardship through the provision of low or no cost furniture including fridges, washing machines, cookers, beds, and wardrobes. Customers are invited to attend our premises at Hazel Grove and select their own items which are either gifted or offered at low cost.
Furniture was donated by 482 households and 182 void properties
was delivered to 358 households in need 57.9 tonnes was diverted from landfill
£20,000
was secured from the National Lottery to purchase a new Renault Trafic van, advertising the service and encouraging people to support the project with donations. In addition, QR codes have been placed on all vehicles for direct access to the donations page.
“This has helped me so much and has made things more homely for me and my son. I would be in this home, but it would feel like we were still homeless if it wasn’t for the beds and other items we received. I am so happy how we were treated; the team did their job efficiently and were very chatty and brilliant” Customer of the Furniture Recycling Project
252
total members across five Your Local Pantry shops
8,420 pantry visits were made by members during the year
£44,862.75 of social value generated through 3,175 volunteering hours
121
Your Local Pantry shops are now open nationally, supporting 13,000 members with 270,000 visits made at pantry stores across the UK in 2024/25.
Your Local Pantry (YLP) is a network of community food stores set up to help reduce grocery costs for Stockport residents who are struggling financially. Pantry members pay a weekly membership fee of £5.50, which entitles them to a weekly shop of up to ten items, with a saving of over £780 on their food bill each year.
Community volunteers work alongside the staff team to manage the day-to-day running of each Pantry. This includes taking deliveries and storing and rotating stock, completing opening and closing checks and supporting members to conduct their weekly shop.
Secured grants and financial donations of £32,577
Youth provision
SKylight provides a wide variety of youth activities during the year, such as clubs during the school holidays and resilience and wellbeing programmes delivered in schools during term time. The team have also assisted with the delivery of programmes linked to the Government-funded Holiday Activities Fund (HAF). Enrichment activities have included filmmaking, graffiti art, and healthy meal prep and cooking.
“It gave my children the opportunity to experience something that would otherwise be unaffordable. They have made new friends and done activities that they wouldn’t normally do which has helped with my youngest’s anxiety”
Parent
340 places for young people aged 11-17 identified as vulnerable under the HAF eligibility criteria.
131 young people took part in the ‘Bags of Character’ school sessions to improve their confidence.
64 families responded to our consultation to ensure the Holiday Club meets customer expectations.
Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme (RSAP)
Established in April 2022, The Rough Sleeper Accommodation Project (RSAP) provides capital funds to purchase and renovate one-bedroom, self-contained properties.
This year the service has:
• 12 sustained tenancies through a range of structured intensive support from the project officer.
• 3 customers consistently engaging with support from substance misuse services.
• 3 customers engaging with mental health services
GM Housing First (GMHF) Rough Sleeper Initiative
GMFH supports individuals with the most complex needs and behaviours to access and sustain permanent accommodation.
SKylight is currently supporting 14 customers, with often daily levels of intensive support to ensure a smooth transition into accommodation and provide ongoing support for additional needs.
The Rough Sleeper Initiative Team respond to reports of rough sleeping, engaging and supporting people to access services and transition them from the streets into accommodation.
• The team received 690 reports of rough sleeping, 228 resulting in a confirmation of a rough sleeper.
• Customers are supported through A Bed Every Night scheme and additional flats identified through the RSAP and access to specialist support.
Specialist Support Roles
SKylight has a range of specialist officers working with vulnerable people. These include a Mental Health Support Worker, Domestic Abuse Case Officer, an Offender Engagement Officer, and SKylight Partnerships Manager
Mental Health Support Work
Supported 148 people in 2024/25 experiencing a range of issues from low mood through to serious mental illness.
Migrant Communities Work
17 new households arrived under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and were resettled within the borough, and 16 households were supported to move to private sector accommodation.
Domestic Abuse
Provided direct support to 238 households experiencing domestic abuse and assisted with a wholescale review of policies and procedures across SHG.
Offender Engagement Officer
Supported 26 people through the Accommodation for Ex-Offenders Scheme. Through the Community Accommodation Scheme, 17 people were successfully rehoused into their own private tenancies and seven were supported into employment and training.
Working in partnership to support and grow our local Third Sector
SKylight continues to work closely with Sector 3 and Stockport Council to develop a more consistent joined up voice of the Third Sector.
SKylight delivered a range of events which brought together civil society groups and funders. The annual ‘Funding the Future’ conference brought together 65 community groups with local and national funders to access support and bid for grant funding. 43 community group attendees also benefited from smaller ‘Meet the Funder’ coffee table events, ensuring each group had the chance to ask specific questions of the funder.
Highlights include:
• SKylight’s Social Supermarket received £197,179 over three years from the National Lottery Reaching Communities fund to provide dedicated support for men furthest from the employment market.
• Four local organisations registered with the Charities Commission through dedicated support from the SKylight Funding Officer, allowing them to grow into a sustainable, incorporated legal entities to maximise opportunities for growth and development.
SKylight Community Fund
SKylight’s Community Fund provides awards of up to £2,000 for projects and activities which improve and make a genuine difference to people’s lives in the neighbourhoods where SHG manage properties.
30
£50,000 £1,667 successful applications
total funded average award
Funding has been awarded to a wide range of projects including
Support to first time mothers and their families
Mental well-being football
Youth Projects
Care for experienced young people
Age Well Yoga
Life Skills
Digital inclusion
A volunteer programme for women experiencing Domestic Abuse Community Skills Exchange programme led by the Refugee Community Togetherness Group.
Preventative Services
SKylight is a partner in The Prevention Alliance (TPA) delivering early help and prevention support through the Stockport Support Hub and Your Support to improve the wellbeing of Stockport residents.
6,688 referrals to Stockport Support Hub
1,234 Referrals to Your Support Advice provided on 4,840 occasions to 3,454 individuals. 97% of people showed an improvement in their wellbeing when their case was closed 1,303 Foodbank vouchers issued 1,102 digital support sessions delivered by TPA as part of the DigiKnow’ alliance this year
Ageing in Place Pathfinder (AIPP)
The AIPP is a GM wide project testing new ways of creating neighbourhoods that support older people to age well, reduce loneliness and improve quality of life.
Led by a Steering Group of residents, a wide range of events and initiatives have been developed including Yoga, healthy eating and cooking, successful days out to RHS Bridgewater. Several ‘Warm Spaces’ have also been facilitated and a local Community Art group continues to be supported.
A number of residents were supported by the SKylight Employment and Training team to attend Mental Health First Aid courses. Some also undertook prostate cancer training as data demonstrates men over 55 in Brinnington approach the GP when they are in the later stages of prostate cancer.
Investing in our communities
SKylight is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authorities and finances are independently audited with statutory accounts produced each year. Our main source of income is Gift Aid, funding to deliver services by the local authority and through other government contracts, and membership//subscription fees. The chart below shows how funding was utilised to deliver services in 2024/25.
£88,000 £114,000 £257,000 £205,000 £156,000 £101,000 £29,000 Total How much we invested in services £3,878,000
£1,605,000