We make a difference in the communities we serve.

By working with the people in the communities we serve, we can improve the lives of those who live there.

Volunteering

8000

Last year we supported over 8000 hours of volunteering in communities.

Investment

£ 95000

£95,000 was invested by Irwell Valley Foundation to support people, improve places and bring communities together this attracted £300,000 of match funding to maximise our impact.

Grants

£ 80379

We awarded grants totalling £80,379.78 to the community and voluntary sector.

Partners

68

68 voluntary and community groups were supported by us.

Partners

83

83 community and voluntary sector organisations were engaged in formal alliances or contracts with us.

Employment

84 %

84% of our colleagues live within Greater Manchester.

We invest in our homes and communities we serve to enable customers to live well.

We’re underway with a multimillion-pound estate regeneration programme in Trafford - transforming the estate by building more affordable housing, improving existing homes and enhancing the environment and public realm. The first phase is nearly complete and includes 79 new affordable new homes and over £7.2 million of improvements to existing homes. Plus, new roads, parking, walkways, cycle routes and environmental enhancements. This is supported by significant investment in community projects and initiatives to support residents to live well. Read more here (link) 

We have a £2m charitable investment fund, the Irwell Valley Foundation, which is overseen by a resident led panel. Every year we invest around £100,000 of dividends from the investment fund to help people with their personal development and wellbeing, as well as projects and initiatives that benefit the wider community.  

From hosting outreach services at our community resource centre, to serving up free kid’s meals in the school holidays at our community café, we also provide access to services and support at our community centres.  

We play to our strengths and recognise where working with others will help us to do more. We work with a wide range of partners across the public, voluntary and charitable sectors. Partnerships like Athena which is helping to deliver training, employment, and other initiatives across Greater Manchester to reduce inequality and poverty. If you share of mission of enabling people to live well in their home and community, we’d love to chat to see how we can work together.  

All our colleagues are given two days every year to use their skills to support charities and organisations within the communities we serve, helping them to play an active role and make a difference.  

If you know of any good causes within the communities, we serve who would benefit from our support, please get in touch.

 

Contact us
  • Group of eldery members having fun and smiling around a table

    Supporting wellbeing

    Every Tuesday we host Magical Memories, a community group which promotes social inclusion for older residents in Haughton Green. We recently supported them to become a registered community group – opening further opportunities for them to apply for small grants and funding to help them support their members and provide new ways for people to connect, have fun and make friends.

  • A group of boys playing football

    Youth engagement

    Working with Foundation 92, Our youth engagement programmes for young people in Salford, Trafford and Haughton Green offer a place for young people to have fun, make new friends and enjoy new experiences. The sessions are delivered by our partners Foundation92 and include sports, online gaming, arts and crafts and the chance to develop and deliver social action projects which benefit the local community.

  • Man and woman analysing their letter

    Helping customers to access extra income

    We fund fortnightly Citizens Advice sessions at Sale West Community Centre where local people can access free, non-judgemental advice around issues including debt, benefits and employment.

  • Oasis centre next to an image of two men studying for their test

    The Oasis Community Resource Centre

    The Oasis is our Community Resource Centre in the heart of the Haughton Green Community. We host a wide range of outreach services that provide local people with help, support and opportunities in their community.

     

    The weekly activities programme has something for everyone.
    From art therapy classes to family health clinics, the centre offers
    a welcoming space for people to meet and access services to
    help them to live well and get on in life.

     

    The DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) Youth Hub for 18-24 year olds runs from the Oasis Centre every week, enabling young people to connect with Work Coaches to help them into Education, Training or Employment.

     

    And we also host the Tameside in Work initiative - helping those on low incomes, zero hours contracts or those who are self-employed to develop their skills and increase their earnings.

    To find out what’s on at the Oasis, connect with us on Facebook
  • Two woman posing for a picture with their ipad

    Digital inclusion courses

    Working with our partners AbilityNet we've funded sessions with customers who needed support to get online.

     

    People like Hellen, who lives at our independent living scheme in Bury, who had never even turned on a tablet before - but now keeps in touch with friends and family by email and Facebook.

     

    "The course and the people delivering it have been wonderful," she said. "So patient, helpful and approachable. It’s made such a difference to my life and opened up my world.”

  • A woman and a man in orange aprons working in the coffee van

    Supporting homeless young people

    We're a long-standing supporter of the Back-up charity in Bolton, who support homeless young people.

     

    We're proud to use their barista coffee van for the refreshments at our development launches, and a recent application to our Foundation saw us provide funding for a new drop-in service to support young people post-pandemic.

     

    Maura Jackson, from Backup, said: “Post Covid, these young people have lost their opportunities to develop social skills and interact with their peers.

     

    “This is where the drop-in helps – running once a week to offer social interaction and peer support, the chance to learn new skills, access advice, enjoy some food and have fun!”