We work to actively enable a positive change in the communities we work in, while developing places people are proud to live in. Our priorities and activities as an organisation are all aimed at ensuring we maximise social value to benefit our residents. We have a strong care and support offering, including retirement housing for older people and specialist services to support people with learning disabilities and young people leaving care. We invest broadly in communities through our own initiatives and partnership working.

As a result of the rising cost of energy, food and other household costs we’ve worked to ensure we can expand the help available for our residents. Throughout 2021/22 we supported 765 households in total with things like information and support to ensure tenancies are as sustainable as possible,  household incomes from benefits are maximised, and to help with managing debts. We have also recently introduced a hardship fund for residents who are really struggling and will review it’s impact after 12 months.

 

Delivering positive social impact with our Community Fund

Our Community Fund has supported 12 projects with over £10,000 in 2021/22, from school outreach programmes to sewing projects for older residents. One local initiative, Urban Community Projects, received £2000 from our Community Fund as a result of their fantastic work to encourage people to create, inspire and build stronger communities. The project provides local people with the tools to work together and make real changes to the places they live. Through co-design, delivery, empowerment and support, we help local people build stronger communities, running projects like the Camden Mobile Food Bank, along with partners in the community to help more families with food and support. During the pandemic they supported 3889 people, and as the cost of living is biting and increased energy bills are taking hold, the service is still needed more than ever. 
 

Case study: We Are Ageing Better

Our We Are Ageing Better Together programme has been running for over five years and delivers activities aimed at reducing social isolation in people aged 60+. We have received funding from Friends of Origin Housing allowing the Programme to continue. This year we have introduced the Intergenerational aspect to this project, bringing older and younger people together through various activities.  This project has been successful with over 90% of our participants reporting improved physical and mental wellbeing each year.  

We Are Ageing Better activities have had a hugely positive impact on the physical and mental wellbeing older people in Camden. We delivered 355 activities with 1,683 attendances with 162 participants involved in the project. End of year survey found that 94% of participants reported improved physical health and 98% reported improved mental health.

"My human contacts shrank after I retired. This project reconnected me with people. I realised that there are still exhibitions, talks, walks and I met people to share these things. This project restored my social life for me. "

 

Our Employment and Training Service

We know how important the role of gaining qualifications, finding employment and supporting people with the skills and confidence to look for work are for individuals and more broadly within society are.

Our  Employment service supported 434 residents throughout 2021/22 with 35 of our residents securing employment with many more completing accredited courses and gaining new qualifications  to help them with their career goals. The cost of living crisis means supporting so many people with employment and training throughout a pandemic has been a challenge, and we're really proud of our residents and our colleagues supporting them to get back into work.  

We offer free advice and individual support whether you're looking for your first job, wanting to return to work after a long period of unemployment, or just need a change.  If you're interested in  support from our team to help with a CV, looking for work, training or things like interview skills please visit   Employment Support - Origin Housing .