As we kit out young footballers in Chorlton with new jackets, our development teams explain how building new homes can have lasting benefits for communities as well as new residents.
This week, we proudly presented St John’s Football Club’s under 7s, 8s and 9s teams with new training tops to help them get match fit.
The sponsorship is just one example of how Southway and its sales and management company Gecko Homes is investing in communities beyond homes to help improve people’s health and wellbeing, the local economy and the environment.
We asked Southway’s Assistant Director of Development Jonathan Turner to tell us more about how the homes the housing association is building are helping communities across Greater Manchester:
“As a community-based housing association, creating new homes for people in housing need, we prioritise social value by collaborating with construction companies who share our values.
“We support our local neighbourhoods during the building phase, by offering skilled apprenticeships or employing local people on site as much as possible. There are other ways we can help by reaching out to schools, charities and community groups, or giving presentations to young people interested the construction field. Or in this case, donating to sports clubs like St John’s Football Club.
“We’re planning 1000 new, energy efficient and affordable homes across Greater Manchester over the next five years which means we can invest in more communities to support projects that ultimately help to improve lives.”
Jonathan Turner
Most of Southway’s new homes go to people on social housing waiting lists. Through Gecko Homes, Southway also offers private rent and shared ownership homes giving people more choice of high-quality housing with a trusted landlord and any profits are reinvested back into communities and improving tenant services.
Southway is currently working with contractor J Greenwoods to build new social rent homes (a lower cost rent) at Francis Road in Withington and homes to buy via shared ownership at Emerald Way at Cross Road in Chorlton.
Maddie Toal, J Greenwood’s Senior Business Development and Social Value Manager talks about the work they’re doing in communities.
“We believe in making a genuine difference in our communities and through our partnership with Southway and Gecko, we ensure that every new housing scheme brings meaningful benefits that focus on the needs of a local area.
“At Emerald Way in Chorlton, we’ve worked with over 40 children at a local pupil referral unit who aren’t in mainstream education to teach them about the construction industry. We brought in skilled tradespeople to give them hands-on experience in bricklaying which was received very positively by the school and the young people.
“The project didn’t just inspire the children, it’s also laid the foundation for their continued learning and we plan further opportunities for the young people and other initiatives at similar schools.”
Maddie Toal
Last May, Gecko Homes sponsored the volunteer-led Chorlton Arts Festival which showcases and celebrates artists from across Southway Manchester with events across café’s, bars, public open spaces, churches and schools.
Fiona McCloskey, Gecko Homes’ Senior Sales Advisor tells us why their sponsorships to local groups are important.
“We’re committed to investing in our communities and our sponsorships are about more than just putting our name to something. We’re actively involved in the projects we support and want to build real relationships with local people and organisations to help improve our communities for existing and future residents.
“Our involvement in the Chorlton Arts Festival helps to highlight the fantastic work of the festival committee, volunteers and artists to provide a successful community event and we’re excited to be sponsoring and attending again this year.
“In addition to the arts, we’re also passionate about supporting grassroots sports through our partnership with St John’s Football Club which is in the heart of one of our communities and we’re looking forward to seeing the youth teams train in their new jackets.”
Fiona McCloskey
In Gorton, Southway is also working with contractor R&M Property Group to build homes for social rent at Cross Lane and Varey Street. The partnership is training apprentices, employing local labourers, supporting a local café and foodbank, and sponsoring local walks to help keep people healthy. There are further plans to tidy up local green spaces and start a community allotment project. The contractor also provided the parade float for Southway to represent its LGBTQ+ communities at Manchester Pride last summer.