Theme 4
Resident support
Support services offered to our customers
Our Community Investment Team provides a wide range of services that support the economic resilience, health and wellbeing of our customers and the wider community.
We’ve a range of services that provide support and assistance to help people manage their money and maximise their income.
Employment and Training Advisor
We have one Employment and Training advisor, who provides information, advice and support to help customers improve their employment prospects.
Skills and Development Centres
The skills and development service provides a range of courses and support to improve customers’ skills and career progression. The service also includes a device/data gifting scheme, which supports customers with employment and training. We have three skills and development centres which deliver courses in basic digital skills, functional maths and English. They’re based in our Housing Related Support centres at Peterborough, Paine’s Mill, Wisbech and the New Haven Hostel.
Support services offered to our customers
Our Community Investment Team provides a wide range of services that support the economic resilience, health and wellbeing of our customers and the wider community.
We’ve a range of services that provide support and assistance to help people manage their money and maximise their income.
Employment and Training Advisor
We have one Employment and Training advisor, who provides information, advice and support to help customers improve their employment prospects.
Skills and Development Centres
The skills and development service provides a range of courses and support to improve customers’ skills and career progression. The service also includes a device/data gifting scheme, which supports customers with employment and training. We have three skills and development centres which deliver courses in basic digital skills, functional maths and English. They’re based in our Housing Related Support centres at Peterborough, Paine’s Mill, Wisbech and the New Haven Hostel.
Key figures
Customers reporting an improvement in their health and wellbeing
Customers reporting an improvement in their economic resilience
Money Advice
We have four Money Advisors who provide support and advice to customers struggling with their finances. This includes assistance with claiming benefits, maximising income and paying rent.
PayPlan (contracted service)
An independent debt management service available to all Longhurst Group customers regardless of the tenure of their home. Payplan is registered with the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).
New Horizons (funded by ESF and directly delivered)
A financial inclusion project aimed at supporting customers who are unemployed and experiencing financial hardship.
Hardship Fund
This provides one-off practical support to customers struggling with the stress and trauma caused by financial hardship.
Garden Support Fund
We provide an enhanced gardening service to customers who may be unable to maintain their garden due to age, infirmity, vulnerability and or disability. This service also supports survivors of domestic abuse who may require hedges and privets cut back to enhance the security of their home and remove potential hiding spaces.
Tenancy Sustainment Service
Our Integrated Housing, Care and Support offer to our customers, which provides a holistic coordination of services to ensure our customers thrive within their home and sustain their tenancies.
Independent Living Advisors
The Independent Living Service aims to support customers to live as independently and safely as possible in their homes.
Frank F Harrison (charity)
A local community charity with a community centre in the heart of our largest housing estate in Beechdale, Walsall. They provide youth activities and after school clubs.
Food bank donations
Various donations are given to the wider communities throughout the course of the year. Last year, this was largely in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and related to money for food parcels.
Community Grants
Community Grants were issued during 2022/23 to 10 organisations across our portfolio that support the Group’s Improving Lives aspirations and specifically support the economic resilience and or health and wellbeing of the communities we serve.
Community Fridge
Set up in Paine’s Mill, a Skills and Development centre, to provide free food to those in need, in partnership with Fareshare.
Vita healthcare
Provision of mental health support for all customers.