Cunninghame Housing Association - Silver Jubilee Big Tick

Until 1996 CHA operated as a traditional housing association – building and managing houses. Since then they have grown, over 3 distinct phases, another side to their business – a strong, distinctive and innovative programme of community regeneration activity. In doing so they’ve levered significant resources and opportunities into disadvantaged local communities whilst differentiating the CHA brand from competitor associations.

As part of a competitive stock transfer ballot for Scottish Homes stock they created 4 craft apprenticeships with the contractor in 1996/97, filled by young people from the community. They wanted to do more! A 1997 feasibility study identified how they could meet local regeneration priorities just as their key customers sought more joined up thinking from housing providers. They adjusted their vision accordingly to "More than just a Landlord" and linked 2 marketplaces - social inclusion and affordable housing.

They established their credibility with the Radio City Healthy Living Centre project bringing together 14 local and national funding agencies, assembling the capital funding and acting as project managers. They focussed initially on physical projects where their obvious strengths lay but as their networks and capabilities grew they expanded their role. Their Community Regeneration Unit was established in 2003, via an innovative £250,000 partnership with the Moffat Charitable Trust, enabling us to broaden their focus to wider Social inclusion Partnership areas in North Ayrshire and stretch their activities into wider social and economic fields.

Now in their third phase of their activity, their Regeneration Unit employs 7 staff and, after concentrating largely on North Ayrshire in phases 1 and 2, they are beginning to develop their profile in East Ayrshire to mirror their current housing development programme. They have also begun to operate their first social enterprise venture – the Michael Lynch Centre for Enterprise.

Good PR and media coverage helps boost staff retention levels and regeneration programmes have offered development opportunities for staff who can apply the knowledge back in their job role within CHA. A recent evaluation by Ask Clyde pinpointed project development, partnership working and adapting to policy changes as key competencies they have developed.

Phase 1

1996- 2000

4 craft apprenticeships created via stock transfer

Feasibility Study commissioned from SCDC Sept 07 identifying regeneration potential. ‘More Than Just A Landlord’ strategy adopted.

Development Work undertaken for Radio City Health Living Centre and James Moffat Child and Family Centre

CHA Craft Apprenticeship Scheme established

£330,000 secured for 1^st Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) project in Saltcoats

2001 - 2002

£0.7m secured for James Moffat Child and Family Centre

£2.2m secured for Radio City Healthy Living Centre project

14 place Ardrossan ILM project begins in October 02

£230,000 secured for 10 place TOPS Construction ILM project

Phase 2

2003

Secured £250,000 in February from Moffat Trust to establish 2 person Regeneration Unit

£0.7m James Moffat Child and Family Centre opened in May - providing 48 childcare places

Regeneration Unit staff recruited in May and Unit formally opened by Margaret Curran MSP, then Minister for Communities, on 16 June

2004

£220,000 secured for 3 years to establish North Ayrshire Fab Pad initiative

Radio City Healthy Living Centre construction work completed

2005

£1.3m secured for construction of Michael Lynch Centre for Enterprise

£200,000 secured in April from North Ayrshire Council Working for Families to pilot childcare initiative

Phase 3

2006

Link Advisor recruited to deliver Working for Families funded Childcare Initiative

Opp2mise (Opportunities to Move Into Social Enterprise) Support Programme established with £430,000 funding. 2 new staff employed

Michael Lynch Centre for Enterprise opened by Malcolm Chisholm MSP, then Minister for Communities - providing office, conference and training space for small businesses and social enterprises. 2 new staff employed

2007

CHA announced as lead developer for £40m, 5 year Vineburgh Regeneration project.