Housing association gives communities a boost in Salford

The Lower Kersal Young People and Community Group.

Over 100 local groups and projects in Salford have benefitted from £90,000 of funding through housing association Salix Homes.

The groups received the cash boost through Salix Homes’ Springboard fund, which is a community grant programme that enables Salford-based organisations or initiatives to bid for funding on projects that boost community spirit, improve the environment, reduce isolation and promote health and wellbeing.

During the past 12 months, recipients have included dance troupes, grassroots football teams, bowlers, computer clubs and community gardening projects.

One charity that has benefitted is the Lower Kersal Young People and Community Group (LKYPCG), who called the funding a ‘lifeline.’

LKYPCG secured £900 for its Soil and Shed project at Kersal Vale Allotments, which brings together war veterans in Salford.

Thomas Lever who runs the group, said: ‘Ex-servicemen and women can often feel very isolated after leaving the forces. They sacrifice a lot, risk their lives and lose friends and comrades along the way, so Soil and Shed is the perfect place for them to socialise and reconnect with the armed forces community.

‘The Springboard funding makes a big difference to projects like ours and helps us to keep going.’

Sue Sutton, executive director of operations at Salix Homes, added: ‘In a time of austerity and budget cuts, our Springboard fund has proved a lifeline for many, enabling local good causes to continue the fantastic work they are doing to improve lives and increase opportunities for people living in Salford.

‘The scope of projects we’ve supported over the past year has been far-reaching and we are incredibly proud to hand over this well-deserved money which has helped sustain projects and initiatives that are making a real difference in our communities.’

In November, NewStart spoke to Salix Homes chief executive Lee Sugden about the social housing ‘stigma’, how technology can be used to support elderly residents and whether he agrees that housing associations are too focused on being developers.

Read the interview here.