SFHA was delighted to launch its report about the community role of housing associations and co-operatives during an event at West Granton Housing Co-operative recently.
Attended by Housing Minister Paul McLennan MSP, the event focused on the SFHA's Thriving Places report which explores the types of activities social landlords are delivering in their local areas in collaboration with tenants, charity partners, and communities.
West Granton Housing Co-operative are among the many organisations featured in the report, and the event heard from their Chief Executive, Larke Adger, on the co-operative's partnership with a local charity, Midnight and Beyond, working to reduce youth violence in the Granton area of Edinburgh.
The partnership has helped dozens of young people find employment opportunities, and has engaged them by bringing them together at night through social activities. This has saw incredible results in reducing the number of criminal charges faced by young people in the local area.
As well as providing over £12,000 in funding support to the charity, West Granton has also leased its office space for just £1 and also helped Midnight and Beyond through the formal registration process of becoming a trust.
West Granton Housing Co-operative, Larke Adger, said: "Midnight and Beyond make a massive difference to individual lives, to families, and to our community.
"What they receive from the Housing Co-operative in funding is nothing compared to what they're putting back into the community."
Housing Minister Paul McLennan commended staff at West Granton and the charity for their partnership and said the SFHA's report highlighted the key role housing associations and co-operatives play in their communities.
He said: "SFHA and their members play an incredibly important part in working in communities. It's not only about delivering houses, but being part of their communities as well, and we've seen how much a difference that has made here in Granton."
Our full report Thriving Places: Housing Associations, Co-operatives and Community Investment can be accessed here.
