Places for People

This year, we launched our #TimeToBuild campaign, calling on the new Government to tackle the housing crisis by prioritising the delivery of safe, affordable homes. Responding to the Chancellor’s Budget announcement today, Places for People’s Chief Impact Officer, John Greaves, reflected on what this means for our Communities: “Labour continues to demonstrate its commitment to reversing decades of decline in affordable housing and we stand ready to help this Government bring transformative change to Communities. “Labour’s first Budget in 14 years is a welcome first step but the real journey starts now. Government must urgently work with the right partners to go further and faster in driving the positive societal change it promises. Nobody brings as much to the table as PfP and as a key partner to Government, we can play a key role in creating thriving and healthy Communities where nobody is left behind.” Read John Greaves’ response to today’s Budget: https://lnkd.in/eMd8aPtJ #BecauseCommunityMatters #WeAreCommunity #TimeToBuild

Spend five minutes with our Group Head of Social Value, Jamie Dickinson MBA, as he shares his role in driving impactful initiatives that benefit our Communities... 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲? “I’ve been with Places for People for 12 years. The ethos of PfP - so to be able to contribute to delivering and sustaining thriving Communities at scale was a golden opportunity for me. “My role is focused on making a difference – I look after our Community Investment programme and Connector team, charitable grant making, social value in the supply chain, business development and lead on externally funded projects. It’s a really broad portfolio which brings me into contact with every level and part of the business as well as providing an opportunity to develop partnerships across different sectors.” 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞’𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧? “Collaboration is what my team does – our roles are all about bringing People and organisations together solve problems. At a local level the Community Connectors are working with voluntary, Community and social enterprise partners to find new ways to support our Customers. The rest of the team are building relationships to drive growth or derive additional value from our supply chain contractors and I’m working with sector partners to deliver national programmes such as the Resilience Programme with Clarion Housing Group and Fusion21. It’s all about collaborating to make a difference.” 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝟓 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬? “The big goal is to contribute to the elimination of stigma around social housing and support the development, delivery and sustainment of Communities where people want to live. It’s about empowering Customers to identify and solve their own issues – working with, not for, them. “At a national level - more partnerships, particularly where we can use our resources to unlock additional funding and also looking beyond the social housing sector for new models of collaboration. At a local level - we’re networking teams to ensure we have partners ready to address Customer challenges, maximizing resources through co-funding. “We want to work at scale, however, larger housing providers can sometimes struggle with delivering at a local level. Places for People really recognises that and is making sure it’s strategy and structures harness the advantages of scale while having a relentless focus on Community.” 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐟𝐏 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤? “People, purpose and partnerships. We’ve got really great Colleagues and a culture of collaboration for a start. We’re focused on Community and making a difference so whichever part of the Group you work for there is a shared purpose.” #BecauseCommunityMatters #WeAreCommunity #SocialImpact #MakingADifference #ImpactLeadership

🏡 We are excited to share that Places for People has acquired part of the Blindwells development in East Lothian, where we plan to deliver 135 new homes! More than just housing, we are committed to building a strong Community at Blindwells. With 93 homes for private sale and 42 affordable homes, we’re offering a range of property types to suit diverse needs. As we’ve done in other developments, our focus goes beyond bricks and mortar—we’re creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and launching initiatives like school engagement programmes, foodbank support, and much more. Our Places for People Scotland Interim Regional Managing Director, Colin Jack, commented: “Places for People is delighted to have the opportunity to build this collection of new homes and help bring to life the vision of Blindwells as an attractive modern town where people will thrive now and in the future. We believe that by creating homes for all in sustainable, multi-tenure Communities across Scotland we can positively impact the lives of our Customers and their wider Communities. We encourage anyone that is interested in the lifestyle on offer at Blindwells to get in touch to find out more.” We’re here to build not just homes but a thriving Community, just as we have at Longniddry Village. Construction begins soon, with homes ready by early 2025, so stay tuned for exciting updates including the launch of our show home next year. Learn more: https://bit.ly/48nEq08 #BecauseCommunityMatters #WeAreCommunity #UKHousing #SustainableLiving #AffordableHousing

This week, our Chief Executive Officer Greg Reed joined three other leaders from the UK’s largest housing associations to tackle the pressing issue of the housing crisis on the Business Leader podcast. Greg sat down with Andy Hulme of The Hyde Group, Sarah Jones of Anchor, and Patrick Franco of Notting Hill Genesis. Though they represent different organisations and come from diverse backgrounds, the shared message was clear: the UK is in a housing crisis. It is a national emergency that demands urgent action. With housing at the forefront of this year’s General Election, Places for People is proud to be leading the conversation and advocating for solutions. As part of our #TimeToBuild campaign, we are calling on the new Government to commit to sustained investment in affordable housing to meet an ever-increasing demand. During the podcast, these industry leaders discussed the unique role housing associations play in addressing the crisis and how we can work collaboratively to solve our shared challenges. Greg Reed explained: “At the end of the day, it just is honestly a dream to be able to have a job where the better you do the more good you can do, which is great. “Housing is a very sensitive subject and something that is important to anyone having a home. It really is the cornerstone to a healthy safe, safe society.” At Places for People, we’re proud to be part of the solution, and by working together, we believe we can create Communities where everyone has access to a safe, affordable home. 🎧 Tune in to the Business Leader #podcast to hear Greg and his fellow CEOs discuss how housing associations are addressing the crisis and making a real difference: https://spoti.fi/4eUagEr #HousingCrisis #TimeToBuild #AffordableHousing #BusinessLeader #PlacesForPeople #SocialImpact #BecauseCommunityMatters

Celebrating Community-led regeneration in St Pauls, Bristol. 🌱 After over a year of coordination, meaningful engagement, and dedicated training with our Customers in St Pauls, we’re thrilled to share that the Dalrymple Garden Park Residents Group has officially come to life! This group, led by Places for People Customers and supported by the wider Community, is focused on enhancing health and Wellbeing through the revitalisation of green spaces. The group’s formation marks an important milestone. Customers are now in the process of setting up workday sessions, with plans for the space to focus on vegetation and nature access. The area will include a seating area designed to offer a therapeutic environment, supporting those with mental health challenges and connecting them with local GP services. We’re excited to have a local Councillor, Ashley Ward, who shares our commitment to green spaces and nature accessibility, involved as well. This progress has been possible through a collaborative partnership with Bristol City Council Parks. Our role extends beyond financial support—we’re committed to bridging skills gaps, building capacity on the ground, and making a lasting social impact. It's been inspiring to witness the passion of our Customers passionately step up to make a real difference, transforming shared spaces and strengthening Community bonds. We’re proud to be part of a Community committed to positive change. #BecauseCommunityMatters #WeAreCommunity #GreenSpaces #MakingADifference #MentalHealthSupport

At Places for People, our commitment to making a difference goes beyond building homes — it’s about creating stronger, healthier, and more inclusive Communities for our Customers. We’re thrilled to have partnered with Benefit Mankind Charity UK to pack hygiene kits for those in need across #Lancashire. It’s inspiring to see our team come together to support the most vulnerable members of our Community. One standout is Samantha pixley, a Customer Service Advisor from our Customer Hub. She plays a crucial role in our Contact Centre, assisting Customers with home repairs and advocating on their behalf. But her dedication doesn’t stop there, she explains: “I help Customers with repairs and act as their voice, I’m also part of our internal Community pillar. Knowing how many people need support drives me, even when I wish I could do more.” Her passion recently inspired a project to combat period poverty, starting with care bags for women. Thanks to the generosity of Benefit Mankind, which donated £500, Samantha was able to expand the initiative to help as many people as possible. Small acts of kindness, like this, make a big impact. Together, we’re not just building homes — we’re building hope and support for those who need it most. #BecauseCommunityMatters. Find out more about this initiative in Samantha Pixley’s own words: https://bit.ly/4eH9da3 #WeAreCommunity #MakingADifference #GivingBack #SocialImpact

Turning passion into action, watch our Places for People Colleagues volunteer to transform Leeds! Last month, over 100 of our incredible Colleagues came together for five action-packed days of volunteering, all dedicated to serving our Communities and supporting our fantastic partners. From litter picks and carpet relaying to painting badminton courts, tackling mammoth gardening projects, and rail sanding, our team has gone above and beyond to make a tangible difference. This level of commitment takes tremendous planning and effort, and we're so grateful for the hours spent coordinating with our Community partners. A big shoutout to Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation Ltd., Junior Sports Hub, Bramley Care Bears, Leeds City Council, and Bramley Bath for collaborating with us to make these volunteer days happen. Your dedication and hard work are truly appreciated – these days wouldn’t be possible without the team effort. Our Community Connecter, Georgie Kay, had this to say about the initiative: “It’s been great to see so many Colleagues descend onto the city to give something back to our Communities and Community partners, who themselves, put a lot of time in to making these volunteering action days happen for us; the hospitality and kindness you’ve shown us has been massively appreciated all around – thank you!” The positive feedback from the Community has been overwhelming. Thank you to all the Colleagues who took time out to give back. Together, we’re building stronger, cleaner, and more vibrant Communities! #BecauseCommunityMatters #WeAreCommunity #MakingADifference #Volunteering #Leeds

We are delighted to announce that Andrew Usher has been appointed as our new Group Managing Director for Developments at Places for People. Andrew brings a wealth of experience from his previous role as Group Development Director at PfP and over 18 years at Countryside Partnerships. Now, he will lead our ambitious Developments and Placemaking & Regeneration group, overseeing some of the UK’s most exciting projects, including: • The 8,500-home Gilston Park Estate • New homes in the transformational Camden Film Quarter. Our Group Chief Operating Officer, Scott Black, commented: “He has made a significant contribution since joining us and now his expertise and commitment to excellence will continue to drive us forward to create more thriving Communities. “PfP has a major role to play in tackling our national housebuilding crisis. We are a partner in waiting for our Government, we’re ready to work with them and anyone else to address the challenge we’re facing. And with Andrew at the helm, I know we can lead the charge.” With the largest development pipeline in the social housing sector, PfP is committed to supporting the Government in addressing the housing crisis. We are excited to have Andrew at the helm to drive forward these impactful projects. Find out more about Andrew Usher’s being appointed as our new Group Managing Director: https://bit.ly/4hcdNPS #WeAreCommunity #MakingADifference #Regeneration #Placemaking #NewHomes #UKHousing

We’re excited to share that we’ve been featured as a case study in the National Housing Federation's (NHF) newly published Making Every Contact Count report! 🎉 The report focuses on improving Customer data to deliver better services and support in the housing sector. This report follows recommendations from the Better Social Housing Review, which highlighted the critical role of high-quality data in understanding the quality of Customer homes and ensuring services are delivered equitably. At Places for People, we always strive to make every contact count, and we’re delighted that the report highlights some of our recent successes in improving Customer service. As part of a pilot, we have shifted the role of some of our gas engineers from a technical one to one with additional Customer care responsibilities – receiving great doorstep feedback in the process. The Making Every Contact Count report explores how social landlords can use routine interactions to gather valuable information on Customer homes and needs, enabling a proactive approach to addressing issues. The report includes input from 11 housing providers and offers practical insights for housing management, Customer experience, and repairs teams. This is a must-read for anyone involved in the sector, particularly those focused on improving service delivery and tackling structural inequalities. We’re looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the report and what making every contact count means to you. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3A6BTuG #BecauseCommunityMatters #MakingADiffernce #SocialHousing #HousingData #CustomerService #EquityInHousing

How can we rebalance housing investments to build stronger Communities? 🏡 Yesterday, the Chartered Institute of Housing unveiled the latest UK Housing Review Autumn Briefing Paper, providing new insights into the UK housing policy and investment landscape. This year’s review highlights pressing challenges for Communities across the UK. Despite Government spending on housing reaching £30.5 billion, only 12% goes towards building or improving homes—a stark contrast to 95% in the 1970s. Today, most funding is directed towards housing benefits, emphasising the urgent need to shift resources back to creating homes, not just covering rents. As a proud supporter of the UK Housing Review, Places for People believes housing should not only shelter but also strengthen Communities. Sustainable, affordable housing is essential to creating places where everyone can thrive. By investing more in affordable homes, we can reduce dependency on housing benefits and build a better future for generations to come. Let’s build a future where everyone has a place to call home. Access the full report here to see how we can work together to reshape the future of housing in the UK: https://bit.ly/4eNJZr4 #BecauseCommunityMatters #UKHousing #HousingPolicy #AffordableHousing #SustainableHousing #UKHousingReview #CIH