BGC East Scarborough’s Post

On a sunny calm evening in Wellington (just like the old saying “Wellington on a good day….”) nearly 50 urban development professionals gathered for our most recent Urban Development Institute of New Zealand UDINZ 2024 Development Pipeline series event.   First up we heard from our series sponsor Watersmart on their innovative products and services.   Then we moved to our four development speakers. At this event our theme was social and affordable housing and all operate in that space. Speakers included:    ➡️Dwell Housing Trust with Ingrid Irene Downey  ➡️Urban Plus Limited with Danny Moriarty  ➡️Toa Developments with Alan Blundell  ➡️The Wellington City Mission with Murray Edridge   The crowd were entertained and informed by the four speakers who had both practical and heart wrenching antidotes to provide.   Some key messages/take away thoughts are:   ➡️The overwhelming key message was that these organisations are in the business of ensuring people live their best lives, and not purely in the housing business. A house is a key part of service and how people they work with live with dignity. ➡️The government rules and landscape are always changing and this makes it difficult for long term planning of housing in the social and affordable housing area – the rules a current development may operate under, will most likely be different when they start planning the next development. ➡️Funding is a hard and constant pressure. The organisations that presented access funding from individuals in the private sector including individual donors providing donations because they want to help solve the housing problems, councils (in the way of being a shareholder or reductions in fees), iwi/Māori organisations, central government and the banking sector. ➡️Anytime the funds from one of these sources is turned off the whole thing has to be rethought through with the overall funding and financing for the housing sector continuing to get harder over time. ➡️The organisations in this sector in the Wellington region are generally small – resourcing to meet the ever increasing demand for housing is hard and assistance in scaling up would be a game changer.   Thank you to UDINZ co-host Liam Hodgetts from Wellington City Council.   #Whereindustryandinsightmeet #connectcollaboratecommunity #resilientsustainablehealthy #WatersmartDevelopmentPipelineSeries24   (NB: The Auckland event is also in planning, so if you're interested in your project going into a pool to be considered for this event or as part of our FY25 site tour program, please do get in touch)   Simon Carter Roger Adlam Andrew Olsen Campbell McGregor Steven Evans Hayley Fitchett Annie Wilson Tracey Haszard Amanda Greenwood James Whetter Anthony Smith Ged Campbell Adrienne L. Miller Sasha Kelly James Solari Kim Kelly Josie FitzGerald Sean Audain Andrew Munn Rebecca Gallacher Stephen Smith Renee de Lisle Georgia C. Naomi Walker Hannah Virk

At CIRES, we preserve affordable commercial spaces while shaping the very fabric of neighbourhoods undergoing rapid transformation. How? By curating a diverse mix of tenants that not only aligns with the unique character of the community but also serves everyone within it. Our impact stands out. No other property management organization in Vancouver, BC, or Canada curates a variety of Commercial Retail Units (CRUs) with a blend of for-profit and non-profit tenants on the scale that CIRES does. Our approach is thoughtful, strategic, deliverable, and intentional - a unique recipe for fostering vibrant, inclusive communities. The non-market tenants in our commercial portfolio are social enterprises and nonprofits addressing critical community health issues, working to reverse the impacts of social isolation, limited employment opportunities, and unaffordable retail and service options for low-income residents in Vancouver’s DTES. Contact us today and find out how you can partner with CIRES in our mission toward creating stronger and more inclusive communities https://lnkd.in/epGxWbss #CIRESImpact #CommunityEmpowerment #InclusiveSpaces #BuildingCommunities #affordablerealestate #commercialrealestate #dtesvancouver #vancouver

€4.1 million to develop and upgrade over 150 outdoor recreation projects Announced Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (Thursday March 28th,) announced funding of €4.1 million to develop and enhance over 150 outdoor recreation projects. The investment, under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), will be key to enhancing our mountain trails, forest walks, cycleways, rivers, lakes and beaches. It will also provide a boost to local economies by attracting more visitors to our rural communities. Up to €30,000 will be invested will in each project under today’s round of funding – with a focus being placed on small scale enhancements, upgrades and repairs. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gyKk2ki8 To be informed of new grants and funding opportunities for your sports club, community group or not for profit organisation visit https://lnkd.in/eR42FPFZ to subscribe to our Grants and Funding Newsletter #grantsandfunding #grantsandfundingireland #grantsireland #fundingireland #grantapplications #communitygroups #grants #funding

What would it mean to you as a local community, if you had ownership and control of your own permanently affordable housing portfolio, that was also designed to the specific needs of your community… For the people, by the people? How would you feel as a community knowing that you not only had a voice at the table in the shaping of your local built environment, but you were the people behind the wheel, sitting in the drivers seat? How transformational would it be for your community to be able to generate generational equity and wealth, for the future of your people? "A community land trust is a non-profit organisation that holds title to property to deliver permanently affordable housing and community benefit. To ensure they meet the needs of the community they serve, CLTs are characterised by active voting memberships that include, but are not limited to, residents of the CLT’s homes.  In addition to permanently affordable homes that can be rental through to ownership, many CLTs also steward a range of community, open space, and/or commercial properties in response to local need."- The Australian Community land Trust Network I say… Let's put away all this silliness of power, privilege, and prestige, and get everyone, young and old, around the table to talk about our future together While we are at it, let's get someone, or everyone, to stand in as a voice for the local natural world as well Let's envision a future that we can all share, while sharing in its design, its development, its capacity to be a force for change towards more respect and reciprocity, for caring and community, for shared and self love Today, we launched our National Association for Community Land Trusts website as a free resource to the Nation… Tomorrow, we get to work restructuring its built environment towards a model of civilisation fit for you, your family, and your community, fit for us as custodians of this living world https://lnkd.in/gvh3aisM #regenerativedevelopment #clt's #communitydevelopment #regionaldevelopment #australia #housing #affordablehousing

Budget 2025: How the Department’s €472 million will be spent this year A Budget package worth €472 million has been allocated to the Department of Rural and Community Development for 2025. A number of community and voluntary organisations, including Irish Rural Link were critical of the allocation, with CEO Seamus Boland saying the €472 million “pales in comparison to the amount of money available in the Budget”. However, a statement released by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State, Joe O’Brien said the allocation “will breathe new life into towns and villages and support the development of rural and urban communities throughout the country”. Story 👉 https://lnkd.in/ejb-ZDZh #budget2025 #communitydevelopment #ruraldevelopment #funding #communityandvoluntarysector

The view from our offices at Somerset House. We were lucky to escape the flames 🚒 I couldn't quite believe it when I saw the pictures this weekend: a fire burning on the south side of the building, really close to our offices on the top floor. After the relief that no one was hurt, my mind turned to a couple of things: 1. What would the impact be on the Somerset House team, and the building itself? 2. How would we handle it at Hubbub? I don't need to worry much about the second one. Somerset House has been our home since we started - and we just renewed our lease - but we're all hybrid and set up to work from anywhere. My heart goes out to the Somerset House team, though, and the non-profit Trust they work for. It's a disaster, and so soon after they have recovered from the challenges brought by Covid.  A lot of people don't realise that there are offices in the building. But it's full of brilliant organisations. It's dubbed "the home of cultural innovators", which seems about right. It's an incredibly vibrant place to work. Our neighbours include an indie publisher, a ballet company, a music agency, and lots more. The team there gave so much support the community during Covid and beyond.   I hope they get it back in spades now. 🙏 Oh - one other thing: every Monday morning they test the fire alarms. It always happens just after we start our team meeting. The disruption is a bit of a running joke. It is going to feel very different from now on. ++ P.S. I'm CEO of environmental charity Hubbub. We create campaigns with business, government and civil society that inspire environmental action. Follow me - Alex Robinson - for insights on environmental change, leadership and more. #environment #sustainability #London

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞: 𝐇𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐎𝐔 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐏 𝐁𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 Habitat for Humanity Fiji, a leading NGO in the housing sector has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with JP Bayly Trust to formalize our partnership and strengthen our commitment to community development in Fiji. Habitat Fiji scope of work focuses on communities in rural and remote areas, where access to fundamental necessities and services is often lacking. Through this partnership, our goal is to narrow this gap and make meaningful improvements in the lives of those in need. “The signing of the MOU between Habitat for Humanity Fiji and JP Bayly Trust represents a significant step forward in our mission to support vulnerable communities across Fiji. This partnership extends beyond housing to encompass a holistic approach to community development, including access to basic needs and services. By pooling our resources and expertise, we aim to address a wide range of challenges faced by these communities, from housing insecurity to access to healthcare, education, and more”, Susan Naidu, Habitat for Humanity National Director. The JP Bayly Trust is a charitable Organisation now in its 70 years this year and whose mandate is to provide food, medical and educational assistance for around 500 vulnerable families around Fiji. The Trust has branches in Suva, Lautoka and Labasa. The hallmark of the Trust is also mandated to build and maintain houses, alter and improve existing homes and to assist with the provision of light, water, drainage and other basic necessities. HFHF works with communities in rural and underserved areas of Fiji, bringing an integrated approach to housing and community development. Above all, HFHF uses comprehensive solutions to unite people in the construction of houses and communities. Through this agreement, the two organisations will be able to share resources, exchange knowledge, and work together on projects that will benefit our community and our stakeholders. The partnership serves as an excellent example of the strength of group effort and the value of cooperation in tackling societal issues.

I was very proud to speak alongside City Harvest London, WRAP and Rupa Huq last week to celebrate the expansion of the charity’s depot at SEGRO's Acton Park estate. The expansion includes the provision of a new mezzanine floor that increased the depot’s floor space by 15% but incredibly means that an additional 60,000 meals a day can be delivered to support vulnerable Londoners living in poverty. It’s worth reflecting on the fact that the additional space created, which is smaller than a tennis court, will mean that an additional 20 million healthy free meals will be to be delivered every year to those members of the community that need it most. However, this project didn’t happen by accident. It required the drive and determination of many partners and individuals to design, fund and build the new floorspace and is a great example of how collaboration can deliver positive social outcomes for our communities. The collaboration brought together funding partners, such as SEGRO plc, City Harvest and The Story of Christmas Appeal, which enabled the project to progress in the first instance. And whilst funding is always critical to any community project, working with the right suppliers with the track record, expertise and desire to make a difference is equally important. We were delighted that our suppliers, including Arcadis, Eversheds Sutherland, Clear Drains (UK) Ltd and Bowden Moss Ltd stepped up to the challenge and were expertly managed by my colleague Sarah Williams CIWFM GradIOSH. So, on one hand it was a celebration but tinged with some sadness that the demand for food banks is growing. We have seen first hand through our partnerships with City Harvest, Slough foodbank and The Felix Project huge demand for their services. Quite simply, hundreds of thousands of Londoners need access to emergency supplies across the capital because they cannot afford to buy food. City Harvest is just one of several food distribution charities we work with that support the communities in which we operate across our UK portfolio. We see it as an important part of our #ResponsibleSEGRO commitment to contribute to the long-term vitality of our communities by tackling some of the challenging social issues that exist on the doorstop of our industrial estates. We want to help more unemployed people into work, inspire more young people to fulfil their potential and support the health and wellbeing of our local communities, alongside creating modern sustainable space for our customers to thrive. And we do it best when we work in partnership. The expansion project with City Harvest is a great example of how through a shared vision and collaboration we can achieve so much more. I’m incredibly proud of all the organisations that we’ve worked with, and we’ll continue to work with the very best partners to deliver the very best outcomes for our communities.

How can Love change the way we see the world ? Every so often something comes along that reignites a love for what you do, recently our team was able to contribute to a Big conversation in a Little way. Colony 47 came to GHD with an idea to help solve Youth Homelessness in Tasmania through the potential purchase of the Fountainside Hotel. Whilst recognising that a not-for-profit provider would struggle to be economically competitive in the Expression of Interest process for this property, Colony 47’s Dianne Underwood and Angela Abbott were keen to try to find a way for stakeholders and decision makers to see things differently. Introduced by Bill Lawson, founder of the Beacon Foundation, the GHD Future Communities' Loveable team; myself, Andrew Smith and Michala Lander helped put together a submission to support the prospectus. Our work told a different story than most, where this place was one that could change lives. It’s not just a room and shelter…. instead it’s a space that fosters a sense of belonging, connectedness and hope. It’s an opportunity to co-design a space with care, sensitivity, sustainability, and respect. A place that functions as a place of healing, kindness, wellbeing, and transformation.   This work supports Colony 47 to pursue some of their aspirational strategic goals in delivering on their purpose to end youth homelessness and building a better future for young Tasmanians.  It has enabled them to confidently have strategic discussions with key stakeholders who can provide capital funding, the response from the Tasmanian Community has also been very supportive. Maybe Love can change how we see the world ? #futurecommunities #loveable #Colony47

Did you know that 1 in 4 people around the world live in inadequate housing, impacting their health, safety, and future opportunities? Today, on #WorldHabitatDay, we want to highlight our partnership with Habitat for Humanity Europe & Middle East, which is dedicated to ensure that everyone has a decent home. 🏡🌍 At Habitat for Humanity, communities are empowered by working together to address the need for safe and #affordablehousing. Together we’re not just building homes, we’re helping create a foundation for better health, education, and economic stability for families across the globe. #WorldHabitatDay2024 #worldofwienerberger