It's easy to talk a good game about being part of the community. It's harder to do something about it. On our residential contracts we put time and money into a Community Development Plan: a commitment to making a difference locally. Each plan identifies how we'll do the following, with some examples of what's currently going on.

Promote local employment

Apprenticeships, job coaching and work placements for the longer term unemployed. Like in East Manchester.

Develop education and local people

Work experience placements, support for construction students, decorating or refurbishing schools.

Develop the local economy and social facilities

Refurbish community buildings, support local sports or host tournaments, provide away days for elderly tenants

Promote equality and tackle discrimination

We've recently supported community events for women and refugees, given IT training and mentoring to disadvantaged students

Promote safer communities

Safer neighbourhood schemes, mending safety fencing, educating kids with the 'In Safe Hands' programme. (In practice, this means getting yelled at by sixty 9 year olds to show the importance of ear defenders)

Helping the environment

Providing skips for unwanted rubbish, promoting low energy lightbulb switches, supporting local garden, park and open space initiatives.

As part of our commitment to local communities, we have the following annual targets in place. These form a fundamental part of our Sustainability Commitment.

1. Maintain a balance of over 100 apprentices per annum
2. Deliver over 4,000 hours of work placements
3. Deliver over 30,000 hours of training
4. Make improvements to over 50 community halls/buildings