Community Entrepreneurship Programme

In December 2017, Forum Creative Enterprise launched a ‘Community Entrepreneurship Programme’ with 5 young people from Forum Housing Association’s projects across Wirral and Cheshire.

Dave Wood, founder of Metanoeo CIC, and Forum’s Amy Butterworth lead the programme, which includes developing a participant’s vision and skills for self-employment, accessing the relevant resources and building their confidence and self-esteem.

There has been positive feedback from attendees following their first day on the programme;

“It met my expectations fully” …
“I enjoyed exploring concepts and ideas in a relaxed setting”.

Participants are partnered up with life coaches, trained by Metanoeo CIC, including students from Edge Hill University and people who have experienced their own period of unemployment.

The participant’s ideas for businesses have varied widely, from a wellbeing life coach consultant for young people, by young people to developing a bespoke furniture business.

The first programme will be running until the summer by which time we hope to have an alumni of graduated young people running their own businesses.

National Housing Federation visit to Forum

On 30 November we were delighted to receive a visit from senior officers of the National Housing Federation.  The National Housing Federation (NHF) is the voice of affordable housing in England, believing that everyone should have the home they need at a price they can afford.  The NHF represent the work of housing associations and campaign nationally for better housing.

Baroness Diana Warwick, Chair of the NHF; Katie Teasdale, National External Affairs Manager; and Jordane Shaw, Policy Officer valued the opportunity to better understand the essential work Forum undertake with young people in the region.

After an initial meeting with Debbie Thompson, Chief Executive, and Sue Elliott, Chair of Forum’s Board, the party visited a number of our accommodation sites where they met both residents and staff teams.

We were delighted that our Patron, The Right Reverend Keith Sinclair, Bishop of Birkenhead and our honorary President, Chris Allen BEM were also able to attend the delightful buffet lunch at the Bridge which concluded the successful visit.

Feedback received following the visit was extremely positive, and we look forward to continuing our work with the National Housing Federation.

I wanted to send a personal note to say how much I appreciated the special effort you made not only to give us such a wide-ranging view of your terrific work but also to give us several opportunities to meet with your very special tenants. It was so moving to hear their stories and to see first-hand how they were turning their lives around because of the support and encouragement Forum is able to give them.

It was also lovely to meet several of your team members and staff and, through them, to see how the special ethos of Forum underpins everything they do. It was truly inspirational.

Baroness Diana Warwick

Diana, Jordane and I were so impressed by Forum- from your inspiring tenants to your dedicated team and innovative services. It was a wonderful day and an amazing insight into one of the most precious parts of our sector. The work you do is such a credit to you all and it is a privilege to understand that better. I know Diana is determined that the Federation does all we can to help you flourish and yesterday’s visit reinforced to us all why that matters so much.

We were overwhelmed by our welcome and grateful for you organising such a thought provoking tour and amazing lunch celebration- please do pass on our thanks to the whole team.

Katie Teasdale

Charity Shop news

Another happy customer!

Customer A started coming to our Just for You charity shop located at 72 Market Street, Birkenhead about 6 months ago after making friends with another young mum locally who told her about the shop.

Her visits to the shop have enabled her to identify a big change to the services on offer.  The Pay as You Feel section has enabled her to give her daughter a weekly treat when she is well behaved at school.  This incentive has not only had a positive impact on her daughter in school but “has also taken the pressure off a little at home” as both Customer A and her partner are trying to manage their mental and physical health issues, and most importantly, maintain a happy family.

Since the shop is now open 5 days a week Customer A has dropped in more frequently and spent more time with the Community Asset Team members, our volunteers.  She enjoys a walk to the shop after a cup of tea with her friend as she finds that everyone is welcoming.

When asked what makes this shop different she replied that there is a difference in being able to walk out with a bag of food knowing it was affordable and having been able to make a choice of the items she wants instead of receiving a hand out.

Customer A now recommends the shop to friends at her daughter’s school.  “It just makes sense to stop food going to landfill…just because a cereal box is bashed up, rich or poor we don’t eat the box but we all still eat cornflakes with milk don’t we?!”

Customer A has recently had difficulties with her benefits being cut and is waiting for a Universal Credit claim to be processed.  She and her partner agreed that they don’t have much money, but when they do spend, they choose to spend it wisely in the shop.

They added that they would like to get involved in the shop one day once their situation is stable.

Forum in the Community

Soon after discussing ways Forum in the Community could provide support to the local area Debbie O’Connor, Team Leader – Housing Solutions Team was approached by Town Host Mark Clemson, Birkenhead BID with an opportunity to help.

A new family business “One Stop 4 Paws” was due to open within just a couple of days but needed help completing their redecoration.

Debbie O’Connor shared “Our new Kickstart programme, is about engaging with young people who want to get involved in the community and helping them into education or employment. With that in mind, we could see that this was a fantastic opportunity to help Christina and Mark. Here is to more up and coming events and great partnerships!!”

Debbie immediately co-ordinated a response to this urgent appeal.  The next day a team of volunteers, both staff and young people wanting to give back the community, arrived ready to clean and paint wherever required. Fuelled by the refreshments and sandwiches donated by another neighbour, Mandy’s Place, the team successfully completed the mammoth task.

Christina Harris owner of “One Stop 4 Paws” said “knowing that there are people out there who are willing to help a family set up a business is amazing. We started in November 2016 with an idea and to be where we are now is phenomenal. We are really happy to be the newest member of this community and are really looking forward to opening and will definitely be getting involved and giving back.”

If you know of a community initiative our team can help with, please contact us.