Pictured: (l-r) Kelly Keightley, Chan Kataria, Chief
Executive of East Midlands Housing Group, Lee Lucas, Finley, and
Matthew Taylor, Chair of the National Housing Federation
An award-winning project that provides accommodation and support
for teenage parents has achieved national recognition.
The Chair of the National Housing Federation, Matthew Taylor,
visited the Leicester-based scheme after it was highly commended in
the Federation's UK awards.
Run by East Midlands Housing Association, the GAP project helps
young parents become successful members of society by providing
tailored support to equip them with the skills needed to realise
their full potential. This includes help with safe healthy
lifestyles, positive parenting, and budgeting to become financially
and socially independent.
Matthew Taylor stopped by at the GAP project following its
recent success at the National Housing Federation's "What We Are
Proud Of" awards where it was one of only two highly commended
finalists and was named the regional winner for the East
Midlands.
Based in Beaumont Leys, it's an example of how East Midlands
Housing Association goes beyond its core remit of providing
affordable housing into work that benefits whole communities. Last
year alone, East Midlands Housing Group helped 1,200 people through
this project and others funded by Housing Related Support provided
by Leicester City Council and other local authorities.
Mr Taylor said: "All the evidence shows that the biggest single
difference you can make to people's lives is in the early years.
This project gives young parents the support they need to give
their children a good start, and it encourages young people to
study, volunteer and find work, and that is enormously important.
The National Housing Federation and housing associations across the
country are making the case that by funding projects like this,
Housing Related Support is the lowest cost way to get people out of
support and into supporting themselves."
Mr Taylor and Simon Nunn, assistant director for the regions,
sat in on a "Question Time" session with young people and project
workers, and held discussions with Chan Kataria, Chief Executive of
East Midlands Housing Group, and Chris Ashton, Managing Director of
East Midlands Housing Association.
Among them were Lee Lucas, 19, Kelly Keightley, 18, and their
eight-month-old son, Finley. Kelly, who is expecting twins, said:
"I don't know what would have happened to us if we hadn't found the
GAP project."
Lee, who volunteers in the GAP office and is planning a charity
bike ride to help elderly people in a nearby church group, says: "I
wouldn't have done any of the volunteering or charity things that
I've done if it hadn't been for GAP. I'd probably just be sitting
around watching tv." He's currently studying for a qualification to
work in the building industry.
Mr Kataria said: "We are determined to dispel the myth that
social housing is about housing society's problems. Instead, we're
part of the solution. Housing Related Support is a crucial part of
this, helping us to tackle all kinds of disadvantage and achieving
positive outcomes for people. I'm delighted to see GAP getting the
recognition that it deserves, and I'm really pleased that Matthew
has got to see the project in action first hand."
Sandra Green, team leader at the GAP project, said: "This visit
and the award recognise the hard work that the young people have
put in. It's great for them and for the staff."
The project includes a partnership with Groundwork, which helps
people to create better neighbourhoods and build their job
prospects through gardening. Participants work as volunteers
helping to garden, dig, plant and pave their way to a brighter
environment for their community.
East Midlands Housing Group manages over 17,000 homes across the
region, providing homes for rent and for shared ownership, as well
as leasehold schemes for the elderly and supported housing
schemes.