Derwent & Solway Housing Association (D&S) works with local authorities and residents to deliver both neighbourhood services and affordable housing solutions in Cumbria.
D&S owns and manages 3,000 homes in Keswick, Cockermouth and Workington.
Working with Allerdale Borough Council, the need for 62 bungalows were identified for rent over the next four years. With West Lakes Renaissance, the Furness and West Cumbria Housing Market Renewal programme and the Housing Corporation, D&S has been involved in redesigning whole areas, demolishing unwanted/outdated accommodation and replacing it with modern homes.
One of the many projects D&S delivers is Routes 2 Work.
Winner of a prestigious Gold Award from the Housing Corporation this initiative run by D&S is helping people break through the unemployment barrier in West Cumbria, one of the most deprived communities in the UK, bringing over 2,000 people into employment, since it opened in 2005.
Routes 2 Work is overcoming social and economic exclusion by:
• Helping lone parents find work and escape the benefit dependency
• Moving disadvantaged residents into employment
• Helping local people to get local jobs
• Allowing small businesses to train and employ local people.
Together D&S and Routes 2 Work, with the support of Harvest offer bespoke training packages for individuals as well as helping with the hidden costs of returning to work, among them travel costs, work clothes and toll that may be required.
Unlike many mainstream programmes, Routes 2 Work works with the individual to ensure that the funding they receive meets their requirements and assists them to overcome their barriers.
Routes 2 Work has been successful through focusing strongly on individuals’ own barriers to employment and Harvest is continuing to develop this theme across the Group.
Further contact information:
For more information on Routes 2 Work's Gold Award win, contact Julie Wedgwood by email on:
julie.wedgwood@harvesthousing.org.uk
A DVD is also available on Routes 2 Work, highlighting the success of Routes 2 Work and its ability to be replicated elsewhere. To request a copy please contact us on: 0161 248 2393
To download any of the following materials associated with D&S and the Routes 2 Work initiative, please click on the links below.
Another project that D&S delivers is i4Cumbria.
i4Cumbria is an information network for Cumbria which includes information about money worries, finding an NHS dentist, common health conditions, help with homework, finding a job and much more. It also allows users to get free email and use the forum.
Another project is DRAMA (Debt Rescue & Money Advice)
DRAMA, an ‘instant affordable loan’ project was started by D&S and funded by the Department for Work and Pensions Growth Fund, helps people who feel financially excluded.
It is a broad partnership involving representatives from West Cumbria’s credit unions, other social landlords, local Councils and the Citizens Advice Bureau, and offers safe and secure loans with reasonable terms and conditions for repayments. The scheme also offers people the opportunity to begin saving from as little as 50p a week.
The overall longer term-aims of DRAMA are to:
• Encourage more people to start using mainstream bank accounts and associated services such as direct debits
• Help tackle poverty and deprivation by reducing the cost of finance
• Help people manage their money day to day, plan for the future and cope with financial pressure.