We are delighted to announce that we have generated a social value of more than £5 million for Sunderland. We are celebrating a boost of more than £1 million in social value compared to the previous year.
In 2021 to 2022, we generated an overall social value of £5,914,763 through services and activities including:
- supporting local community organisations
- investing in safety and support services
- offering support to homeless people and those in temporary accommodation
- providing services for young people, older people and those with care needs
The report is a summary of the social impact work we provide to improve the lives of tenants and communities in the city. Amid the current cost-of-living crisis, these vital services are more important than ever before.
From supporting 216 victims of domestic abuse and antisocial behaviour to generating over £1,075,953 of additional income for tenants through our dedicated Money Matters Team, we strive to support tenant’s during this challenging time.
Our social value report is filled with highlights of services delivered throughout Sunderland in 2021 to 2022. These include:
- providing 25 young people with a place they can call home at Holmewood House support centre
- awarding £71,129 to voluntary and community groups through Empower Sunderland Community Fund and our Aspire grants programme.
- supporting 120 people through our Wise Steps employment programme
- delivering 600 Christmas presents to families
As well as supporting tenants and residents, we also take pride in maintaining homes and community spaces. In the last year, we have inspected over 3,000 trees, cut 3.4 million square metres of grass and inspected 572 play parks.
Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at Gentoo Group, said:
"As the city recovers from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now seeing the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on tenants, making our social value work more important than ever.
"I’m extremely proud of the positive impact our social value work has had on the lives of our tenants over the last 12 months, and as new challenges arise, Gentoo will continue to be committed to delivering vital services that support the lives of our tenants and communities in Sunderland."
Gentoo’s social value impact is measured using the HACT (Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust) Wellbeing Valuation Approach and the National TOMs (Themes, Outcomes and Measures) Framework. By using these formulas, we have been able to accurately measure the social impact of interventions and activities that have a positive impact on our people and communities.
