Corporate Responsibility Statement 2018 / 2019

We acknowledge our responsibility to the environment and to our local communities. Below are a few examples of how we have shown our commitment to practice responsible corporate behaviour and to establish and support initiatives both in our offices and communities.

Spend with local suppliers

During 2018 / 2019 we spent
£27.2m
with local suppliers across the Wakefield district.

ILS Improvement Programme

During 2018 / 2019 we continued to deliver our 10 year Independent Living Scheme Improvement Programme, investing
£5.8m
to refurbish and redevelop a number of ILSs across the district, including: Baileygate Court, Pontefract; Springhills, Outwood; Musgrave Court, Lupset; and Farfield Court,South Elmsall.

Community Employment Advisors

Community Employment Advisors engaged with
434
new customers, supporting 229 into work and helping 179 to find training opportunities. In the last year advisors held over 350 open work clubs which were accessed over 1,500 times.

Investment in new homes

During 2018 / 2019 we invested
£29.4
delivering 402 new homes.

Carbon footprint

We have reduced our carbon footprint by
8.9%
during 2018 / 2019, resulting in a 17.2% reduction against the 2014 / 2015 baseline, and exceeding our target to achieve a 10% reduction by 2020 a year in advance.

Community Leadership Programme

Our Community Leadership Programme took
50
young people from three local high schools to a week-long residential programme in the Lake District.

Income management

Open Debt Team case study

Our proactive approach to income management and supporting our tenants has continued to provide positive outcomes resulting in:

  • 305 less notices for possession served;
  • 22% reduction in the number of possession orders granted; and
  • 13% reduction in the number of actual evictions.

Community Safety Team

Open Community Safety Team case study

Our dedicated Community Safety Team specialises in managing ASB and funds additional support including five seconded police constables and five police community support officers (PCSOs).

Foundation Grant Scheme

Foundation Grant Scheme provided a total of
£13,903
of funding, to support 33 individuals

Open foundation grant case study case study

Care Link

Care Link dealt with
34,296
calls into our call centre and attended 2,077 falls in customers' homes reducing the need for an ambulance call and ultimately creating cost savings to the NHS.

The Adaptation team

The Adaptation team:

  • completed 892 assessments for adaptations;
  • provided 1,745 adaptations, ranging from minor adaptations such as hand rails, to more major adaptations such as stairlifts;
  • completed 329 assessments for people who requested rehousing on medical grounds; and
  • undertook 111 accompanied viewings to ensure that accommodation meets an individual’s needs.

Cash Wise

Cash Wise provided
2,668
one-to-one visits to tenants and 15,138 contacts through phone calls, online or correspondence. The team also unlocked
£1.3m
in additional benefit, support grants, reduced utility costs and access to food banks.