Annual Report 2021-22
Foreword from Roger Phillips Chair of SKylight Board
Welcome to our second annual report, in what has been a very busy and challenging year, including changing our name to SKylight. This year has seen SKylight continue to work with some of the most vulnerable households. Work to tackle homelessness includes a Housing First service providing intensive support to homeless people moving into permanent accommodation, outreach work with rough sleepers and a range of specialist Officers working with people experiencing mental health issues or domestic abuse. SKylight’ employment support offer has strengthened and diversified, with a range of new apprenticeships, additional funding for both the Motiv8 service and from the government’s Kickstart scheme to support young people aged 18-24 who are on Universal Credit. Demand for our food and furniture services is higher than ever, with the cost-of-living crisis resulting in more people struggling to make ends meet. Our identification of new premises for the Furniture Recycling Service will help respond to this growing demand. The impact of the Covid pandemic continues to be felt. SKylight has worked closely with the Council ensure Covid monies have targeted those in most need at our Temporary Accommodation schemes and to customers through Your Local Pantry and the Furniture Recycling Service. It has been so positive to see many of our activities with young people being delivered again this year. The Mental Resilience programme delivered in schools and the holiday club provision have been more impactful than ever. In recognition of our growth and ambitions for the future, an opportunity has been taken to review our brand and move towards a more aspirational name which reflects both the evolution of the charitable arm and the growth and progression of the many customers who access services. In 2022 Foundations therefore became SKylight. I would like to thank the Board Members for their dedication, strategic focus and support for SKylight, and the staff for their enthusiasm, commitment and positivity, and I look forward to achieving even more over the coming year. Roger 2
Welcome to SKylight
We are a Charitable Community Benefit Society established in 2018. SKylight has four broad key aims stated in its governing document and activity is structured and prioritised to deliver against these aims.
Our Aims •
Supporting people into employment, relieving poverty, relieving food poverty and developing digital skills
•
Supporting customers in local communities and delivering support services to help people live independently
•
Empowering communities to develop networks of support, including targeted work with people who may experience disadvantage such as people with disabilities, from BAME communities and those with complex needs
•
Working in partnership to reduce demand on statutory services; and supporting the development of the third sector, ensuring additional resources and services are secured
3
Employment Support
Through our Motiv8 service, we work with people who face challenges in their lives to move towards education, training and employment.
269
new referrals received
184
846
people helped to achieve their goals around health and wellbeing, confidence, managing money and employment
33
people started job searching
117
people successfully supported
people are still being supported on their journey towards employment
35
people moved into education and training
17
people secured a job and nine started volunteering
Laura’s story Laura experienced domestic violence and struggled with anxiety and depression, made worse over the pandemic and lockdowns. She was struggling financially and living in fear of her abuser who lived locally. Her Motiv8 keyworker supported her to sign up for Universal Credit and have a benefits check, before giving Laura confidence to attend boxing sessions, resilience session and developing a CV. She developed an interest in starting up her own cleaning business, and having applied for the New Enterprise Allowance Scheme, she received training and support which led to her business plan being approved. Laura then secured a laptop and created a website. The business has become so popular that she has had to start taking on staff to meet demands. Laura is so grateful for all the support she has received.
4
Apprenticeships SKylight continues to support apprentices. To date 19 roles have been converted into apprenticeships. This gives people the opportunity to work and gain a qualification.
Kickstart The Employment Team supported 16 individuals aged between 16 – 24 years to secure a six-month placement across SKylight and SHG. The Employment Team also supported eight placements at our partner B4Box. The Team have supported 20 placements with Stockport Council.
5
Furniture recycling project
The project collects good quality donated furniture and recycles it to help households who need basic items such as fridges, washing machines, cookers, beds and wardrobes. The items are either gifted or sold at low cost.
• Furniture was donated by 350 households • Furniture was given to 450 households in need with 1,226 individual pieces of furniture and white goods provided. • 47.32 tonnes of furniture and white goods were saved from going to landfill. That’s the same as six adult male elephants. • £55,182 was secured from Covid 19 Winter Grant Fund through Stockport Council to support vulnerable customers with cookers and beds “The whole process was excellent, all three members of the team that collected our items were courteous, polite, and thanked us for our donations. Please give them our personal thank you.”
“I would have struggled to furnish my property and I have no family to support me.”Customer of
Furniture Recycling Service
Donor to Furniture Recycling Service
We are always looking for volunteers to help with cleaning and repairing household items as well as collections and deliveries. Please contact us at furniture@stockporthomes.org if you are interested in volunteering. 6
Your Local Pantry is our award-winning national network of community food stores, started here in Stockport. Local people can buy low-cost food for a weekly membership fee of just £3.50 for 10 items of food. The pantries not only reduce food bills for people but provide volunteering opportunities as the pantries are community led.
9,298
pantry shops were completed by members, an increase of 28% from last year.
637
new members joined this year Savings to members across all pantries of
£153,417
The pantries generated
£85,496
of social value from volunteering
38 new volunteers
have been recruited and trained and 4,869 volunteering hours given.
Secured grants of £55,458.05 7
68
Your Local Pantries are now open across the UK supporting over 66,000 individuals and 8,900 families.
Youth provision
SKylight provides holiday clubs for young people aged 11-17, partly funded by the National Holiday Activity and food programme (HAF).
• Supported eight schools and 131 young people • Delivered 244 places at holiday clubs to young people aged 11-17 • 190 wellbeing packs were made and distributed to support Children’s Mental Health Day
8
Youth diversionary Our Youth Diversionary Officer supports young people aged under 25 who are involved in anti-social behaviour, at risk of offending or failing in their tenancies. Each young person has a tailored action plan and goals. The service officer supported 12 young people aged between 11-23.
The role also delivered 148 evening activity sessions to young people, with 1,697 attendances over the year.
Offender engagement
Over 100 people have been supported by the Offender Engagement Officer over the year. This year the post has: • Delivered a three-month intensive programme with ex-offenders currently living in Temporary Accommodation schemes including support to manage current accommodation and explore housing options, access to training and employment and developing independent living skills and healthy lifestyles • Co-located at Stockport Women’s Centre to support female offenders • Established regular meetings with the National Probation Service and Integrated Offender Management Service to provide seamless support to offenders 9
Rough Sleeper project
SKylight is working with GM partners on the Rough Sleeper Initiative (RSI) to help reduce the number of people rough sleeping and get people rehoused. This year the service has: • • • •
Responded to 244 reports of rough sleeping with 54 confirmations of a rough sleeper Supported 31 people who were sleeping rough to move off the streets into emergency or short-term accommodation 21 of those secured a move into a tenancy of their own Five people who were sleeping rough were supported into tenancies through the Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme (RSAP) or GMHF moving directly into their tenancy from rough sleeping
GM Housing First Move On Fund (GMHF)
The Move-On Fund increases availability of housing for rent for people affected by homelessness and / or domestic abuse.
GMHF is a three-year pilot to provide safe, secure homes for more than 300 people across Greater Manchester who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. SKylight is responsible for delivery of the pilot in Stockport. • 16 people have been supported into accommodation in the area of their choice. • Four of these people have started volunteering and one has started part time employment after over a decade of struggles with mental health and substance misuse.
Four of the six customers supported into tenancies by the service are successfully sustaining these.
10
Domestic Abuse Case Officer
SKylight has a range of specialist officers working with vulnerable people including a Mental Health Support Worker, Domestic Abuse Case Worker, Exploitation Protection Officer and Offender Worker.
This role has supported 225 households to help keep survivors safe at home and supporting those at the highest risk to relocate to new accommodation.
Mental Health Support Worker
Exploitation Protection Officer
The Mental Health & Housing Support Worker received 105 referrals this year from a wide range of sources. Outcomes include:
49
SKylight secured funding from the Safer Stockport Partnership to employ a dedicated officer to tackle the growing problem of exploitation and “cuckooing” of vulnerable people. The role was created in January 2022 and has since supported with 17 cases.
people engaged with primary care after discharge from inpatient treatment at Stepping Hill Hospital
Julie Mcilwraith Mental Health Worker
Azhar Baz Offender Outreach Officer 11
Tia Day Domestic Abuse Case Worker
Working in partnership to support and grow our local Third Sector SKylight continues to work closely with Sector 3 to support the development of the Third Sector in Stockport.
• • • •
Funding the Future event held with 51 attendees from local third sector organisations. Supported civil society groups to secure £491,366 Supported over 200 groups with funding searches, advice and bid writing support Organised and delivered an online session for local groups with the National Lottery
12
SKylight Community Fund
The Community Fund provides funding for projects and activities which improve the neighbourhoods where SHG manage properties and make a genuine difference to peoples lives. To support more bids the amount available to groups was increased from £1k to £2k. The full amount of £50,000 was allocated with an average funding award of £1,354.
Ho Shin Do Youth Project Awarded £1000
The youth project aims to reach young people from diverse backgrounds living in Reddish and Cheadle Heath offering an 8 week programme geared towards physical, mental wellbeing and selfdefence. The fund enabled purchase of equipment, room hire and publicity.
Rescare Awarded £1760
The Caring for the Carers programme will connect and support carers with a networking, mutual support and wellbeing session every two months. Each session will be free to users providing networking and wellbeing events in Stockport who care for a family member with learning disabilities.
Drywave Recovery Awarded £1000
Publicity for Drywaves Dayrave, session facilitators and equipment hire. Facilitation of 12 online ‘pro-social’ creative/mindfulness classes engaging residents in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse.
Partnerships SKylight would like to thank its many partners for their support this year and look forward to more opportunities to work together in the coming year. 13
Investing in our communities
SKylight is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and its finances are independently audited with a set of statutory accounts produced each year. Our main source of income is Gift Aid donations, funding to deliver services by the local authority and through other government contracts and membership/subscription fees. SKylight would like to thank all those who have provided financial and other support during 2021/22 including:
How much we invested in services
Your Local Pantry Housing First
£83,313
Fabulous SKylight
£2,715
14
£66,948
Rough Sleepers Initiative
£95,342
Apprenticeships
£203,334
Motiv8
£2,125,435
£65,294
Furniture Recycling
ASB Prevention Delivery
Total
£129,385
£229,447
Move-On Fund
£19,520
Offender Engagement
£32,977
Access & Support
£364,452
Afghan Income
£26,678
Gift Aid & Donations
£804,000
A new name to reflect our new direction
The sky’s the limit when it comes to the services we can now provide and as such, we’ve taken the opportunity to rebrand. From 2022, SKylight will be rebranded as SKylight, a name which reflects our Stockport heritage and location. Roger Phillips explains: ‘As Foundations, our name reflected our actions. We provided building blocks to improve the prospects of those who needed us. Over the last four years, we’ve grown along with our customers and can now do so much more, such as providing employment support and training. With new services, we want a name that will encourage the idea of looking upwards to a more positive future. To show that there is light at the end of the tunnel.’ The aim of Skylight will be to enhance the work done by Stockport Homes Group in terms of employment support, food poverty and helping people across Greater Manchester to live independently whilst reducing the demand on statutory services.
New services under Skylight: • CV support • Interview training • Skills courses
• Temporary accommodation for homeless • Community fund
Meet the new brand
Watch us as we continue to grow and evolve. We want to make people feel better about themselves, move forward and achieve positive outcomes. 15