Updated 3 June 2010
David Orr launches the Neighbourhood Audit at the Federation's national conference
The audit revealed that housing associations deliver more than 6,800 identifiable projects, many with a plethora of different activities, and hundreds of neighbourhood facilties like community centres, sports facilities and others, which contribute to the economic, environmental and social stability of our neighbourhoods.
The audit also identified that housing associations annually invest at least £435 million in this work, made up of £272 million of their own funds and an additional £163 million form other sources. This work benefits the equivalent of around one in ten of the population.
It is clear from the audit that this is the great untold story. Housing associations are often the best resourced agencies in some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country, and they are committed to the long term. They are making responsive local decisions with residents to provide a staggeringly wide range of services including community radio, children's play facilities, new business start-ups, energy efficiency programmes, healthy eating advice and food co-ops, savings schemes, retail enterprises and village halls. And that just scratches the surface. If you can think of a service, somewhere in England a housing association is providing it.