A NEW three-year community strategy has been published by Manningham Housing Association (MHA) in a bid to make a difference in Bradford.

It will build on the association’s award-winning work to support neighbourhoods in the district during and since the pandemic.

The 22-page document, Improving Quality of Life and Making a Difference, comes after a community consultation which sought the views of MHA tenants, staff and key partner agencies in Bradford and Keighley.

The previous strategy, which covered the period from 2019-2022, delivered a series of successful community initiatives including Building Bridges Bradford, Let’s Get On, BAME Ladies Smashing Boundarie,s and Young in Covid. 

More than 4,800 local people were actively involved in the projects which collectively attracted more than £391,000 in funding from external sources.

The new MHA Community Investment Strategy 2023-2025 focuses on shared community priorities identified in the consultation. 

These include reducing health inequality, tackling social deprivation, combating poverty, improving training and employability, addressing fuel poverty, increasing energy efficiency, sustaining tenancies and lessening the impact of welfare reforms, the rising cost of living and soaring energy prices on household budgets.

The document also sets out a three-year action plan to be reviewed annually.

Sadar Uddin, MHA community partnership and investment manager, said: “The previous Community Investment Strategy achieved so much despite the challenges of Covid-19. 

“With these restrictions gone and with knowledge gained from the consultation exercise, we believe the new strategy will enable MHA to use our internal resources and attract external funding to maximise benefits and improve the quality of life for our residents and communities.” 

Ulfat Hussain, MHA deputy chief executive and director of operations, said: “We are proud to be so much more than a housing provider.  MHA is equally committed to our community investment offer which has been carefully crafted to meet the needs of local people.       

“Our Community Investment Team is renowned for its forward-thinking approach to community development, creating opportunities, housing solutions, learning, health and wellbeing and many other innovative initiatives that improve the quality of life for our residents.

“Through our new Community Investment Strategy, we will strive to be pioneers in devising projects that truly make a positive difference.”

In 2021, MHA triumphed in the Outstanding Approaches to Communications category at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Northern Awards.

Last year, the association’s Community Engagement Team secured the Northern Housing Team of the Year Award for their success in delivering Building Bridges Bradford, devised to bolster community resilience.