No. 32/04

Press Release: 4 August 2004

SOUTH EAST RECEIVES OVER £230K INNOVATION AND GOOD PRACTICE CASH BOOST

The south east of England will benefit from a £236,250 cash windfall as part of a package of grants to encourage innovation and good practice in housing, announced today by the Housing Corporation.

The three projects funded are all specifically designed to encourage residents to have a greater say in how their neighbourhoods are run and managed.

The largest single grant of £120,000 goes to three housing associations working in the Thames Gateway growth area, to develop a model for resident engagement.

Elsewhere, there is £79,140 to research, and develop a strategy to meet, the housing aspirations of Black and Minority Ethnic residents in Southampton; and £37,210 for a resident skills training programme in Wessex.

Housing Corporation chief executive, Jon Rouse, said: "Our Investment and Good Practice programme, and particularly the Community Training and Enabling element, delivers much-needed funds to meet local priorities. This is real cash, going direct to real people who are engaged in initiatives which benefit entire communities.

"Over the years, our IGP programme has funded a raft of pioneering projects, many of which have subsequently paved the way as examples of best practice within the sector. I am delighted that the package we are announcing today will ensure that this good work continues."

The Corporation is also implementing a number of wide-ranging changes to the IGP programme to better reflect central and regional Government priorities.

The IGP programme was launched in 1995 and has funded over 2000 projects to date, to the tune of £75m.

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For more information contact Gillian Watson on 020 7393 2095; email: gillian.watson@housingcorp.gsx.gov.uk, or Robert Davies on 020 7393 2227; email: robert.davies@housingcorp.gsx.gov.uk

Notes to Editors

The Housing Corporation is the Government agency responsible for regulating and investing in over 2,000 housing associations in England. It is changing the face of affordable homes, creating strong communities that are exciting places to live and work. Its biggest ever investment programe of £3.3 billion for 2004-06 will fund over 67,000 affordable homes. 16,000 of these will go to key workers and 25% will use some form of modern methods of construction.