FEATURE
“ Our strategy is to work with and make sure we ’ re not doing to our communities .” benefit from quality shopping at knockdown prices , but volunteers work at the shop and gain experience of retail , stock management and customer service , which could help them with their future careers .
“ We ’ ve had loads of support from Thirteen to get the eco-shop open and it ’ s great to have them and other partners on board . I ’ m grateful for all their help , as Thirteen ’ s funding played a big part in our revamp to get the shop opened .”
Thirteen ’ s newly-developed community resilience strategy sets out its commitment to engage , support and collaborate with community partners . The eco-shop demonstrates Thirteen ’ s support for a community enterprise , working for the good of its customers and other residents .
The strategy charts a path to help create quality places and sustainable communities in which customers are proud to live , and communities can build resilience to help themselves .
Involving partners Angela continued : “ We aim to make the best use of our resources and target the people in our communities who need us the most .
“ Our strategy is to work with and make sure we ’ re not doing to our communities , so one of our major workstreams is to help customers help themselves through training , skills and employment .
“ Importantly , we ’ re working with partners to help grow people ’ s confidence and identify how they can access courses and training , with the ultimate aim of creating more jobs in our region . So we ’ re keen to hear from any partners who ’ d like to get involved with this , or any other work that can help build resilience in our communities .”
Thirteen is already working with numerous partners to implement projects in communities that need more support . Organisations such as Teesside University , schools , councils , the police , local businesses , charities and community groups have worked with Thirteen on a range of projects .
Through our procurement processes , we can also have a greater impact on communities by buying local and employing local , where possible .
Data-led approach Bringing expertise and information from partner organisations and using the information to better inform initiatives is another important strand of Thirteen ’ s work .
To help with this , the organisation is taking a data-led approach to better identify and target work within communities .
The housing association is using Microsoft ’ s Power BI combined with its own and other organisations ’ GIS data to better understand how communities can affect – or be affected by – a range of external changes .
Angela said : “ Thirteen is combining internal and external data , such as information about unemployment levels , deprivation , crime and antisocial behaviour , to help us understand differences and issues at a grass roots level , and target and prioritise support for communities .
“ This also helps us understand who we need to work with and the interventions required in an area to help that community thrive .”
Tackling digital exclusion As part of this drive to target resources , Thirteen provided funding to help local people to get online and tackle digital exclusion during the pandemic .
Thirteen worked with a group of organisations from across Middlesbrough to develop a long-term , sustainable solution to provide digital inclusivity for all .
Funding was awarded to the Hope Foundation to help develop an online system enabling organisations to donate and recycle IT devices to local people and help overcome some of the challenges they face to get online .
Angela concluded : “ We know our communities are diverse and their needs vary depending on so many things .
“ To empower and support our communities , we ’ re working hard to fully understand their differences , strengths and priorities , and work with partners to put customers at the heart of everything we do .”
If organisations are interested in working with Thirteen on its community resilience projects , you can contact community . resilience @ thirteengroup . co . uk
The voice of business in the Tees region | 79