By Will Blundell, Work Placement and Training Officer – and ForHousing Tenant
Match My Project is a new way for ForHousing to make sure support from contractors reaches tenants and communities where it’s really needed.
As someone who both works for ForHousing and lives in one of our homes, I know how important it is that services actually work for the people who live here. For me, it’s about doing things in a way that positively impacts tenants’ lives, not just ticking boxes.
That’s why I’m really pleased to see Match My Project launching.
Match My Project is an online system that tenants and community groups can submit requests for things like materials, labour, training or help with local projects. Our contractors can then match their support to needs of our communities based on what they offer.
What difference will this make to my community?
Match My Project makes it easier for community needs to be seen, understood and supported. It allows tenant and community groups to say what help they need, things like:
- Improvements to shared or community spaces
- Support for local projects or activities
- Training, skills or work opportunities
Contractors who work with ForHousing can then step in to help with these requests helping ForHousing and partners to really listen to what communities need, and act upon them.
To me, social value is about real opportunities, not promises on paper. It’s about making sure investment in our homes also brings benefits to the people who live in them.
Match My Project helps turn good intentions into action. It gives contractors a clear way to support local communities, and it gives tenants more influence over the help their area receives.
Match My Project is currently being tested with a small number of partners and community groups. If it works as expected, it will become part of how ForHousing works with contractors in the future.
That means more focus on:
- Local support
- Community improvements
- Opportunities for tenants
As a tenant, this is something I really welcome and I’m really excited to see what happens next. I promise to keep everyone updated when it officially launches and passes the pilot stage.
