Breathe is a new division of Adactus that encompasses neighbourhood development, local resident involvement, energy efficiency, climate change, employability and training.  Our neighbourhood development projects are focused specifically in Manchester, Cheshire and Neston; and our work around employability and climate change is being delivered across the group.

Two Neighbourhood Development Officers are responsible for delivering community engagement and regeneration projects in neighbourhoods that we have a strategic interest.  For example, we are currently engaging with residents in Abbey Hey where Adactus have recently acquired stock from Places for People.  Adactus are investing to bring long term void properties back into use, including converting two bed terraces into family homes.

We have also been instrumental in setting up OurMossSide; a neighbourhood management model where Adactus, other key Housing Associations and council departments work in partnership to deliver a better environment, improved community safety, employment and training and an improved reputation for the area.

Through the Neighbourhood Fund we recently allocated over £75,000 to fund projects benefiting neighbourhoods that we work in. The successful projects will use the funding for alley gating schemes, football projects, environmental improvements to communal spaces and community events. 

Residents will be instrumental in monitoring the projects and ensuring that projects are delivered. Breathe recruit and manage the local area panels which comprise residents in North Manchester, South Manchester and Neston and provide scrutiny on issues specific to their neighbourhoods. The breathe Team will also assist resident groups in setting up and becoming constituted.

We are committed to reducing the impact we have on the global and local environment. We have a Sustainability Plan which aims to reduce our energy & water consumption, minimise waste, protect the natural environment and promote biodiversity. We have been working closely with the Carbon Trust & have recently produced a Carbon Management Plan so that we can start to intervene and invest in areas that will have the greatest impact in reducing our carbon footprint. We will also be working with people to raise awareness, influence behaviours and perceptions amongst our staff, partners and communities.

Tackling worklessness amongst our tenants helps our communities to thrive and is an important part of what our housing association is able to offer. Our focus is on assisting tenants in obtaining sustainable jobs providing security to those entering the workplace. We aim to understand the barriers facing tenants and come up with solutions to remove them by working in partnership with other statutory and specialist organisations. Current projects include Future Jobs Fund, AYUPP (Adactus Young Unemployed People Package), Help Direct pilot project in Chorley in partnership with LCC.