Victoria North: Social benefit community hub set up at major regeneration site

  • Thursday 3 November 2022

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A new hub has opened at Red Bank – a site part of the Victoria North regeneration programme – that will help people with employment, training and digital access.

The Victoria North Community Hub has been set up by BAM Nuttall and Arup – the contractor working on the Red Bank phase of the regeneration project as part of their social value commitment to the developments. 

The City Council has developed a programme of support to help residents in north Manchester, alongside a range of support sessions run by a host of Manchester-based voluntary organisations.

Victoria North is one of the largest regeneration schemes in the UK and the Community Hub aims to demonstrate how projects such as this can be delivered in an inclusive way and positively impact local communities.

BAM Nuttall and Arup are providing the hub with access to laptops and free wi-fi, to allow residents to search for jobs, get support with applications and find training opportunities, as well as to access housing and income advice. 

On-site staff will also provide computer literacy support – and the hub will be used to advertise job roles available as part of the Victoria North regeneration programme, and wider employment opportunities in the contractor supply chain.

Yes Manchester CIO will deliver the programme of support for residents. The organisation works to relieve unemployment and poverty, and provides supportive, whole-person information, advice, and guidance for unemployed and under-employed individuals – or someone who has a job but is still reliant on benefits. 

Yes Manchester will be based at the hub on Fridays from 9.30 to 2pm.

The First Asian Support Trust (FAST) will also run support sessions from the hub every Tuesday 10 to 3pm. 

Discussions are ongoing with other community groups, including North Manchester Community Partnerships (NMCP) to use the space, and the Council’s Manchester Adult Education Service (MAES) could also locate sessions at the hub. 

The hub will be open to residents during pre-planned sessions with community organisations rather than on a drop-in basis.  

Community groups interested in holding support sessions at the hub can contact Bam Nuttall, by emailing VictoriaNorthProject@bamnuttall.co.uk

The space will be available until Spring 2024

Bam Nuttall Site Compound, Hargreaves Street, Manchester, M4 4EJ 

Victoria North is a joint venture programme between Manchester City Council and developer Far East Consortium (FEC).   

Over the next 15 to 20 years, the Victoria North project will deliver more than 15,000 new homes (at least 20% of which will be affordable housing) using largely brownfield land, with each neighbourhood connected by high quality green spaces and 46-hectare City River Park, opening up and celebrating the Irk River Valley for the first time in decades. 

 

Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said: 

 “Manchester has enjoyed significant growth and success over the last two decades and it’s important that we use the investment coming into the city to benefit our residents – and demonstrate that regeneration programmes like Victoria North can have a sustainable, positive impact for all of our residents.

“Social Value – how developments give back to the city – is a big part of how we work with contractors and it’s great to see BAM, ARUP and Yes Manchester come together to deliver this hub that will continue to help residents throughout the lifetime of the Red Bank development, creating a lasting legacy for the regeneration in this area.

“I hope residents take advantage of what the hub can offer, providing a range of employment opportunities and digital access for the people of north Manchester.” 

Kate O’Connell, Operations Manager, BAM Nuttall, said:  

“BAM is committed to giving back to the communities which surround our projects. The creation of the new hub at Red Bank, enables us to support local north Manchester residents, by providing outreach support to people seeking employment through the construction of the regeneration project and removing the barriers caused by digital exclusion.” 

Sheila Sturgeon, Chief Executive of Yes, said:  

“Yes Manchester CIO is excited to have the opportunity of reaching people in Cheetham and the north west of the city who want some help as they look for work.  We are so grateful to BAM and their partners for the support of the local community, and of Yes too.”  

Rebecca Kirkland, Community Liaison Manager at FEC, said:  

“Social value is integral to community-led regeneration – from the construction of new homes through to the legacy left by sustainable investment in local services. It’s a pleasure to see contractors already supporting the wide range of inspiring voluntary organisations like Yes that operate across North Manchester, and we look forward to them playing a key role in the future success of Red Bank and the wider Victoria North masterplan.”

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