A £12,000 community fund, managed through Caledonia’s neighbourhood officers, was created to support community organisations that deliver essential services and activities for its tenants. It ensures resources are allocated to address local needs and support community organisations that directly impact tenants’ lives, particularly during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Established using proceeds from the sale of Caledonia’s Broughty Ferry office, Northwood House in Dundee last year, the fund offers financial assistance to local organisations focusing on tackling poverty, inequality, and social isolation.

Forty organisations have received financial support from the fund including:

• Lochee Community Hub in Dundee for activities and support groups, providing essential resources and social opportunities
• Faifley Parish Church in Clydebank for providing a welcoming space for several local groups to combat social isolation, particularly among elderly residents
• Tulloch Primary School in Perth which helps families struggling to cover the cost of school trips, uniforms and snacks for their children.

Proceeds of the Northwood House sale also allowed Caledonia to extend its partnership with Scarf, the energy-saving advisory service which supports tenants to manage their energy costs, reduce carbon footprints, and stay warm including: 

• 390 tenants have benefited from the service
• Tenants have received £9,133 in energy vouchers and top-ups, providing critical financial relief
• 642 energy-saving items were provided, including energy-saving bulbs, draft excluders, and crisis support items
• It has facilitated 165 referrals to other agencies for additional support.

The sale of Northwood House additionally enabled Caledonia to join forces with Lightning Reach, the financial support portal which provides access to a range of personalised services to build financial resilience and wellbeing which has provided:

• 235 tenants have engaged with the Lightning Reach portal to explore potential support
• 103 of these tenants (57.9%) applied for grants or completed a benefits check
• £14,100 has been awarded to tenants following the completion of benefits checks.

Julie Cosgrove, chief executive at Caledonia Housing Association, said: “I am very proud of the work that we have delivered. It has been directly focused on supporting our tenants and helping them through the most challenging financial times. Partnerships are critical to providing tenants with the quality of advice and tailored support which has a positive impact and we are impressed with the service from both Scarf and Lightning Reach.

“The sale of our office has been reinvested to support our tenants and enabled us to extend these partnerships and implement a community fund to support the well-being and resilience of Caledonia’s neighbourhoods. I wish to thank The Northwood Charitable Trust for their continued support in everything that we do.”

Speaking on behalf The Northwood Charitable Trust, Blair Thomson said: “The Trust gifted Northwood House to Caledonia Housing Association, previously Servite Housing Association, in 1984 to ensure it remained a valuable part of the community. The senior team at Caledonia have been exceptional custodians of the property, and we fully supported the recent relocation to Dundee city centre.

“Proceeds from the sale of Northwood House have been directly reinvested into supporting local communities, reflecting Caledonia’s commitment to providing homes and services that make life better. Supporting community enrichment and addressing deprivation, poverty and inequality are cornerstones of The Northwood Charitable Trust’s mission, and we are delighted to see how these funds have positively impacted so many families and individuals during these challenging times.”

David Mackay, co-chief executive of Scarf, said: “It has been a difficult time for everyone practically since the cost-of-living crisis and the numbers supported reflect this. Scarf is pleased to continue to offer our advice service and advocacy support to tenants of Caledonia housing association. Scarf is available to speak to energy suppliers on behalf of tenants and support households with anything from fuel debt to improving the energy consumption of your home.”

Ren Yi Hooi, CEO & founder of Lightning Reach, added: “At Lightning Reach, we are proud to partner with Caledonia Housing Association to empower tenants during these challenging times. Together, we have streamlined access to financial support, enabling tenants to discover and secure grants, benefits, and other vital resources.

“The outcomes speak volumes - over 100 tenants have applied for grants or completed benefits checks through our portal, unlocking nearly £15,000 in additional financial support to date. This partnership is a testament to Caledonia’s commitment to building financial resilience within their communities, and we’re excited to continue working together to make a meaningful difference in tenants’ lives.”