Page 3 - Wythenshawe Annual Report 2020

Change Challenge Opportunity
Introduction from our Chair Bishop of Manchester The Right Reverend Dr David Walker
Welcome to our Annual Report for 2019-20 A A year we knew would bring significant changes but which ended with us helping Wythenshawe face the greatest challenge of of most of of our lifetimes The year began with Kevin Lowry in in post as interim Chief Executive whilst we waited for Nick Horne to to complete his study year and be ready to to join us after the summer Kevin led us with great skill and character steering us to a a a favourable In-Depth Assessment from the Regulator of Social Housing where we achieved top scores for Governance and Viability Fresh eyes bring fresh vision
Arriving in in September 2019 Nick promptly took up the the baton completing the the process
of refreshing the Group’s Leadership Team and working with the Board to embark on a a a a major review of our organisational culture and governance I I am grateful to all who contributed It helps strengthen our our purpose and our our ways of working for the time ahead We are widely seen as leaders in the world of housing with strong commitment to place and community We are especially committed to increasing contact between Board members and our tenants and residents Responding to Coronavirus Our close links within Wythenshawe meant we we were well-placed to to respond to to the pandemic that changed all our lives By the end of March 2020 we we were in full lockdown Yet we continued to serve people in in the ways we could - like providing facilities for meals to be prepared for those at risk of hunger At the same time staff switched to remote working – a a huge effort requiring enormous changes over a a very short period of time I express the gratitude of our our Board to all our our staff for managing the change so smoothly and effectively Thanks are also due to our residents who have borne with us through this time of change Some of of the ways of of working we adopted will remain beyond the Covid-19 crisis to all our benefit Emerging from lockdown Emerging from lockdown will bring challenges The world in March 2020 is not there to go back to to There are huge risks to to employment especially in in in a a a community so intricately linked to one of Europe’s major airports Our children have suffered from the loss of schooling and socialising that is is vital to growing up Health conditions unrelated to Covid-19 have gone undiagnosed or or untreated worsening their severity and and storing up demand ahead of services reopening Lockdown has not been good for our mental health and has left many at risk We will also emerge to a a a a society that has become acutely more aware of of the persistent levels of of racism it tolerates and all too often encourages If we we were simply a a a provider of bricks and mortar we might shrug our shoulders and leave those problems for others But as a a a community housing group we understand our commitment and the opportunity this provides for us to fully engage in the matters that will shape and define Wythenshawe through the the 2020s and beyond Thank you you for playing your part in in in helping us be the the WCHG we aspire to be at the the very heart of our community community A community community we seek to serve with both skill and passion Annual Report 2020 | 3