Genesis Community, part of Genesis Housing Group, is working to help local people back into employment, starting with door-knocking on homes managed by Pathmeads (also part of Genesis) in Hackney. And the take-up rate shows early signs of success.

Of the six Hackney estates the team covered in early September, 1048 doors were knocked on and over 40 residents signed up to attend Personal Development Plan days scheduled for later this month.

The 50% of residents who were out at the time were left flyers and many have since contacted the team with an interest in signing up.

Genesis Community is approaching residents in the north west of the borough. Genesis is one of the nine social landlords Hackney Council is funding to lead on outreach work.

Personal Development Plan days will be based at local community facilities where translators, a financial advisor and job brokers will be on hand. The aim is to lead unemployed residents to employment, enterprise, training or education.

Estelle Bevis-Murrain, a Hackney resident, says "Genesis Community staff made me feel comfortable and at ease, which really made me feel confident in signing up to the project."

Iain Mackechnie-Jarvis, Head of Genesis Community, says "Genesis Community works with communities to challenge the factors that contribute to social and economic deprivation. By helping Hackney residents into employment, enterprise and training through support and facilitation as part of our Life Change Programme, we aim to tackle some of those challenges."

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For further information, or an image, please contact: Diana Evans on 020 8150 4178 / email diana.evans@ghg.org.uk

Notes to editors

Genesis Community was set up in 2005 by Genesis Housing Group. It is a charitable foundation created to fulfil Genesis Housing Group's commitments to address the challenges of deprivation and social exclusion in disadvantaged areas. Projects delivered by Genesis Community focus on the key themes of young people, vulnerable and elderly people, safer communities, financial inclusion and training and employment.

Pathmeads is a leading provider of property management services for around 20,000 homes. Its operations cover a number of key areas, including:

• Temporary housing provision whereby Pathmeads manages privately leased homes around London;
• A contracts division which manages homes for other landlords, such as local authorities, housing associations, primary care and NHS trusts, developers and private investors;
• Managing a pilot Settled Lettings Agency scheme on behalf of the Communities and Local Government department and five south east London local authorities;
• Has developed a range of 'temporary to settled' leasing schemes;
• Works with local authorities across the south of England on refurbishing and managing empty homes;
• Provides a range of contract management, block management and mixed tenure management services for local authorities and private investors.
  

Genesis Housing Group is a social investment business. It provides homes and services, supporting customers and communities to build futures. Genesis provides homes and services to tens of thousands of people across London and the south east of England. The Group consists of PCHA, Pathmeads, Springboard and St Matthew housing associations. Genesis also has in its group a charitable foundation, Genesis Community. It is one of the largest and most successful housing groups in the UK, owning and/or managing more than 38,000 homes. Its overriding aim is to put customers first and provide excellent service to all.

About the Pilot - This pilot forms the first part of Hackney City's Strategy Pathfinder Programme (also known as 'Ways into Work'), a Department of Work and Pensions-funded initiative.

There are 15 pilots nationally, are all initially set to run up to 31 March 2008. Hackney's programme is part the East London City Strategy Pathfinder programme.