We will use the Business Plan to communicate our aims and objectives to our staff and external agencies. We will use it as a management tool to control and monitor the growth and development of the association.

We hope that the Business Plan will be a useful document for our funders, regulators and partners.

What makes Innisfree different?

Innisfree was formed in 1985 to meet the acute housing needs of homeless and badly housed Irish people in London. Innisfree recognises the importance of providing culturally sensitive services for Irish people./p>

Our community is based on a common culture rather than geography. Being emigrants is a common experience shared by tenants and most members of Innisfree's staff and Board. Growth has not compromised the "personal touch" in the services that we deliver.

Meeting our customers' needs

As part of the business planning process we have carefully analysed and explored the needs of our customers. This has included a series of detailed tenants' surveys. We have also contributed, together with other Irish HAs, to a number of research projects into London Irish housing need.

Our plans for the future

We will continue to focus on the needs of the Irish community in London, within the framework of the iN Business for Neighbourhoods programme and the wider government agenda for sustainable communities.

How we will achieve our aims

We will look at ways of extending our range of services, particularly to our most vulnerable clients. We will strive to develop additional housing with the help and support of our partners. We will focus particular attention on our work in local neighbourhoods.

Our financial strength

Innisfree has a strong balance sheet for an association of its size. Many of our properties are unencumbered and available to fund the private borrowing necessary to achieve the growth set out in this business plan. Innisfree has an existing grant allocation (in excess of £7 million) from the Housing Corporation. We also have strong partnerships with local authorities and others to enable us to deliver the homes our customers need.