Business Plan 2004-09: Background & History

Executive Summary Background & History The World We Work In Our Customers Looking to the Future Going Forward Financial Projections

Innisfree was formed in 1985 to meet the acute housing needs of homeless and inadequately housed Irish people living in London. In 1989 Innisfree registered with the Housing Corporation.

The organisation started by managing a small number of short life properties located across a couple of London boroughs. Over the past 20 years we have gone through a period of steady growth. We are now a well-established and highly regarded social housing provider.

Innisfree now has over 323 permanent homes in ownership. As well as general needs housing Innisfree provides a range of supported housing services to its customers including sheltered housing for Irish elders.

We have a significant development pipeline with projected growth of at least 50 units anticipated between 2004 and 2006.

The Board

The association is governed by a strong Board. Board members come from a variety of backgrounds and offer an extensive range of skills and experience. These are detailed in Appendix 1.

Our Tenants

Tenants are encouraged to play an active role within the organisation. A number of tenant members sit on the Board or its sub committees. We are committed to ensuring that all approaches to tenant involvement are fully explored so that every one of our tenants has the opportunity to contribute in the way they feel most appropriate.

The Staff

The staff team is Innisfree's key asset and resource. Staff are both committed and competent. They recognise the significance of being Irish and the importance of providing services in a culturally sensitive way. The Staff Structure Chart in Appendix 2 sets out the key positions within the organisation. Staff work closely together, across departmental boundaries, to meet the aims of the organisation. As an organisation, Innisfree places a great deal of emphasis on attention to detail and delivering high quality services in an efficient and effective manner.

Stakeholders

We consult regularly with our stakeholders. A survey carried out in 2003 demonstrated that most of them think we are doing a very good job. This is available on our website. An Executive Summary appears as Appendix 7.

Friends of Innisfree

The Friends of Innisfree was set up to support and promote the work of the organisation. It has attracted a number of prominent people. The association receives vital help, support and encouragement from Friends of Innisfree. This enables the association to distribute at least £5000 a year in small grants for projects and to individuals in extreme need.

Aims and values of the organisation

Innisfree recognises the importance of providing a culturally sensitive service for Irish people. Innisfree was set up in order to meet the needs of the Irish community and this remains at the core of our aims and values.

Innisfree is non-political, non-religious and non-judgemental. It caters for the needs of all Irish people.

We are iN Business for neighbourhoods and put our energy into creating places where people want to live. Our tenants are the driving force behind everything we do.

Innisfree is committed to the pursuit of excellence and improvement and is responsive to new ideas and change. At the same time, we recognise the importance of financial viability and solid performance which is open to scrutiny by all of our stakeholders.

Innisfree's aims guide the work of the organisation. They are summarised below:

Our Aims

to provide a housing and support service catering primarily for the needs of the Irish community in London;
to provide an excellent service to our tenants, engaging with them and responding to their views;
to do all we can to create harmonious neighbourhoods, dealing firmly with nuisance and bad behaviour;
to work in partnership with local people, councils and other agencies;
to seek development opportunities for more housing in the greater London area;
to find innovative solutions to "old" problems;
to raise public awareness of Irish housing need and the demand for increased provision;
to ensure the continued financial health of Innisfree;
to respond with innovation and creativity to a changing environment;
to maintain the confidence of all our stakeholders;
to ensure that we have skilled, motivated and properly equipped staff and board members;
to promote our Irish identity.