As an Irish led organisation, Innisfree is committed to responding to and meeting the needs of the Irish community living in London. Services are delivered in a culturally sensitive way. Hospitality and friendliness come naturally.

Listening to our customers

In line with our commitment to provide a customer focused service, Innisfree regularly commissions surveys to establish the views of our tenants. (2000, 2003 and 2006) A new survey is being conducted in 2009.

There are many reasons for doing this:

to build up a comprehensive data base to assist us in identifying the needs of our tenants especially those who are most vulnerable;
to collect information on ethnicity, and disability as part of our ongoing commitment to equality;
to ascertain levels of satisfaction with Innisfree;
to identify priorities for service review;
To identify individuals who would be interested in involvement in the association's affairs.

The Executive Summary of the most recent survey is attached as Appendix 8. The full report is available on our website.

The Census and housing needs research

The 2001 census contained a specific Irish category for the first time. While the information available from ONS was not as helpful as had been hoped, it provided the basis for better quality research data. It is hoped that the 2011 census will provide better quality information. Our own evidence and experience indicates a growing need for provision for older Irish people and vulnerable younger single people with support needs. We hope to have the opportunity to develop additional sheltered housing for this client group as well as continuing to provide housing for families and younger single people.

Affordability and Rent Strategy

In the past, Innisfree had to recognise the fact that, compared to other associations, our rents were previously very high. This was due to historic reasons. All of Innisfree's homes have been developed since the "mixed funded regime" which was introduced in 1988. As a result, the organisation has always been dependent on private finance. However, Innisfree's rents will now meet rent restructuring requirements in 2009/10. This means that our tenants' rents are deemed affordable.

Innisfree is committed to ensuring that rent levels remain affordable. The business plan has been drafted with this in mind. In order to achieve this Innisfree has adopted a strategy based on:

rationalising the geographical spread of its stock to ensure that services can be provided in the most cost-effective way possible;
Setting rent increases at RPI plus 0.50% in line with rent restructuring requirements. This will provide the funding to enable Innisfree to maintain its properties in excellent condition;
Innisfree has achieved target rents as indicated in the previous corporate plan.

Map showing Innisfree target boroughs and Irish profile Source: National census 20

Click map for a larger version.

A MORI poll commissioned by the Mayor of London said that of the people it interviewed in London in 2001 11% had Irish parents and 18.9% had Irish grandparents.