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An award winning charity, Leeds Action to Create
Homes (LATCH), is looking forward to a 'greener' future and
the creation of new jobs thanks to help and support from West
Yorkshire Social Enterprise Link (WYSE Link). WYSE Link is
a sub brand of Business Link West Yorkshire, funded by Yorkshire
Forward.
Founded in 1989 by two students, LATCH is a
self-help housing charity that works with volunteers and homeless
people in Leeds to refurbish previously empty, derelict and
run-down houses, which eventually become much needed homes
for people aged 16 to 60 who are homeless or in housing need.
The charity also offers a Floating Support Service that provides
support to people in their own homes.
With help from Social Enterprise Link, LATCH
recently began to look at restructuring its activities, including
the opening of a workshop and training facilities to teach
tenants and volunteers how to manage their property in an
environmentally friendly way.
James Hartley, a collective housing worker with
LATCH, explained: " Social Enterprise Link has provided us
with a raft of on going support and advice. We are aware of
the importance of making our properties more environmentally
friendly and our dedicated workshop enables us to pass on
these invaluable skills to the people we help.
"Thanks to the expertise of Inam Ratyal, our
Social Enterprise Link adviser, we were also able to obtain
a Learning Support grant to access the services of an external
consultant to advice us on property linked energy efficiency
matters. Inam also arranged a Business Development grant which
we will use to pay for a new worker."
With support and funding from various organisations,
including the National Lottery and Leeds City Council, LATCH
has completed several successful projects. In 1994 it was
presented with the Community Enterprise Award for Housing
and Homelessness by the Prince of Wales and in 2001 was the
recipient of the Big Issue, 'Big Difference Award'.
LATCH has now obtained new premises for its
workshop in Chapeltown and, subject to planning permission,
the renovation works will begin later this year. The workshop
is expected to be open in the summer of 2008.
James added: "For the past three years we have
built up a great relationship with our Social Enterprise Link
adviser, who has helped us in so many ways, including becoming
a more sustainable Social Enterprise."
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For
the past three years we have built up a great relationship
with our Social Enterprise Link adviser, who has helped us
in so many ways, including becoming a more sustainable Social
Enterprise." James Hartley, LATCH
