Black Country Housing Group is a well-run not-for-profit social housing organisation. For 50 years we have been providing affordable and comfortable homes across the Black Country and Birmingham. 
  

We also create a positive social impact by supporting individuals and local businesses thrive through our Social Business Team. The team gets involved in various projects including:  

  • Supporting ex-homeless people into living independently in a BCHG property (Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme) 

  • Supporting people in danger of homelessness with job and welfare applications (Homeless Prevention) 

  • Helping young people leaving the care system with independent living skills (Care to Mentor) 

  • Helping organisations across the Black Country to develop their support for people who need help with IT skills and equipment through a ‘train the trainer’ programme and laptop gifting to enable the community groups to support those who are digitally disconnected (Digital Dynasty) 

We also have our own tenant support programme where the team have been helping our own tenants with a range of services such as: 

  • Budgeting - to enable payment of rents and other key bills 

  • Support with Benefits applications  

  • Support with applying for local authority grant schemes  

  • Support with applying for rebates such as warm homes discount, water assure tariff, council tax rebates 

  • Employability advice and guidance 

  • Referrals where appropriate to specialist agencies   

Between April 2023 – January 2024 we have worked with 171 BCHG tenants providing the above support. 

Testimonials
 
''I think it’s really good when J and M come, as it brings everyone together and we get on really well. The food is always impeccable, and it helps with everyone’s wellbeing as M and J have so much energy". -Young person in Supported Living Accommodation commenting on our LifeSkills programme 

"Within my journey in the Care to Mentor scheme so far, I am incredibly grateful for the support in helping me regain employment and accommodation, and various other support I have received." -Young person leaving care who the BCHG Social Business Team worked with to find work and accommodation. 

"The training has been fabulous, we have learnt something new every session" – volunteer at Dorothy Parkes Community Centre Smethwick commenting on the digital skills training the Social Business Team at BCHG provided. 

"The training has been very informative and well presented in ‘people speak’. K keeps the pace of learning just right for all the folks in the group, and we have really enjoyed learning. K is a brilliant tutor. We feel confident to do this ourselves and help others" – Volunteers / Staff at Cradley Heath Community Link. 

"I want to say thank you so much for passing my information onto BCHG’s Social Business Team...you care about the residents here and are so helpful, which I needed to get back on my feet again" - BCHG tenant  

If you are a BCHG customer and need support from our Social Business Team, please contact your Customer Relations Manager (CRM) for a referral here