Community

Jul

2024

Creativity Shines at the Better Together Community Expo

The Better Together Community Expo was more than just an event; it was a testament to the power of community and collaboration. Among the many highlights were the incredible contributions from a local hairdresser, reflexologist, student filmers, and creative artist. Here’s a closer look at their collaborative efforts and reflections on the day.

The Hairdresser’s Touch

Our local hairdresser, Kenny, brought a unique and personal touch to the Expo. Offering complimentary haircuts, Kenny not only boosted confidence but also created an opportunity for meaningful interactions.

It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces. Providing haircuts allowed me to connect with people on a personal level and offer a bit of self-care during the event.” – Kenny

Healing Through Reflexology

Louis, our skilled reflexologist, offered calming and therapeutic hand massage sessions with homemade herbal remedies that added a wellness dimension to the Expo. His services were a hit, providing much-needed relaxation and stress relief to attendees.

“I loved contributing to the community’s well-being. The Expo was a wonderful platform to introduce people to reflexology and its benefits.” – Louis

Capturing Moments: The Student Film Makers

Two talented student film makers, Renne and Kayla from Southwark College, documented the day’s activities, capturing the essence of the Expo. In the true spirit of partnership, their work will help us share the event’s impact and memories with a wider audience as well as giving them work to add to their portfolio. Check out their work below.

Creativity in Action

Giorgio, our creative artist, engaged attendees with interactive art sessions. These activities not only provided a creative outlet but also fostered a sense of connection and expression.

“Art has a way of bringing people together, and this event was a perfect example of that. Seeing participants express themselves and connect through creativity was truly rewarding.” – Giorgio

Through the Lens: The Local Photographer

Our local photographer, Julian played a crucial role in preserving the memories of the Expo. With an eye for detail, Alex captured the vibrant moments and the essence of community spirit throughout the day.

“It was a pleasure to photograph such a dynamic and positive event. Capturing the smiles, interactions, and energy of the day was incredibly rewarding.” – Julian

A Heartfelt Thank You

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Kenny, Louis, our student filmers, and Giorgio for their incredible contributions. Their collaborative spirit added a unique and enriching dimension to the Better Together Community Expo, making it a memorable experience for all.

Stay tuned for more updates about future events. Together, we continue to build a stronger, more connected community.

Jun

2024

Better Together Event Brings Community Spirit to Life

The Better Together Community Expo, held last week at Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Castle, showcased the power of community collaboration and support. Organised by Kineara, the event brought together local landlords, service providers, and individuals seeking advice on housing, education, and employment opportunities, creating a vibrant and productive atmosphere.

The Expo saw a great turnout, with attendees benefiting from the collective expertise and services provided by various partners. The Skills Centre, Southwark Private Renters’ Project, Berkeley Group, Fat May’s, The Princes Trust, Southwark College, Reed in Partnership and National Energy Action were among the notable organisations offering their support. Additionally, local professionals such as hairdresser Kenny, reflexologist Louis, and artist Giorgio provided complimentary services that added a unique touch to the event. Peckham Soup Kitchen kindly prepared and served hot food funded by Berkeley Group in Mercato Metropolitano’s community kitchen, and the event was filmed by students from Southwark College.

Commenting on the event, Maria Morgan, Founder of Kineara, said

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of this event. The sense of community spirit was truly inspiring, and we are committed to continuing our efforts to support and uplift our community.”

Our community partners were in agreement and had this to say:

“Thank you to everyone at Kineara for an incredible event that showcased an inspiring collective of individuals and local agencies making a real-time impact on communities. The commitment and enthusiasm displayed by all participants will undoubtedly enhance outcomes for the community and foster new partnerships”.

– Alex Kylen, Strategic Manager, Omnia Housing

“The event was very inspiring – it has inspired me to do more and work more with people. The name of the event really highlights truth in that as a community we are better together as I made a lot of connections and can now help more people.”

– Omoze Edeki, National Energy Action

The Expo highlighted the importance of building strong community connections and providing comprehensive support to those in need, facilitating interactions between landlords, housing groups and potential tenants as well as offering valuable advice and services in education and employment.

“I loved every minute of the event. It was very instructive. A face-to-face meeting or encounter with public service officials is always preferrable to email and Zoom meetings. I learned a great deal on the day and it was a pleasure speaking to Kineara and to others.

– Delight Amatoby, attendee

A special thanks was also given to Mercato Metropolitano for hosting the Expo in their sustainable space, which perfectly aligned with the event’s focus on community and collaboration.

As the Better Together Community Expo concludes, Kineara looks forward to building on this momentum and continuing to foster connections that benefit the community. Kineara remains dedicated to providing support and resources that empower individuals and strengthen community ties.

Oct

2023

Maria Morgan addresses Healthy City Design Congress, advocating for building and sustaining better urban health through safe, secure housing

Kineara’s founder, Maria Morgan, last night delivered a compelling keynote talk at the recent Healthy City Design International Congress, emphasising the critical need housing and health equity in our communities. The event, sponsored by Kineara’s partner Impact on Urban Health (IOUH), provided a platform for Maria to highlight Kineara’s mission and work, and to discuss the urgent need for meaningful collaboration between housing and health sectors.

Maria addresses the audience at the keynote session

In her thought-provoking speech, Maria Morgan emphasized the importance of focusing on the most “vulnerable” individuals within our communities. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the significance of our living spaces, highlighting the essential relationship between housing and health. During the pandemic, many communities experienced overcrowding, long-standing disrepair, loss of income, mental and physical health challenges, and financial concerns. Research shows that poor-quality housing has a significant impact on an individual’s health, costing the NHS billions each year.

Maria stressed the need for bold collaboration, learning from past mistakes, forward-thinking, and critical discussions regarding housing and health in challenging times, drawing attention to the fact that over 90% of Kineara’s clients experience high levels of stress and anxiety, leading to physical health issues, because of being housing insecure. She highlighted the importance of conferences like Healthy City Design in promoting urban renewal and health equity, where rich conversations and meaningful actions can take place.

The speech also drew attention to the basic human needs described by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, with an emphasis on the first tier, which includes shelter. In this tier, challenges such as air quality, food poverty, housing affordability, and safety were noted. Maria Morgan called for a stronger focus on addressing these most basic needs for better health outcomes, so everyone, including the most vulnerable, can go on to play an active role in addressing issues such as climate change and creating thriving cities and communities.

It was encouraging to hear a growing appreciation and active acknowledgement from the building planning, architecture, and Urban renewal arenas, of the link between health and housing, and their work with councils in considering wellbeing in the design process.

With Impact on Urban Health’s involvement in the conference, I’m hopeful we will begin to see a growing presence of cross-sector collaboration from ground roots organisation, housing associations, designers, architects, and of course the voice of the community, contributing to these important conversations.
Maria Morgan

Maria’s speech served as a powerful call to action. Kineara’s holistic approach, its dedication to supporting vulnerable communities, and its advocacy for the critical relationship between housing and health act as a blueprint towards achieving healthier and more equitable urban environments.

Sep

2023

Empowering Collaboration in the Private Rented Sector: Kineara hosts event to discuss the highs and lows of renting in London and bust myths about landlords and tenants

We were thrilled to host an insightful event at The Bridge in Southwark, London, bringing together an inspiring mix of landlords, support workers, and other council stakeholders from the Private Rented Sector. The event aimed to foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by all those involved in the rental market and included a performance by Cardboard Citizens. Here’s a recap of the key highlights and takeaways from the event.

Creating Stronger Connections

One of the most remarkable aspects of the event was the sense of community and camaraderie that permeated the room. Landlords, support workers, and council stakeholders engaged in open dialogues, exchanging ideas, and sharing experiences. The event provided a place for attendees to network and build meaningful connections that we hope have the potential to lead to long-term collaborations.

Making licensing work for landlords

Local licensing plays a crucial role in improving standards in the sector, and the financial schemes that are available as a result support landlords to promote sustainable investments in the Private Rented Sector. During the event, attendees had the opportunity to learn about various financial schemes available in the local area. These schemes offer assurance to landlords who may have concerns about renting to tenants receiving benefits or support services. but also contribute to the overall stability of the rental market.

Kineara’s Tenancy Sustainment Support

Attendees also gained insights into how landlords can work collaboratively with support services like Kineara to avoid the cost and stress of eviction. The tenancy sustainment approach not only benefits renters but also contributes to a positive and mutually beneficial landlord-tenant relationship.

Challenging Stigmas and Fostering Understanding

Challenging stereotypes is essential in creating a fair and equitable rental market. Cardboard Citizens led the group with moving and powerful monologues, which were created using the real input of a tenant and a local landlord we’ve worked with and brought to life. Through insightful discussions, the event addressed the stigmas held about both landlords and tenants receiving support services and animated the variety of ways tenants and landlords feel about the housing crisis and how they negotiate it. By challenging these preconceptions, it is hoped that attendees left the event with a renewed commitment to building inclusive communities and providing a supportive environment for all stakeholders in the Private Rented Sector.

Future Prospects

The success of event has inspired us to plan more engaging gatherings in the future. We are committed to continuing our efforts in empowering both landlords and renters, and facilitating partnerships between landlords, support workers, and council stakeholders. Future events will build upon the knowledge shared and create even greater opportunities for growth and collaboration in the rental market.

Kineara’s founder, Maria Morgan, commented:

“I left the PRS networking event feeling energised about the possibility of building a network where everyone in the room feels safe to share their views and leaves feeling heard. Whether you are a landlord, tenant, estate agent, Council or support service. It’s potentially the beginning of something special, where a versatile collection of voices can have meaning and add understanding to the challenging complex landscape of housing.”

A Word of Thanks

We extend our sincere gratitude to all attendees who made the event a resounding success. Your active participation, valuable insights, and enthusiasm contributed to the event’s vibrancy and impact. We would also like to express our appreciation to the organisers, speakers, and contributors for their support in delivering and facilitating a much-needed conversation.

Stay Connected

We encourage all attendees to stay connected with us for updates on future events, workshops, and networking opportunities. Let’s keep the conversations going and work together to create a stronger, more resilient Private Rented Sector.

We look forward to seeing you all at our future gatherings, and together, let’s continue to make a positive impact in the rental market.

If you would like to be invited to our next event, please email Sandra Axell at saxell@kineara.co.uk

Jul

2023

Secretary of State Gives Green Light to One of the Nation’s Largest Landlord Licensing Schemes

Southwark Council has received approval from the Secretary of State to implement one of the country’s most extensive private landlord licensing schemes, signalling improved support for private renters.

This new scheme follows the introduction of two previous licensing initiatives: a borough-wide additional licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and a smaller selective licensing scheme, initially piloted for 6 months, that covered about 6,000 properties and successfully rolled out thereafter for a five-year period.

The primary aim of the licensing scheme is to address renters’ major concerns, including unattended repairs, unresponsive landlords, and problems of damp and mould, which is a priority issue for the council. The scheme also intends to assist private tenants facing challenges related to the cost of living crisis, including fuel poverty.

Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, expressed satisfaction with the extended licensing scheme, emphasising the importance of working with landlords to improve housing standards and overall renting experience for residents.

This month, the selective licensing has been expanded to include a total of 19 out of the 23 wards in the borough. Starting from November 1 this year, additional wards will also require licensing to further enhance rental property standards and support private tenants in those areas.

Full article from Southwark Council here

Jul

2023

London Housing Panel, Chaired by Kineara, Demands Urgent Action on Homelessness Crisis

London’s homelessness crisis has reached an alarming peak, with recent statistics revealing an exceptional number of households living in temporary accommodation since 2005. Amid this pressing situation, the London Housing Panel, in collaboration with London’s Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley, and the London Housing Directors Group, has taken a stand to address the plight of thousands of homeless households trapped in temporary housing.

Kineara, as the Chair of the Working Group on Temporary Accommodation under the London Housing Panel, has played a central role in drafting and coordinating the delivery of the open letter to the government, demanding immediate action.

The Crisis at Hand

The open letter, addressed to the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, expresses collective alarm over the escalating homelessness crisis in London. While homelessness is a nationwide issue, it has hit the capital particularly hard, with nearly 60% of all households in temporary accommodation located in London. The situation is compounded by an unprecedented crisis in the procurement, supply and low standard of temporary accommodation, making it more critical than ever to find sustainable solutions.

Call for Government Action

One of the Working Group’s primary objectives is to advocate for improved housing conditions and support vulnerable individuals and families stuck in temporary accommodations that are often not fit for purpose and are far from temporary.

In the letter, the collective demands urgent government intervention to address the key challenges faced by those in temporary housing. One critical concern is to ensure that stays in temporary accommodation are as short, safe, and healthy as possible, with a strong emphasis on finding permanent homes swiftly. The Working Group calls for an increase in Discretionary Housing Payment funding to support local authorities during this crisis.

Key Proposals for Action

The open letter highlights three essential areas that demand immediate attention:

Preventing Homelessness: The letter urges long-term investment in new and existing social rented homes as the most effective way to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation and address housing inequalities. Raising Long-term Local Housing Allowance (LHA) levels is essential to prevent further homelessness and facilitate local authorities in sourcing suitable temporary accommodation.
Raising Standards: The inconsistency and poor standards in temporary accommodation pose significant challenges. The Working Group calls for new, enforceable national standards consistent with decent homes standards, applicable to all properties used for temporary accommodation, irrespective of ownership or immigration status.
Children in Temporary Accommodation: Kineara and the Working Group is dedicated to placing all children housed in temporary accommodation under the Children Act or homelessness legislation, ensuring that they have access to proper kitchen facilities. Additionally, the proposal includes the development of manuals in every borough to aid families settling in and accessing essential support services.

Conclusion

The collaboration between the London Housing Panel, London’s Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, and the London Housing Directors Group, with Kineara’s leadership, has led to a powerful call to action. The open letter demands immediate government attention to alleviate the hardships faced by homeless households in London. It is hoped that the government will respond promptly and work alongside various stakeholders to find comprehensive and sustainable solutions to the city’s growing homelessness crisis.

To read the full open letter, click here

Jun

2023

Tiyon Nettles, speaks about her experience on a work placement with Kineara

As part of her Masters Degree with Middlesex University, Tiyon was required to undertake two work placements within the field of social work. Her first role brought her to Kineara, where she has recently completed a 70-day placement.

“I needed to find a placement that would allow me to gain experience and insight within the not-for-profit sector. The university found the placement for me. I was interviewed by Housing Project Manager Sandra Axell and thereafter by Kineara’s founder, Maria. I knew immediately from hearing about the organisation and its work that Kineara would be a good fit for me, because I completely get its approach to supporting vulnerable people, basically through empowerment and holistic interpretation of a person’s situation.
By concentrating on individuals’ strengths and giving them tools to empower themselves to drive positive change, Kineara’s approach looks long term at sustaining better outcomes for people, not just temporary fixes, and I really like this way of thinking. It views key aspects of people’s lives holistically; insecure housing and poor health, education and employment because at the end of the day these are all innately linked.”

Working as a student Housing Advisor, Tiyon assisted clients with finding housing and accessing support resources. She was involved in building close relationships with partnering programs such as Southwark Law Centre and Southwark council housing, applying taught social work theory and principles to enhance Kineara’s housing intervention plan. Tiyon recalls several highlights during her time at Kineara:

“Working with the team to provide Christmas gifts to those in need over the holidays was the highlight of my placement. We worked with the local Salvation Army to gather donations of toys for children and other Christmas items – some festive decorations, warm items for cosy nights like slippers and blankets, and some food, depending on what the households needed.
Successfully allocating funding for a family in need from the Southwark Emergency and Hardship Foundation was also a key highlight of my placement.
I was also invited to be a part of Kineara’s strategy day with the whole team. A mix of informal team building and discussing the company’s short and long-term goals for the future, it was interesting and inspiring to be involved and feel like my contributions were valued.”

But the experience wasn’t always highs; as many of you working in Kineara’s line of work will know, roles like this can come with lows too:

“On one occasion, being unable to help a client locate housing before their eviction day really dispirited the client and for me was a disappointing experience. When things like this happen, it can really weigh on your mind. You need to remind yourself to stay cheerful and remember you can’t always achieve 100% success.”

With all this in mind, Tiyon reflects on the key learning she has drawn from her time at Kineara:

“The first key thing I learnt ‘in the field’ so to speak, was about applying anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive principles to my everyday dealings with clients, considering inequality in all its dimensions – class, economic status, age, sexuality, faith, and belief.
Over time I also started to understand and identify when legislation and policy was constraining a client’s rights, as well as recognising the impact of poverty and social exclusion on Kineara’s efforts to improve the economic standing of its clients.
In my brief time at Kineara, Sandra Axell and Maria Morgan have been instrumental in giving me valuable experience to enrich and support my academic learning, as well as space to be myself and shine. I would also like to thank the wider team for being extraordinary! “

Now Tiyon has finished with Kineara, she is working her second placement over 100 days, undertaking statutory work within another Local Authority in London, after which she will graduate with an MA in Social Work in September 2023.

Thank you Tiyon for your hard work and the best of luck with your future in social work!

Mar

2023

New network launches to tackle ill-health linked to poor housing

Today sees the launch of the Health and Housing Impact Network, created by Future for London and supported by Impact on Urban Health.

In response to London’s housing issues and the well-documented links between housing, health and wellbeing, the Network brings together experts from cross-sector groups that will aim to create more opportunities to join up thinking and action to tackle health inequalities.

We are excited to share that Kineara’s founder, Maria Morgan, is now on the steering group for the newly launched network to which she will bring extensive knowledge and experience of housing and wider community issues.

Maria shares her thoughts on the new network here

Jan

2023

National Story Telling Week: The power of stories in communicating Kineara’s purpose and impact

To mark this year’s National Storytelling Week, we share our thoughts and examples of how storytelling plays a vital role right across our stakeholder spectrum. From supporting people through various challenges, to demonstrating the effectiveness of our programs to clients, potential funders, partners and other service users, storytelling through reports, case studies and blogs is an integral part of our work here at Kineara

Everyone uses stories to help them make sense of who they are and the experiences they have had in their lives. Stories help us make sense of the world, recognise patterns, find meaning in things and share that understanding with others. Our stories literally make up our history.

This is why storytelling is an important feature of Kineara’s work and is present in much of our day-to-day activities. We hold space for the narratives that come directly from the people we serve and allow what is most meaningful for them to emerge through active listening and reflection.

Why we encourage storytelling

Our student volunteer Tiyon explains it like this: “Storytelling allows our clients to identify their needs and gives them a chance to reflect, this is the real strength of it. Sometimes in the process we can start to identify cognitive dissonance; this gives us a change to point out to them compassionately.”

Many of our clients have felt not listened to in the past. Whilst many of the renters we meet, for example, have a shared experience of housing insecurity or homelessness, no two circumstances are the same. But it isn’t about the ‘facts of the story’, it’s about how the story has been told.

“Through the way people tell their story, we can quickly see what is important”, Tiyon continues. “The ‘main characters’ in a story might be the Council, or other services that have been let down by other people/people. We walk people back to the main page, to their main story. We do that by thinking about options and outcomes – reframe the barriers and think about change as a positive thing for the future. Ultimately it’s about helping people reaffirm who they are, their strengths, and the possibilities that are within reach for a more positive future.”

Putting client’s needs first

When clients share their stories with us, we can help them identify points of difficulty, barriers and specific needs. With their story told as they see it, as opposed to whatever boxes are ticked on a referral form, we can work towards specific outcomes and bring in additional support that is most meaningful to then in that moment and that respects their story and history. As Tiyon says, “When we do identify their needs they’re not extrapolated from their referrals. They are needs that we hear from their story, and we confirm those together with them.”

Equally important is giving agency to people to share as much or as little as they feel comfortable. For some people, in particular with a mental health diagnosis or experiences of trauma, it can be difficult and even retraumatizing to have to explain their circumstances to each new professional that they work with. In these cases, we tread very carefully and only ask for more detail if we feel it may be relevant for the support. Part of embedding storytelling as practice is that sometimes, client stories are told over time and when they feel it’s right. It is our job to build respectful and trusting relationships with clients so they can feel comfortable doing so.

Stories as impact

Storytelling also forms the foundation of reflection and sharing between our staff and is an integral part of how we support clients facing challenges with their housing, education or wellbeing. We use stories to talk about the impact we have had, because they provide the rich detail behind a wide variety of both the barriers and solutions we work on with clients. It allows us to demonstrate how tailored the support we provide is and that demonstrate that every support journey is unique in the same way that every person is unique.

National Storytelling Week is in our view a worthy awareness day that both highlight the power of stories in all their forms – written, verbal, and digital – in reaching people of all ages and backgrounds. It also reminds us that everybody has a story to tell, so we should spend more time sharing, talking and listening. This is fundamental to how we give and receive support at Kineara.

Aug

2022

Understanding the issues facing private renters

Throughout April May and June, renters that have been supported by our services in the last year joined a team of canvassers to survey private tenants across Southwark, gathering insights into their renting situation.

Citizens Advice Southwark and the Southwark Private Renters Forum wanted to engage local private renters on the issues facing them and provide more opportunities to engage with about their rights as a tenant. For us, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to offer some paid work to renters we’ve supported on our Southwark Private Renters Project.

Led by our student social worker Aimee, and then later by a renter team leader, the team took to the streets knocking doors in Camberwell, Peckham and Elephant and Castle, handing out leaflets and putting up posters with a QR code in busy shopping areas, libraries, GP surgeries, children’s centres and more, for people to submit online

responses. Along with the rest of the Forum, who shared links to the survey on their websites and across their network, the survey received 195 responses from renters across the borough.

For our service users, the opportunity to take on some ad hoc paid work that didn’t interfere with their benefits, but that also provided extra income, was a welcome and offer. It was also a chance to increase confidence and connect to more people, in particular for those who have been out of work for some time or isolated in their community. Many of those who have taken part have been able to spend the money they earned on items for their property or contributing to their rent.

“It has been an amazing experience to be able to provide employment opportunities to residents, especially during a financial crisis. Many of those who have taken part have used their pay to buy items for their property or to help towards their rent.” – Carly Jones, Operations Manager

What did we learn?

The Private Renters Forum has been gathering the results of the survey, as well as insights gathered in several Know Your Rights sessions delivered across May. Much of the learnings we gathered reflects what our own clients have been facing over the last year. For example, many people cited they had issues with landlords not responding quickly enough to disrepair issues; the affordability crisis with very high rents putting pressure on household finances and making tenancies insecure; and stress around not being able to afford properties in their chosen area, with some being forced out of borough to find a suitable home.

The engagement work of the Private Renters Forum in Southwark will continue over the next several months, with more Know Your Rights sessions at local services and further surveys. In addition, a new website, social media channels and events will be set up to continue sharing advice about tenant’s rights.

Meanwhile, the survey is still open for responses from any Southwark-based private renters who would like to contribute to the research – you can fill in your responses here.

And the next Know your rights session is taking place on Weds 10^th August at 11.30am – 2pm at St Giles Parish Hall. It is open to any private renter in Southwark and is hosted by a housing solicitor from our partners Southwark Law Center. Find out more and register here.

As part of her Masters Degree with Middlesex University, Tiyon was required to undertake two work placements within the field of social work. Her first role brought her to Kineara, where she has recently completed a 70-day placement.

Why we encourage storytelling

Stories as impact

What did we learn?

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