IN A bid to help those most in need a housing association's charitable arm has announced a quarter-of-a-million-pound investment.

Vivid Plus has the major funding to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and support social enterprises in the Hampshire region.

The £250,000 investment will be channelled across three key areas - £100,000 to local foodbanks and community pantries; £100,000 to its community centres to meet the needs of the local people and support the growth of social enterprise; and £50,000 towards crime reduction initiatives and projects to reduce health inequalities. 

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Chief operating officer of Vivid Jonathan Cowie said: “We know the cost-of-living increase is having a big impact on many of our customers here at Vivid. Our teams are working hard to offer support with a range of services from money and benefits advice to helping customers into training and employment. We do everything we can to support our customers and make sure that they feel safe and secure in their homes and communities. 

“Our foundation Vivid Plus enables us to invest further. With this £250,000 investment from Vivid Plus, we’ll provide our customers and the wider Hampshire region with much needed practical support at such a difficult time for customers.”   

With people across the country facing increasing financial pressure and stress, the funding comes at a critical time, Vivid Plus has said.

Vivid is also focused on helping customers secure an estimated £5.25million of additional income this year, from unclaimed benefits or grants to helping secure over 325 new jobs in the region. This support will impact  more than 3,000 Vivid customers this year, helping them to continue to stay safe and maintain their home.   

This investment follows Vivid Plus’s initial investment of £2million into the wider community since it launched in February 2021. 

Vivid Plus was set up by the housing association to help communities thrive. It invests in tenancy sustainment services, to provide customers with tailored, individual support and tackle community led priorities, through supporting place shaping projects and initiatives, to help people feel proud of where they live.