Erimus Futures
At Erimus Housing, we’re committed to community investment in accordance with our five year strategic plan.
We recognise that our role as a business is not just to invest in bricks and mortar, but also in the communities our properties are situated in.
We want to create sustainable communities, partly through working with others to empower, motivate, and raise the aspirations of young people.
That’s what our Erimus Futures scheme is all about.
Erimus Futures aims to:
- Enhance job prospects
- Erimus is involved in and creates a valued community
- Reduce crime and vandalism
- Help create a healthier community
- Raise the aspirations of young people
We work in partnership with a range of organisations, including:
- Unity City Academy (UCA)
- Middlesbrough Football Club in the Community (MFCC)
- Business in the Community (BITC)
- Dramography
- Middlesbrough Council
- Community Campus
- ROK
- Dunelm
THE PROJECTS
PEER Kids is a ten-week citizenship programme run in primary schools.
The PEER Kids teach the pupils about how to look after their neighbourhood, to respect other people and not to cause a nuisance.
Youngsters take part through group work and lessons, play games, watch a DVD, design posters, perform role plays and have a lot of fun.
Erimus Experience is an extended work experience run in partnership with UCA. The young people get an introduction to Erimus and an overview of the company. They then get chance to get their hands dirty during the work experience week and try out practical tasks as well as shadowing a member of staff.
Students are then given the opportunity to come back and do further work during the school holidays.
Not only does the project give them a good understanding of Erimus and a workplace, we’re also able to give a strong reference as they move forward to college or work placements.
Linx Project - Erimus has been working with The Linx Project in Hemlington to deliver the Brand New You course, which aims to teach young people skills to help them live independently, such as cooking, DIY skills and first aid.
Staff from Erimus Housing and EBS deliver the tenancy management and DIY aspects of the course and are currently looking to make the sessions available to young people across Middlesbrough.
Youth Involvement - A young persons group now meets on a regular basis to consider how Erimus can engage with younger people, particularly around communication and involvement.
The group has already come up with some ideas to improve communication between Erimus and young people, such as text messaging, web blogs, email surveys and an interactive web site.
Suggested activities include environmental and energy saving projects and junior cookery classes ending with a mini master chef competition.
