Responsible Business and Social Value
What do we mean by social value?
Projects or services that deliver an improvement to the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of an area.
Why social value matters to Riverside
Riverside is a housing association that has been providing affordable homes and investing in communities for nearly 100 years.
To achieve our vision, it is essential that we go beyond just providing homes; we must also deliver services and projects to enhance our customers’ lives and ensure our communities remain sustainable and resilient.
What we do
Riverside is a leading national provider of social and affordable housing. We are about more than buildings. We invest in activities that add value for individuals and communities and deliver clear, positive results.
We think carefully about how our work affects our customers, service users, and the wider community. This includes acting ethically and making sure our employees feel supported, trusted, and included.
Our values and responsible business
Our Riverside Way summarises our values, our keen sense of social responsibility and accountability to customers:
- We Care
- We are Inclusive
- We are Trusted
We pride ourselves in doing business in an ethical way, whilst benefiting the environment.
“At Riverside, we believe responsible business is the cornerstone of creating thriving communities. Our commitment to social value goes beyond providing quality housing; it encompasses fostering inclusivity, supporting local economies, and ensuring sustainability. We strive to build not just homes, but a sense of belonging and resilience. By investing in social initiatives and prioritising the wellbeing of both our employees and customers, we aim to make a lasting positive impact and drive meaningful change in every neighbourhood we serve.”
Supporting communities, work, and financial wellbeing
The Community Planning and Resilience team work in partnership to deliver against both the Community Plans that we have in place in our priority communities, plus the objectives of our Communities and Livelihoods strategy.
The team works with local partners, utilises social value extracted from contracts, and promotes volunteering opportunities to internal staff to maximise the impact of their work.
The Employment and Training team sits within the Community Planning and Resilience team and provides support to anyone living in a Riverside home.
We provide one to one support as well as signpost to trusted local providers, supporting customers into training and employment. This includes helping people already in work to find better jobs to maximise their income.
We also access funding from the Riverside Foundation to support customers we are working with to remove barriers to accessing opportunities.
The Income Maximisation team supports customers who are in, or who are in danger of becoming in, financial difficulty.
- Money Advice – expert advice on welfare benefits, including support for customers moving to Universal Credit.
- Affordable Warmth – support for customers in fuel debt, facing disconnection, or needing energy advice.
- Affordability – advice for people applying for Riverside tenancies, including benefit entitlement, budgeting, and setting up home.
Asset Management, supported by Evolve and Riverside Direct, delivers asset and environmental improvement projects in Riverside communities. They also provide apprenticeships and work experience opportunities.
Community Planning and Resilience
The Community Planning and Resilience team work in partnership to deliver against both the Community Plans that we have in place in our priority communities, plus the objectives of our Communities and Livelihoods strategy.
The team works with local partners, utilises social value extracted from contracts, and promotes volunteering opportunities to internal staff to maximise the impact of their work.
Employment and training
The Employment and Training team sits within the Community Planning and Resilience team and provides support to anyone living in a Riverside home.
We provide one to one support as well as signpost to trusted local providers, supporting customers into training and employment. This includes helping people already in work to find better jobs to maximise their income.
We also access funding from the Riverside Foundation to support customers we are working with to remove barriers to accessing opportunities.
Income maximisation
The Income Maximisation team supports customers who are in, or who are in danger of becoming in, financial difficulty.
- Money Advice – expert advice on welfare benefits, including support for customers moving to Universal Credit.
- Affordable Warmth – support for customers in fuel debt, facing disconnection, or needing energy advice.
- Affordability – advice for people applying for Riverside tenancies, including benefit entitlement, budgeting, and setting up home.
Asset management
Asset Management, supported by Evolve and Riverside Direct, delivers asset and environmental improvement projects in Riverside communities. They also provide apprenticeships and work experience opportunities.