Onward | Housing Association | Manchester | Community Focus
Overview
Onward is one of the largest registered providers of social housing based only in the North West of England. The organisation manages around 35,000 homes across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire.
Onward is a not-for-profit organisation and is regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing. Its work is focused on giving people access to safe, secure and affordable homes, while also helping communities grow and improve over time.
What Onward stands for
Homes people value
Onward exists to make a positive difference in the communities it serves. The aim is not only to provide housing, but to create places where people feel safe, supported and proud to live.
This means delivering homes that are well managed, well maintained and designed to meet real local need. It also means looking beyond the front door and working on wider issues that affect people’s lives, such as support, wellbeing, opportunity and independence.
What Onward does
Building, managing and maintaining homes
A core part of Onward’s work is to provide good quality homes for people who may not be able to access housing on the open market. This includes managing existing housing stock, maintaining homes to a strong standard, and investing in services that support residents over the long term.
Supporting customers and communities
Onward also helps customers deal with the challenges they face in everyday life. Housing is often only one part of the picture. People may also need help with finances, wellbeing, independence or access to local services. By offering support and practical help, Onward aims to improve life chances as well as housing outcomes.
Providing specialist housing
Onward offers specialist housing options, including sheltered housing and housing with care. These services help people live as independently as possible while staying connected to their community.
Working with partners
Partnership working is a key part of the Onward approach. The organisation works with local partners, voluntary groups and public bodies to provide more homes and improve support for people from a wide range of backgrounds. This helps meet growing housing demand across the North West.
Why Onward matters
A local focus with wide reach
Because Onward is based solely in the North West, it has a strong regional focus. It understands the needs of local communities and the different pressures facing towns, cities and neighbourhoods across the region.
More than housing
Onward does more than manage homes. It helps shape neighbourhoods, support residents and invest in places. This wider role matters because strong communities need more than bricks and mortar. They need stability, care, pride and opportunity.
A long-term view
As a not-for-profit provider, Onward can focus on long-term value rather than short-term gain. That means reinvesting in homes, services and communities to create better outcomes over time.
Core areas of work
Onward’s services and areas of focus include:
- Social housing: Providing safe and affordable homes
- Housing management: Supporting tenancies and day-to-day housing services
- Property management: Maintaining homes and managing housing assets
- Housebuilding and development: Increasing housing supply across the region
- Neighbourhood management: Helping create safer and stronger communities
- Community support: Offering help that improves wellbeing and independence
- Regeneration: Investing in places to support local renewal and growth
- Sustainability: Working towards better environmental performance
A strong social purpose
Helping people thrive
Onward’s purpose is rooted in social value. The organisation supports people who need access to secure housing, but it also works to help them build stable and independent lives.
Proud places to live
A good home can improve health, security and quality of life. Onward recognises that housing has a direct impact on people and communities. That is why its work is focused on both the home itself and the wider place around it.
Onward at a glance
- Organisation type: Not-for-profit registered provider of social housing
- Region served: North West England
- Homes managed: Around 35,000
- Headquarters: Manchester, Lancashire
- Founded: 2011
- Industry: Non-profit organisations
- Company size: 1,001–5,000 employees
Summary
Onward is a major social housing provider with a clear regional mission. It delivers affordable homes, supports customers, invests in neighbourhoods and works with partners to meet housing need across the North West.
Its focus is practical and community-led: provide good homes, maintain strong services, support independence and create places people are proud to call home.
Website
Industry
Non-profit Organizations
Company size
1,001-5,000 employees
Headquarters
Manchester, Lancashire
Founded
2011
Specialties
Housing, Social Housing, Housebuilding, Property Management, Neighbourhood Management, Community Support, Regeneration, Sustainability, and Development
