People First is proud of the organic growth it has achieved throughout its history. We now run several different services across three local authority areas. You can view our organisational chart, which shows who does what, by clicking here.

People First is governed by a Board of Management made up of tenants and professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to ensure the association is managed effectively.  The Board meets at least six times each year to examine papers prepared by the Executive Team on strategic issues of importance.  People First is one of a handful of associations which encourage tenants to be actively involved through membership of the Board of Management.

Adrian Lohrey, CHAIR

Tenant
Insurance Arranger, Age Concern
Board member since 1993

"I came to Manchester in 1979 to study at the then Polytechnic. I moved into Hulme in the following year and have lived in the area for 27 years.  I was involved in the first discussions about the redevelopment of the area and the establishment of a community based Housing Association. People First was born out of this renewal process and has grown since then.  I am pleased with the progress the Association has made in the intervening period.  I hope the community will continue to support us as they have in the past."

Cym D'Souza, TREASURER

Chief Executive, Arawak Walton HA
Board Member since 1994
"I have been involved in social housing since 1987 and am committed to tenant empowerment.  It is essential that People First as a tenant-led association, remains successful and viable.  I can bring skills and experience to the Board to assist the association in achieving its aims and objectives. As a Chief Executive of a relatively small and new housing association, I understand the many challenges associated with running an organisation like People First. In addition, as a qualified Chartered Accountant, I have financial skills that can be utilised by the association’s Chief Executive and Board Members."

Andrew Armstrong

Tenant
Lecturer, City College Manchester
Board member since 2002
Having served on People First's Board of Management since 2002, Andrew is also one of the association's tenants, whose connections to Hulme date back to 1987 and the regeneration of the area. He brings to the Board a keen interest in local housing and social issues and experience of working with young people and those with disabilities in education and the community.

Lisa Purchase

Lead Manager for Supported Housing, St. Vincent's HA
Board Member since 2003
Lisa brings to the Board her experience of 14 years in the housing sector.  Currently the Supported Services Manager for St. Vincent’s Housing Association with responsibility for all of the Supported Housing Services including the Manchester Foyer and having witnessed the regeneration of the area as a local resident, she has a clear understanding of the history and development of Hulme.

Siobhan Drugan

Research Centre Operational Manager , Manchester University
Board Member since 2006
Siobhan has vast experience in management, administration and finance gained in the education and hospitality sectors. Currently the Operational Manager of a Research Centre within Manchester University Siobhan is responsible for the day to day running of the centre and oversees financial budgets, prepares forecasts and assists with applications for projects and grants.

Iain Todd

Former tenant
Architect
Board member since 2007
"I have been a resident with People First for nearly two years. During this time I was asked to participate in a resident review panel. The review looked at resident involvement with People First, and after meeting a number of times, to discuss this question, a proposal was put together. I enjoyed working with other residents and I was very pleased to see that People First do ‘as it says on the tin’ put their residents first. I strongly believe that People First are working hard to do more than manage housing, they are providing homes, which in turn is creating a community. This is an important role that I fully support, and I am happy to give my time to help People First continue their work."

All tenants of People First (and Hulme residents who can give a valid reason) can apply for membership of the association by purchasing a share for £1 and completing an application form, which is then considered by the Board of Management.  Members of the association are called upon to attend General Meetings and are able to apply to become Board Members.  If you wish to become a shareholder please go to the contact us page for ways of getting in touch and address your query to Linda Paterson.

Our Chair, Adrian Lohrey, is a tenant of People First and has lived in Hulme for over 10 years.  Here is his account of the the story of People First:

"People First grew out of the redevelopment of the Hulme district of Manchester.  This was proposed by the government in the early 1990s.  It was decided that the existing council housing stock was to be demolished and replaced by a mix of social housing and homes for sale.  The social housing was to be owned and managed by established housing associations.  The government also wanted to have a community-based housing association, which would involve local people in its decision making processes.

"People First was initially set up by a group of local people, who wanted to establish this community-based housing association.  The main difference between People First and all of the other social landlords was that tenants would form a majority on the Board, allowing them to be involved in the decision-making.  The ethos of this association was to actively involve tenants in these processes at whatever level they were happy with.

"In the early years, People First was run by a voluntary committee of local people with guidance from a partner association, Manchester and District.  At this time, People First was not actually managing any properties and employed no staff.  The service was carried out by North British, who managed 83 properties for just under a year.  During this period the association’s progress was also being monitored by the Housing Corporation, who used to oversee the work of all social landlords.

"The most important milestone for the association came in 1996 when the Housing Corporation agreed to the registration of People First as a fully-fledged Housing Association.  This was vital, as only with registration could we take on a loan to buy our properties.  It was particularly important as small associations like People First are less economically viable.  At the time we managed only 200 properties.

"The association has gone from strength to strength since 1995.  The number of staff employed has grown to more than fifty.  We are now involved in working with three local authorities across the North West, providing support to vulnerable people with a range of needs.  This growth in the business has been essential in securing our longer term viability.  Commiunity support is vital in helping the association continue growing and employing staff, to make People First run efficiently.

"We have not lost our focus on the local community in Hulme.  We are still striving to actively involve local people in the decisions we take regarding their housing and other issues.  Our commitment has been and will remain to continue this work."

1993: Spurred by the political changes inducing a new phase in Hulme's history, a group of local residents decide to unite their efforts and form People First.

1995: People First opens an office in Hulme to manage its first properties. Kulbinder Kang (now Chief Executive) is appointed as its first and only employee.

1996 People First registers with the Housing Corporation and is recognised as a social landlord.

1997 The association buys its first 201 properties.

2002 People First diversifies its work with the creation of the Community Support Service in Manchester, supporting people with mental health issues. Later that year, our homelessness project launched in Tameside.

2003 People First starts supporting young people in Vale Royal and Asian women in Rochdale.

2005 People First pilots a service for Irish men with issues around alcohol misuse and/or homelessness in Manchester.

2006 People First celebrates its tenth year as a Registered Provider.

2006 People First starts providing and managing temporary accommodation in Vale Royal.

2007 People First starts supporting young people in Tameside. Later that year, the Dementia Support service is launched in Manchester

2009 People First launches befriending services in Rochdale and Tameside.

2010 People First moves to new offices at City Road East.

In 2006 People First Board members, staff and special guests celebrated in style in Castlefield at an event marking the association's tenth year as a registered social landlord.

People First's registration with the Housing Corporation in 1996 was the culmination of mammoth efforts by a handful of local residents and the then newly appointed Chief Executive, Kulbinder Kang to secure the future of what is still one of a handful associations in the country, which are community-based and governed by their tenants.

Ten years later during the celebrations, People First had over forty staff working in four offices to provide community support services to vulnerable people, as well as managing its own properties in Hulme and managing temporary accommodation in partnership with Cheshire West and Cheshire Council for households presenting as homeless.

The evening's entertainment included performances from the talented Emma Black - one of the association's tenants - as well as a jazz quartet headed by People First's IT consultant, Dave Harrison.

People First tenants also joined in the celebrations.  The Housing Management team put on a meal at the Sanam restaurant in Rusholme, which was attended by around 100 tenants, friends and family. Uncharacteristically of such events there were no long speeches, just a short welcome by the Chair and Chief Executive and a picture presentation of key moments in People First's history.

To mark the event, People First issued a commemorative booklet, The Power of 10.  In it, we asked people - our tenants, staff and service users - what ten meant to them.  Their responses were honest, original, sometimes a little quirky, but always unique.