I’m delighted to share that Co-Ownership has achieved Silver level accreditation in Business in the Community NI’s CORE Standard for Responsible Business. We’ve held the Bronze accreditation for a number of years, so reaching Silver in our recent re-assessment is something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s a reflection of the hard work and commitment from our entire team and a clear marker of our values in action.

At Co-Ownership, the CORE framework isn’t just a tick-box exercise – it aligns with our mission to make home ownership more accessible, while delivering real, lasting benefits to communities across Northern Ireland. Since we began in 1978, we’ve helped over 34,000 households take that step into home ownership. We know the difference a home can make to a person’s life, and that sense of social purpose runs through everything we do.

Our values, putting customers first, working together, doing the right thing, and evolving and improving, underpin every decision and every interaction. They help ensure we do business in a way that puts people at the centre, acts with integrity, and drives meaningful change.

Despite being a relatively small organisation, we’ve never let that limit our ambition. By embedding the CORE pillars into our strategic and annual business planning, we’ve created a culture of shared responsibility. Everyone in the organisation contributes to this achievement in their own way, and that collective approach is what makes the recognition so meaningful.

CORE has been a valuable framework for us; not just to benchmark our practices, but to challenge ourselves and grow. I’d absolutely encourage other organisations, big or small, to consider it. We’ve seen the value first-hand through our own annual Impact Report, which helps us track and evidence how our work translates into real social impact.

Some of the feedback from our customers brings that impact to life:

“It has had a massively positive impact on my life. I can now provide a secure home for my family and financial security for my own future.”

“Having a house to call my own, as a single parent is a great achievement, knowing that I feel secure and not having to worry about living in private rented accommodation and not having stability.”

In addition to our core work, we continue to support community organisations across Northern Ireland through our Community Fund, funding projects that promote social inclusion, financial education, environmental sustainability, and wellbeing. Our aim is to make sure the positive impact of Co-Ownership goes well beyond just housing.  Again, our impact is apparent in feedback from recipients of our Community Fund:

‘Participants have reported improved confidence, reduced isolation, and a stronger sense of belonging. Families have expressed gratitude for the safe, structured activities now available locally, which have also provided much-needed respite and support. The wider community has benefitted from increased youth engagement, reduced antisocial behaviour, and strengthened cross-community connections.’

‘Notably, both tutors and family members observed a remarkable increase in the participants’ confidence levels, coupled with a heightened awareness of their physical capabilities and a newfound ability to collaborate effectively’

Achieving Silver CORE accreditation is a fantastic milestone, and I look forward to seeing how we continue to build on it in the years ahead.