Representation by Mary Seacole Housing Association (Mary Seacole Housing Association)
- Date submitted
- 20 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Non-statutory organisations
From the Association's perspective, the airport's growth and expansion will support our organisation to continue and, most importantly, increase the difference it makes in people's lives. Added to this is the unique social impact provided by Luton Rising to build better lives in Luton and support our most vulnerable residents. We have seen firsthand the outstanding contribution of Luton Rising to the breadth of front-line services in Luton. For example, grants to services that make a difference have totalled nearly £500m since 1998. However, the extraordinary social impact provided by Luton Rising and its potential to build better lives in Luton is felt within our communities. An example of this unique contribution can be seen in the Luton Rising funded Will power project that helped to give young people and underrepresented groups a strong voice and a role in shaping our services- [REDACTED] The airport already supports 16,800 jobs in the regional economy (over 11,800 in Luton) and economic activity of £1.8bn per annum for the UK GDP. However, the employment opportunities it provides locally form part of the Association Employment Academy, designed to deliver skills and job readiness programmes to raise aspirations and prepare people who access our services for transition into work. The work we do together is the cornerstone of creating better lives in Luton, and we believe the growth of the Airport will result in an increased impact.