By providing physical spaces where clusters of social enterprises and grass-roots organisations can thrive; EMF is enabling the country’s minority ethnic sector to flourish. Our community assets bring a wide range of individuals and organisations together under a common roof; thus promoting cooperation, joined up work, sharing of resources and productive exchange of ideas. The buildings’ conference and seminar facilities furthermore provide a forum where community leaders, stakeholders, decision-makers and academics meet to generate new thinking on the many deep-seated social problems affecting the nation’s communities.
In the past five years, the Foundation’s community assets programme has seen EMF acquiring two buildings: Boardman House in London and EMF House in Manchester. Situated at the heart of their local communities, these properties feature easy access to public transport facilities, while comprising a combination of ICT-enabled business units and fully catered meeting, conference and training facilities. They have both become centres of excellence, community-based activities and social regeneration initiatives. Additional buildings are in the process being acquired for the Foundation’s Community Assets Programme.
EMF-Boardman House, Stratford, London
Located in Stratford, East of London, EMF-Boardman House was the very first building acquired by EMF in 2002 as a community asset. The four-floor edifice features: 35,000 square feet of office space, 20 business units for social enterprises and voluntary organisations, 17 minority ethnic organisations housed in the building and the East London Centre - located at ground level provides adult learning facilities, ICT training and business support services. Every year, some 45,000 members of the public in search of information, training and support visit the Centre.
EMF House, Manchester
Following the development of Boardman House, EMF acquired a Grade-II listed building in the heart Manchester’s Chinatown, in 2005. A twelve-month refurbishment programme culminated in the official launch of EMF House on 8th February 2006, the Foundation’s second community asset. This four-floor building features: 10,000 square feet of office space, 12 business units for social enterprises and voluntary organisations and 12 minority ethnic organisations housed in the building.
