CAP Ltd (1971-2005)

Community Action Projects Ltd, Manchester, 1971 to 2005

Company number 01032323

24 November 1971 incorporated
16 August 2005 dissolved (voluntary application, 22 March 2005)

Charity number 263747

16 March 1972 registered
14 April 2005 removed

Aims: To provide housing, living accommodation and associated amenities anywhere in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for persons in necessitous circumstances, including persons in receipt of or in need of psychiatric or medical treatment and persons who for any reason are unable to maintain themselves without supportive care, and to promote, aid and further rehabilitation of such persons in the community and their welfare generally.

Timeline

1971 CAP Ltd created by group of Community Action group volunteers at University of Manchester. “The group was concerned about the lack of after-care facilities, particularly accommodation, for ex-psychiatric patients, and set up Manchester’s first group homes. The scheme was a small one, involving two adjoining houses, rented from a commercial landlord and housing eight people. The importance of the scheme was that it was financially self-sufficient: income from rents covered expenses and there were no paid staff. … to give the lie to the idea that large-scale funding is required in order to initiate projects of this kind.” Beyond the Hostel, 1982, p5-6.

1973 Bowker Street – the first group home project established, in Salford with Family Housing Association (Mcr), in empty properties awaiting a Housing Action Area regeneration to start. Project ended 30 months later in 1975. Lessons learnt.

1974 Egerton Street – permanent supported housing project starts, seven studio flats (bedsits) including one for caretaker/s, Fallowfield.

1977 Hartington Street – first Crashpad in the overnight rota project opens, peppercorn rent to tenants, property awaiting regeneration.

1981 Stamford Street – Crash House project opens, first long-term tenancy in an improved property not awaiting refurbishment or demolition.

1982 Beyond the Hostel book published

1982 Cromwell Road project starts.

1983 Crash Houses booklet published

c.1985 Change of project name from Crash Houses to Night Stop

c.1986 Egerton Street project closes.

1986 Change with new intake of volunteers and company directors

1990 The previous committee reforms following a lapse in company functions

2005 CAP Ltd closes

Key documents: