Blog Categories - Social Housing

THIRTEEN new homes – built on a demolished working men’s club site – have been shortlisted for a major award celebrating the country’s best affordable housing.

Stafford and Rural Homes’ development at Douglas Road West, in Coton Fields, is one of three shortlisted in the ‘Best Small Development’ category of the Affordable Home Ownership Awards.

The awards aim to recognise excellence within the sector and champion housing organisations who build lasting and sustainable homes.

"We are delighted that our new homes on Douglas Road West have been shortlisted in this prestigious award,” said Karen Armitage, Chief Executive of SARH.

"Building quality homes that give families in Stafford a solid footing is what SARH has strived to achieve since it was formed in 2006 so to be acknowledged for our work is extremely rewarding.”

The Best Small Development award is open to housing developments of less than 30 homes and is judged by a panel of housing experts on a number of criteria including:

- How the development met the needs of the local market.
- How well the cost of the property was managed without compromising the design and build quality.
- How the design features used made the most of the site potential.
- How specific challenges or local considerations were taken into account when developing this small scheme.
- How well the development met its objectives, including sales success and feedback from residents.

The Douglas Road West development is part of a £4.7million project by SARH which has created 44 affordable homes in the borough with our development partner Housing Plus and constructors William Davis Ltd and Clutton Homes.

In addition to the 13 new homes at Douglas Road West the project includes a further 22 completed on previously disused land at St Peters Close in Silkmore and a former garage site at Hawksmoor Road, in Rising Brook. Nine homes were also completed at Morton Road in Burton Manor.

"Our new build housing project is about so much more than bricks and mortar, it is also about creating homes where families can put down roots, bring up their children, go to work and build supportive communities,” said Karen Armitage.

The Affordable Home Ownership Awards will be held on Thursday, September 8, in London.

ONE of Britain's young Olympic hopefuls is helping to organise a community games event in Stafford.

Sprinter Abbi Tyson, 22, is in the 100m trials for the London 2012 games and is teaming up with Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) to organise the Meadow Games, in Penkside, on August 4.

The event will take place on Meadow Road and include a variety of activities such as dance, arts and crafts, a mobile skate park and taster sessions from local sports clubs.

"These games are inspired by the London 2012 Olympics and our aim is to get out and engage with the local community to promote health and wellbeing,” said Abbi, a health support officer for Stafford Borough Council.

Abbi, who grew up in Stafford, runs for Birchfield Harriers and has qualified for the trials for London, took on her role with the council to help spread the message about keeping fit and healthy and hopes her efforts will inspire others.

The Meadow Games will be another opportunity to pass on that message and also give local residents the chance to take part in a consultation on how the area can be developed for all members of the community to enjoy.

SARH and Stafford Borough Council have provided funding for a mobile skate park, zumba equipment and marquees at the event.

"The Games will be aimed at all ages and sporting abilities,” said Pam Smith, Customer Participation Officer for SARH. "The Penkside Community Champions Network, supported by partner organisations including SARH and Stafford Borough Council, will lead on this activity and hope to encourage more people to take an active role in forthcoming community projects.”

Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent together with south Staffordshire PCT have also provided funding as part of a commitment to supporting 12 community-focused events up to 2014.

For more information about the event please call SARH's customer participation team on 0800 111 4554 or emailcp@sarh.co.uk. Or Abbi Tyson at Stafford Borough Council on 01785 619392 or emailatyson@staffordbc.gov.uk

KHT Chief Executive Bob Taylor

Knowsley Housing Trust says it will be working to support its tenants as they cope with changes to housing benefits, rents and tenancies that came into force this month.

As of April 1, the Government introduced many changes including absolute caps for Local Housing Allowance weekly rates, affordable rents at up to 80 per cent of market value and the end of guaranteed ‘lifetime tenancies’.

Bob Taylor, Chief Executive of KHT, said although the old system was in need of overhaul, tenants are likely to face tough times ahead.

"Over the last year we’ve seen and heard the government’s plans for change and for dealing with the spending deficit and it is now starting to hit home,” he said.

"Within the housing sector the first wave of benefit changes has taken effect and will hit thousands of people in both the private and social housing sector.

"It is unlikely that people will really have planned for these changes as after all many are living from week to week on extremely low incomes.

"We will now start to see the ‘fall out’ as people try to adjust. There will be a massive strain on those agencies providing debt advice at a time when grants and support to those agencies has been severely reduced.”

Other measures introduced as of April 1 include:

● Ending the maximum £15 weekly Housing Benefit excess that some customers can receive under the Local Housing Allowance arrangements,

● Removing the five bedroom Local Housing Allowance rate so that the maximum level is for a four bedroom property

● Reducing all Local Housing Allowance rates so that about 3 in 10 properties for rent in the area should be affordable to people on Housing Benefit rather than every 5 in 10 properties as now,

● Introduction of New Homes Bonus scheme to incentivise councils to build – the Government will match the council tax collected on new homes for the first six years.

Bob added: "We all know we’re in challenging times and I think deep down most would agree the previous systems could have done with an overhaul.

"Our short term challenges are to support as much as we can those people making the transition under the new arrangements to be living in the right places for them and to be able to work through and manage their finances.

"KHT will be working to provide the right homes in the right places and a range of tenures to suit what people want and can afford."

AN IT manager will take on the toughest challenge of his life
next week when he tackles the London Marathon.

Mark Gould took part in the Grim Challenge, an eight mile off-road race in Aldershot in January, as part of his training

Mark Gould has never run a marathon before but has spent the last four months training for the race in aid of mental health charity MIND.

The 29-year-old chose the charity following a battle with anorexia and has so far raised £1,500.

Mark, who works at Muir Group Housing Association in Chester, said: "Training has been going really well, I’ve been out running four times a week and my longest run so far has been 20 miles.

"There have been a few mornings when I didn’t want to get out of bed at 5.30am for a run but I’ve forced myself to do it.

"It’s been a challenge just to do the training, I never realised before how hard athletes had to train.”

Mark, who lives in Chester, is aiming to run the marathon in around three hours and 45 minutes.

Although it is the first time he has ever tackled a marathon Mark is no stranger to sporting challenges.

Last year he cycled 340 miles from London to Paris and ran the Great North Run half-marathon within a week of each other to raise more than £2,000 for MIND.

"The marathon is getting a bit close for comfort and I just want to do it now,” said Mark.

"I want to get a good time but I’m also aiming to enjoy it.

"I want to take in the experience and make sure I remember it all.”

You can sponsor Mark at: www.virginmoneygiving.com/markgould.

HALTON Housing Trust has launched a new campaign to help people who want to move to a smaller home and release much needed family housing.

The initiative aims to help customers whose current homes are now too big to move to smaller accommodation and make the newly vacant homes available for families on the waiting list

Across the north west there are potentially 27,000 social homes under-occupied by at least two bedrooms, while 147,000 households are on the waiting list for accommodation, according to the National Housing Federation.

Nick Atkin, Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, said: "Many of our customers have lived in their homes all their adult lives, having brought their children up there, supported them to gain independence and obtain their own homes.  

"It is only right that those people in later years, once their family circumstances have changed, should be helped and supported to live in accommodation which best suits their needs.

"Equally it makes sense that families needing more space should be able to make use of a bigger property currently being under-used.”

The Trust is now launching its ‘Right Time – Right Move’ campaign where customers will be sent letters about the option of downsizing, followed by a phone call and follow up personal visits from Trust staff.

This new service will assist customers who are finding their home too large to maintain easily or who wish to move closer to family or friends.

Halton Housing Trust customer Margaret Marsh, her husband Kevin, both 62 and their son, have just downsized from a four-bedroomed house to a three-bedroomed home in Clarke Gardens.

Margaret said: "We wanted to move because my husband is disabled and I have a fractured spine so it is better for us to be in a smaller house without stairs.

"The size of the house was also becoming difficult for us to manage now there are only three of us.

"The Trust has been so helpful and even hired a removal van for us to help the move run smoothly.”

For more information about the scheme contact Laurence Reardon, Senior Allocations Officer, on: 0151 510 5166 or visit: www.haltonhousing.org.

 

WEAVER Vale Housing Trust has been ranked as the best charitable housing association to work for in England in a prestigious list of the country’s top public and charity sector organisations.

The Trust has been listed at 11th overall in the first ever Sunday Times ‘100 Best Places to Work in the Public and Charity Sectors’ – the highest housing association in England and the second highest in the UK to be included. 

The Trust was also ranked first overall for leadership amongst mid-sized organisations listed.

This major achievement for the Trust was achieved following its recent 2-star ‘outstanding’ accreditation from Best Companies for the second year running.

Steve Jennings, Chief Executive of Weaver Vale Housing Trust, said: "To be recognised in this prestigious group of national public sector and charity organisations is a tremendous achievement and I would like to thank all our staff for their commitment and enthusiasm for the work they do – we would not have achieved it without them.

"Without a dedicated and motivated workforce we would not be able to deliver the high quality service to our customers that we do, so we will continue to work hard to ensure we are a great organisation to work for.”

The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work for lists are compiled based on research from the largest survey of its kind carried out. This year, over 275,000 employees were surveyed from 1165 organisations for the lists.

They were asked for their views on various aspects of their work from leadership and management, to well being and personal growth.

Cheshire West and Chester Councillor Alan Mckie, a member of the Trust’s board who attended the awards ceremony, said: "I am delighted to be a board member of a company within the UK’s Top 100 Public and Charity Sector organisations to work for.

"It is all the more pleasing that feedback from Trust staff is what has led to our high ranking in the list.  This really reflects the team work and effort by all members of staff at the Trust.  I must also congratulate the Trust for being ranked first overall in leadership for mid-sized organisations.”

With more than 350 staff and 6,000 homes the Trust is one of the largest social landlords in Cheshire.

Jonathan Austin, founder and CEO of Best Companies, said: "This is the first year that we have published a combined list of the Best Places to Work in both the Public and Charity Sectors and I am personally very excited about not only this first year’s list but the foundation it creates for future lists for these vitally important sectors.

"Organisations that secured their place on The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For lists are among the very best employers in the country and I am very proud to recognise them for that achievement.”

A total of 31 housing associations, arm’s-length management associations and homelessness charities were named in the list.

The awards ceremony was held in London’s Battersea Evolution arena on Wednesday, February 23 and was attended by Trust Chief Executive Steve Jennings, Director of Operational and People Development Marianne Richards, and Board Member Alan McKie.

They were joined by seven colleagues who were selected at random from a draw of all Trust staff: Dave Richardson (Gas Engineer), Lee Allen (Electrician), Kenton Barker (Senior Surveyor), Liz Oldham (Customer Contact Team), Debbie Skilling (Supporting People), Anne Lambert (Careline), Catherine Norris (Finance Team).

Chester- based Muir Group Housing Association has been named as one of the best companies in the country for how they engage with staff.

Muir Group Housing Association was one of four winners who received the Best for Innovation in Engagement Practice at the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies Awards.

The award was given to the association for the way it has built up relationships with staff.

Last year, staff were rewarded with an extra day off called the Muir Bank Holiday and encouraged to enter a photo competition showing how they spent their day, whilst the annual staff conference, which was held at Airbus Broughton’s Wings Sports and Social club, was themed around air travel with the association as the destination.

It also provides a £100 fund for non-work related study. The award was also based on the high scores given by staff in the Sunday Times survey generally for working practices within the group.

Muir Group Housing Association was ranked 23rd in the top 100 public sector and third sector organisations across the country.

John Bellis, chief executive of Muir Group Housing Association, said: "I am extremely proud that we have been placed within the top 25 per cent of the best 100 companies in our category.

"Making sure our staff are happy and well-supported is key to how we work so we are also thrilled to win the Best for Innovation in Engagement Practice.”

Muir Group Housing Association was also nominated for a special award for the Best for Wellbeing.

The Sunday Times Top 100 ratings are based on staff surveys which cover a number of topics including leadership, wellbeing, pay and personal growth.

The listing in the top 100 comes just a few weeks after Muir Group Housing Association was given ‘outstanding’ employer status by Best Companies for the second year running.

A UNIQUE partnership will raise money for local schools and encourage children to get involved with sport through watching rugby this year.

Halton Housing Trust has teamed up with Widnes Vikings and together they aim to attract more children to watch home games at the Stobart Stadium during the 2011 season.

Schools will be given the chance to sell tickets to pupils for the Vikings’ home games and keep 30% of the money that is raised.

"It will work in a similar way to the school voucher system that you see used in supermarkets,” said Rob Fuller, part of the community team at the Vikings.

"We are on the cusp of successful times at the club and we want as many people as possible to share the experiences with us.”

Widnes Vikings find out on March 31 whether they will be in the Super League making 2011 a particularly exciting year for all the fans.

The club will unveil more special offers as the season gets into full swing.

Noel Sharpe, Director of Customer Services at Halton Housing Trust, said: "The ‘Schools Promotion’ opens up a fantastic range of opportunities for us to further engage with young people across Widnes and Runcorn. 

"We already work with a number of local schools to encourage young people to get involved and to contribute to their community and the relationship with the Vikings will further add to this.

"We have a longstanding relationship with the Vikings and are really looking forward to continuing this during the 2011 season and beyond as we both go from strength to strength.”

Schools in and around the Halton area have already received a letter from the club detailing the promotion, alongside a full 2011 fixture list and order forms.

Through the Vikings’ Valhalla Foundation, its community team has committed to working more closely with schools to help them and the wider community of Halton.

Widnes Vikings’ Chief Executive Julie Gaskell said:  "This season is all about engaging further with our community and getting people into the stadium and this offer incentivises schools by giving them a direct benefit in cash.

"I would encourage as many people as possible to come along and cheer on the team in what promises to be an action-packed year for the club.”

A TEENAGER’S plans to spend a month volunteering in Africa are one step closer after receiving a £1,000 grant from a local housing association.

Adam McCormack needs to raise almost £3,500 to undertake the trip which will see him building schools, homes and fresh water holes for impoverished families.

The 15-year-old has now been awarded a £1,000 grant from Friends Of Muir Group, the charity arm of Muir Group Housing Association, who have an area office in Winsford.

Adam, of Austin Close, Winsford, will be volunteering as part of a trip organised by Camps International.

He was given a taster of the African experience by Chester Zoo who invited him to spend the afternoon there with the animals he will be up close with on his trip.

"Camps International came to do a talk during an assembly at my school,” said Adam.

"I liked what they were saying about how you could do something really worthwhile and make a real difference.

"It will be a real adventure and educational as well because I will be able to complete a scuba diving qualification allowing me to teach others.

"I’m really excited about going over there, even though we don’t know exactly where we will be based yet it will be completely different to anywhere I’ve ever been before.”

Adam, a pupil at Winsford Academy, is also organising events to raise cash for the trip.

He has already raised more than £200 through a fun day and plans to hold another as well as organising a bingo evening, charity football match, car wash and bag packing in supermarkets.

All the money raised will be used for flights, accommodation, living costs and building materials to carry out the volunteer work.

He is also looking for local businesses to sponsor him and will wear T-shirts with the sponsor companies names on while he is in Africa.

"We need a lot of help to get the money together,” said Adam.

"I hope all our efforts pay off as without the funding I won’t be able to go and help to build the schools and water holes.”

FOMG Chairman David Booth said: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Adam and we were delighted to be able to help him experience it at such a young age.

"It will be a big adventure for him but he will also be carrying out much-needed work for those less fortunate while learning new skills.”

Anyone who can help Adam’s fundraising efforts can e mail him at: adamjmc95@hotmail.com.

A HOUSING trust is launching a series of household budget workshops to help customers who may be struggling in what are difficult times.

The workshops, run by Halton Housing Trust, will be held every month starting in March. Staff will be on hand to give advice about managing budgets and identifying any areas where savings can be made.

They have been launched following news that unemployment in Halton rose for the third consecutive month to 5.5 per cent.

This has been coupled with a decline in the number of job vacancies which means there were nine claimants for every job vacancy in Halton in January – compared with five claimants in December.

Nick Atkin, Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, said: "These are very difficult times for many people and we are committed to increasing the level of welfare support we can offer to any customers who are finding it hard to make ends meet.

"We have a range of services on offer to help ease the burden in different ways, by offering furniture grants, working with a range of other agencies to help our customers get back into employment and supporting customers who wish to move out of larger properties.”

Halton Housing Trust is also improving its other welfare support services and has a variety of schemes including a free handyperson service for the elderly and disabled.

The next budget workshop will take place in Widnes on Tuesday, March 22. To book a place call 0151 510 5024 or email amber.cairns@haltonhousing.org