JOB OF THE WEEK: BOARD MEMBERS
08 March 2010

Lune Valley RHA is seeking board members from a variety of backgrounds to fill vacancies on its Board of Management. Owning 77 properties across north Lancashire and north Yorkshire, the Association has an annual turnover of £300,000. The Association does not employ any staff directly but employs Adactus Housing Group as its managing agent. To ensure our Board reflects the communities we serve, we welcome applications from anyone interested in rural housing and especially those with a legal, financial or maintenance background. The position is unpaid, although reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. We hold 4 board meetings a year, normally on Monday mornings. For more information, please call Richard Houghton on 01257 244815. If you are interested in this position, please send your CV to richard.houghton@chorleych.co.uk or write to: CCH Director of Operations 24 – 26 Gillibrand Street Chorley PR7 2EJ Please mention Housing News when applying for these positions.

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ARE YOU LOOKING FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS?
08 March 2010

Are you looking for new board members? If your association is looking for new board members why not advertise in Housing News. Our free daily news bulletin is the best read housing publication in your region and we offer our advertisers real value for money. Don’t take our word for it -- look what Jenny George, marketing & communication assistant at Two Rivers Housing Association has to say: “We recently used the Housing News to advertise for a vacancy on our Board, I’m pleased to say we had the highest number of responses for this position than any other advertisement we placed, it was excellent value for money. As a marketing professional I look forward to receiving the bulletin, it helps keep me up-to-date with local, regional and national news. And the best part is it’s free!” To advertise, contact Hucksters at 01892 784804 or email: housingnews@hucksters.co.uk

NEW CHARTER NAMED 6TH IN SUNDAY TIMES BEST COMPANIES LIST
08 March 2010

New Charter has been named at 6th in the prestigious Sunday Times 100 best companies to work for. And there is double cause for celebration as the Group was also named most improved company in the UK. The Group, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, and also includes Nottinghamshire landlord Gedling Homes and Oldham-based Aksa Housing Association. The Sunday Times has run the lists for a decade. This year, more than 1000 companies submitted themselves to the scrutiny of the people who know them best - their staff. The recognition followed the award of three stars in the Best Companies accreditation at the beginning of last month. This used a ‘Michelin style’ star rating for organisations that demonstrate high levels of employee engagement. Based on staff feedback, organisations receive a Best Companies index score which determines their star rating compared to a fixed standard. One star is first class, two stars are outstanding and three stars are extraordinary. Group Chief Executive Ian Munro admitted to being nervous as the results announcement drew nearer. He said: “We were 52nd in The Sunday Times list in 2009 and we pored over those survey results. Every one of my managers and supervisors looked carefully at what we could improve. It’s no coincidence that appreciation of this level of management has distinguished the very best performers. “As one of only 50 companies to get three stars, we had confidence we’d improve in the listing - but this is above my expectation. And it underscores what our customers have consistently told us – a great company is made by its great people. “This makes us the best housing association to work for in the North.” New Charter’s strengths were remarkably evenly spread across the eight indicators which are used to compile the list. Staff highly rated training and opportunities for personal growth, and great numbers of them said they “loved working for [the] organisation”. They also said they had the opportunity to make a difference; but the single highest score was for being proud to work for the company. The stunning improvement in New Charter’s ranking from last year brought the trophy and title of UK’s Best Improver.

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START ON SITE FOR NEW SOCIAL HOMES IN ROCHDALE
08 March 2010

Work has started in earnest at the site of the first new affordable council homes in Rochdale borough for over 20 years and you can watch it as it unfolds on webcam. The new homes on Croft Street, Smallbridge will provide 18 bungalows and four family houses. The site previously comprised garages and bungalows. The 22 new properties will provide homes for some of the former tenants as well as tenants from a nearby regeneration area and others in housing need. The latest webcam image on site Previous residents returning to the new development have been involved in helping to design and shape the scheme and attended the official groundbreaking. The homes will be developed and owned by Brighter Horizons, a charitable subsidiary of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) which will manage and maintain the properties. Cllr Alan Taylor, former Leader of the Council said at the groundbreaking ceremony in October: “I am delighted that building work is underway for these new homes. The council has worked closely with RBH and Brighter Horizons to gear up to deliver this £2.1m scheme which has been made possible by grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) together with our close partnership working. “Building affordable homes and creating and supporting jobs are key priorities for the council, this and future RBH schemes will deliver much needed homes and support local employment.” The properties will be built to Lifetime Homes’ standard and be constructed to meet the requirements of at least Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The HCA approved a £1.2m grant earlier this year. Deborah McLaughlin, regional director for the HCA NW said: “I'm pleased we have been able to work so closely with Brighter Horizons and support such an important scheme for Rochdale residents. It is exactly through this kind of investment and partnership working that we will deliver such vitally needed new homes for local communities.” It is anticipated that the new properties will be ready for occupation in August next year and RBH is now working closely with Rochdale Council’s Strategic Housing Services to identify further sites for acquisition and development.

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100% FOR LMH GAS CERTIFICATES
08 March 2010

Merseyside's biggest housing association has issued gas safety certificates at all its homes across Liverpool. Every one of Liverpool Mutual Homes' (LMH) properties received a gas safety check by specially qualified engineers who are listed on the Gas Safe register that has replaced Corgi as the official safety stamp. Steve Coffey It has taken LMH less than two years since taking the stock of Liverpool City Council’s remaining social homes to hit this illusive mark. The safety of its tenants has been such a high priority for LMH that housing management and technical teams, together with legal and contracting partners, were brought together to ensure access to properties to undertake the checks, carry out any necessary repairs and issue the certificates. This priority continues to demonstrate LMH’s commitment to the Safe as Houses campaign to reduce the number of preventable deaths caused by gas and fire. All 12 members of LMH's senior team signed the petition on the Number 10 website backing the campaign in December – the first time a senior team has done so in its entirety. The chair of the LMH Board, Bill Lacy, also signed up. LMH Chief Executive, Steve Coffey, said: "We are really pleased we've been able to carry out gas safety checks at all our homes so quickly because tenant safety is the most important aspect of all the work we do. "We have made a big effort to raise awareness of the Safe As Houses campaign because the improvements it proposes are potentially life-saving and everyone should have the right to feel and be safe in their home. “We would not have been able to reach the 100 per cent landmark without the hard work of our staff and contractors who have worked tirelessly to complete the checks.” Liverpool Mutual Homes’ (LMH) Chief Executive, Steve Coffey, sent an email to 250 members of staff and 20 partner and contractor organisations urging them to pledge their support of the campaign by signing the online petition. Some 368 people on LMH’s emailing list have also been approached asking them to back the bid. An e-zine message including the link to the Number 10 petition was also sent to the 320 registered users of the LMH website asking visitors to sign-up. The importance of gas safety features regularly in tenant newsletters and staff at area offices across the city have been encouraged to explain and promote Safe as Houses to tenants and partners when they visit.

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OWNPLACE IS STREETS AHEAD AT HELPING FIRST TIME BUYERS
08 March 2010

First-time buyer Colin Auty, 32, has taken that all important first step onto the property ladder in Wirral with the help of OwnPlace, a scheme by housing association Riverside. OwnPlace is bringing derelict properties back into use, thus counteracting the decline in house-building; selling properties at a 25% discount, therefore enabling buyers to secure a 75% loan to value mortgage; and incentivising buyers to remain as owner-occupiers for a minimum of five years, therefore preventing investors from pushing first-time buyers out of the market. Colin Auty Colin, who had been renting for nearly 10 years but didn’t want to be paying rent out of his pension after retirement, has just moved into a three-bedroom terrace in Birkenhead. He said: “While I could afford a mortgage without OwnPlace, I wouldn’t have been able to get the same standard of property for such a good price. The house is worth over £60,000 but my mortgage is only £45,000. “I know a lot of people who are over-stretching themselves but I don’t see the point. I would have resented having to sacrifice my standard of living to get on the property ladder.” Under the scheme, Riverside carries out structural repairs and improvement works to bring empty properties up to a standard which should allow buyers to secure a mortgage. The properties vary in condition. While some will have been refurbished prior to sale and some will need some redecoration and upgrading, others will require more comprehensive works and are likely to appeal to competent DIYers and those who have access to skilled labour via friends and family. Colin said: “For anybody who says they can’t be bothered with an OwnPlace property because it requires a bit of effort, I say short-term pain for long-term gain. Yes the bathroom needs some work but the house was fitted with a brand new gas central heating system and double glazing throughout before I moved in.” OwnPlace is designed not only to give local first-time buyers a helping hand on to the property ladder but also to help breathe new life into neighbourhoods, as well as kick-starting the local housing market. In return for a 25% discount, buyers must agree to live in the properties for at least five years, or else pay the discount back. They must also agree to live in the houses themselves and not rent them out. It is hoped these conditions will help revitalise streets blighted by boarded-up properties, buy-to-let landlords and short-term tenants. OwnPlace properties are often grouped together so the improvements made to a number of homes will have a positive impact on the wider area. Colin said: “Some people may be hesitant about the area but I’ve experienced no problems and am astounded by how quiet it is. It lies within the Housing Market Renewal area so is undergoing regeneration and my neighbours either side are like-minded people who have also bought their properties via OwnPlace.”

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WARRINGTON HOUSING ASSOCIATION RESCUES FAMILIES FROM MORTGAGE REPOSSESSION
08 March 2010

Purchase of the first two homes in Warrington under the Government supported Mortgage Rescue Scheme has taken place. Warrington Housing Association purchased the two properties allowing owners to clear their mortgage plus other debts and remove the threat of repossession by becoming tenants of the Association, paying a weekly affordable rent. The Association has committed up to £1m of their resources to support the Government scheme, which had failed to progress in the town until WHA’s recent involvement. Other cases are in the pipeline. One of the first residents to benefit from The Association’s support said: “I can’t believe how lucky we are to have been considered for this scheme. I feel that a huge weight has been lifted and I can now concentrate on recovering from health issues without the fear of losing our home. “I would say to others in trouble with mortgage payments, don’t be ashamed, but get in touch with Warrington Housing Association as they will treat you with kindness, respect and give you professional help.” Alan Kemp, Chief Executive of Warrington Housing Association, added: “The scheme stops homes being repossessed and removes all the distress and disruption of becoming homeless and having to move house and start again. I’m particularly pleased we’ve also been able to improve on the Government guideline scheme by charging lower, affordable rents and offering long term security.”

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LOVELL HELPS HCA GRADUATE TRAINEE DEVELOP HIS CAREER
08 March 2010

Lovell is giving a graduate trainee from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) the chance to gain hands-on experience of the housebuilding industry through a training placement. Paul Dever has joined Lovell on a three-month secondment from the HCA, the national housing and regeneration agency for England. Paul, 30, is a member of the HCA’s graduate development programme, which sees trainees spend two years with the organisation, learning about all aspects of housing and regeneration. As part of their studies, HCA graduate trainees are also required to undertake placements with a private, public or voluntary sector organisation. Picture: Paul Dever is welcomed by Lovell area manager Mike Turner. Paul said: “I studied economic development at post-graduate level at university and have done some volunteering in both supported housing and community development which got me interested in sustainable communities and regeneration. Lovell is involved in some of the highest-profile regeneration schemes in the North West so the company seemed the ideal choice for my secondment.” For the first part of his placement, Paul has joined the Lovell site team at Garston under the Bridge, Liverpool, where the company is carrying out a £38m, 314-home development in partnership with South Liverpool Housing, Liverpool Housing Trust and Liverpool City Council. He will then move to Gilead Street in Kensington where Lovell is working on a major regeneration scheme led by housing association Riverside – one of the first projects to be awarded funding through the HCA’s Kickstart initiative. Paul added: “Everyone at Lovell has been really supportive and I’ve had the chance to shadow the site team and work with inspectors from the National House-Building Council when they have visited the site. It’s been a real eye-opener and has whetted my appetite to pursue a career in regeneration.” Lovell area manager Mike Turner said: “Paul’s understanding of regeneration is already excellent and this placement will enable him to gain further knowledge and experience. “Regeneration goes beyond simply building new homes, it’s about carrying out a wider transformation of the communities we work in, creating lasting employment opportunities and a better place for residents to live. We hope Paul will get a flavour of this during his time with us.” Lovell was recently appointed by the HCA to its new Delivery Partner Panel, giving the company the opportunity to work on a range of HCA projects in the North West over the next three years.

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CLWYD ALYN BENCHMARKS BEST PRACTICE OVER ASB
08 March 2010

Clwyd Alyn Housing Association, part of The Pennaf Housing Group, is leading the way when it comes to tackling Anti Social Behaviour issues in local communities. The Association’s ASB Co-ordinator Tracey Shenton joined with Mr Neil Moffatt, Director of Housing for Clwyd Alyn, to make a special presentation at the launch of a new promotional campaign highlighting best practice in handling ASB issues. The event, held in Old Colwyn on March 2, was organised by CIH Cymru, one of three events across Wales launching supplementary guidance on housing management standards for Anti Social Behaviour following the introduction of new Welsh Assembly Government Standards in 2008. Mr Moffatt said: “The presentation was aimed at sharing good ideas with other professionals in the sector, and encouraging other housing providers to sign up to the Welsh Assembly voluntary code of standards.” Anti-Social Behaviour coordinator, Tracey Shenton said: “Clwyd Alyn takes its responsibility as a social housing provider extremely seriously and we robustly tackle any anti-social behaviour issues either faced by, or involving our residents. Residents should not have to tolerate inappropriate anti-social behaviour and we will support them at every stage, should they need to take action.” Recent Customer Satisfaction Surveys returned to the Association found that 81% of service users were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the service given by Clwyd Alyn when dealing with complaints of anti-social behaviour. Tracey Shenton added: “Clwyd Alyn will always work to provide the very best service it can to those suffering from the effects of anti-social behaviour. We constantly monitor the service and look for ways to improve where necessary.”

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GREAT PLACES AND MORECAMBE PEOPLE GET STUCK INTO SPRING CLEANING
08 March 2010

Family homes in Poulton, Morecambe, have a smart new look as residents got together to paint porches and plant bulbs for summer colour. Tenants at Whinsfell View and Whitmore Close rolled up their sleeves alongside representatives from their landlord Great Places Housing Group, property repair contractor Connaught and the Probation Service. Jade Lancaster, 11, and Kelsey Wood, 9 Great Places took ownership and management of the two cul-de-sacs of 64 homes last year and have been working to turn nearby land into a community leisure area. During the action day they also took part in fun teamwork exercises and a litter-pick. Community initiatives manager for Great Places, Daniel Mountford, said: “We thought the area could do with a spring clean and a tidy-up so we all got involved and made a real difference. “Wooden porches got a new lick of paint and gardens were planted up with a total of 1,000 bulbs that will ensure the streets look blooming marvellous this summer.” Kate Kenney, Connaught customer experience manager, said: “At Connaught we are committed to having an impact in the community beyond our contracted works and we were delighted therefore for our team to get involved with this initiative. “The end result has definitely made a big difference to the area and with the creation of a community calendar with Great Places we are looking forward to having an even greater impact over the coming months.”

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
08 March 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS Lune Valley RHA is seeking board members across north Lancashire and north Yorkshire. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northwest. Hammersmith United Charities is seeking a Trustee - Housing Specialist. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london/job. West Kent Housing Association is seeking a Policy/Service Improvement Manager. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london. Closing Date: March 18. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Chief Executive based in the North East, salary £108k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 15. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Procurement Manager based in Sunderland, salary circa £31k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 22. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time]. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Property Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 15. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Housing Assistant (Temporary). For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. TENDERS Craigdale Housing Association is inviting tenders for a Tenant Satisfaction Survey. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 8. To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.

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JOB OF THE WEEK: BOARD MEMBERS
09 March 2010

Lune Valley RHA is seeking board members from a variety of backgrounds to fill vacancies on its Board of Management. Owning 77 properties across north Lancashire and north Yorkshire, the Association has an annual turnover of £300,000. The Association does not employ any staff directly but employs Adactus Housing Group as its managing agent. To ensure our Board reflects the communities we serve, we welcome applications from anyone interested in rural housing and especially those with a legal, financial or maintenance background. The position is unpaid, although reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. We hold 4 board meetings a year, normally on Monday mornings. For more information, please call Richard Houghton on 01257 244815. If you are interested in this position, please send your CV to richard.houghton@chorleych.co.uk or write to: CCH Director of Operations 24 – 26 Gillibrand Street Chorley PR7 2EJ Please mention Housing News when applying for these positions.

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£24M CHESTER DEVELOPMENT PLANS BACKED
09 March 2010

Cheshire West and Chester Council has endorsed its backing for a £24m plan to transform The Parade area of Blacon. Partners include the council, Chester and District Housing Trust and NHS Western Cheshire. The Executive's decision now enables more detailed work to be carried out to finalise the scheme which involves new housing and health and community facilities. The health provision would include primary care, community and social care services and new services to be delivered including nursing, general practice and mental health. There will be a minimum of 54 new homes of affordable and market housing and a flagship environmental sustainability scheme, incorporating high energy efficient design in the new buildings. It is hoped that an Asset Management Company will be formed after the new Parade is built, which could become a national model of good practice and replicated across Cheshire West and Chester. After the meeting, Council Leader, Cllr Mike Jones, said: "Together with partners we are working hard to make these ambitious plans a reality. "We believe such a transformation of The Parade will be good for the economy of Blacon as well as a welcome boost for local residents. "The project will be fit for the 21st century and we await a planning application to come before this council in the next 12 months. "By then funding will be finalised and there will be artist impressions of what the new Parade will look like once building work is complete."

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PLUS DANE GROUP SECURES £107K FUNDING FOR PIONEERING ECO-REFURBISHMENT
09 March 2010

Plus Dane Group has secured a share of £17m government funding to deliver a pioneering eco-refurbishment of a Victorian end-terrace property in Liverpool. The group has received over £107k funding from the Technology Strategy Board, following a rigorous competition. The Technology Strategy Board’s significant programme, called ‘Retrofit for the Future’, is the first of its kind in the UK. It is designed to demonstrate how innovative technologies can make existing homes more energy-efficient and produce deep cuts in carbon emissions. The programme was announced by Science Minister Lord Drayson and Housing Minister John Healey. Plus Dane Group’s project is the only scheme in Merseyside to receive the funding, and one of only seven exemplar projects in the North West. Plus Dane Group will convert the property in Wavertree, Liverpool to meet the highest possible energy efficient standards – known as PassivHaus. Key features of Plus Dane Group’s unique and innovative project are: Pioneering the use of super-insulation panels; Triple-glazing throughout to achieve the highest level of heat retention; Construction of a new conservatory to the rear of the property – where air will be pre-heated by the sun and transferred into the house through mechanical ventilation; Solar panels to generate energy for water heating; Low-energy LED lighting throughout; A-rated energy efficient cooker and appliances fitted; Smart Meter technology to monitor energy consumption – giving more control and choice to the customer. The property is now being converted from two existing flats into one, three-bedroom family home. Plus Dane Group is identifying a family to be actively involved in the project – and move in once the eco-refurbishment is completed. Martin Gladwin, Head of Asset Management at Plus Dane Group, said: “The homes we live in make a significant contribution to the UK’s carbon emissions, so we are delighted to be delivering an innovative solution that will demonstrate to our local and wider communities that we can make a positive contribution to climate change, reduce fuel bills and increase people’s comfort in their own home.”

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GREAT PLACES IS 58TH BEST UK COMPANY TO WORK FOR
09 March 2010

Great Places Housing Group is one of Britain’s greatest places to work, according to a highly respected business survey. The Manchester-based housing association has been rated 58th in the annual Sunday Times Top 100 Companies list, three places higher than last year’s position of 61st. Chief executive Stephen Porter paid tribute to Great Places’ “great people” - the employees whose honest thoughts and feelings were analysed by experts. Picture: Customer involvement co-ordinator Pauline Heron and resident John Anderson dancing at Residents' Conference. Results are based on an in-depth and strictly anonymous survey of all employees, as well as company facts and figures. Staff are questioned on a range of issues such as their employer’s values and principles, what it’s like to work with their colleagues and managers, and how motivated and positive they feel about work. Great Places is absolutely delighted with the honour that has recognised its particular strengths in giving something back to communities, offering fair pay and good benefits and inspiring pride among employees. Results were announced at an award ceremony in London. Chief executive, Stephen Porter, said: “We’re thrilled that we have been rated so highly, especially as it’s our own staff who put us up there. “They are the people who know us best, and experience the difference we make for the communities we serve, every day. Any success we achieve is always down to those who work for us. I am so proud of our great people.” Great Places works in 30 council areas, on a wide range of housing, regeneration and community development projects. The group prides itself on offering flexible working and great benefits for staff such as flexitime without core hours and home working. As well as a place on the list, Great Places has been given a Best Companies accreditation. What the survey said - Some key responses from Great Places employees: 70% believe profits and budget are not the only things driving the organisation. 76% feel Great Places does its bit for the environment. 78% believe the group is run on strong moral principles. 95% say staff really care about providing a great service. 72% are excited about the future of the organisation. 72% say managers regularly express their appreciation when they do a good job. 76% say their job is an important part of who they are. 73% say work isn’t boring. 79% say work is a big part of their lives.

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LMH SHORTLISTED FOR 2010 HOUSING HEROES AWARDS
09 March 2010

A housing association's work that sees offenders working full-time in the community to repay their debt has been shortlisted from more than 300 entries for the 2010 Housing Heroes Awards. Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH) is now one of six left in the running for the Frontline Housing Team of the Year award organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing for its Intensive Community Payback scheme. The project has been successfully delivered by LMH in partnership with a variety of organisations including Liverpool’s innovative Community Justice Centre, the Probation Service, Merseyside Police and the council’s North Neighbourhood Management Service. It has resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in the number of reports of anti-social behaviour in North Liverpool compared to the three months before. Tenants say they feel safer in their homes and now have a renewed sense of community spirit. The scheme allows Judge David Fletcher to sentence offenders appearing at the Community Justice Centre with a new Intensive Community Payback Order whereby they have to work five days a week until they complete their unpaid hours, with work starting within two days of sentencing. Offenders are shown the affects of their crimes and, motivated by role models, they are able to gain experience of full-time work, complete their hours and rehabilitate quicker whilst also seeing the results of their labour. They are also given practical help to turn their experience into paid employment. Police involvement in the scheme has eased fears about attacks on the site and reassured residents. The high visibility of the scheme has given residents the confidence to suggest further work and is helping offenders to successfully rehabilitate into the community motivated by direct praise from residents and partners, taking real pride in their achievements and developing a work ethic. The Intensive Community Payback order has been successfully used as a last chance for offenders who have breached previous community orders to avoid custody. The work is also seen by the community as a tougher alternative to a short spell in prison. LMH has also established links with Jobcentre Plus and a local social enterprise to help offenders leaving the scheme secure training and employment opportunities. LMH’s Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services, Angela Forshaw, said: “The hard work of our staff, partners and tenants has made the scheme a huge success with so many people in North Liverpool benefiting. “Not only do tenants tell us the scheme has made them feel safer in their homes and community - and the importance of this can not be underestimated – but it has also made huge strides in rehabilitating offenders quickly and giving them a renewed sense of purpose. “This means they are unlikely to transgress and the community can continue to improve.” Earlier this year the Intensive Community Payback scheme won the Best Local Initiative title at the Liverpool Citysafe Awards and the regional Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Connecting People Award.

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CCH HALFWAY TO DESTINATION
09 March 2010

Lancashire housing association Chorley Community Housing (CCH) is halfway to its target of modernising 3,000 homes with the news that the 1,500 mark has been passed. The improvements, which mean a new kitchen and bathroom for every tenant, are being managed by CCH’s parent organisation Adactus Housing Group and were begun in July 2008. The programme, delivered by social housing refurbishment specialists Bullock Construction Limited, is worth £29m in total. Cost consultancy is being provided by Arcus Consulting. Picture: Derrick Leach (vice chair) and Ann James (chair) from the board of CCH. Ann James, chair of CCH, said: “We are spending nearly £10m a year in Chorley on new kitchens and bathrooms, rewiring and new central heating boilers. Tenant satisfaction with the improvement programme is approaching 100% and I’m delighted that we’ve reached the halfway mark. It’s a testament to the hard work of both the staff involved and to our partners Bullock Construction and Arcus Consulting. “When tenants in Chorley voted for transfer back in 2006, it was new kitchens and bathrooms that they were voting for more than anything else. I’m very proud that we have been able to deliver on this promise for 1,500 tenants already.”

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WILLOW PARK PEDOMETER CHALLENGE
09 March 2010

Willow Park staff have walked to China and beyond during January and February as part an initiative aimed at encouraging health and well-being. Nearly a quarter of all staff took part in this Pedometer Challenge with 7 teams battling it out for top honours. By the end of the first week, the combined total of all teams was the equivalent of a walk to Monaco; by week two it was Turkey and in week three it was China. By the end of the final week staff had clocked up a massive 7348 miles (that’s an impressive14697743 steps) from Wythenshawe. The winning team The team captains were responsible for morale and organising extra lunch time walks – and as this challenge coincided with the delivery of new handbooks to our tenants, this was a great help in boosting targets! The winning team - Shake, Rattle and Roll – was a combination of CCTV crew and Neighbourhood Wardens. They were Sarah Harris, Steve Lee, Sarah Lomax, Michelle Hayes, Kim Peters, Gordon Livingstone and Karen Nuttall from the Wardens Team and Alison Howe, Wes Cowan and Neil Power from the CCTV team. Joe Doherty, Chief Executive of the Trust, presented them with an assorted range of fitness gear to encourage them to continue with this healthy activity. Sam Deakin, Willow Park’s Health and Safety Advisor, said: “I was very impressed with the level of take-up of this challenge. Perhaps coming so soon after Christmas was a good thing. Everyone got into the spirit of it and it really did become quite competitive. Many of us with office based jobs do not get the opportunity to walk as often as we would like, so anything that encourages us to do that has got to be a good thing.”

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QUEEN ELIZABETH HOUSE RAISES £170 FOR CHARITY
09 March 2010

Residents at Weaver Vale Housing Trust’s Queen Elizabeth House Independent Living Apartments have thanked a local supermarket for bringing some weekly cheer into their lives. Each week Sainsbury’s in Northwich donates some of its flowers to Queen Elizabeth House to help create a cheerful atmosphere. Residents showed their appreciation by holding a coffee morning, which raised £60 for the supermarket’s nominated charity, St Luke’s Hospice. Pauline Mills, a charity fundraiser for Sainsbury’s, said: “St Luke’s is our chosen charity because last year they helped provide support for two of our work colleagues, Ann Whittle and Bessie Buchanan, who sadly lost their fight against cancer. “The generosity of those at Queen Elizabeth Court is just wonderful and the money they have raised means the total we have collected for St Luke’s is now exactly £11,000.” Queen Elizabeth House customers have also been raising money to help the plight of those living in Haiti. A collection was held for the Rotary Club of Vale Royal, which is supporting the ShelterBox appeal that helps fund tents and other essential equipment for those affected by disasters worldwide. The collection raised £110.

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
09 March 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS Lune Valley RHA is seeking board members across north Lancashire and north Yorkshire. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northwest. Hammersmith United Charities is seeking a Trustee - Housing Specialist. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london/job. West Kent Housing Association is seeking a Policy/Service Improvement Manager. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london. Closing Date: March 18. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Chief Executive based in the North East, salary £108k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 15. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Procurement Manager based in Sunderland, salary circa £31k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 22. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time]. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Property Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 15. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Housing Assistant (Temporary). For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. TENDERS To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.

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JOB OF THE WEEK: BOARD MEMBERS
10 March 2010

Lune Valley RHA is seeking board members from a variety of backgrounds to fill vacancies on its Board of Management. Owning 77 properties across north Lancashire and north Yorkshire, the Association has an annual turnover of £300,000. The Association does not employ any staff directly but employs Adactus Housing Group as its managing agent. To ensure our Board reflects the communities we serve, we welcome applications from anyone interested in rural housing and especially those with a legal, financial or maintenance background. The position is unpaid, although reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. We hold 4 board meetings a year, normally on Monday mornings. For more information, please call Richard Houghton on 01257 244815. If you are interested in this position, please send your CV to richard.houghton@chorleych.co.uk or write to: CCH Director of Operations 24 – 26 Gillibrand Street Chorley PR7 2EJ Please mention Housing News when applying for these positions.

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14 NORTH WEST PROJECTS NAMED IN KICKSTART ROUND 2
10 March 2010

Fourteen North West projects have been selected by the Homes and Communities Agency as part of the first tranche of schemes for a share of the second round of Kickstart funding. The schemes include: North West Number of Projects – 14 Amount of Investment - £10,530,000 Number of Homes – 805 Waterside Village Morris Homes St Helens £694,950 Kickstart funding to deliver 32 HomeBuy Direct properties and 51 homes for market sale on a 83 home development at Waterside Urban Village in St Helens. This project is the second of 6 phases proposed for this site. The total number of homes in the overall scheme is 363. The Waterside Urban Village scheme is one of three urban villages within St Helens and the council believes that these villages are key to the continued economic regeneration of the Borough. Billinge Greenfields Persimmon Homes North West Greenfields, Billinge £748,500 This development will bring forward 50 new homes - a mix of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom properties, of which 31 will be available through HomeBuy Direct. This is part of a wider scheme that will ultimately provide 217 homes in a popular area that has good demand for family homes. Fleetwood Harbour Redrow Homes Lancashire Fleetwood, Wyre £953,588 This brownfield site has been remediated in preparation for residential redevelopment and Kickstart funding will unlock the first phase of development that will deliver 58 homes, 15 of which will be HomeBuy Direct and seven available for social rent. The unlocking of the first phase of development will also contribute to bringing forward the remaining phases outside of the Kickstart programme that make up the entire 380 home site. This development will support the investment being committed to the regeneration and economic development of Fleetwood by providing new homes for both owner occupiers and those in need of affordable housing. Of the 265 schemes shortlisted for Round 2, 87 successful schemes have been announced to receive funding that will help unlock them and enable more first time buyers to own their own home. Around a quarter of the successful schemes are expected to be back on site by the end of this month. A further announcement on other successful bidders in Round 2 is expected in late Spring.

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REDROW AGREES MANCHESTER HOUSING DEAL
10 March 2010

More than 400 affordable new family homes are planned for Harpurhey and Moston in a deal agreed between Manchester City Council and Redrow Homes. The new homes will support the regeneration of the area and in particular will help first time buyers through a 75 / 25% shared equity loan scheme administered by the council. Contracts have been exchanged on six different sites around Cole and Albine Street, Princedom Street, Winnie Street, Bute Street, Hanson Road and Kingsley Avenue and detailed planning applications for five of the sites will be submitted to Manchester City Council shortly. In the meantime, a series of open days are being held locally to promote the plans to local residents. Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: "These plans demonstrate real investor confidence in North Manchester despite the current global economic climate. Improving housing quality and choice in the area is a central part of our strategy to ensure it is a popular place to live." The six areas to be developed by Redrow range in size from one acre to seven acres, a total of 25 acres in all, and are all within half a kilometre of each other. Situated at the heart of Moston and Harpurhey, close to the Moston Lane and North City shopping and services centres, the six sites were prepared under the Housing Market Renewal Initiative to enable high quality housing.

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CDHT GAINS BEST EVER POSITION IN THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP 100 LIST
10 March 2010

The biggest and most comprehensive survey of employee opinion has ranked Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) as 47th of the Best Companies to Work For in the UK in The Sunday Times Top 100 listing. CDHT appears for the third year running and with its highest ranking ever. CDHT at the ceremony in London The research carried out by Best Companies Ltd, and in its tenth year, involved surveys from over 257,000 employees across the country with 1,086 entries from the crème of British business. CDHT has also attained two star ‘outstanding’ status amongst 140 of these organisations. John Denny, CDHT Chief Executive, said: “Being listed in The ‘Sunday Times Top 100 Companies’ alongside well known high street and boardroom names is a real achievement. To be in the list for three years running and in the Top 50 is a cracking result we can all be really proud of. CDHT’s vision is to create opportunity. “We place the customer at the heart of the business, listen to our communities and our colleagues and provide training opportunities for all. We’ve worked hard to make CDHT a great organisation to work with and this award recognises this.” Jonathan Austin, founder & CEO of Best Companies Ltd said: “Our role is to set a rigorous benchmark so that organisations can become even better employers. I would like to congratulate Chester & District Housing Trust on their outstanding achievement.” Colleagues were nominated to attend the awards dinner at Battersea Evolution, London by their work colleagues across the organisation. Accompanying John Denny and Su Bramley, Deputy Chief Executive were Alison Whitehead (Housing Management), Emma Molyneux (Customer Services), Carl Talbot (TrustWorks), Steve Walker (Neighbourhood Services), Debbie Griffiths (Human Resources) Mo Limam (the Trust’s new concierge), Bob Webb (TrustWorks) and Sarah McGrady (Housing Access). Alison Whitehead, Community Housing Officer at CDHT said: “The evening was a great success and I felt proud to represent the Housing Trust where colleagues, as Jonathan Austin from Best Companies said, really are cherished.”

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NEW EAST MANCHESTER COMPLETES SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM
10 March 2010

Ian Slater Urban regeneration company New East Manchester (NEM) has completed its senior management team recruitment with the appointment of Ian Slater as Deputy Chief Executive, responsible for the regeneration arm of the organisation. Ian replaces Sean McGonigle, who left in October after 12 years to take up the wider role of Assistant Chief Executive for Neighbourhood Strategy and Delivery at Manchester City Council. Ian has worked for Manchester City Council for over 20 years, initially in the housing department and for the past 17 years in regeneration, most recently as Director of the Manchester Salford Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder since 2006. During his career with the council Ian has been responsible for the management of numerous European and National funding programmes delivering physical and socio-economic change including both area based initiatives across the city and high profile projects such as the Bridgewater Hall, the Manchester Central Convention Centre and the redevelopment of the city centre following the 1996 IRA bomb. Ian Slater, New East Manchester’s new Deputy Chief Executive for Regeneration said: “I’m really looking forward to driving east Manchester’s regeneration agenda forward. We are ten years into a long-term journey and are already making a real difference. However, there is still much work to be done to continue this momentum. “Our plans are ambitious and we are committed to delivering a regeneration programme which will not only improve local residents’ lives but attract new people to live, work and visit the area. Urban renewal is never easy but I am keen to embrace the exciting challenges ahead.” Eddie Smith, Chief Executive of New East Manchester said: “It’s great to have Ian on board. His skills and experience complement those of the rest of the team and together, with the support of our residents and funders, we can bring forward significant change and deliver a sustainable future for east Manchester. “In the past ten years we have halted and reversed the decline and it’s now our responsibility to leave a lasting legacy of regeneration benefits for local people.” Steve Thorncroft was appointed Deputy Chief Executive responsible for NEM’s development division in January.

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CLWYD ALYN HOUSING ASSOCIATION PLEDGES ZERO TOLERANCE ON RACISM
10 March 2010

Clwyd Alyn Housing Association, which manages more than 5000 homes across North and Mid Wales, has said that it will continue to take a zero tolerance approach over anti social behaviour issues and take robust action over any incidents of racial abuse. These comments come after supporting Clwyd Alyn tenants living in the Conwy County Borough area who were victimised by a family living nearby. Two of the neighbours, who were not Clwyd Alyn tenants, have since each received three year prison sentences for racially aggravated assault and a ten year Criminal Anti-Social Behaviour Order has also been served upon them excluding them from the estate when they are released. Clwyd Alyn Housing Association also worked with North Wales Police and Cartrefi Housing to take immediate action against the two neighbours in the wake of the assault. Tracey Shenton, Anti Social Behaviour Coordinator for Clwyd Alyn Housing Association, which is part of the Pennaf Housing Group said: “Racial abuse at any level will not be tolerated. As a Registered Social Landlord Clwyd Alyn takes its responsibility to tenants extremely seriously and we will support our tenants every step of the way to make sure they do not have to endure such behaviour. “This was a particularly serious case leading to criminal convictions. We are particularly pleased that a ten year order has also been served on them so that our tenants can recover some peace of mind after what has been a deeply traumatic period for them.” In a letter to Clwyd Alyn, the tenants suffering the abuse thanked Sharon Sparrow, Anti Social Behaviour Officer for Clwyd Alyn: “Thank You so much for all your support, help and attention in our recent stressful case. It indeed helped us a lot to know that you were there, doing what you can on behalf of our landlord Clwyd Alyn. You do a great job.” The letter backs up findings of Customer Satisfaction Surveys returned to the Association which found that 81% of service users were satisfied or very satisfied with the service given by Clwyd Alyn when dealing with complaints of anti-social behaviour. Tracey Shenton said: “Clwyd Alyn will always work to provide the very best service it can to those suffering from the effects of anti-social behaviour. We constantly monitor the service and look for ways to improve where necessary.”

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DRAGON AT DEN UNVEILED IN HALTON
10 March 2010

A nine foot, two tonne sculpture of a dragon was unveiled at Brooker’s Den to put the finishing touches to a £350,000 project to provide state of the art play equipment for Runcorn’s Halton Brook children. Social landlord Riverside spearheaded the playground project using Big Lottery funding combined with their own regeneration cash, in collaboration with Halton Borough Council, which also added funds from their Playbuilder initiative. John Merrill (top) with Lorna Hughes, Darren Whitfield and Halton Brook children Riverside and their landscape architects 2020 Knowsley commissioned sculptor John Merrill, who worked with children from Castleview and Holy Spirit schools on the design of the public art work, made from a 150 year old oak tree trunk. Children from both schools attended the unveiling of the sculpture where they learned more about how the four piece figure was constructed and carved. Community engagement officer Lorna Hughes said: “The children really enjoyed taking part in the art project. They learned a lot about the sculpture process and are proud of helping to create a lasting public art work for everyone to enjoy.” Darren Whitfield of Four Estates, the local community group, liaised with the schools to get children involved in the project. Sculptor John Merrill, based in Glyn Ceiriog, sourced the oak from the edge of a nearby farmer’s field. He spent four months carving the piece. John added: “As the children play on the sculpture they will polish it and create a hardwearing surface. It should last for about 100 years.”

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BCH HOPING FOR A VICTORY
10 March 2010

Twenty-four Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) employees are kicking off for a worthwhile cause. BCH have recruited 24 of their employees to take part in a 24-hour football match to help raise the money for BBC’s Sport Relief Charity. As football clubs across the country kick-off at 3 pm on Saturday 20 March, so will the BCH employees at Stanley Park. However as the final whistle is blown after 90 minutes at around 4:45 pm in all other games, the BCH team will continue to play football until 3 pm the following day. The team are hoping to raise £5,000 for the charity and they can only do that with the help of others. They would be extremely grateful if people could make a donation to Sport Relief and help them achieve their target. You can visit the teams Sport Relief website to make a donation at www.mysportrelief.com/bch24hourfootball. They also need support for this unique challenge through the provision of equipment, kit and supplies such as food and drink. If you are interested in supporting the team in anyway please contact Mike Glennon on 01253 477911 or mike.glennon@bch.co.uk.

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
10 March 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS Lune Valley RHA is seeking board members across north Lancashire and north Yorkshire. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northwest. Hammersmith United Charities is seeking a Trustee - Housing Specialist. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london/job. West Kent Housing Association is seeking a Policy/Service Improvement Manager. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london. Closing Date: March 18. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Chief Executive based in the North East, salary £108k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 15. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Procurement Manager based in Sunderland, salary circa £31k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 22. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time]. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Property Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 15. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Housing Assistant (Temporary). For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. TENDERS To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.

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JOB OF THE WEEK: BOARD MEMBERS
11 March 2010

Lune Valley RHA is seeking board members from a variety of backgrounds to fill vacancies on its Board of Management. Owning 77 properties across north Lancashire and north Yorkshire, the Association has an annual turnover of £300,000. The Association does not employ any staff directly but employs Adactus Housing Group as its managing agent. To ensure our Board reflects the communities we serve, we welcome applications from anyone interested in rural housing and especially those with a legal, financial or maintenance background. The position is unpaid, although reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. We hold 4 board meetings a year, normally on Monday mornings. For more information, please call Richard Houghton on 01257 244815. If you are interested in this position, please send your CV to richard.houghton@chorleych.co.uk or write to: CCH Director of Operations 24 – 26 Gillibrand Street Chorley PR7 2EJ Please mention Housing News when applying for these positions.

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GREEN LIGHT FOR £4.3M TAMESIDE CARE HOME
11 March 2010

North West care homes operator Meridian Healthcare has won planning approval for a care centre development on the site of the former St James' Primary school, within the conservation area of Millbrook in Tameside. The new care centre will provide accommodation for up to 45 residents and is likely to employ around 40 people from the local area. Plans for the Millbrook care home One of the main characteristics of the new building is the use of the existing façade of the old school. The building will be built with stone in keeping with the local area and existing stonework on the site. The new care centre will have 45 bedrooms, all of which will have full en suite facilities with walk in showers. The building will also incorporate hi-tech features including a free WiFi service for its residents and visitors. Meridian managing director Susan Firth said: "Millbrook will be a great example of how to provide high quality long term care to older people. "We are very selective about what and where we build care centres. Our research tells us that the site is in an excellent area and in a prime position to offer excellent services to the local community. "As one of a small number of providers who have achieved Good and Excellent ratings across the board, we are looking forward to adding this superb care centre to our portfolio." The Millbrook development forms part of a wider investment programme across the group. Meridian plan to add over 400 new beds to the existing 1338 bed stock in the next four years through development and acquisition. In the medium term, Meridian has earmarked £12m for further investment within the Tameside area alone. The completion of the building is scheduled for Autumn 2011.

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TRIO OF SUCCESS FOR SALIX HOMES' SERVICES
11 March 2010

Salford-based housing company Salix Homes has picked up three national awards for its services. It is one of only two ALMOs in the country to get the seal of approval from HouseMark and the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group for the way it deals with antisocial behaviour. The organisation, which manages around 10,500 homes in central Salford on behalf of Salford City Council, undertook a five-day inspection by HouseMark officials. They commended Salix Homes on its 24-hour freephone number for tenants to report antisocial behaviour and for its first response team in dealing with out-of-hours complaints. As one of the first organisation of its kind to be awarded the standard, Salix Homes' performance will now act as a benchmark for other social landlords. Separately, the company has received a Keep Britain Tidy Cleaner, Safer, Greener quality mark for its neighbourhood management of estates in the Ordsall and Langworthy areas of Salford. Inspectors spent time with officers in the community during estate 'walkabouts' and interviewed tenants about the services they receive. The rapid response team which deals with fly-tipping incidents by going out to remove dumped rubbish was highlighted as a key strength as well as partnership working between the council, police and other agencies. Adding to a string of recent service successes, the company has also been awarded an 'achieving' status against the Equality Framework for Local Government. The standard issued by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) measures performance in the following five areas: knowing communities and equality mapping place shaping, leadership, partnership and organisational commitment community engagement and satisfaction responsive services and customer care a modern and diverse workforce Sue Sutton, Salix Homes' head of better neighbourhoods said: "We're delighted to be nationally recognised for the services we provide for residents. "We've made great strides in developing our antisocial behaviour service over the last 18 months and wanted to test our service against key accreditations. "It helps to ensure that we're delivering on all commitments and allows us to identify any areas for development to enable our customers continue to receive a first class service. "Our customers have been involved throughout the assessment processes which is reassurance that we're not just performing well nationally, but that we're doing things right for tenants too. "The experience was a challenging one but it was an extremely valuable and worthwhile exercise that we'd recommend to all housing providers."

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WEAVER VALE HOUSING TRUST STRAIGHT IN TO THE SUNDAY TIMES LIST
11 March 2010

Weaver Vale Housing Trust has been recognised in a prestigious list of the country's top employers. The Trust has been listed at 53 in The Sunday Times ‘Top 100 Best Companies to Work For’ following its recent 2-star ‘outstanding’ accreditation from Best Companies. This is a major achievement for the Trust as it was its first attempt at the highly regarded national accreditation and it is one of the few housing organisations in the UK to be highlighted. The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies magazine is one of the most important references for people looking for a new job as it highlights the most dynamic places to work in the country. Picture: Weaver Vale Housing Trust chief executive Steve Jennings (left), receives a 'Top 100 Best Companies to Work For' award from Jonathan Austin, Founder and CEO of Best Companies. James Boyd, Weaver Vale Housing Trust’s chairman, said: “This is fantastic news as there has been a lot of effort to refocus the Trust over the past few years, which has been achieved through the efforts of every member of staff. “I hope this achievement and the recognition gained from it will give everybody at the Trust a well deserved sense of pride and also provide a platform from which the Trust as a whole can continue to build on all the good work it has already done.” With more than 300 staff and 6,000 homes the Trust is one of the largest social landlords in Cheshire. As part of the accreditation process the Trust’s employees were asked to complete a confidential and voluntary survey about a wide range of issues including how they felt about various aspects of their work, from leadership and management, to wellbeing and personal growth. Steve Jennings, Chief Executive of Weaver Vale Housing Trust, said: “To be recognised alongside a group of national companies is a tremendous achievement and I would like to thank all our staff for their commitment and enthusiasm for the work they do. “Retaining a motivated and dedicated workforce that is focused on delivering the best possible service to our customers is essential to the Trust and we will continue working hard to ensure we are a great organisation to work for.”

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NORTH WEST COLLEAGUES DEPART FOR INTERNATIONAL SKILLS EXCHANGE
11 March 2010

A team of plumbers, plasterers and bricklayers from two housing trusts are travelling to Uganda where they will use their expertise to help renovate a primary school. Five colleagues from Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) have joined three members of Halton Housing Trust’s Construction Services team to spend three weeks in the town of Fort Portal. The team will be swapping winter in the North West to work in the plus 30 degree African heat over the next three weeks, helping to reconstruct classrooms that were damaged in a major earthquake which hit Uganda in 1994. Picture: Halton Housing Trust’s Steve Morgan, Martin Ambrose and Steve Bounds will be passing on their skills to apprentices in Uganda. This sustainable project has been developed in partnership with Liverpool Hope University and the Mountains of the Moon University in Fort Portal, Western Uganda, as well as the Volunteer Missionary Movement, a UK and Irish based charity. A Ugandan priest called Father Sebastian attended the launch of the project at the Ugandan Embassy in London last year. Father Sebastian’s bricks will be used to complete the construction of the primary school. Dr Martin Carey, Chief Executive of Urban Hope; a social enterprise subsidiary of Liverpool Hope University specialising in regeneration projects and John Denny, Chief Executive of CDHT have been to Uganda and visited the Mountains of the Moon University. John Denny said: “Our Chester workforce is really excited about teaming up with the inspirational people of Uganda; many of our colleagues have never been to Africa before, so this is a great opportunity for them exchange skills and bring back what they have learnt to Chester. “As well as providing much-needed skilled labour for this part of Western Uganda, the Fort Portal project is a chance for colleagues to work in an enlightening environment, working way outside their normal experiences alongside local Ugandan apprentices to procure local materials to complete projects that have been identified by the schools themselves; local needs are driving this project. “The potential benefits for colleagues and students alike are immense – and Fort Portal will be left with better school facilities that could encourage more graduates to stay and teach and in turn children to continue their own education to graduate level.” Nick Atkin, Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, said: “We are aiming to ensure our team has a long-term impact on the area. It will be an amazing experience for our colleagues. It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to use the skills that they have developed over the years to move the lives of others and to pass on their expertise. They will also bring back skills and experience which will be of benefit not only to the three of them but also to the wider organisation.”

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PLUS DANE GROUP REACHES HOUSING HEROES FINALS
11 March 2010

Plus Dane Group’s Development team has made it to the Finals of the prestigious Housing Heroes Awards 2010 in the Development Team of the Year category. The awards are organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). The awards will be presented at the London Hilton on Friday, 14 May at a ceremony hosted by TV presenter, Antarctic explorer and Atlantic rower Ben Fogle. The awards are sponsored by Campbell Tickell, EMA, Asset Skills, Synergy Group and The Hire Standard. Plus Dane Group is a ‘neighbourhood investor’, spending less on running its business and more on delivering comprehensive regeneration for the neighbourhoods it serves, working closely with residents to meet their needs and aspirations. A lead development partner with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the accountable body within the Plus Harvest Development Partnership (PHD) and one of only 15 Local HomeBuy Agents 2009 – 2011, Plus Dane Group is one of the largest developers of affordable housing in the North West with a committed development programme of 1,500 new homes across seven Local Authority areas. This year the team doubled its National Affordable Housing Programme grant from £16.4m to £34.3m by accessing funds from the government’s Housing Stimulus Package and Building Britain’s Future package. All new homes developed by Plus Dane Group are green by design. The team is a recognised lead on construction innovation and sustainability. A treble Finalist at the Sustainable Housing Awards 2009, the team supports the environment with measures to protect wildlife, encourage recycling and conserve energy through innovative green technologies. The team is also expert at delivering specialist and supported housing and has recently completed a £5.3m Extra Care Village in Congleton, Cheshire – which will launch later this month. Through its role as HomeBuy Agent for Merseyside and Cheshire, the team helps first-time buyers to get a foot on the property ladder through the full range of government-backed HomeBuy products and recently let 95 apartments at below market rent at the £1.2B Liverpool ONE development through an innovative leasing arrangement with Grosvenor. The team also supports struggling homeowners through the government’s Mortgage Rescue scheme with 21 completions and 30 live cases. More vulnerable customers are supported to live more independently through the HOLD (Home Ownership for people with Long-Term Disabilities) scheme. Developing not just homes, but also commercial and leisure projects that support regeneration, Plus Dane Group is the lead developer for the £11m Village Square in Castlefields, Runcorn. This exciting development includes new shops, a new community centre, health centre, vibrant public square and improved transport links. Claire Griffiths, Managing Director (Development) at Plus Dane Group said: “Reaching the finals of these prestigious awards is a reflection of the hard work, passion and commitment of the team. I’m very proud of the excellent work we do, and the team deserves this special recognition.”

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CONTOUR WELCOMES NEW SUTTON GARDENS RESIDENTS
11 March 2010

Mike Creamer, Chief Executive of Contour Housing Group and Cllr Jamie Macrae, Prosperity Portfolio Holder for Cheshire East joined residents of a new development to mark its official opening. Sutton Gardens on Earlsway Macclesfield is comprised of 49 one and two bedroom apartments which are available to rent to people aged 55 and over. Sutton Gardens The £5.9m development which has been supported by £3.2m from the Homes & Communities Agency includes three specially adapted wheelchair access apartments for people who may have physical disabilities. All of the apartments and external grounds provide level access and the development is serviced by a lift to all floors. Landscaped gardens surround the development and include a garden stroll pathway, a parking court and a patio area leading off the communal lounge. Councillor Macrae praised the high specification and design of the scheme which met the local authority’s housing priorities to provide quality and choice of housing for older people. Fifty-six-year-old Robert Nottage was the first resident to move into the new development. He said: “It’s brilliant here, I love everything about it. The peace and tranquillity is particularly welcome – with no youngsters in the building you don’t have to worry about excessive noise. “The properties themselves are a great size, big enough - but easy to maintain and keep clean and I can’t believe how warm they are, even during this cold spell. “I think that schemes for older people like myself and my neighbours are a great idea and there should be more of them.” Just ten of the properties remain available to rent and Contour Housing Group is delighted with the success of Sutton Gardens. Mike Creamer said: “It’s great to see a finished project and have the opportunity to meet the people who call it home. This is one of numerous developments the Group has completed in the Cheshire area and we will continue to work closely with Cheshire East to explore further opportunities in the future.”

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FLINTSHIRE PUBLIC TO VIEW PLANS FOR ASTON MEAD HOMES
11 March 2010

Members of the public have been invited to an open consultation event later today where plans for new environmentally friendly affordable homes at Aston Mead, Deeside will be on show. The Pennaf Housing Group, in partnership with Flintshire County Council and the Welsh Assembly Government, plan to develop the area with a mixture of two, three and four bedroom affordable family homes. Outline planning permission has already been obtained by the Welsh Assembly Government to develop part of the site for residential use and Pennaf is now seeking the views of local people before detailed plans are submitted. Final details of the scheme will only be drawn up following this consultation so that views can be incorporated where ever possible, and a commitment has already been made that the new homes will meet the new benchmark standard in environmental sustainability. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) sets the benchmark standards over the environmental impact of new building construction with the ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’. The area for the proposed development is set back in cleared area and a green link banked boundary walk will separate the new homes from an area of land next to the A494 Trunk Road retained for any possible future road improvement usage. Deiniol Evans, Director of Development and Technical Services for Pennaf said: “We are extremely pleased to be working in partnership both with Flintshire County Council and with the Welsh Assembly Government on developing affordable family housing on this site. “This is an exciting opportunity to create exceptional local housing that enhances the area. We are mindful that this has been a sensitive location which is why we hope people will come along to the consultation event on March 11.” Flintshire County Council's Executive Member for Housing Management Councillor Helen Yale said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Aston to come and view the scheme, have their say and give views. This is long awaited and I hope that we attract many potential local first time buyers. I have personally had numerous calls enquiring about the scheme and I hope we have a good turnout at the consultation day." The consultation event will be held at Aston Park Community Centre, Aston Park Road, between 2 pm and 7 pm on March 11 where plans for the proposed development will be on show together with examples of previous developments undertaken by Pennaf on behalf of Clwyd Alyn Housing Association, which is part of the Pennaf Housing Group.

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
11 March 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS Lune Valley RHA is seeking board members across north Lancashire and north Yorkshire. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northwest. Hammersmith United Charities is seeking a Trustee - Housing Specialist. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london/job. West Kent Housing Association is seeking a Policy/Service Improvement Manager. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london. Closing Date: March 18. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Chief Executive based in the North East, salary £108k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 15. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Procurement Manager based in Sunderland, salary circa £31k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 22. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time]. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Property Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 15. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Housing Assistant (Temporary). For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.

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JOB OF THE WEEK: BOARD MEMBERS
12 March 2010

Lune Valley RHA is seeking board members from a variety of backgrounds to fill vacancies on its Board of Management. Owning 77 properties across north Lancashire and north Yorkshire, the Association has an annual turnover of £300,000. The Association does not employ any staff directly but employs Adactus Housing Group as its managing agent. To ensure our Board reflects the communities we serve, we welcome applications from anyone interested in rural housing and especially those with a legal, financial or maintenance background. The position is unpaid, although reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. We hold 4 board meetings a year, normally on Monday mornings. For more information, please call Richard Houghton on 01257 244815. If you are interested in this position, please send your CV to richard.houghton@chorleych.co.uk or write to: CCH Director of Operations 24 – 26 Gillibrand Street Chorley PR7 2EJ Please mention Housing News when applying for these positions.

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NEW CONTRACT GIVES CUSTOMERS SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS
12 March 2010

GM Procure has awarded a major contract for the supply of building materials and products for responsive maintenance to Wolseley UK, in a move that will see significant savings for customers, including social housing landlords across the country. GM Procure’s aim through the tendering process (via the OJEU procedure) was to look at innovative ways of sourcing the required materials in order to offer a consistent pricing model for customers. The areas currently benefiting from the new contract are Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria and the North East of England. As it develops it could eventually include other geographical areas and involve additional working relationships. The agreed model between GM Procure and Wolseley will represent savings for landlords and will lead to a more cohesive purchasing method, removing the need to ‘shop around’ for materials and thereby leading to a more cost effective and time efficient way of acquiring materials. Commenting on the new contract with Wolseley, Chief Executive of GM Procure, Mike Brogan said: “The contract was awarded to Wolseley for several reasons, not least as their Internet based ordering process and stock checking system is in line with our own system based approach, but also because of their sustainable building centre, which will be an important addition with sustainability remaining a key issue for landlords. “All spend through the framework will have a 1% contribution to the regeneration policy, projects and spend.” The partnership will be audited regularly to ensure that the agreed model is being followed and that customers are guaranteed consistent savings on the purchase of materials.

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NORTH WEST COMPANY RATED TOP 30 IN THE UK
12 March 2010

Congleton-based Plus Dane Group has been named as one of the top 30 companies to work for in the UK. The organisation was placed at number 29 in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list, which surveyed a staggering 230,000 employee opinions nationwide. Plus Dane – which works as a housing association and a neighbourhood investor, improving quality of life and opportunity in some of the region’s most deprived areas – also won a special national award for its training and development project, The Apprentice. It has offices in both Merseyside and Congleton. Picture: Plus Dane Group chief exec Ken Perry and Chair of the Board John Pollard receiving their award. Its top 30 position reflects its dedication to staff satisfaction and attracting high-quality employees. Colleagues surveyed praised the Group for its flexible, family-friendly policies, supportive work environment, and for its passionate commitment to the work it does. Many members of staff felt they were truly helping to ‘make a difference’. This Award follows on from its recent accreditation as an ‘outstanding’ two-star organisation by the well-regarded Best Companies scheme. Both the 2-star rating and its placement in the prestigious Sunday Times Top 100 are based on rigorous employee surveys, questioning staff on issues such as leadership, well-being, management and personal growth. Ken Perry, Chief Executive, said: “We are incredibly proud of our top 30 placing. Not only does it show that we are a caring and committed organisation to work for, it also reflects the satisfaction of our staff, and the sense of achievement that our work gives them. We aim to provide the very best to our customers, and having a dedicated and passionate team is a huge part of that.” Plus Dane homes, services and enterprise across Merseyside and Cheshire. It owns or manages around 15,000 properties, and employs more than 400 staff.

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SOUTH LIVERPOOL HOUSING UP FOR 3 AWARDS
12 March 2010

South Liverpool Housing (SLH) is in the running for three awards at a national awards ceremony which aims to shine the spotlight on people and teams that are doing great work in the housing sector. They have been shortlisted in the Housing Heroes Awards for ICT Team of the Year, Inspirational Colleague of the Year and Inspirational Mentor of the Year. The event is organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), and attracted a phenomenal response with submissions from the length and breadth of the UK. The winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony at London’s Hilton Hotel on 14 May hosted by TV presenter, Antarctic explorer and Atlantic rower Ben Fogle. The awards are sponsored by Campbell Tickell, EMA, Asset Skills, Synergy Group and The Hire Standard. Last year more than 700 people attended. Julie Fadden’s chief executive said: "SLH have been shortlisted again for 3 awards in the prestigious Housing Heroes awards which recognise the extraordinary contribution our people make to enrich the lives of others we serve. "We are very proud of everyone at SLH, and will be cheering for our ICT team led by Ian Cresswell, our mentor Christine Flanagan and our very inspirational colleague, Paul Dow - all of whom deserve to win - whatever the result they will always be winners to me."

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HEALEY SEES HOW RIVERSIDE IS HELPING IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIVES
12 March 2010

John Healey, the Housing Minister, visited Carlisle on Thursday 4th March to find out how Riverside is working to help provide homes for local people. The visit began at Barratt Homes’ Eden Park Development on London Road, where Riverside administer the government’s HomeBuy Direct scheme. At the site he met with individuals from both Riverside and Barratt and also met with Mr Khan who had moved in only a week ago, having purchased his property through HomeBuy Direct. The Housing Minister chatted with Mr Khan and his family who thanked both Barratt and Riverside for all their help during the purchase of his property. The Minister then moved on to speak with a lady that had gone through the Government’s Mortgage Rescue scheme, which is also administered by Riverside for the whole of Cumbria. Whilst the lady was keen to remain anonymous she was very grateful for all the help that she has received from Riverside and the relief that the completion on the property had given her when she had hit financial difficulties, as many people have over the last 12 months. The final part of the Minister’s visit saw him visit the Botcherby neighbourhood, where 64% of residents now state that they are satisfied with living in the area, compared with only 43% in 2007. This turnaround is the culmination of a massive investment by Riverside along with successful partnership working with other agencies to make a real difference to Botcherby. The Minister took a walk through Botcherby with the visit ending at the newly renovated Sheltered Unit, Freshfield Court where he met with residents. Anne Quilter is the Regeneration Manager at Botcherby and accompanied the Minister on his visit to Botcherby. She said: “This was fantastic opportunity for Riverside to showcase the difference that the external works have made to our properties in Botcherby, to the Minister. He was very impressed with our commitment to involving our residents and our working with partners to deliver added value services such as training courses, garden loan scheme and a Credit Union collection point.”

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NORTH EAST FIRMS JOIN FORCES TO REMOVE ASBESTOS
12 March 2010

People and property business Gentoo has joined forces with green service giant EAGA. Gentoo Construction has won an extended contract with Newcastle based business EAGA to remove asbestos from homes. The company, which is best known for managing the Government’s Warm Front scheme, recruited Gentoo to carry out the works prior to the installation of new heating systems back in 2004. Now, the contract has been renewed and extended from three areas within the UK to fifteen, including Yorkshire, Bradford, the Lake District, Cumbria, Hull, Devon and Cornwall. Anthony Wade, Operations Manager at Gentoo said: “Working with EAGA brings great benefits to us as a growing organisation. “We have vast experience in asbestos removal and in working together, we can make sure that the Warm Front scheme is delivered with customer needs and safety at the fore of our minds.” The Warm Front scheme provides a package of insulation and heating improvements up to the value of £3,500, and up to £6,000 for oil installations. Eric Coates, Warm Front Operations Manager at EAGA said: “Gentoo has been a successful partner in helping EAGA to deliver the Warm Front Scheme over the last five years. Therefore, we were more than happy to extend our original contract and strengthen our working relationship.” Gentoo Construction is currently working across the region with South Tyneside Homes, Endeavour, Wansbeck, Nomad, Teesdale and Berwick Borough Housing.

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SUPPORT TO MOVE HOME HELPS ROCHDALE COUPLE
12 March 2010

When they heard about the plans for redeveloping the site of their flat on Curzon Road, Kirkholt in Rochdale, one couple found the support from the Vision for Kirkholt team was just right. Ranjo Ali and Lenka Gajdosova moved from their one bedroom Kirkholt flat to their new home in Spotland in October. Ranjo, who works at a wholesale electrical shop in Manchester, met Lenka at Hopwood Hall College where they were both studying English. Ranjo and Lenka enjoying their new home The couple got in touch with the Vision for Kirkholt team when they heard about the plans. Vision for Kirkholt will clear the site bordered by Cumberland Road and Curzon Road later this year. Brighter Horizons, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing’s (RBH’s) charitable subsidiary, intends to build 30 new high quality three- and four-bedroom homes on the site. Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal is working with Rochdale Council and Rochdale Boroughwide Housing to improve the choice and quality of homes available on Kirkholt. Ranjo and Lenka were very pleased with the opportunity to move to a new home. Having got in touch with the team, they got all the help they needed from Project Assistant Linda Byrne. Lenka said: “Linda was fabulous. If we had any problems, she was always ready to help. Arranging the move just took a few days.” Despite being offered a choice of new properties through RBH, Ranjo and Lenka decided to rent privately and found their new home on the internet. Their new home had been for sale but with the slowdown of the housing market the owners were happy to rent it out. They are hugely happy with their new home. Ranjo said, “When we first saw our new home, it was all that we wanted. It was just what we imagined it should be. The chance to move has been a major turning point in our lives. In the future we want to look at the possibility of buying our home.” Having both moved to Rochdale, Ranjo and Lenka are very happy living in the town. Ranjo added, “When we have been away, it feels like coming home. We could have chosen to live elsewhere, possibly in Manchester, but we like how close we are here to beautiful countryside.” Lenka said, “I think that things have improved on Kirkholt over the last few years, it’s become a much safer place. Demolishing some of the properties has been a good thing for Kirkholt.” Ranjo and Lenka are also very impressed by the plans for Kirkholt, and would even think about moving back one day. “We were delighted to hear that people care about Kirkholt. The area has certainly got a lot better.”

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EMPTY HOMES PROVIDE HOUSING AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
12 March 2010

Jocelyn Davies Welsh Assembly Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Jocelyn Davies AM has visited a former empty home in Rhyl that is to be sold as an affordable house to a local first time buyer. North Wales Housing Association worked in partnership with Denbighshire County Council on this affordable housing initiative and purchased three long term empty homes in West Rhyl. The houses have now been refurbished and will be sold as low cost housing to local people at 50 per cent of their open market value. Ms Davies visited a four-bed house in Lake Avenue, which was the first refurbishment to be completed under this initiative. The scheme has also provided opportunities for local people to undertake a variety of construction training, with apprentices having developed skills in areas such as plastering, joinery and surveying throughout the renovation process. Ms Davies said: “This is a fantastic scheme that not only helps local people to get their foot on the property ladder and purchase their own homes, but has helped local young people to gain the valuable skills they need to help them get jobs. “By taking empty homes and refurbishing them to turn them into good quality affordable homes we are tackling their wasted resource and helping to revitalise the local community.” One of the apprentices was 17-year-old Ashley Hughes from Kimmel Bay who was taken on as an apprentice plasterer but has now been offered full time employment by contractor K and C Construction. Ashley added: “I can’t believe the difference the scheme has made to me. I’m so grateful to have been able to take part in it, gain new skills and learn a trade.” The refurbishment is part of the Denbighshire Empty Homes Project, which was set up to give unoccupied dwellings a new lease of life as affordable housing. Part-funded by the Welsh Assembly Government through the North Wales Coast Regeneration Area funding, the scheme is thought to be one of the first of its kind in the country.

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
12 March 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS Lune Valley RHA is seeking board members across north Lancashire and north Yorkshire. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northwest. Hammersmith United Charities is seeking a Trustee - Housing Specialist. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london/job. West Kent Housing Association is seeking a Policy/Service Improvement Manager. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london. Closing Date: March 18. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Chief Executive based in the North East, salary £108k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 15. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Procurement Manager based in Sunderland, salary circa £31k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 22. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time]. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Property Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 15. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Housing Assistant (Temporary). For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. TENDERS North Glasgow Housing Association is inviting tenders for Internal Audit Services. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: April 2. To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.

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