JOB OF THE WEEK: POLICY/SERVICE IMPROVEMENT MANAGER
12 March 2010

JOB: TRUSTEE – HOUSING SPECIALIST
12 March 2010

Hammersmith United Charities (HUC) TRUSTEE – HOUSING SPECIALIST HUC has two almshouses providing 68 sheltered flats on two sites. It will shortly add a further 24 high specification flats. The charity needs a trustee with the strategic vision and operational experience of affordable housing to guide and advise colleagues in what continues to be its core activity. Trustees would welcome someone with knowledge of and interest in Hammersmith. Full details can be had from: www.hamunitedcharities.org.uk or contact: Clerk to the Trustees clerk@hamunitedcharities.com 020 8746 2396. Further Links

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BARKING AND DAGENHAM FAMILIES TO BID ON FIRST NEW COUNCIL HOMES
12 March 2010

Families on Barking and Dagenham Council's housing waiting list will this week get the chance to bid for one of the first new council houses being built in the borough for 25 years. Choice Homes magazine, which carries details of all vacant council properties, will today contain descriptions of the new council homes. Local residents on the council waiting list who have completed the necessary assessment forms will be able to bid for one of the 17 homes listed in the magazine. Construction on the new council homes, which will be on four sites in the borough, will begin in the next few weeks and preparation work is already well underway. The first properties are expected to be ready for occupation by the end of the summer. After they have been advertsied, the houses will be allocated so tenants can move in as soon as building work is complete. It will also allow tenants to have an input into some of the final cosmetic stages of the building work. Once accepted, successful bidders will not be able to bid on any other properties that come up in the meantime. Ground breaking ceremonies have been taking place at the five sites this week. A further 15 houses are planned for Beamway in Dagenham and Charlton Crescent in Barking. These will be allocated at a later date. Cllr Liam Smith, Leader of the Council, said: "This week's announcement is a historic one for the borough. This is the beginning of the process of allocating the first council houses in Barking and Dagenham that we've seen for a quarter of a century. "These are new homes for local people and we want to have tenants from our housing waiting list lined up for these houses so they can move in as soon as possible. "These will be brand new three or four bedroom houses built to a very high standard and will make lovely homes for 48 families. I would urge families who are on the waiting list and who have completed the necessary assessments to make sure they look at the magazine and check it for details on how to bid." Cllr Phil Waker, cabinet member for housing, added: "This is the beginning of our house building programme, with the next 15 being built at Thames View and on the old garage site in Beamway, near Rainham Road South. We have a long way to go to fulfil the need for decent housing, but we will be looking at all ways to keep building for local families." Further Links

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HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS TEAM UP FOR JOBS FAIR
12 March 2010

AmicusHorizon, London & Quadrant, Wandle & Croydon Churches Housing Association and Croydon BME Forum have joined forces to organise a Jobs+ Fair. The aim of the event was to offer residents support and opportunities to find employment or start a new business. The focus was on growing industries such as social enterprise and green businesses. The fair, held at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon saw over 200 local residents attend. There were a range of motivational speakers from a number of external organisations including, Claudine Reid, Director of PJ’s Community Services, Ray Barwick, Chief Executive of Croydon ARC and Murad Qureshi, member of the London Assembly. Steve Douglas, vice-chair of the AmicusHorizon Board hosted the days events and gave the opening address. He said: “It’s great to see housing associations working together and pooling resources to find solutions to worklessness and business enterprise.” Annette Blake, AmicusHorizon resident said: “It’s excellent that residents are able to attend events such as this, to help find out about job opportunities and starting businesses. I got a lot out of attending.” Further Links

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HARINGEY UNSUNG RESIDENT AWARDED
12 March 2010

Angie Buzzacott Haringey’s unsung heroes have been recognised at a glittering awards ceremony acknowledging their extensive voluntary contributions to their local communities. Organised by Homes for Haringey’s resident involvement team, the 2nd annual awards ceremony was held at the Decorium in Wood Green. The event, which included a three course dinner, was attended by almost 150 people. For the 2nd year running, the celebration was sponsored by Homes for Haringey’s decent homes contractors. The eight winners were selected from over 28 nominations. They are: Akbar Choudhary and Thanh Nguyen, Edgecot Grove Young Advisors, Barbara Cordwell, Chair, Headcorn, Tenterden, Beaufoy and Gretton Road Residents’ Association (HTBG); Ronald Dalliday, Advocate, Northumberland Park; Anthony Jackson, Chair, Residents’ Repair Panel; Alexander Hearn, Chair, Mildura Court Residents’ Association; Anne Goodhew, Leasehold Panel member; Derek Stott, Treasurer, the Crescent Residents’ Association and Susan Rice, Association of Tenant Representatives. All the winners were presented with a special inscribed plaque by , and Jackie Thomas, Executive Director of Housing Management. They also received £300 each to spend on community projects of their choice. Voluntary activities celebrated included working with young people, supporting elderly people and tirelessly campaigning and participating in residents’ associations. In addition, the Special Achievement award went to Wood Green resident, Angie Buzzacott. She said: “I’ve worked on behalf of tenants with Haringey Council and Homes for Haringey for over 18 years. It has been a busy and enjoyable learning curve. This award means so much. I didn’t expect to get it. I’m so humbled and very honoured.” Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Councillor John Bevan presented 14 residents associations’ with framed certificates and special grants of up to £500. All successfully landed funding to pay for new equipment or projects in their communities. Committee Vice Chairman, Remiah Telfer, said: “These awards are a positive way to acknowledge the contribution the local community makes, including younger tenants. We are after all part of the future and we can make a difference by getting other young people involved in a number of activities on their estate.” Further Links

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GENESIS COMMUNITY ORGANISES AFRICAN ARTS IN HACKNEY
12 March 2010

Victoria Dzivenu dances with the children The sound of African drums could be heard echoing through the corridors of Woodberry Down Primary School in Hackney, as the Pan-African Drumming and Dance Theatre group kicked off the first of two workshops to teach students the arts of African drumming, dancing and storytelling, thanks to funding by Genesis Housing Group’s Community Chest fund. PADDT received £1,000 from Genesis’ Community Chest fund to provide young people with the opportunity to learn new skills, and to increase their self-confidence, team-working skills and understanding of different cultures. Over two days, 40 young people learned how to tell the famous African story of Anansi the Spider and Onini the Python. The storytelling incorporated dance and music, and ended with a performance to the rest of the school and parents on Friday 6 March. said, as she danced along with the pupils, “This is a fantastic multicultural activity that encourages cross-curricular (music, literacy, drama) links and allows pupils to interact and work with each other in different circumstances.” PADDT is made up of local residents from the Hackney community. Genesis Community and Manor House Development Trust have been working with the group to help them grow so that they can bring drum and dance to more Hackney residents. Victoria Dzivenu, local resident, lead dance tutor and treasurer for PADDT, said: “This is my passion and dream.” Over the last year she has been running dance and drum lessons from the Robin Redmond Resource Centre in Hackney, charging participants a small fee but finding most of the cost out of her own pocket. But thanks to the grant from Genesis Community now she doesn’t have to fund it herself. Vitolina Samu, Community Grants & Support Officer at Genesis Community, said “Genesis Community and Manor House Development Trust are proud to have helped PADDT deliver their dream to the enthusiastic Woodberry Down residents. Genesis is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion and positive community initiatives and it’s great to see the children getting really into this. It goes to show the great wealth of talent in this community.” Further Links

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POPLAR HARCA’S RESIDENT EMPOWERMENT TEAM SHORTLISTED FOR AWARDS
12 March 2010

Poplar HARCA’s Resident Empowerment Team has been shortlisted from more than 300 entries to the 2010 Housing Heroes Awards. Poplar HARCA’s Resident Empower Team is now one of six finalists left in the running for the Tenant Empowerment Team of the Year award category. Reverend James Olanipekun Poplar HARCA’s Vice Chair and Lansbury Resident said: “Poplar HARCA’s Resident Empowerment Team have worked incredibly hard to make it really easy for residents of all ages to input into the running of Poplar HARCA and shape the area where we live. “They support hundreds of residents with training, guidance, and friendly advice. They have played an instrumental role in making us feel like our views and ideas are counted and can make a difference. Well done. I’ve got my fingers crossed for you.” Further Links

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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 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. 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. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Housing Assistant (Temporary). 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. Tenders North Glasgow Housing Association is inviting tenders for Internal Audit Services. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: April 2. DGHP Ltd is inviting tenders for a new housing development. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: April 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. Further Links

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