We’re making some changes in response to coronavirus

Posted on March 24th, 2020 by Elaine Davies

We are committed to doing everything we can to protect our customers and staff from coronavirus and have made some changes to our services in response to the Government’s latest advice.

We understand this is a worrying and uncertain time and we’d like to remind you of the support that is available to you as one of our customers.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this challenging time and we will continue to communicate with you as and when the situation changes. Your safety is our number one priority.

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An important update about coronavirus and our services

Posted on March 17th, 2020 by Elaine Davies

We are committed to doing everything we can to protect our customers and staff from coronavirus and have made some changes to our services in response to the Government’s latest advice.

The Government has announced people should limit their social contact, avoid non-essential contact with others and stop all unnecessary travel as part of its strategy to tackle coronavirus in the UK.

This means that we will:

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this challenging time.

 

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We are part of a project aiming to reduce rough sleeping in Worcestershire

Posted on March 16th, 2020 by Elaine Davies

We are partners in a Worcestershire scheme that will help rough sleepers get back into permanent accommodation.

Housing First has launched this month and helps those rough sleeping by providing a stable, independent and affordable home, and includes intensive personalised support and case management.

The project does not impose conditions around ‘housing readiness’ before providing an individual with a home – it sees secure housing as a platform to address other issues.

The intensive wrap-around support will help individuals address any needs they have arising from issues such as mental ill health and substance misuse and help them sustain their tenancy in their new home.

Our Director of Care and Support Martyn Hale says: “This is a great initiative which will help those who find themselves sleeping rough across Worcestershire.

“It’s incredibly important that we help those who don’t have a home and support their needs.

“This is an important scheme and it’s fantastic news that funding has been secured for the next three years.

“We are very serious about ending homelessness and we have also signed up to the National Housing Federation’s Commitment to Refer – which is a separate scheme. This commitment helps by ensuring that the relevant local authority is aware of the action we are taking and can provide the both families and individuals with specific advice.”

Up to £435,000 will be invested in the Housing First project.

Worcester City Council and the five district councils across the county led a successful bid for funding from the government for the first year. Additional money from Worcester City Council and Worcester County Council has allowed the funding to be extended for a further two years.

The project is being run as a partnership between our organisation, Worcester City Council, local councils, Public Health, St. Paul’s Hostel and Platform Housing Group.

St Paul’s Hostel, based in Worcester, is providing the staffing for the Housing First service, utilising their experience of running Psychologically Informed Environments and Trauma Informed Care.

The pilot will support more than 30 rough sleepers across Worcestershire with the aim of helping them to end their rough sleeping for good.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, Leader of Worcester City Council, adds: “Housing First is the latest and most ambitious new service to tackle rough sleeping across Worcestershire. It will build on other initiatives launched in our city and county in recent years, and we hope will make a significant and lasting contribution to reducing rough sleeping.”

Housing First is an approach to helping rough sleepers get back into long-term accommodation that has been tried in countries around the world. Evidence from the US, Denmark, France and Italy among others shows it has been successful in providing rough sleepers with the support they need to get off the streets and to rebuild their lives.

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Spon End and Wyken information day held for potential developers

Posted on March 10th, 2020 by Elaine Davies

An information day has been held on Friday, 6 March, for potential contractors to find out more about our regeneration plans for Wyken and Spon End in Coventry.

Last year we announced the £33m regeneration project which will transform both areas.

In Wyken we will be transforming William Malcolm House and demolishing Vincent Wyles. We will then develop c93 homes on the vacant land.

In Spon End significant improvements will be made to three blocks – Kerry House, Milestone House and Trafalgar House. We are also exploring opportunities to build new affordable homes at the development.

Following the information day developers and contractors will bid for the work.

Our Director of Regeneration Services, Kevin Roach, said: “We’ve held this event to show potential bidders our vision and the scope of work we are proposing.

“Several developers and contractors who are interested in submitting bids for the £33m works attended on the day. Our lead consultant Baily Garner, who will be leading and supporting on the delivery of the projects, also attended.

“This event is the start of our process to select a contractor who will work with us on the project.”

Last month we appointed Baily Garner as the Lead Consultant for the Spon End and Wyken regeneration.

The developer partner for the project will be chosen in summer 2020 and work is set to start on the regeneration in mid-2021.

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Our Development Team have won a Building Communities Award!

Posted on March 2nd, 2020 by Elaine Davies

Our Development Team have been named winners of the Building Communities Development Strategy of the Year award.

The team were named as the winners at the ceremony held in Leicester on Friday.

The awards recognise teams that have taken part in ambitious development programmes for social housing which contribute to successful communities.

Our Development team were recognised for smashing their targets, signing a landmark deal as part of a strategic partnership with Homes England and initiating a modular pilot.

Our Executive Director of Development Nick Byrne said: “Congratulations to the team for winning this Building Communities Award.

“It’s fantastic to see the team recognised for their hard work on the development strategy.

“We have a great strategy for the next five years which includes securing new land opportunities allowing us to bring forward many of our developments. It also includes empowering the team to embrace the Citizen values while being flexible and adaptable to a changing environment.

“Well done everyone who has been involved!”

Some other achievements for the Development team in the last year include:

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