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Rok teams up with Solihull Community Housing
Date: 15/03/2010
West Midlands-builder Rok has teamed up with Solihull Community Housing to take on a special project to improve homes and community buildings across the area.
As part of a four-week programme, Rok provided its directly-employed technicians free of charge to carry out improvement work on properties in and around Solihull.
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COAST & COUNTRY HELPING YOUNGSTERS AIM HIGH
Date: 18/01/2010
Coast & Country Housing has joined forces with Cleveland Fire Support Network and Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) as part of an innovative project which aims to engage, occupy, develop and educate young people and divert them away from low-level anti-social behaviour.
The ‘Give Life a Lift’ project was the brainchild of Coulby Newham Blue Watch Manager Ray Pyne, who wanted to motivate youngsters to face their fears and build their self-esteem.
Coast & Country and PAYP, which have both funded the project, identified a group of ten youngsters from the Redcar area who were taught to abseil and climb a tower, which they had to build themselves using crates.
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BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR CREAMERY COLLECTIONS IN SPITE OF THE ARCTIC WEATHER
Date: 13/01/2010
The Wensleydale Creamery at Hawes has not missed one milk supply pick-up or delivery to retailers despite the area being covered by a deep blanket of snow.
Tanker drivers, working on behalf of The Creamery, have managed to battle through blizzards and the wintry conditions every day to collect local milk, vital to the making of Real Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese, from its 50-plus strong network of small family farms scattered throughout the Dale.
This contrasts with other areas such as Devon, where there have been reports of farmers having to throw away 4,000 litres (880 gallons) of milk a day – worth about £500 - because collections were abandoned in the snow and ice.
During the recent Arctic-like spell, Wensleydale has been covered by up to 14 inches (35 cms) of snow with drifts reaching up to five feet (1.5 metres).
The tanker drivers have years of experience of driving in wintry conditions and also carry shovels and grit with them.
David Hartley, The Wensleydale Creamery’s Managing Director, said: “All our milk has been collected as usual on a daily basis, which is testimony to the job done by the tanker drivers in difficult conditions.
“This in turn has allowed us to meet all our delivery commitments to our customers, which again is testament to the tenacity and professionalism of the lorry drivers, who come to The Creamery to pick up our cheeses for delivery to retailers.
“Many local farms depend on The Wensleydale Creamery for their livelihoods and we are pleased that we have managed to maintain business as usual despite the wintry weather.
“This has been a real team effort with our farmer suppliers playing their part, if necessary, to help the tankers get to their farms including clearing farms tracks to enable the drivers to carry out the milk collection.”
Local farms supply 420,000 litres (92,000 gallons) of milk a week to The Creamery with the two tankers covering 200 miles a day between them. There are collections from some farms every day and every other day from the others.
The tanker drivers, who employed by S J Bargh and who have worked during this snowy weather, are Jim Metcalfe, Robert Shuttleworth, Anthony Heseltine and Carl Roberts.
Farmer Richard David Middleton, of Skelgill Farm, praised the tanker drivers for doing such a good job getting out to farms.
He added: “It is important for the cash flow to keep the business going and to keep the local dairy economy going.”
Tanker driver Jim Metcalfe said: “The conditions I have encountered have been rather severe. It has been 15 years since I started doing this job and they are the worst conditions I have ever encountered.”
He added that in such weather it was important to check the working order of the tanker. Contact was regularly made with farmers on the pick-up route to see what the roads were like up ahead with farmers offering a helping hand to clear roads when necessary, he said.
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COAST & COUNTRY’S WINTER WARMER SCHEME SPANS THE GENERATIONS
Date: 18/12/2009
Coast & Country Housing has teamed up with pupils from Hummersea School at Loftus to decorate Christmas boxes and fill them full of winter warmers for elderly people.
The creative youngsters came up with a host of festive designs for the gift boxes, which were then packed with a range of essential cold weather beating items.
These included hats, gloves, hot water bottles, energy saving light bulbs, cough sweets, boiled sweets, lip balm and energy advice leaflets.
Once the boxes had been filled to the brim, the youngsters took them to elderly people living on the Westfield Estate, where Coast & Country is investing millions to regenerate the area.
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Coast & Country's Cliff Houlding Centre Park Court
Date: 10/12/2009
Coast & Country has celebrated the 30th birthday of Park Court Community Centre by renaming it in memory of a much-loved local resident, ward councillor and chair of its board, Councillor Cliff Houlding.
Cliff Houlding Centre Park Court, which is the first community building to be newly refurbished by Coast & Country, hosted a party for local residents paid for by a Your Way - Your Say grant, applied for by Dormanstown resident Elsie Hewitt.
Coast & Country is working with tenants to plan a programme of improvements to its community buildings ensuring that they become the hub of the community.
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COAST & COUNTRY CELEBRATES CUSTOMER SERVICE
Date: 10/10/2009
Coast & Country Housing has celebrated National Customer Service Week with a host of resident-orientated events including a 60-minute makeover of a community garden.
National Customer Service Week events were held at all Coast & Country’s district offices and its headquarters at Ennis Square, Dormanstown, where a gift was presented to the first person to visit each of the offices following a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Children from Dormanstown Primary School attended, and entertainment was provided by a juggler and a magician.
Photos were being taken at the offices’ receptions throughout the week, with a noticeboard called “Your Week in Pictures” updated daily in each office.
The makeover, in the style of BBC TV’s Ground Force, centred on a courtyard, surrounded by homes for elderly people, at Keir Hardie Close in South Bank.
About 20 volunteers from various Coast & Country departments, along with youngsters from South Bank Primary School, took part in the against-the-clock challenge.
They met the deadline with their endeavours transforming the space through the planting of flowers and the use of half barrel planters.
Local residents were delighted with the results and have pledged to help maintain the area in the future.
Iain Sim, Coast & Country Chief Executive, said: “Good quality customer service is central to Coast & Country’s values so we believe it is important to mark National Customer Service Week (NCSW).
“While NCSW helps re-inforce the message to our staff and tenants about the importance of customer service to Coast & Country, it is also meant to be a celebration, which is why we organised a range of fun events involving our residents, staff and members of the Tenant Executive Panel.
“Another element was highlighting the teamwork that exists between Coast & Country and a wide range of organisations. We also wanted to demonstrate that services from a social housing organisation are not just about bricks and mortar, but the quality of people’s surrounding environment. The makeover of the courtyard in Keir Hardie Close was an excellent example of both these aims.”
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Rok Holds Community Challenge
Date: 28/09/2009
Building maintenance and repair specialist Rok is undertaking a community challenge at St Luke’s Rectory, which involves repairing and refurbishing areas of the rectory hall used by community groups. Specifically the repairs have centered around the stage area of the hall, which has fallen into disrepair due to water damage and vandalism.
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HOUSING MINISTER OFFICIALLY OPENS NEW-LOOK HOMES FOR OLDER PEOPLE
Date: 16/09/2009
Housing Hartlepool has hosted the first visit to the North East by the Rt Hon John Healey MP since he was appointed Minister of State for Housing and Planning.
The Minister was invited to take come along to celebrate five years of achievements by Housing Hartlepool.
The visit saw Mr Healey visiting Housing Hartlepool’s Albany Court sheltered housing where £3.2 million is being invested in improving the 26-year-old building to bring it up to modern standards.
Mr Healey unveiled a plaque commemorating the completion of the first phase of Albany Court’s refurbishment, toured some of the new-look flats and chatted with residents.
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Residents Have A "Whale" Of A Time At Family Fun Day
Date: 14/09/2009
Coast & Country Housing has helped young and old come together for a family fun day.
The day long festival of fun, organised by the Whale Hill Community Association, was held at the Whale Hill Community Centre on Goathland Road.
The vast array of entertainment included a laser pulsar, drum workshops, fairground activities, a tombola and talent show, Whale Hill’s Got Talent.
Tracy O’Neill, Head of Regeneration & Communities at Coast &Country Housing, said: “This was a great day out for the whole family with a wide variety of activities to suit all ages.
“There is a strong sense of community spirit in the Whale Hill area, which Coast & Country is keen to help sustain and supporting the Family Fun Day is an effective way of achieving this.”
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COAST & COUNTRY’S ‘YOUR WAY - YOU SAY’ SCHEME: TURNING RESIDENTS’ IDEAS INTO REALITY
Date: 23/07/2009
A Coast & Country event saw residents voting to allocate community schemes with money from a £65,000 fund.
Residents across the Redcar and Cleveland area submitted ideas to Coast & Country’s ‘Your Way – You Say’ initiative, asking for grants to improve or benefit the local environment or community, with the applications asking for financial support totalling more than £99,000.
A shortlist of 35 was drawn up with residents presenting their ideas before an audience, who voted on the projects they believed were worthy of receiving financial support of up to £5,000 each.
Residents, attending the event at Sacred Heart School, Redcar, decided that 22 ideas should receive funding.
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Horwath Clark Whitehill Holds Charity Seminar
Date: 17/07/2009
Charities from across the North East have received welcome news that they could be eligible for Government aid according to a charity expert speaking at a seminar organised by Tees Valley accountancy firm Horwath Clark Whitehill
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SEARCH ON FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS WITH THE X-FACTOR
Date: 07/07/2009
Coast & Country Housing is looking for community projects with an extra special factor to win contributions from a £65,000 fund.
Tenants, across the Redcar and Cleveland area, have submitted applications to Coast & Country’s Your Way – You Say initiative. The main criteria is that the schemes will improve or benefit the local environment or community.
A shortlist has been drawn up with those on it invited to present their ideas before an audience of other residents, who will vote on the schemes which they believe have the “X-Factor” and deserve to receive financial support of up to £5,000 each.
The Your Way – You Say event takes place on Saturday July 11 at Sacred Heart School in Redcar from 9.30am to 3.30pm.
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Coast & Country Resident Involvement Directory Launch
Date: 22/06/2009
Coast & County Housing’s Tenant Executive Panel (TEP) has held a series of events to promote their role and to encourage more residents to get involved with the housing association.
The TEP marked the first event with a balloon release to celebrate the launch of a Residents Involvement Directory and will also hold seminars promoting their role to staff and residents.
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eVOLution of the Third Sector in Darlington
Date: 27/05/2009
One year ago, Darlington Council for Voluntary Services changed its name to eVOLution as part of a refocusing of the skills it uses to help charities across the borough. Since the change, eVOLution has found itself as busy as ever and the new-look organisation has been very successful in its efforts to assist the Third Sector.
For more information, click here
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COAST & COUNTRY GEARS UP FOR SUMMER WITH A NEW OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE SERVICE
Date: 27/03/2009
Coast & Country Housing is to launch a new Open Space Maintenance service across their estates creating 19 jobs.
It has taken back the delivery of the maintenance of open spaces on its estates which was formerly undertaken on its behalf by the local authority.
Following advertisements and two successful recruitment open days, maintenance teams, comprising three team leaders and 15 operatives plus an overall manager, have now been appointed.
More than £100,000 has been invested in equipping the new grass-cutting squads with six ride-on mowers, strimmers and weed spraying equipment.
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Handing Residents The Keys to Successful Independent Living
Date: 26/03/2009
Housing Hartlepool has launched a 'Skills for Life' and 'Keys to Success' programmes to furnish people with the knowhow necessary to live independently and successfully in their own homes.
They encompasses a wide range of issues including how the housing waiting list works, tenants’ responsibilities, how to manage money, healthy eating on a budget, community involvement and volunteering, and repairs and home security
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Community Centre's 60 minute makeover
Date: 15/10/2008
Coast & Country Housing workers and residents have gone up against the clock to give a community centre a makeover.
In the style of the TV show, 60 Minute Makeover, those taking part had only an hour to spruce up Birkdale Drive Community Centre in Eston.
The speedy restylists rose to the challenge and got cracking painting walls, and doors, hanging curtains, washing windows, and generally tidying up the premises both inside and out.
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C+C Your Way You Say
Date: 18/08/2008
Coast & Country Housing has given tenants in Redcar and Cleveland the chance to hit the jackpot by winning cash to support community projects.
Twenty schemes have secured up to £5,000 each thanks to an exciting new project called ‘Your Way – You Say‘.
Coast & Country is the first housing company in the country to spearhead such a participatory budgeting initiative.
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Leeds Business Owner launches 'Angel's Way' naming campaign for new M621 Flyover
Date: 12/08/2008
Paul Spencer Schofield, Chairman of Hunslet-based Union Industries, has launched a campaign to encourage Leeds’ citizens to support his proposal to name the section of the new East Leeds inner ring road, ‘Angels Way’.
Mr Schofield has launched a special website, www.unionindustries.co.uk/angelsway for local people to register their vote for either ‘Angel’s Way’ or Leeds City Council’s choice, ‘John Smeaton Viaduct’.
If he has the support of the people and the approval of the City Council, Mr Schofield, who already has the backing of Leeds Central MP, Hilary Benn, will put up a £1,000 prize for a local artist to design an ‘Angel’ sculpture that can be placed on the flyover.
for more information and to take part in the vote click this link
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Housing Hartlepool European Neighbours' Day
Date: 29/05/2008
Housing Hartlepool has demonstrated the area’s community spirit with a day-long event to mark European Neighbours’ Day.
The company’s Phoenix Centre and Children’s Centre on the Central Estate were a hive of hustle and bustle thanks to a whole host of activity to promote the idea of being a good neighbour.
There was something to appeal to young and old alike, including children’s face painting, complementary therapy taster sessions, a visit by Cleveland police horses, craft workshops on jewellery and card making, a beat the goalie competition, and a variety of market stalls.
It was attended by Hartlepool MP Iain Wright, pictured
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Student Loans Company family fun day
Date: 02/04/2008
The Student Loans Company (SLC) held one of its most adventurous and unusual days ever. With - quite literally - all the fun of the fair, the SLC staff in Darlington and potential new recruits were invited along to find out what it will be like working for SLC at the new Lingfield Point site. They were joined by colleagues and their families from Glasgow. In all more than 400 people took part.
For more information about the Student Loans Company click here
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MEP joins fight to save rural buses
Date: 20/02/2008
Timothy Kirkhope MEP for Yorkshire and The Humber and Conservative spokesman for transport and tourism in the European Parliament, joined passengers for what could be one of the last journeys on DalesBus Service 806.
Timothy was accompanied by Howard Handley, chairman of the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group (YDPTUG) to learn first-hand the difficulties faced on rural bus routes in the region.
For more information on Timothy Kirkhope click here
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Handover of new bungalows
Date: 18/12/2007
Coast & Country Housing and Yuill Homes have handed over the first keys to elderly tenants who will be moving from their pre-fabricated homes to brand new bungalows.
The residents of East Meadows in Marske had been living in the pre-fabs which were built for soldiers returning home after the Second World War. They were described as “Homes for Heroes”, but only meant to have a lifespan of ten years. Despite the age of the prefabs, and the problems and expense of keeping them repaired and heated, a strong community developed and the tenants of Coast & Country were initially reluctant to move.
East Meadows Handover
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Phoenix Centre
Date: 18/12/2007
Housing Hartlepool has demonstrated its commitment to the community with the official opening of a much-needed multi-purpose facility.
It has ploughed £250,000 into breathing new life into a disused building which is now a base for a combination of community and health services.
The Phoenix Centre's rebirth has been marked by an official opening ceremony where Hartlepool MP Iain Wright unveiled a plaque.
For more information on Housing Hartlepool click here
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MP opens new home for single mums
Date: 13/11/2007
Tees Valley Housing Group has opened a new development in the Wear Valley to help teenage parents find independence.
The development, in Coney Avenue, Bishop Auckland, offers accommodation for nine young mothers, as well as office space, staff accommodation, communal gardens, laundry and lounge area and a guest room.
The scheme, which was built following the success of similar projects in Darlington, Hartlepool and Sunderland, will see each parent living in a two-bedroom apartment.
for more information please click here
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Charity event raises over £26,000 for Holistic Cancer Care Centre
Date: 30/10/2007
A special fundraising evening at Middlesbrough Football club raised over £26,000 for the Holistic Cancer Care Centre in Middlesbrough.
Boro chairman Steve Gibson and Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne were among the guests at the 'Touch of Class' evening.
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FUNDING BOOSTS INSULATION PLANS FOR MORE THAN 500,000 NORTH EAST HOMES
Date: 30/10/2007
The North East Home Insulation Partnership (NEHIP) has received a £103,000 funding award which will help it to achieve its goals of free insulation for vulnerable homes in the region.
More than 500,000 homes in the North East are believed to have inadequate insulation and this award, from Defra’s Community Energy Efficiency Fund, is expected to see many of those homes receive aid in time for Winter 2008
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Housing Hartlepool break down barriers
Date: 17/10/2007
HOUSING Hartlepool held a day-long conference for its tenants and customers.
Called 'Breaking Down the Barriers' and it has invited tenants and customers to come along and meet its staff and talk about the company’s services.
This is the second time Housing Hartlepool, which owns and manages 7,000 properties in the borough, has held this type of conference and it is building on the success of last year’s event.
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North East actress helps local cancer charity
Date: 12/09/2007
North East Actress Elizabeth Carling will be hosting a charity 'Touch of Class' event at Middlesbrough Football Club to raise money for the Holistic Cancer Care Centre at James Cook Hospital.
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The Courtyard
Date: 23/08/2007
Experienced care provider Executive Care Group is helping people to learn more about its services, particularly neuropsychiatry.
The Tyne & Wear-based firm, which currently operates 3 neuropsychiatry units located across the North East, has recorded this special three-minute video report giving people an insight into neuropsychiatry and who the specialised units can help.
for more information please click here
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TELECARE FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE IN REDCAR & EAST CLEVELAND
Date: 08/08/2006
Coast & Country Housing has made a substantial investment in its Homecall service to utilise a new technology that could help save people’s lives.
Telecare, a service promoted by central government, will be delivered by Coast & Country Housing in partnership with, and on behalf of, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council
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SOUTH BANK ROAD SHOW
Date: 01/08/2006
Residents in Southbank were given the chance to “be blunt” at a special roadshow organised by Coast & Country Housing.
The roadshow was staged to allow residents to have their say on how to improve their estate. In keeping with Channel 4’s popular Big Brother show, a special diary room was established to allow residents to speak in complete confidence to a Coast & Country advisor via a video camera.
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Make a Difference Day in Dormanstown
Date: 01/06/2006
Coast & Country Housing has staged a special “Make a Difference Day” for residents at Park Court in Dormanstown.
As part of the company’s drive to improve estates across Redcar & Cleveland, residents of all ages engaged in a range of activities to clean up the area and make it a better environment in which to live
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LOFTUS, EAST CLEVELAND - WESTFIELD RESIDENTS GET NEW HOME
Date: 12/05/2006
Coast & Country Housing has provided a home for the residents association on the Westfield Estate in Loftus.
Based at 12 Westfield Walk, Community House will be used as a drop-in centre and will offer a range of activities to local residents from fundraising coffee mornings to play groups for youngsters. Local professionals including the police and council representatives will also use its facilities.
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