Ethos Public Relations Manchester

500th Member signs up to Housing Mutual

by Ethos public relations

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) officially became the UK’s first tenant and employee co-owned mutual landlord on 26th March and already the society is celebrating its 500th Member.

43 year old John Whetton works for Manchester based ‘Back on Track’, a charity that helps vulnerable adults re-engage with education.  He has been an RBH tenant for over ten years and welcomes the change to a mutual set up.

“In the 1980’s my parents were very active in the co-operative housing movement in the Midlands,” he said. 

“I can remember how they held resident meetings in our front room and how the discussions there really helped to make a difference to our local community - and so I particularly appreciate what RBH is trying to do.”

RBH Chief Executive, Gareth Swarbrick, said; “Our new model will help find solutions to the challenges we are facing and the active involvement of both tenants and employees will be crucial.

”We are delighted with the way in which both tenants and employees have supported us and the membership drive is well on track.”

The mutual model adopted by RBH has a structure that means tenants and employees can choose to become members of the new mutual - giving them ownership with the right to elect their representatives onto a Representative Body.  This will comprise of elected tenants and employees who will be joined by council representatives and co-opted external stakeholders.  It will monitor the success of the society, shape the policy framework and prioritise spending.  It will also appoint (and remove) the Board of Directors.  

Lynne Brosnan, Chair of the Constitution Commission at RBH welcomed Mr Whetton to the membership and explained the work of the committee and how the mutual will develop in the future.

“The mutual model is about facing the future together,” she said.  “In order to do that there has to be a consensus about what we want from our housing and our communities and we are all very excited to be at the forefront of this new thinking in the housing sector.”

John said that he was keen to get more involved in the management of the organisation and to have a say in the way in which RBH develops. 

He said: “Personally I have a great fondness and belief in the mutual model which gives tenants and staff a genuine voice.”

To read other news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 24^th April 2012

Green light for Heywood new homes

by Ethos public relations

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) has recently received planning permission to develop 14 new homes for rent on a £1.4 million scheme at Longridge Drive, Heywood.

Gareth Swarbrick, Chief Executive for RBH said: “Heywood is an important regeneration area for RBH and these new homes will mark the start of our future investment in the area.”

The planning permission allows RBH to develop two 2-bedroom bungalows; eight 3-bedrooms houses and four 4-bedroom houses which will be available at an affordable rent advertised through the company’s choice based letting system.

The properties have been designed by TADW Architects and will include sustainable features which will help to minimise fuel bills.

RBH plan to start on site in May and the properties are expected to be ready for occupation in March 2013.

Click here to read more press releases for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing from Ethos public relations

Posted at 13^th April 2012

RBH launches YouTube Film Channel

by Ethos public relations

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) has today (2nd April 2012) released a film to celebrate its achievements and to look to an exciting future as it became the country’s largest housing mutual in March.

The film has been developed to mark the launch of the company’s official YouTube site: RBHousing Film. RBH Board Member, Tim Byrne, said: “It’s really exciting that RBH is exploring new media as an alternative way of reaching out to our tenants, employees and Members. The possibilities for RBHousing Film are phenomenal. We’ve made a great start but I look forward to what it can deliver in the future.”

Tony Lafferty, Project Manager for RBH believes that the use of film will bring a new angle to communications work. Tony said: “Film is a really flexible medium that we can use to speak to a variety of audiences. Not all our tenants have their own computers, but as technology advances we know we can use the video on other applications such as smart phones and digital TV so that eventually the films can be seen by almost anyone.”

RBH anticipates using video for a variety of purposes, such as making films to show tenants how to do basic DIY work and locate things such as stop taps within their homes. This will help the contact centre when speaking with tenants over the phone and could result in savings in the long term.

RBH is looking forward to an exciting future as the country‘s largest housing mutual and RBHousing Film will provide the ideal vehicle to disseminate its progress to a potentially world wide audience.

To view the film please visit: http://www.youtube.com/user/RBHousingFilms

Posted at 2^nd April 2012

Rochdale home to UK’s biggest housing mutual

by Ethos public relations

The largest housing mutual in the country has been created in Rochdale. Ownership of 13,700 homes transferred from Rochdale Borough Council to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) on Monday 26 March making RBH the UK’s first tenant and employee co-owned mutual housing provider.

The transfer follows a ballot amongst tenants last December when three quarters of the 9,000 people who voted said ‘yes’ to the transfer.

That result was the catalyst for a £169 million improvement programme for homes and estates in the first five years following the transfer – more than would have been possible if the houses had stayed with the council.

Andy Zuntz, Executive Director at the council, said: “Since tenants made their decision at the end of last year we’ve been working hard to ensure a seamless transfer to RBH and I’m delighted that we’ve achieved that.

“This is just the start of a bright future for residents who, in partnership with RBH employees, are now in charge of the future of their homes.”

Noel Chambers, Chair of the RBH Board, said: “The completion of the transfer is a major milestone and the new mutual RBH is determined to both deliver the Offer Document promises and build a strong tenant and employee membership base.”

Chair of Rochdale Tenants’ Panel, Lynne Brosnan, added: “Since the ballot result we have been working hard with RBH to develop the detailed rules and ways of operation for the mutual and it’s now up to us to make it work.

“It’s an exciting time for us as what we’re doing here in Rochdale is groundbreaking. I’d urge as many residents as possible to become members and to work with RBH employees to help further improve services and support local communities."

The creation of the mutual, which will run along co-operative principles, comes during the International Year of Co-operatives and follows the announcement that the borough of Rochdale has been declared the World Capital of Co-operatives.

Click here to read more press releases for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing from Ethos public relations.

Posted at 29^th March 2012

Minister visits Rochdale to learn more about housing mutual plans

by Ethos public relations

The Rt. Hon. Francis Maude MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office, yesterday met with Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) tenants and employees to discuss the organisation’s forthcoming plans to become the largest housing mutual in the country. The Cabinet Office is supporting mutual public service through its Mutuals Taskforce.

On his visit, the Minister heard how RBH had developed its unique tenant and employee mutual ownership model and how, from the start, the Council and local MPs supported the mutual transfer process.

Mr Maude met with the elected tenant and employee members of a Constitutional Commission, established to develop the rules for the new mutual RBH. They were among the first tenants and employees to sign up as members of the new mutual.

The Commission representatives explained how they had worked with RBH’s legal advisors to draft the mutual rules for RBH in readiness for registration with the Financial Services Authority and the housing regulator. It also had to deal with issues raised by stakeholders including the lenders who are providing over £100m funding for the new mutual RBH’s transfer business plan.

Lynne Brosnan, tenant and chair of the Constitutional Commission said: “The Minister was very keen to learn from our work and particularly interested in how and why we had brought tenants and employees together to give them genuine mutual ownership of RBH.”

The Minister then had a discussion with a group of employees who have acted as internal champions for the mutual transition.

The Minister also heard RBH’s ambitious plans to use the mutual model as a way of supporting older people in local communities, assisting tenants and their families into training and employment and developing community owned local energy production schemes.

Tony Dempsey, RBH Senior Technical Officer and elected employee member of the Constitutional Commission said: “We were really pleased to have a government minister in Rochdale learning more about the unique mutual model we have developed for the forthcoming housing stock transfer.

“It was apparent from his questions and our discussions that Mr Maude is a keen supporter of what we are seeking to achieve.”

Mr Maude said: “It’s particularly pleasing to see Rochdale – the historic home of co-operatives – still at the forefront of the movement. Rochdale Boroughwide Housing’s plan to form an employee and resident owned mutual is truly ambitious and demonstrates the benefits in this way of doing things.”

Posted at 7^th March 2012

First members for pioneering new housing mutual

by Ethos public relations

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) recently held its first event to recruit Members to what will be the UK’s first tenant and employee co-owned mutual landlord.

In December last year, council tenants voted to create the UK’s first tenant and employee co-owned mutual landlord which will see ownership of 13,700 homes transferred from Rochdale Borough Council to RBH in March - placing members at the heart of the organisation.

RBH Chief Executive, Gareth Swarbrick, said: “This new model could help find solutions to the political and financial challenges now facing the sector and the active involvement of both tenants and employees will be crucial.

“Around 200 tenants attended our first launch event and we were delighted to see so many people come into town on a Saturday morning to give their support and be among the first to sign up for Membership of the new mutual.”

The event was hosted by Mervyn Wilson, Chief Executive and Principal of the Co-operative College, who told the tenant delegates that they were creating another historic moment in the rich history of co-operation in Rochdale.

“You are fulfilling some of the ambitions of the original 1844 pioneers whose vision also included housing,” he said. “I believe this model will be followed elsewhere in the country which makes you the new Rochdale pioneers – welcome to the global cooperative family!”

The mutual model adopted by RBH has a structure that includes Members at grass root levels which will include RBH employees and tenants. Members will have their voice heard via a Representative Body which they elect. This will comprise tenants, employees, council representatives and external stakeholders. It will monitor the success of the organisation, set policy framework and agree how to spend money. It will also appoint (and remove) the Board of Directors. The Board itself will be made up of eight non-executive directors and two executive directors.

Andrew Johnson, a tenant on the Constitution Committee, explained: “We have worked hard to develop the new constitution. As tenants and employees working together, we have the same goals – a strong RBH, owned by Members and delivering excellent services.”

Gareth Swarbrick adds: “Co-operation and mutual businesses are becoming widely accepted across all business sectors. People are looking for alternatives ways to operate that are seen to be fair and democratic and we know that what we are doing will be of major importance to RSLs, ALMOs and local authorities who are looking for new ways to deliver their services."

To read other news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 31^st January 2012

91 year old is thrilled with brand new home

by Ethos public relations

91 year old Peggy and her son Phillip are one of six households that have recently been allocated a home on Romney Avenue - the first new build affordable homes in Kirkholt - and developed by Brighter Horizons - the charitable development subsidiary company of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH).

“RBH has done me proud,” said Peggy. “It’s such a lovely warm house and of course it will be a lot easier for me to manage.

“My family love it too and my son Mike and his wife Ann have come all the way from Australia to see it and to help us move. All my family have worked really hard to get me settled.”

The scheme has been financed through a £420,000 grant from the Homes and Communities (HCA) agency and prudential borrowing from Rochdale Council. Chief Executive of RBH, Gareth Swarbrick, said the scheme will provide much needed homes in the area.

“These new properties have been in great demand,” he said, “and residents like Peggy have been thrilled with their new modern homes which have been specifically designed to meet their needs.”

At a recent event, guests invited from the Council, the HCA and Board Members were able to look around the development and have a tour of one of the bungalows to see the quality build and high specification for themselves.

Peggy has lived in Kirkholt for over fifty years and raised her family of four children in the area. She had previously been living in a two-bed semi-detached. However, she had found it increasingly difficult to manage the external steps and stairs inside the house and was overjoyed when she found out she had been allocated a new home. An additional bonus for Peggy is that a former neighbour and friend is moving in next door.

“I have lived in this area for so long I have lots of lovely friends here and having my dear friend Vera living next door is a bonus I did not expect,” Peggy added.

Philomena Renshaw, Vice Chair of the RBH Board of Directors, was invited into Peggy’s home. “I have known Peggy for many years and it is touching to see her so happy in her new home.

“She really struggled in her former property and the bungalow is going to make life a lot easier for her.”

As well as offering purpose built, modern accommodation, the bungalows also include a garden and car parking space. They have been designed and constructed to meet Code 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, which makes them highly efficient to run. They also meet the HCA Design and Quality Standards, Lifetime Homes Standard and have Secure, by Design Accreditation.

Council Leader Colin Lambert, one of the guests at the opening event, said: “This is a fantastic scheme and I am sure residents here will be happy for many years to come.”

Much of the Kirkholt estate was built in the late 1940s and the long-term vision for the area is to offer a mix of modern housing for sale and rent, and much improved facilities. Guests were also invited to see the progression of another larger Brighter Horizons development close by on Curzon Road.

This scheme will see 25 three-bedroom houses, two four-bedroom houses and three two-bedroom bungalows completed next summer and, together with Romney Avenue, is part of a plan to create confidence in the private property market and encourage further investment by the private sector. Deborah McLaughlin, Executive Director North West for the HCA said:

“It’s really encouraging to see the regeneration of Kirkholt continuing to gather pace and I’m pleased our support has allowed Brighter Horizons to complete such good quality new homes.

“It’s thanks to the hard work and dedication of RBH and their partners that schemes like this are making sure that the long-term vision for the area is becoming a reality.”

The Romney Avenue project team consists of Great Places Housing Group as Development Agent, Kevin Shea Associates as Employers Agent, Pozzoni Architects and Tyson Construction is the contractor.

To read other news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 30^th November 2011

First affordable housing on Rochdale estate kicks off £4.1m regeneration

by Ethos public relations

Brighter Horizons, the charitable development subsidiary company of ALMO Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), has recently completed the first phase of a major new build programme in the Kirkholt area of the borough.

Guests from the Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) joined Board Members to view the development of six bungalows - the first new build affording housing in the area since the estate was built. The visitors also viewed progress at a second, larger scheme on the estate, situated on the corner of Curzon Road and Cumberland Road.

Gareth Swarbrick Chief Executive of RBH said: “The completion of our first new build in Kirkholt is an important milestone for the area itself and for Brighter Horizons.

"In 2010 our Brighter Kirkholt scheme received the biggest general needs HCA funding allocation in the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) region. It is exciting to see our plans take shape and become a reality.”

Much of the Kirkholt estate was built in the late 1940s and the long-term vision for the area is to offer a mix of modern housing for sale and rent and much improved facilities.

The new bungalows have been architect designed to meet the Lifetime Homes Standard, and the larger development will include a further three bungalows as well as 25 three-bedroom houses and two four-bedroom houses. These properties will include homes for sale, rent and shared ownership and it is hoped these homes will help to create confidence in the market and attract private developers to Kirkholt.

The new build is complemented by environmental works to surrounding homes and so supports a joined up approach to regenerating the estate with a scheme that provides additional jobs and training.

The total investment on the new build alone in Kirkholt is £4.1m including £2.32m grant funding from the HCA and prudential borrowing from Rochdale Council.

Deborah McLaughlin, Executive Director North West for the HCA said: “It’s really encouraging to see the regeneration of Kirkholt continuing to gather pace and I’m pleased our support has allowed Brighter Horizons to complete such good quality new homes.

"It’s thanks to the hard work and dedication of RBH and their partners that schemes like this are making sure that the long-term vision for the area is becoming a reality."

All of the new homes have been designed and constructed to meet Code 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the HCA Design and Quality Standards, Lifetime Homes Standard and have Secure by Design Accreditation. It is anticipated that the next property handover will be in March 2012 with the entire scheme completed in August 2012.

The development team is comprised of contractor Southdales Ltd, Great Places Housing Group as Development Agent, Kevin Shea Associates as Employers Agent, Pozzoni Architects and Trevena Blake as Structural Engineers.

Click here to read more press releases for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing from Ethos public relations.

Posted at 28^th November 2011

Nine year old Kent boy supports Rochdale kids

by Ethos public relations

Rochdale kids living on the Freehold estate will benefit from new footballs, new football kits and also secure their free football coaching session, thanks to a visit by a nine year old charity fund raiser from Kent!

Mohammad Azhar from the Freehold Community Group explains: “The Group organises numerous initiatives for young people on the estate and one of our most popular is free football coaching. However, due to the high demand for the sessions we just did not have enough footballs and equipment to be able to support all the young people we wanted to.

“An SOS on Facebook by landlord Rochdale Boroughwide Housing resulted in a call from 9 year old Jonjo Heuerman who offered to donate footballs and kits – and he would deliver them in person.”

Jonjo has received country wide recognition as one of the country’s youngest charity fundraisers. When his Nan died from bowel cancer earlier this year, he decided to raise money for The Bobby Moore Fund which supports research into the disease. With the help of his dad he planned his first charity walk from Wembley Stadium to his beloved West Ham United.

This 23 mile walk generated a lot of media interest and proved inspirational to many people who asked if they could join him in his next event. To date he has raised £37,000 for the charity and an estimated £1m in publicity for the Bobby Moore Fund.

This weekend, around 150 Rochdale children took part in a Junior Football Event organised by the Freehold Community Group, and Jonjo was guest of honour. Thanks to his kind donation, the Freehold Community Group was able to announce the re-launch of its free Football Coaching Sessions.

Miguel Cardona, trainee CSO/Housing Officer, and Chris Dobie the Coordinator of the group both said: “The event was supported by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and other local organisations but our biggest thanks have to go to the local community and all the volunteers who help facilitate the football coaching along with the huge range of other initiatives on the estate.

“Everything we do is around inspiring our young people and providing them with leadership and positive role models like Jonjo. This event is a great example of people power at its best.”

Freehold Community Group supports a diverse and disadvantaged community on the estate who between them speak an incredible 25 different languages. The Group aims to improve their life skills and life chances. It is funded by the Lottery fund and is supported by volunteers and five members of staff.

Jonjo said: “It was great to meet so many new friends. In February 2012 I will be walking again and I want lots of people to walk with me and many of the Rochdale kids have said they will.

“You can find out lots about my walk on my website www.fornannyandbobby.moonfruit.com or you can follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/jonjoheuerman or Facebook www.facebook.com/jonjos.walk.”

To read other news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 23^rd November 2011

A mutual milestone for RBH

by Ethos public relations

ALMO Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) today welcomed the decision of Rochdale Council to commence formal consultation with its tenants on proposals to transfer its 13,700 housing stock to a new mutual RBH.  If the transfer goes ahead RBH would become the first social housing organisation in the UK to become a mutual - with both tenants and employees as members.

Gareth Swarbrick is Chief Executive of RBH. “We have been working with the Council on this for the past year,” he said. “We are really pleased that we now have the green light from the Council for formal tenant consultation on the transfer to begin, and to take a further step forward in the creation of our new and unique mutual organisation.”

“If transfer goes ahead RBH would become the largest mutual housing organisation in the country and we are very aware that many other organisations, particularly in the housing sector will be watching developments in Rochdale with great interest. We have learnt much from the existing tenant owned transfer organisations in England (Community Gateways) and Wales (Community Mutuals). We are seeking to go a stage further by offering employees the opportunity to become members as well.”

The pioneering spirit is a feature of Rochdale as it was here in 1844 that the first successful co-operative enterprise began. The Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society sparked a worldwide movement that now boasts more than 800 million members and employs over 100 million people.

RBH’s vision is to use its new mutual ownership structure as a catalyst for a new way of working in which tenants and employees work together to shape the organisation’s response to future challenges. Under its proposals, tenants and employees could choose to become members of the organisation from the date of transfer with the full new mutual decision-making structures being put in place over the 15 months following this - as the membership base grows.

RBH has been advised throughout the process by Mutuo. Since 2001, Mutuo has worked to promote new mutuals. This has led to renewed growth in the mutual sector, with public sector mutuals established in health, housing and education and new community based businesses ranging from football to childcare.

Mutuo Chief Executive Peter Hunt commented: “RBH has chosen to blend together the best features of tenant and employee engagement to create a unique and progressive way of delivering high quality social housing services. The work carried out at Rochdale will be of major significance to local authorities that are seeking new ways to co-produce their services with communities and staff.”

RBH and the Council have also worked closely with the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) to take forward the mutual transfer plans. Deborah McLaughlin executive director North West said: “This looks to be a great opportunity for Rochdale that will give residents further direct involvement in making local housing decisions which will help shape their neighbourhoods and services”

The new Rochdale pioneers are confident that their model could signal a different way to do business for the social housing sector.

Gareth adds: “The shift in the political and financial landscape within our sector has brought a whole new set of challenges. To face up to these and find solutions that work for local communities we need the active involvement of both tenants and employees. This is what our model is all about.”

To read other news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 7^th October 2011

First green homes for Rochdale

by Ethos public relations

Brighter Horizons, the charitable development subsidiary company of ALMO Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) recently welcomed residents to new ‘green’ homes on Dover St, Rochdale.

Chief Executive of RBH Gareth Swarbrick said: “We are particularly pleased to have completed what is essentially our first new build ‘green scheme’ which has used the latest in sustainable building techniques.”

The company has built six two bedroom bungalows on a disused former play area, supported by £360,000 grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Deborah McLaughlin, Regional Director North West of the HCA, said: “We are particularly pleased we have been able to support this scheme which provides affordable homes of high environmental standards.”

Dover St was designed by Pozzoni architects to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 which includes Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) Technology – where twin-walled expanded polystyrene panels are built up to create the walls of the property. This formwork is then filled with ready mix concrete and is quick and easy to build and efficient to run for the householder.

Gareth Swarbrick added: “The sustainable features used in these properties will reduce energy bills for the tenants - and with rising utility prices this is becoming an important element of new build.”

Other features of the homes include a Solar Thermal Hot Water System, Rain Water Harvesting System and restricted water usage system. A Mechanical Ventilation unit with Heat Recovery has been fitted in the loft of each property as well as low energy light fittings in each room.

Councillor Jacqui Beswick, Cabinet member for Performance and Partnerships said: “The Dover Street scheme has brought significant investment into the Rochdale Township and provided much needed new energy efficient bungalow accommodation for rent. The scheme is also an excellent example of partnership working between the Council and RBH to deliver the regeneration of a disused play area site”.

The main contractor on the scheme was Rochdale based Jackson and Jackson and the Employers Agent was Poole Dick Associates.

For more news from RBH click here.

Posted at 12^th August 2011

Affordable Credit comes to Rochdale thanks to Housing Providers

by Ethos public relations

A Partnership between ALMO Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), Riverside Housing and Manchester Credit Union (MCU) has seen the introduction of affordable credit to the borough of Rochdale.

MCU recently obtained permission from the Financial Services Authority to extend its common bond to cover the Rochdale area and RBH and Riverside have become key stakeholders and partners.

Angela Havens Financial Inclusion Manager for RBH said:  “We have worked closely with the Council to look at how people on low incomes can access affordable credit.  There has been an explosion of high interest lenders in the borough and without any alternative means of accessing credit we are seeing more and more people approach our team for debt advice.”

Rochdale Council commissioned Salford University to do research into financial exclusion and affordable credit and the subsequent report highlighted the need for a community credit union in Rochdale.

Naila Ilyas said: “The research highlighted several financial exclusion issues in the borough including fuel poverty, financial literacy and the lack of affordable credit and the fact that the borough is losing £1.4m every year to expensive lenders.   Therefore Manchester Credit Union’s expansion in the borough is important because it marks the first but a major step in our co-ordinated approach to address these issues in our local communities.”

RBH and Riverside have provided financial support to help MCU expand into Rochdale and set up a separate branch in the borough.  Both housing organisations will promote MCU services to their residents and RBH will have a seat of the MCU Board.

Christine Moore from MCU is excited at the credit unions expansion.  “We have been established for 20 years and Rochdale has been a part of our growth strategy for some time now.  The financial support offered by RBH and Riverside means we can commence our Rochdale operation much faster than we had anticipated.”

Both the unemployment rate and the number of people out of work and claiming benefit in Rochdale is higher than the regional and national average which means there is a great demand for affordable credit.

MCU will provide a variety of savings products, affordable loan products, budgeting and bill payment account, family protection plans, loan protection and life savings insurance as well as offering money guidance sessions and debt advice.

Sharon Thomas from Riverside adds:  “We are pleased to be able to help bring much needed affordable credit to Rochdale.  MCU will be plugging a significant gap and in order to offer an accessible service to everyone living and working in the borough it will operate from a number of key locations each day.”

As well as social housing residents MCU will be looking to attract a wide range of customers and will be working with key employers like RBH, the Council and the NHS to encourage its employees to sign up to MCU services using a payroll deduction scheme.

“We hope to see a significant reduction in people using high interest service providers which have recently take a foothold in the town,” said Angela.  “We believe demand for the services of a credit union is such that the Rochdale branch will be entirely self financing by year three.  In the meantime, we are pleased to have been able to help get the ball rolling in Rochdale.”

Posted at 11^th July 2011

Funding Secures Community Activities

by Ethos public relations

ALMO Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) has secured £21,290 to develop community well-being projects in Kirkholt, Falinge and College Bank.

Fida Hussain External Funding Officer for RBH successfully bid for the monies from Rochdale Primary Care Trust.  “This is great news for our residents,” he said.  “The money will be spent on activities that residents themselves have specifically requested.”

In order to qualify for the money RBH had to provide evidence that it was going to be spent on what people wanted and neighbourhood teams have being canvassing local people to ask their opinions.

Residents have shown interest in first aid training, food health and safety, gardening, cookery and toddler safety.

The funding will allow volunteering opportunities for local residents and provide them with skills that will help develop self confidence and self esteem.  The training will also help residents enhance their employment prospects especially with the new build Sports Centres in the Borough of Rochdale.

“Many people we canvassed were keen to do activities that brought neighbourhoods and communities together so that they could meet people who live close to them and get to know people.  Activities like gardening and cooking were considered a great way to do this.”

This funding is part of a larger pot of monies secured by Fida in his role as External Funding Officer.   Since his appointment in December Fida has secured over £48,000 from various funding pots to assist RBH residents across the Borough.

For more news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 29^th June 2011

Kirkholt partnership provides work

by Ethos public relations

ALMO Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) is working in partnership with Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale to provide real employment opportunities to unemployed young people in Rochdale.

Gareth Swarbrick Chief Executive of RBH said: “With youth unemployment at an all time high we are working with partners to look at innovative ways we can help. The major regeneration of the Kirkholt estate is providing an ideal opportunity to develop training skills for local people which has resulted in employment.”

In phase one of the training scheme, Groundwork recruited five unemployed young men who wanted to learn new skills and were happy to sign up to a fifteen week voluntary course. Phil Treaton Commercial Services Manager for Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale said: “The volunteers worked alongside the RBH direct labour team to refurbish an empty property and were able to pick up basic construction skills.

“As a result they gained a CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) which all constructions businesses require in order for operatives to work on site.  They also gained an NVQ Level I in Construction Opportunities and Civil Engineering Services.”

As a direct result of this scheme, four of the five recruits have secured full time employment with other construction organisations. The fifth recruit has asked to remain working as a volunteer until such time he finds permanent employment.

A further four young people who live on Kirkholt itself have now started work on a second property on the estate and RBH and Groundwork are hoping to replicate the success of the first batch of recruits.

“This is a great scheme which benefits everyone involved,” said Gareth. “We are able to bring empty homes back into circulation much quicker than we normally would and local unemployed people are not only learning new skills but are coming off the unemployment list.”

Harry Govan, Area Director, Rochdale Council adds: "The trainees have shown a great commitment to learn and through their work have gained employment with a developer on local sites. I hope this gives others the belief that they can make a change in their lives through grasping the opportunities this type of training gives and also find employment opportunities that are so desperately needed in Rochdale".

For more news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 2^nd June 2011

Volunteering changed my life

by Ethos public relations

Every year 22 million people volunteer and in doing so contribute around £18 billion to the UK economy.  In Rochdale, 42 year old Julie Rutherford found volunteering transformed her life for the better.

“Before becoming a volunteer I felt completely isolated,” she said.  “This made me feel depressed but I didn’t have the confidence to make any changes to my life.  It was a viscous circle.”

As part of an initiative to get residents back into training and work, Julie’s landlord Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) was knocking on doors on the Lower Falinge Estate where Julie lived with her 18 year old son in an initiative called ‘Opportunity Knocks’.  It was certainly aptly named for Julie as it was this knock on the door that created the opportunity for Julie to transform her life.

That knock on her door led Julie to sign up to a work assessment and training support with RBH. Khalida Crossley, Priority Area Worker for RBH said:  “When I first met Julie it was clear that she was fed up but equally clear that she did want to get out of the rut she was in – she just didn’t know where to start.  Her dream was to become a teaching assistant.”

RBH assessed Julie and developed a programme for her to follow that would help her reach her goal.  Khalida arranged for Julie to volunteer at a weekly parent and child session run by RBH at a local primary school (called L Play). A CRB check, First Aid and Food Hygiene training were also organised to give Julie some of the basic skills required.

When Julie was at the L Play sessions, it soon became apparent that she had a great way with children, and more importantly, Julie realised this too.

“I was so nervous when I first started volunteering,” said Julie.  “I didn’t know anybody and I was sure that I would get everything wrong.

“However, after a few sessions I really got into the swing of things. Not only did I learn important new skills but talking to the children, meeting their parents and of course the other staff vastly improved by confidence.  This made me feel so much better in myself and my mental and physical health improved."

Julie was so impressed with how volunteering benefited her life that she threw herself into numerous other local community groups as a volunteer.  This included a gardening group and becoming part of resident panel which makes decisions about funding in the area.

She also volunteers as a helper with a junior warden scheme run by RBH and recently took the role of vice-treasurer with the Tenants and Residents group.

“It’s hard to believe that this strong, articulate, out-going woman is the same Julie I met a year ago,” said Khalida.  “Volunteering has not only helped Julie develop her skills and career but just as importantly has helped her deal with her loneliness and depression.”

Julie is now a volunteer teaching assistant at the primary school, and since taking this position has been offered a part-time job at the school. RBH has obtained match funding for Julie to enrol at a local college to begin teacher training.

“I volunteer for around 15 hours a week,” said Julie.  “This together with my college course, homework and my new found social life means I lead a busy and fulfilling life – something I could never have hoped for such a short time ago.

“You can be a volunteer for so many reasons.  To help a group or community you believe in, to learn new skills, to develop your own potential or to meet new people.  I am now a real advocate for volunteering and will always encourage other people, young and old to get involved.”

To read other news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 27^th May 2011

Green Apple Award for RBH

by Ethos public relations

The sustainable building methods employed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) on its Croft Street development have been acknowledged by the prestigious Green Apple Awards.

The Awards are given to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world and RBH received a silver award for its work on this scheme.

Eugene Wilson Director of Property Services from RBH said that the twenty two new homes for social rent on Croft Street include numerous sustainable features.

“We are really pleased to have been recognised in these awards which have entries from all over the UK,” he said. “Croft Street is one of the first new build projects from our charitable development subsidiary Brighter Horizons and we were determined the scheme should have high environmental credentials.

The new homes are built to level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and include the following sustainable, energy efficient installations:

•    Timber frame insulated external walls
•    Insulated roof space
•    Energy saving condensing boilers
•    Heating distribution incorporating Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRV’s)
•    Robust details use to reduce thermal bridging
•    Low-e class double glazing
•    Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
•    Dedicated low energy lighting comprising 75% of all light fittings.

To read other news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 16^th May 2011

External Funding Officer for RBH

by Ethos public relations

ALMO, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) has recently appointed 45 year old Fida Hussain as an External Funding Officer.

“Fida will maximise all possible opportunities to generate income from external funding,” said Clare Tostevin Head of New Business and Regeneration for RBH. “He will focus on identifying opportunities to support wider regeneration for the benefits of our tenants and neighbourhoods.”

Fida has considerable experience in his field and has worked for 25 years in a variety of community development and project roles. “I see this as a wonderful new challenge, particularly in these harsh economic times,” he said.

Already the appointment of Fida as an External Funding Officer has proved a good move for RBH. He has secured over £48,000 from a variety of funding sources including the Aspiration Fund, BT, Bit Lottery and Jobcentre Plus.

For more news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 3^rd May 2011

2,500 Rochdale children and young people take home citizenship message

by Ethos public relations

As Baroness Newlove, the government appointed champion for safer communities, publishes her much awaited  report on crime, one Rochdale housing company believes it is already pushing the boundaries of ‘people power’ through its work with thousands of young people.

Ruth Sillence Communities First Co-ordinator for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) said the report had a lot of great ideas for adults but it would have also been useful to have seen some ideas on how to engage with children and young people.

“In our experience, working with the young provides a great chance to influence positive behaviour in the future,” she said.

With this in mind, RBH has directly commissioned workshops with the No Way Trust to work with high school children and raise issues about avoiding crime, the impact of anti-social behaviour and how getting involved even in ‘low level’ crime can have consequences for years to come.

“The course pulls no punches,” said Ruth. “The Trust has a fully furnished life - size replica prison cell and an authentic ‘Street Set’ used for acting out anti-social instances.

“Real life prisoner insight and gun and knife crime workshops further complement the learning experience. The day is both engaging and interactive; the idea is for the pupils to experience the restriction prison places upon its inmates and for them to recognise the true value of their own liberty.”

By the end of 2011 RBH will have worked with eight high schools in the borough reaching around 2000 young people with their message about taking control of your own actions and having the power to say no to crime and to peer group pressure.

In her report Baroness Newlove said everyone had a role to play in making our communities safer and argues that people need to take control and solve problems for themselves.

“RBH has an award winning approach to engagement with communities and in particular with children,” said Ruth. “The programme started as part of a Communities First initiative when we worked with primary school children to talk about their environment, what they saw around them and what they felt they could do to change it. This was so successful we looked at taking things a step further and working with older children.”

The impact of the work with schools is difficult to quantify but the feedback from both primary and high school pupils and staff has been very positive with almost 100% of pupils saying the course was ‘valuable’ and ‘very valuable’.

Ruth adds: “In all, RBH has taken its anti-crime and anti-social behaviour message to around 2500 young people in Rochdale. That’s 2500 future citizens who could play an important role in making their neighbourhoods safe for everyone to enjoy.”

For more news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 13^th April 2011

ALMO takes on Mortgage Rescue

by Ethos public relations

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) has become the first ALMO in the country to acquire properties as part of the government’s Mortgage Rescue Scheme.

The initiative is designed to help vulnerable households who may be at risk of having their home repossessed. It allows householders to remain in their home as tenants paying rent rather than as homeowners - and eases both the financial and physical disruption that can occur when a family is forced to move because of repossession.

Brighter Horizons the charitable subsidiary of RBH has recently acquired the first two of a planned ten properties in the borough and Gareth Swarbrick Chief Executive of RBH said:

“Rochdale has one of the highest numbers of repossessions in the North West and clearly there is a great demand for this type of assistance. Council support has been invaluable in enabling the borrowing to help us support this scheme.”

The latest from the Financial Services Authority suggest there are around 350,000 people in mortgage arrears (Jan 2011) and even a small rise in interest rates could place many families in danger of losing their homes. Preventative work like this in Rochdale offers a viable alternative to helping families remain in their own homes.

“The families we have helped to date have had to demonstrate their financial ability to afford the rent for the rescued property,” said Gareth Swarbrick. “They also have to meet a strict criteria around their eligibility to apply for the scheme which includes factors around the size of their household and their overall health and well being.”

The Mortgage Rescue Scheme in Greater Manchester is administered by Great Places Housing Group. Brighter Horizons now owns the properties and RBH manages them. It is hoped that in Rochdale, RBH can help a further eight families in the near future.

To read other news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 21^st March 2011

New council homes for Rochdale - first Brighter Horizons Scheme opening

by Ethos public relations

Brighter Horizons, the charitable development subsidiary company of ALMO Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) celebrated the completion of its first scheme recently – one that also represents the first new build affordable council homes in the borough for over 20 years.

74 year old Bridie Palmieri previously lived in private rented accommodation and has been waiting for a suitable home that meets her health needs for over five years. “This is like a dream come true,” she said. “I absolutely love my new home and my new neighbours.”

Chief Executive of RBH Gareth Swarbrick said: “This £2.1 million scheme represents a landmark for us and the borough. The properties provide much needed affordable homes and we are delighted to welcome the new tenants into these brand new properties.”

Developed on the former site of prefabricated bungalows and garages, the Croft Street scheme comprises 18 bungalows and four family houses. The new tenants include some of the former residents of the site but also people from a nearby regeneration area and Rochdale people in housing need.

Councillor Colin Lambert from Rochdale Council said: “It’s great to see Rochdale adding these new homes to its property portfolio and we have worked closely with RBH and Brighter Horizons to build the borough’s first new council homes for many years.

“It is a key priority of the Council to build more affordable homes in the area and Brighter Horizons has several other schemes in the development pipeline which will help us deliver on this.”

The properties at Croft Street are built to Lifetime Homes standard and have been constructed to meet the requirements of Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes - making them efficient to heat and run. They are owned by Brighter Horizons and managed and maintained by RBH.

The scheme has been made possible by £1.2 million investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Deborah McLaughlin, executive director North West for the HCA said: “Working with RBH and the Council it was clear there was a strong demand from the local community for the type of housing provided on Croft Street. It’s great to now see the vision become a reality as people move into their new homes.”

To read other news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 14^th March 2011