Ezine

Welcome to Colne Connected

Welcome to the first edition of Colne Connected, a six monthly e-zine keeping our partners in touch with what we have been doing and our future plans.

The idea for this newsletter came from the results of a survey we carried out, which asked our partners to comment on the Society's work. The results were very positive, but partners said they did not always know enough about our future plans or the services we offer.

I hope you enjoy reading about the Society and the work that we are doing, helping to provide excellent affordable homes in thriving communities.

Mark Powell Davies - Chief Executive

Development

Two of our largest developments in 25 years - Colne is currently developing affordable housing on two major sites in Colchester and Babergh.

In Colchester, it has purchased nearly 100 houses on the garrison estate, and is currently working on plans to improve the properties, build new homes and transform the environment of the area.

In Babergh, as a result of nearly ten years of negotiations with Persimmon Homes and Babergh District Council, the Society is building over 100 affordable homes in several phases, as part of the overall re-development of a major site in Great Cornard.

These are two of our largest developments in the last 25 years, and we are delighted that, in spite of the difficult economic conditions, we were recently able to raise a further £15 million loan to fund our future development activities.

Private Sector Leasing

The Society's Private Sector Leasing (PSL) scheme continues to flourish. Under this arrangement, homes are leased by the Society from private owners and let to people in housing need.

By the end of August 2009, 40 properties will have been leased for Colchester Borough Council.

The Society is bidding for funding from the Homes and Communities Agency, with local authority support, for further homes in Braintree, Maldon, Suffolk Coastal and Tendring.

Tendring District Council have made available £33,000 to continue to provide housing to meet their demands.

In all, the Society will be providing some 85 new PSL homes this year.

Supported Housing

The Society is delighted to be working with Essex County Council in Halstead to provide supported housing for thirteen people with learning disabilities. This project continues the Society's long track record of working with its partners to provide a range of supported housing solutions for people with disabilities.

Residents previously lived at the Nether Priors Residential Care Home in the town; a rambling Victorian building that no longer met the registration standards. Following a successful competitive tender in 2007, phase one of the project saw the Society purchase and adapt two bungalows in the town for five residents

The second phase involved the transfer of a parcel of land adjacent to Nether Priors. The abandoned house which stood there has now been demolished and work is well underway to dig the foundations of the eight new flats being built there. The development will resemble a small sheltered housing scheme with a communal lounge, lift to the upper floors and sleep in room. Each flat has been designed specifically for the intended resident, ensuring their housing needs are fully met for some years to come.

The work began earlier this year and will complete towards the end of 2009. Residents were recently consulted about the naming of the new building and decided on "Elm Tree Court". Work is now being undertaken with the Society's colleagues in health and social care to ensure as smooth a transition as possible for these residents, some of whom have lived at Nether Priors for over 20 years. Whilst the move will naturally be an upheaval, excitement is mounting as residents and carers alike watch the new homes being built next door.

Recent success stories

Silver Surfers at Ironside Walk - Foundry Court and Ironside Walk, Manningtree, celebrated the arrival of its new I.T. equipment in April.

The project has been funded in partnership with Essex County Council and Millrace I.T.. The computers provide internet access for residents, with e-mail, skype and web cam facilities. The new equipment is a great way for the residents to correspond with relatives who may live in different parts of the country and or world! Training sessions were held throughout May to show the residents how to use the technology.

Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) - The Society has been able to obtain significant additional funding from the HCA to meet the pressing need for affordable housing in our area.

At the beginning of 2008/09, Colne received an allocation of nearly £3 million to deliver 78 units. An additional £4.5 million for a further 150 units was then given, providing a total programme of £7.5 million delivering 228 units.

A total of 168 new homes were provided by Colne in 2008/09, against the 118 originally expected.

Working efficiently

In 2008/09, the Society saved £80,000 by committing a large volume of its improvement work through Eastern Procurement, a consortium established through the Efficiency Challenge Fund to improve the procurement of housing repairs and maintenance.

Colne, working in partnership with eight other housing associations in the East of England, made savings by jointly contracting parts of its programme of property improvements, including kitchen, bathroom and heating replacements. The savings allowed us to replace some twenty more kitchens than we otherwise would have done.

Supporting our local communities

Colne Community Fund - The Colne Community Fund (CCF) was set up in April 2008 with money raised from its development activities with Iceni Homes. It supports causes in the communities in which the Society operates. So far:-

£5,000 has been donated to community groups
£10,000 has been allocated for a community centre development
£12,000 has been put aside to sponsor training in the community

Grants have been awarded to:-

Evergreens Bingo Club - this organisation requested a donation towards their weekly bingo prizes.
Magnolia Community Garden project - awarded a grant to purchase a new greenhouse
The Evergreens project - were successful in receiving a grant to hire coaches for trips and events for elderly people in the Colchester area.
Stanway Village Hall - were provided with a grant to purchase two baby changing facilities in the village halls at Stanway and Tollgate in Colchester
Maldon Young Carers - were awarded a grant to take ten young carers out on an activity day
Jaywick writers circle - were presented with a grant to supply the students with a venue and writing materials
Building Blocks - Awarded a grant by the Colne Community Fund, eleven young mothers in Heybridge were able to participate and successfully complete a certificate in First Aid Care for Children. The qualification has so far led to two of the mothers getting a job; one in a nursery and the other as a lollipop lady! There is still money left from the grant, and another training course, maybe in I.T, is to be arranged in the near future.

If you have a community project that would benefit from a grant, please download an application form.

Working in Partnership

The Society is a member of the Key Communities development partnership, consisting of seven housing associations based in the East of England. Our membership allows us access to grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency, which is essential if we are to continue to deliver new affordable housing. Key Communities exceeded its targets agreed with the HCA at the beginning of the last financial year.

The partnership has been graded with the highest score possible in all areas of development activity, reinforcing its status as a key partner with the HCA.

To learn more about the Key Communities partnership, please visit
their website.

Spotlight

Richard Jones - New Business and Commercial Manager

Richard joined the Society in May 2007 and has been working to identify new business opportunities for Colne ever since! So far, Richard has helped the Society win five payroll, financial and supported housing management contracts. These are with two housing associations in the East of England, and with a Colchester based charity that exports second hand bicycles to Africa, a hairdressers and a nursery school.

Richard has also been heading the private sector leasing scheme, winning the Society tenders to supply a number of homes in Suffolk and Essex.

Lastly, Richard's professionalism led to the Society becoming the Corporate Trustee of the Chelmsford Almshouse Charity, bringing the total number of charities for whom the the Society is Corporate Trustee up to five.

For more information on the services the Society has to offer, please contact Richard on 01206 244700, or e-mail richard.jones@colnehousing.co.uk, or visit the Colne website.