Broadland Housing Association

Homes, community & support since 1963

    • News 2019

    First new tenants for Canary Quay

    Broadland has proudly welcomed its first tenants to Canary Quay, Norwich.

    Over the coming weeks, 60 one- and two-bedroom apartments at Canary Quay will be handed over.  These new homes, which are for social rent, are the first phase in our ambitious development that will eventually create 323 new homes.

    The new homes will be a mix of social and intermediate rent and open market properties.  All 60 new homes in Phase 1 are social rent.

    Broadland Housing chief executive Michael Newey commented:

    It is very pleasing to be handing over the first new homes on a site which was previously neglected and derelict, and which we are transforming into a vibrant new living quarter for Norwich, providing high-quality homes near the city centre for people who need them the most, at rents they can afford.

    This is an ambitious scheme on a large scale which has taken considerable time to bring to fruition; when we see the delight on our tenants’ faces when they receive their keys, it makes all that hard work worthwhile.

    The new homes are being built by RG Carter; the architects are Ingleton Wood and the consulting engineers Rossi Long.

    Case study: Andrew Parfitt

    One of the first tenants to receive their keys at Canary Quay was Andrew Parfitt (pictured above) – whose new home overlooks two of his former workplaces. 

    Retired railwayman Andrew worked at the rail depot right next to the new development. Before that he worked at the Colman’s works, just across the river, which he can now see from the balcony of his 6th-floor one-bedroom apartment.

    Andrew has lived in Norwich since his early 20s. Previously he was living in rented accommodation which was plagued by anti-social behaviour. He is delighted with his new home.

    When I first saw the flat I was amazed – it’s so nice. My dad was a builder, so I can appreciate the quality of the finish. It’s done to a great standard.  The moment I walked in, I was sold!

    It’s so nice to be coming back to where I spent most of my working life, it’s a part of the city I love.  This is now my ‘forever home’.  I’m confident is it going to be a real community.

    Case study: Brandon Cheesman

    20 year-old Brandon Cheesman has spent the past 18 months in shared accommodation at the YMCA. His one-bedroom 5th-floor apartment at Canary Quay is his first home.

    Brandon grew up in Norwich and has been working in tree surgery with his granddad. He is hoping to take his certificates and become a tree surgeon himself.

    It has got everything.  Being in the city I can walk everywhere, or get the bus easily. Everything like shops are close by.  And I really love the football, which is next door.

    My flat is really good quality. When my mum saw it, she was so excited she joked that she wanted to move out of her own house and live here!

    Sponsored bike ride raises £1,300 for MIND

    A group of Broadland employees have raised £1,300 in a sponsored bike ride through the Norfolk countryside. The employees followed a 30-mile circular route, stopping at Broadland’s stores depot at Colton for refreshments. Many were new or returning to cycling, which makes the achievement all the more impressive!

    The funds raised will be donated to Norwich MIND, which staff voted as their charity of the year for 2019. Commenting on Twitter, Norwich MIND said:

    A huge well done, and thank you so much @BroadlandHsg
    Bike Riders for choosing to fundraise for our charity!

    Broadland AGM 2019

    Michael Newey, Group Chief Executive, told our Annual General Meeting in September that Broadland needs to continue “stretching itself” if we are to help tackle the UK’s “appalling” homelessness problem.

    Broadland completed 67 new homes in the year to March 2019, and another 259 are under construction. Michael said:

    Far too many people don’t have homes in this country.  According to Shelter there are 268,000 homeless people in England, and that includes a terrifying number of children. We are in an appalling situation. At the end of the day the solution to homelessness is bricks and mortar, and that’s why we have to stretch ourselves to build more.

    Broadland’s Annual Review shows outlines plans to deliver 291 new homes in the current financial year, with a further 172 in 2020-21, and 147 in 2021-22.  We allocated 476 homes in 2018-19, of which 75 were let to homeless people, and further 131 to older people.

    As part of Broadland’s pledge to tackle homelessness, we have signed up to the national Homes for Cathy initiative. We have made 9 clear commitments, including introducing flexibility into the way we allocate homes, and meeting the needs of vulnerable tenant groups.

    Michael also told the meeting about the importance of the work of our Tenancy Support team, which helps tenants who are at risk of losing their homes. He said:

    The team has supported nearly 400 tenants over the last year.  As a result of their work with those tenants, they have managed to bring in for those families a further £322,000 worth of benefits that they weren’t getting beforehand, either by challenging incorrect DWP decisions or securing benefits that tenants were entitled to.

    Looking to the future, Michael outlined our new corporate strategy, 2019-23. Going forward, we have strengthened our commitments on tackling homelessness, renewed our focus on involving tenants in shaping the future of our organisation.

    Download our Corporate Strategy 2019-23Download

    Broadland signs mental health pledge

    Broadland has joined more than 1,200 organisations across the UK who have signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge. 

    The pledge is a commitment to changing the way we all think and act about mental health in the workplace. 

    Group Chief Executive Michael Newey said:

    I’m delighted to sign this pledge on behalf of Broadland. Although things are slowly changing, there is still a great deal of stigma around mental health, and often a lack of understanding of the issues. We want our staff to feel comfortable to be able to start conversations around mental health and are committed to supporting their wellbeing at work.

    By signing the pledge, Broadland commits to a 12-month Employer Action Plan. The plan will help us put in place best-practice interventions and policy to help our staff work in ways that promote positive mental wellbeing. This will support lasting, cultural change through a plan of tangible, measurable activity. 

    In May 2019 Broadland launched a team of staff Mental Health Champions across the organisation. The champions offer a confidential, 1-to-1 service in the workplace. The Mental Health Champions’ role is to listen, support and signpost suitable services to colleagues who may be struggling with their mental health. They also raise awareness and promote mental wellbeing across the organisation.

    Staff have also voted for Mind as their charity of the year for fundraising.

    Broadland Housing’s Mental Health Champions, May 2019

    Housing with care schemes rated ‘outstanding’

    The Lawns, our housing with care scheme in Great Yarmouth, where NorseCare provides care and support services, recently celebrated an ‘outstanding’ CQC (Care Quality Commission) inspection report. Nationally, just 3% of care is rated as outstanding by the CQC .

    Inspectors visited The Lawns, where Broadland tenants live independently in their own flat, in August 2019 and spoke to tenants, their relatives and staff. In their report they rated the scheme as outstanding in 3 key areas – for the caring, responsive and well-led aspects, and ‘good’ for the safe and effective elements.

    The CQC inspectors reported that:

    …the service was exceptional in placing people at the heart of the service with a strong person-centred caring and responsive ethos.

    Broadland tenants told the inspectors that they were “treated with exceptional kindness, compassion and respect.” One tenant described the staff as “absolutely wonderful, always there when I need them and always cheerful”.

    The CQC inspectors recognised that one of The Lawns’ strengths was in the range of activities for tenants and local community engagement, particularly a successful intergenerational activity initiative with the local school. Children come into the scheme every week for lunch and spend time with the tenants, including seated football. One Broadland tenant told the inspector: “It’s really good fun when they come in, it makes you feel good being with young people!”

    NorseCare Registered Manager Carole Nisbett praised her team at the scheme:

    The Lawns is a great place where people love to live and love to work. We were delighted to receive an outstanding at our last inspection for how we care for people, but to receive an overall outstanding is just wonderful. We love being part of the local community and are always looking at new ways to help people and to improve the way we support them.

    • John Lee (93), who has lived at the Lawns for 2 years with Maria Kellatti, wellbeing co-ordinator
    • Lisbon Court celebrates its ‘outstanding’ CQC award

    Lisbon Court, another Broadland scheme where NorseCare provides care and support services, was also rated outstanding, in June 2019.

    The housing with care scheme in Galyon Road, King’s Lynn, was rated at outstanding in 3 key areas of the report – for the caring, responsive and well-led aspects – and good for the safe and effective elements.

    The CQC inspectors remarked how Lisbon Court staff:

    …went above and beyond what was expected of them to help ensure people were not isolated and continued to be engaged in the service and wider community and take part in meaningful activity.

    Find out more about our housing with care service in Norfolk.

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