News

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Michael Newey, our Chief Executive (pictured, bottom right), has been giving ‘hands on’ support to our intensive sanitisation programme during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Touch points in communal areas of all our sheltered housing schemes are being sanitised daily to protect our most vulnerable tenants.

Door handles, light switches, cupboards and banisters are being disinfected every day in addition to twice weekly deep-cleans at our sheltered schemes.

Michael reported for duty at York Place, a sheltered scheme of 48 flats and bungalows in Dereham. He was trained by Elaine Browne, Cleaning Supervisor in our in-house cleaning team.

Other members of Broadland’s senior team, redeployed repairs operatives and staff from across the organisation are also pitching to carry out the vital daily sanitisation for the duration of the crisis.

Michael said:

These are extraordinary times, and we are starting to find the ‘new normal’. Our number one priority has to be to protect our tenants, and especially the most vulnerable tenants, and that means we all have to lend a hand to do what needs to be done.

There is a really strong ‘we’re all in this together’ feeling throughout Broadland, with a real desire to keep everybody safe and well.

Broadland staff are also stepping up to provide practical and emotional support for tenants. Tenants at most risk are being phoned regularly to ensure they have what they need, or simply to have a chat to relieve the isolation. Staff volunteers are collecting and delivering shopping and prescriptions to tenants who are self-isolating or need extra support. One tenant said:

Thank you to the volunteers who work so hard for us. Thanks to Gavin for bringing my medication today, which without him I would not have got it. You are a star, thanks.

If you’re proud of your patch, why not enter our 2020 gardening competition? Entry is open from 1 April – 5 June to all Broadland Housing tenants, no matter how big or small your garden (or balcony)!

Whether your garden style is compact, colourful, formal or informal, traditional or modern, let’s hear from you!

The 7 categories are:

• Best Vegetable Garden – We want to see a variety of vegetables and fruits.  Are you getting more than one harvest and are you planting all year round?
• Best Garden – Does your garden have the ‘wow’ factor? Judges will be looking for a variety of plants in different colours and shapes, and ornaments used to good effect.
• Best Recycled Garden – We are looking for the best use of recycled material – for example, old ornaments, pots or tyres. Maybe you have repurposed old materials to make flower beds, benches etc? We are also interested in how the recycled materials have been used to attract wildlife.
• Best Small Garden – We want to see the best use of space, and a good variety of plants or flowers in the space available.
• Best Hanging Baskets and Patio Pots – These should be really colourful, with lots of different plants, not forgetting some greenery.
• Best Community Garden – Do you have a garden that’s shared and used by your scheme? We would love to see how the garden benefits you and your neighbours.
• Best Community Garden with Assistance – A new category for Sheltered/Housing with care schemes where tenants get some gardening support from Broadland’s Estate Services team

The closing date is 5 June 2020. Judging will take place between 1 – 3 July 2020.

We’re giving away prizes for 1st and 2nd place in each category, and every entrant will receive a certificate. Our panel of judges include our Environmental Champions and Jane, our tenant gardening guru. Read Jane’s latest gardening tips in our Door to Door magazine.

If you have any queries, please call 01603 750113 or email tenantengagement@broadlandgroup.org.

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We have installed our first water mist system in a tenant’s home at our sheltered housing scheme at Samford Court, Worlingham, Suffolk.

The misting system disperses more than 100 litres of water in 10 minutes, enough to completely extinguish a fire in most cases. This gives the tenant valuable time to control or escape the situation.

Brian Walshe, Fire Safety Manager, said:

The misting systems have a great capacity to absorb heat energy from a fire and the rapid cooling keeps the air relatively clean, resulting in minimal water damage. The systems enable people to live independently and safely at home for longer. They are particularly good for tenants who may be vulnerable because of poor mobility, or for smokers who have a health condition that requires an oxygen therapy unit. They also help to reduce the fire risk in cases of hoarding.

Because the misting system is only activated when the multi-sensor heads detect both heat and smoke, it causes fewer false alarms. In case of a power outage, the system batteries are charged to last 3 days.

Broadland has 5 of these misting systems, kindly donated to us by the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service. Our operatives are fully trained to install and maintain the units for Broadland or on behalf of the fire service.

Brian continues:

There is no statutory requirement for Broadland to install these systems. But as a good landlord, we want to do the best for our tenants.

Patricia Hollis House, part of our exciting new development at Canary Quay, Norwich, has been shortlisted for the 2020 RICS Social Impact Awards.

The awards, organised by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, recognise the positive and transformational contribution of the built environment to society.

With 100% social rent tenants, Patricia Hollis House has had an immediate positive social impact in Norwich by providing much-needed social housing.

During the construction of this phase of Canary Quay, builders RG Carter worked with Broadland to support local businesses through the supply chain, boosting local skills and employment and maximising social value. Over 75% of the workforce was based locally. This collaborative approach also reduced the environmental impact of the build. The project was a major source of employment in the Norwich area, with an average of approximately 100 people on site per week.

RG Carter also held an open day at Canary Quay for existing Broadland tenants to highlight the skills and training opportunities available on the project, including apprenticeships and opportunities through it own in-house training academy. RG Carter interviewed several candidates and subsequently employed one of the applicants at a sister company. RG Carter also hosted regular site visits for construction students at City College Norwich.

Broadland wants to create thriving neighbourhoods and communities, which will further increase our social impact. We offer tenants multiple ways to engage with us to improve our homes and services, including the Tenant Action Group (TAG), Good Neighbour Awards and the Digital Panel.