Our tenant Ivy recently celebrated her 101st birthday surrounded by her friends at Woodcote sheltered housing scheme in Norwich. When asked what she would like for her birthday, Ivy replied: “Just your friendship”. Happy Birthday, Ivy, and thank you for the lovely hats and mittens you have knitted for our Toys & Tins appeal for the Salvation Army this Christmas!
News
Jack celebrates professional achievement
Jack Harvey, our Maintenance Team Leader, recently achieved the CIH (Chartered Institute of Housing) Level 3 Certificate in Housing Practice.
This qualification demonstrates that Jack has developed a broader knowledge and understanding of key areas in delivering housing services. It is equivalent to an A-level or NVQ Level 3.
Jack joined Broadland in 2009 as an apprentice carpenter and qualified as a carpenter May 2011. He was promoted to Senior Multi-Skilled Operative in 2017. Following a successful 3-month secondment, Jack was appointed Maintenance Team Leader in January 2019. He covers both the Norwich and King’s Lynn areas.
Kelly Harris, Head of Repairs Service, said:
Congratulations to Jack! We’ve been upskilling our Maintenance team to increase their job satisfaction and provide a better service to our tenants. After training and development, 90% of all our operatives (including electricians and gas engineers) are now skilled in two or more trades.
Jack said:
It’s been hard work, having known literally zero when I started studying. Not bad for someone with a tradesman’s background!
Tenants delighted with new sensory garden
Tenants at Oakes Court, Broadland’s Housing with Care scheme in Downham Market, can now enjoy a beautiful new sensory garden – all designed and created by our Estates Services team.
The garden was designed by Estate Services team members John Bream and Wayne Woolton, specifically for the dementia care ward. The garden design has four main themes that make the best use of the small space. John and Wayne chose the plants to provide plenty of colour, texture and smell – specially the herb garden, which features mint, thyme, rosemary, sage and strawberries.
The garden also had a strong environmental theme. Many of the existing garden ornaments have been lovingly refurbished. Other elements of the design reuse or repurpose materials that would otherwise have been thrown away, such as the brick paving in the herb garden and the colourful homemade ornaments.
Gwen and Stella, who are tenants are Oakes Court, said:
We are really looking forward to being able to sit outside in the garden and feel and smell all the lovely new plants!
Stephani Davis, Head of Housing, said:
Many of our tenants at Oakes Court have sight issues or dementia. This new garden provides a beautiful, calming environment for tenants and staff to use. It’s a great project that has been completely initiated and designed by our Estate Services team. All the work has been done in-house.
NorseCare and Broadland Estates Team helped to get the garden finished in time for the opening day. The Oakes Court tenants enjoyed a guided tour by Estate Services team members, followed by afternoon tea.
Maxine Artiss, NorseCare scheme manager, said:
Thank you to all the Broadland team on behalf of the tenants and Norsecare. It means so much that you have created this lovely new space for tenants. We’re looking forward to spending lots of time out there!
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!