Broadland Housing Association

Homes, community & support since 1963

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    Office space turned into homeless accommodation in Kings Lynn

    Broadland Housing are delighted to enter into a new partnership with West Norfolk Housing to manage their newly completed flats.

    Seven flats have been created for couples and families, two of which have full disabled access, after converting old unused office space on Broad Street.  The Broad Street scheme will be managed by Broadland Housing Association which operates similar schemes in King’s Lynn and across the county.

    Council leader Brian Long said: “In our work to prevent homelessness we know that appropriate temporary accommodation can make all the difference to people at a difficult time of their lives. Schemes like Broad Street will help us avoid using bed and breakfast, and other less than suitable alternatives out of the area. It is important that people can avoid too much disruption to family life while they get themselves back on track.”

    The council has set up the West Norfolk Housing Co (WNHC) to invest in schemes such as Broad Street. WNHC is a registered provider of social housing and as such can benefit from capital grants from central government for the benefit of the local community.

    Chair of WNHC Ray Johnson said: “I am pleased to see former underused office accommodation transformed into great quality accommodation for such a positive use. I am looking forward to delivering more accommodation in my role in the months and years to come.”

    Catherine Little, executive housing director at Broadland Housing, said: “Broadland has a strong commitment to tackling homelessness and working with our local authority partners is central to this”.

    Anyone needing advice on homelessness should contact the council’s housing team on 01553 616200.

    Broadland & Norwich Theatre Royal partnership to address homelessness

    Broadland is proud to be partnering with Norwich Theatre Royal on Creative Matters, a season of performance, exhibitions and workshops exploring true-life stories of homelessness.

    From 1-28 February 2019, Creative Matters will examine why people lose the roof over their head, the social issues that contribute to homelessness and the stigma that surrounds it.

    One of the season highlights is Street Life, a brand new verbatim play by Norfolk-based James McDermott. Inspired by real-life stories of homelessness from local people, it will be performed by Cardboard Citizens on February 27-28.

    As a Homes for Cathy member, Broadland has pledged to help end homelessness and raise awareness of the issue in the Norfolk area. Michael Newey, Chief Executive, said:

    We’re delighted to be able to sponsor this innovative programme with Norwich Theatre Royal. We are particularly pleased to welcome Cardboard Citizens back to Norwich, and look forward to their engaging and inspirational performance. We hope that the Creative Matters programme will help tackle the sadly increasing incidence of homelessness in our region by engaging audiences in a new way.

    The Creative Matters season also includes:

    • What goes on in front of closed doors, a solo show by Emma Bentley that enjoyed a critically-acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
    • Prize-winning novelist Kerry Hudson In Conversation about her book Lowborn, due for publication in May 2019, in which she revisits her childhood in some of Britain’s most deprived towns.
    • A film screening of A street cat named Bob, about an unlikely friendship between a homeless busker and a stray ginger cat Tom, which ends up changing his life.
    • Art as intervention – an exhibition of portraits of homeless people in Norwich by local artist Devin Smith.

    As well as Broadland, Theatre Royal Norwich is working with a range of community partners and organisations, including YMCA Norwich and St Martin’s Housing.

    Sam Patel, Norwich Theatre Royal community participation manager, said:

    February’s season will reveal stories as to how people come to be homeless. With homelessness drastically increasing over the last few years, we hope to highlight the vulnerability we all potentially face with a sudden change in circumstance that can change the course of someone’s life.

    For further information about Creative Matters and to book, go to ntr.org.uk/CreativeMatters

    New community panel gets off to flying start

    We had a really positive response from tenants to our community panel event last week. We invited tenants to join us for some festive food and talk about the community issues that matter most to them. Their feedback and enthusiasm was fantastic. We very much look forward to working with the new panel members in the coming year, when one of their first tasks will be to decide what the panel will be called!

    If you would like to join one of our tenant panels or find out more, please email  tenantengagement@broadlandgroup.org

    Christmas fire safety – Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service

     

    Broadland is supporting Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service in reminding tenants in flats and buildings to keep all communal passages and corridors clear of clutter.

    In an emergency, these areas are escape routes but they are often blocked by waste bags, bicycles, prams, mobility scooters etc.

    In the run up to Christmas, Broadland is working with Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service to promote the public safety message about keeping exit routes clear. The advice applies to all types of homes with hallways, landings, staircases and porches. Keeping them clear offers an easier escape route in an emergency, as well as helping to reduce slips, trips and falls.

    Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Communities Committee, said:

    The problem often worsens over the winter, as other items are left in such areas, including winter footwear and Christmas trees. Items such as tables are also moved outside into communal areas to make way for Christmas trees in homes.

    If a fire were to start in a communal space which is full of clutter or storage, the escape routes for the residents could prevent or hinder the safe evacuation of people leaving the building. Such items also invite the risk for a deliberate fire being started.

    Items blocking escape routes could also affect the speed the fire service would be able to resolve the fire as well as blocking firefighters rescuing the occupants.

    If any Broadland Housing tenant has concerns about clutter/storage in their means of escape, or any other fire safety concerns, they should talk to their Neighbourhood Officer.

    Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service are also highlighting the fire risks associated with Christmas decorations, following a house fire in Norfolk last week.

    Garry Collins, Head of Fire Prevention and Protection at Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service, said:

    We want all Norfolk residents to have a safe and prosperous Christmas. There are a few things people can do to help reduce the risk of fire. This includes switching off festive lights at night, not overloading plug sockets, not leaving cooking appliances unattended and taking extreme care with fireplaces and any candles.

    Last Thursday two Norfolk residents were taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation following a fire in their home caused by Christmas decorations being ignited by a gas lighter, which was being used to light a candle. Thankfully the fire was extinguished quickly and only affected the lounge. The residents had kept their internal doors shut as part of their night time routine.

    The occupants were surprised at how quickly the fire took hold. Christmas decorations made from combustible materials quickly ignited. This fire could have been much worse if it wasn’t for the prompt actions by the householders.

    Contact Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service’s Community Safety Team, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, on 0800 917 8137.  Find more details from Norfolk Fire & Rescue about fire safety in the home, including booking a home fire risk check and planning an escape route.

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