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Press releases
5 August 2002 £6 Million to upgrade housing
Harding Housing Association has just secured a £6 million loan to improve the second half of their properties. For the last 5 years Harding has been carrying out improvements and reinvestment works to half of their 1200 properties. "We decided that our first priority was to invest in the properties we’ve got, rather than to buy more," says Chief Executive, Matthew Fox. "We have even sold a few which would have been uneconomic to modernise".
The second round of reinvestment will concentrate on fixing roofing, installing central heating and repairing and replacing kitchen and bathroom furniture where necessary. The reinvestment in property is backed up with investment in people and communities. The neighbourhood participation officers work with tenants to provide social and activity groups, skills training and youth facilities and the nuisance team works with tenants to arbitrate disputes and where necessary evict nuisance neighbours.
The reinvestment programme started 5 years ago, with all of the concrete walkways being taken down from the Church Manor estate in Brixton. Before the major works started, the estate was a haven for muggers, drug pushers and gangs. Now the estate is light and airy. It has outdoor facilities for children and teenagers, community facilities for all age groups, a resource room for tenants and a community garden. "While the works were going on, the noise was irritating and most of the tenants complained at one time or another, now we can’t believe the transformation," says tenant and Chair of the Community Group, Mary Hobson. "We’ve still got the occasional kid writing graffiti on the communal walls, but it’s so much better than the way it used to be. There’s less crime and fewer drug related problems. People feel safer: the Nuisance Team at Harding has worked hard to evict drug-pushers and anti-social tenants, and we even have a warden patrol and CCTV. The community spirit has grown tremendously over the last two years since the estate works were finished. We’ve got kids clubs, youth groups, a community group and a garden club. We go out on trips together and work hard towards making the estate a nice place to live."
28 June 2002 New book tackles social exclusion and community development "Quality Neighbourhoods" is a new book out, identifying the barriers to social inclusion and community development. It takes a look at what schemes are working up and down the country and how they can be emulated in your neighbourhood. The contributors are frank about what works and, more importantly, what can go wrong. The book was commissioned by Harding Housing Association and researched and written by Chris Wadhams, with backing from the Housing Corporation. "Getting to grips with what makes quality neighbourhoods, is imperative for landlords today, says Matthew Fox, Chief Executive of Harding Housing Association. "We are constantly being asked by the government to form partnerships in the communities we cover. It’s paramount to know what to focus on. We need to be able to measure the impact of the work we are doing; to prove it’s worth continuing with and that we’re not wasting our, and ultimately, your, money. We have looked to highlight ways to achieve this in this book. "
Recommended reading for residents and tenants associations, as well as housing, regeneration and community development workers. Quality Neighbourhoods is available, priced £20, from Chris Wadhams direct by e-mail: cwadhams@hotmail.com or by calling Harding Housing Association on 020 8871 3260 who will forward your enquiry.
28 May 2002 Church Manor residents to celebrate Golden Jubilee The Church Manor Community Group are organising a jubilee party for the residents of the estate on Bank Holiday Monday, 3 June. Celebrating the 50 years since the Queen's coronation - the theme will be gold, red, white and blue. "We’ll be having activities to appeal to everyone’s tastes and everyone is encouraged to join in." says Vivienne Nethercott, Secretary of the Community Group. "We have planned events for all ages including children's games and competitions, a puppet show, a football tournament, a disco, an old-time sing-a-long, a raffle, Bingo and a barbecue. Let’s just hope the rain stays away!"
21 May 2002 The warden initiative: a response to the article entitled Law ‘n’ order patrol, featured in the South London Press on Friday May 10, 2002.
A warden scheme operates on the Church Manor estate in Lambeth. On the first night the warden thwarted an attempted vehicle theft. The tenants on the estate, owned by Harding Housing Association, pay 78 pence per week for the warden scheme.
The warden patrols the estate at night and has access to CCTV in the office. He is in contact with the local police and is able to give evidence in court as an expert witness.
Tenants are provided with his mobile phone number or can ring via the office, but are urged to ring the police in the first instance if they witness a crime being committed.
Anything that makes people feel safer in and around their own homes is a good thing. This warden scheme, used in conjunction with CCTV, is a cost-effective way of reducing crime and catching criminals.
14 May 2002 Electrician who's light on his
feet
Andy Magin, an electrician for Harding Housing Association, will be
competing in the National Championships at Crystal Palace Sports Centre on 20 May. Dancers
from all over the world will be competing. Kim and Nicci, as Andy and his partner are
known on the dance circuit, will be representing England in the Latin American dance
section. Friends and colleagues from Harding will be going to watch the competition and
cheer them on. Andy has proved very popular with both staff and tenants at Harding since
joining their Direct Labour Organisation (DLO).
Andy is originally from South Africa, but explains, "I have been competing for 20 years. As with most people in this sport, I live in the UK so that I can be coached by the best coaches in the world. During the day I work for Harding as an electrician but on 5 days of the week I can be found training at either the studio or the gym."
Whilst dancers and soldiers may seem world’s apart, Andy’s other claim to fame is that whilst he was serving his national service in South Africa, he was involved in providing security to Nelson Mandela. These days though, he’s happier carrying his partner across the dance floor than carrying a gun.
29 April 2002 New activities group gets
going
A new activities group for the over 55’s has started at John Morris House in St.
John’s Hill. The group is open to all BCHT and Harding tenants who live in the
surrounding area. "This follows research and work carried out by the two housing
associations and Age Concern (Wandsworth) last year," says Dorothy Watson, the tenant
who is acting as volunteer co-ordinator for the group. "Tenants told us they wanted
to be able to meet other tenants in a social forum for fun and friendship, and that’s
what we are providing". The activities group meets every Wednesday at 2pm during term
time, and trips are being planned for during the school holidays, when an out-of-school
group uses the room.