Archive
Former Penrith Store becomes new homes
Former shop becomes homes for Penrith residents Created from a former shop in Penrith, Eden Housing Association is celebrating the launch of four new apartments which in turn, have freed up much needed family homes elsewhere in the town. The shop on the Pategill estate in Penrith had been vacant for some time, despite great effort from the local community and Eden Housing Association to try and find someone to take on the business. With a constant shortage of homes in the district, Eden Housing Association following consultation in the local community decided to convert the shop into four one bedroomed apartments. In 2015 Eden Housing Association successfully bid for a loan from Eden District Council’s Affordable Housing and Innovation Fund (AHIF). The emerging opportunity to convert the shop building at Pategill, met the local authorities’ criteria and as a result over £135,000 funding for the design and works involved was approved and a successful collaboration resulted. At a cost of £242, 876, the property took 21 weeks to renovate from a shop to four homes, with tenants moving in December. Creating these new homes has a number of benefits, it gives a new purpose to an unused building, reduces…
Housing Association Chiefs set for a cold night raising money at the Big Sleep
Three Housing Association Chiefs will be finding out what it is like to really suffer the cold when they take part in the Big Sleep – the Cumbrian event organised by Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF) to raise awareness and funds for their Winter Warmth Fund. The Housing Chiefs set themselves a target of raising over £1000 and are geared up for a cold night at Windermere. John Clasper Managing Director of Eden Housing Association has taken part in the event in the past and was keen to rally other housing leaders to participate. In November Mike Muir, CEO at Impact Housing, Cath Purdy, CEO at South Lakes Housing and Stephanie Murphy from Two Castles Housing Association all agreed to join John at the Big Sleep, raising the profile and gathering pounds to support the Winter Warmth Fund. This is the third year for what has become an annual CCF appeal, which has so far raised £55,000. John Clasper said “ I remember being without heating in my own home during one winter for only a couple of days and how miserable that made me feel, in Eden District we have a higher rate of older people than in most parts…
Update on the December 2015 Floods
The floods in December 2015 hit many homes and communities throughout Eden. If you have been affected and are in need of alternative accommodation as a direct result of the floods please do not hesitate to contact our Housing Advice Service on 01768 861400. Please note there is no distinction whatsoever made between social and affordable housing tenants, private renters or owner-occupiers for this service. For information we have also attached a copy of the up to date Cumbria Flood Factsheet below. Eden Newsletter – 2016 04 29 PDF (2) Eden Housing Association is supporting the Cumbria Community Foundation 2015 Flood Recovery Appeal.
Business and school partnership results in creative van art
School pupils will be watching the road for traffic this week, watching out for white vans with a difference. A project led by two Cumbrian businesses has enabled students at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School to stretch their creativity by designing a van bonnet that expresses how they feel about their local community. The winning designs are now covering two PPM Ltd vans that travel across Eden. PPM Ltd, the Cumbrian property maintenance company has been providing day to day property maintenance service to Eden Housing Association for three years. Keen to develop their partnership in the community, PPM Ltd has joined forces with EHA Community Development Team to develop an apprenticeship roadshow visited Kirkby Stephen Grammar School to talk about apprenticeships with year ten and eleven students. This visit led PPM Ltd.’s Managing Director Gordon McGregor to consider how they could stimulate students to think more about their community and possibly discover a new range of job opportunities. Liaising with Sarah Bowman, Community Development Officer at Eden Housing Association, and teacher Mrs Modlin, (also Careers Advisor for the school), they launched a creative project to design a PPM van bonnet. Sarah Bowman, Community Development Officer at Eden Housing Association said…
Mill Gardens Extra Care scheme raises funds for Eden medical centre
Residents of Eden Housing Association’s Extra Care Housing Scheme in Kirkby Stephen held a coffee morning to raise money for the local medical practice. Baking cakes and pouring coffee raised £120. The Mill Gardens Extra Care Scheme was officially opened this summer, with a full house of residents present for the launch. Keen to ensure they maintained their strong connection with the Kirkby Stephen area, residents organised a coffee morning, inviting the local community to attend. Eden Housing Association’s Support and Activities Co-ordinator Debi Wilkinson and Sylvia Ganner, the Extra Care Co-ordinator were on hand to help with the event, but it was the residents themselves that gathered raffle prizes, baked cakes and made refreshments to welcome visitors to the event. The gathering raised £120 which was presented to Janet Allonby, Lead Receptionist at the Upper Eden Medical Practice. Debi Wilkinson Support and Activities Co-ordinator said “The residents got together to decide which cause they wanted to support, they were quite clear that they wanted the money to be used in our local area and the Upper Eden Medical Centre was a clear winner. Our residents like to be active and they get together on a very regular basis. This…
Proud Eden tenant presents at national conference and visits Kew Gardens
Ian Douthwaite, an Eden Housing Association (EHA) tenant, was invited to speak at a national housing and health conference in London. He was one of only four tenants across the country who spoke, contributing to the theme ‘Proud to be a tenant’. Ian made a real impact with his presentation and was also been asked to be involved in #nationalhousingday held today (Wednesday 18th November). PlaceShapers is a network of more than 100 housing associations, who all share a community focus and a commitment to put residents at the heart of what they do, principles that make them more than just a social landlord. This year their national conference wanted to hear from tenants from across the country. Eden Housing Association approached Ian Dowthwaite, asking him if he would be prepared to share his tenant journey at the conference – he was delighted to accept. Ian’s presentation captivated the audience who heard about his tenant history with Eden Housing Association. Ian, his wife and two children became EHA tenants in 1999, having been made redundant from the pub he ran with his wife Pauline. Unfortunately it meant they lost their home too. With impending homelessness, the family contacted EHA who found them…
New Board Members help shape future at Eden Housing Association
Shaping the future of their organisation, board members and the leadership team at Eden Housing Association (EHA) concentrated their thoughts at their annual strategic away day. With the unexpected changes to social housing announced by the Government in the Summer budget, the EHA strategic planning day was brought forward and provided an ideal opportunity for the four most recent board members to make a valuable contribution to Eden Housing Association’s future direction. Ian Tupling became a board member when Lowther Housing Association transferred its stock to Eden Housing Association. He was their long standing Vice Chair and has close involvement with rural housing issues. The other more recent additions to the board in 2015 include Fra Cooke who has over 20 years’ experience in organisational change and strategic management in commercial and not for profit organisations and Simon Hunt, a chartered accountant for over fifteen years, with extensive experience in change management and planning and currently working in the NHS. The fourth addition to the board is Hugh Harrison, Chair of the Associations tenant and resident assembly and with close to 50 years experience as a former Parish and District Councillor. The Government’s budget announcement that housing associations will be…
Three charities benefit from Fun Day
The Penrith summer fun day has raised over £1,600 which will be shared by three local organisations. The fun day, held in the summer holidays at Penrith RUFC was a joint affair; with local groups working together to create a value for money family event that could also raise funds for nominated charities. The event raised £1,637.23 and was jointly organised by Eden Housing Association (EHA), working with ECHO (their Residents Assembly), INSPIRA and Penrith RUFC. Their nominated charities were Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, the Great North Air Ambulance and Penrith RUFC Youth Rugby, each receiving a cheque for £545.74. Read the full story by clicking Fun Day raises funds for three local charities
Eden Housing Association resident celebrates 100th birthday
There were two special events taking part in Eden last week, the most high profile was the Tour of Britain which travelled across Eden on Thursday 10th September. The second celebration was a quieter, but none the less significant affair for one resident of Brough and his family. Mr Robert Dent marked his 100th birthday at home with his family and friends. Mr Dent is one of Eden Housing Association’s (EHA) oldest tenants and still lives independently in a bungalow that has been his home for over 25 years. Aware of the impending century milestone, the Association asked if they could pay a visit to mark the occasion. John Clasper Managing Director at EHA wished Robert Dent a happy birthday, presenting him with a card featuring a vintage truck and books on vintage wagons – a subject that has been a passion for Mr Dent for decades. Commenting on his visit John Clasper said “It is an honour to be able to wish one of our tenants a happy 100th birthday in person, even rarer to be present when a card from the Queen arrives – special delivery, followed by a telegram from Ian Duncan Smith at the Department…
Eden Housing Association officially opens new Extra Care scheme in Kirkby Stephen
Launch of new scheme at Mill Gardens, Kirkby Stephen. Front: Henry Barker EHA Chairman, Parish Councillor Joan Johnstone and Geoff Cook, Vice Chairman Cumbria County Council Eden Housing Association’s new extra care scheme in Kirkby Stephen was officially opened yesterday (Tuesday 8th September) by Parish Councillor Joan Johnstone. Mill Gardens was originally a sheltered housing scheme built in 1977, but its bedsit accommodation became dated and was becoming no longer fit for modern day living. After considering whether to refurbish and remodel the existing building it was decided that it would prove far better value to provide a brand new facility. Therefore in 2013 the old building was demolished to make way for this new, modern, and future proofed extra care scheme for the benefit of not only residents but the local community. At a cost of £3.1 million, the new ‘Mill Gardens’ scheme features nineteen self-contained apartments as well as communal facilities and gardens that meet the support, care and housing needs of local residents. Work on the old site began in September 2013, once the remaining residents of the sheltered scheme had been found alternative accommodation. The £3.1 million cost to create the Mill Gardens scheme allowed for three…
£1/2 million welfare and debt relief for Eden Housing Association Residents
A partnership linking Eden Housing Association and The Cumbria Law Centre has seen Eden tenants benefit from an estimated £1/2 million in welfare and debt relief. The Cumbria Law Centre has linked with Eden Housing Association (EHA) since April 2013, offering their tenants specialist help in welfare benefits and debt matters. Case workers and Solicitors work two days each week, using EHA offices in Penrith as a base to meet tenants who have pre-booked appointments. As well as help with debt relief, the team will negotiate with creditors and provide budgeting advice. The Cumbria Law Centre is an independent charity offering specialist legal advice and casework in housing, debt, welfare benefits and employment matters. Last year they worked on 213 cases for EHA’s tenants, and whilst a few were simple advisory issues, most involved substantial legal casework. 500K+ welfare and debit relief for Eden residents Contact details: For more information about this press release or for pictures contact Tracey Errington on: 07799 640 290 or email [email protected]
Kids go for £1 on the 106 Bus Service on selected dates in August
Following the withdrawal of bus service subsidies by Cumbria County Council in November 2014 a group of community activist got together to re-instate the 106 bus service which ran between Kendal and Penrith. In February 2015 the service was back on the road thanks to funding from Parish Councils and Eden Housing Association. The group pledged to bring the service back, initially for three days per week for one year. Since the launch of the new service, usage has been better than expected and the group are now investigating ways to keep it running on a long term basis. To celebrate the new service and encourage more users the 106 Partnership has launched a promotion where children (under 16) can use the service for just £1 for one week in August. Services benefitting from the promotion will run on Tuesday 11th, Thursday 13th and Friday 14th August. NR 106 Partnership promotion Aug 15 Contact details For more information about this press release or for pictures contact Tracey Errington on: 07799 640 290 or email [email protected]