A team from Eden Housing Association (EHA) took part in the Great North Run yesterday and has already raised more than their initial target of £1750. After weeks of training and preparation, the seven-strong team joined over 50,000 others to take part in the event so they could raise money for Hospice At Home Carlisle and North Lakeland. The youngest members of the team raced to the finishing line first, with all seven crossing the line safely. Taking part were Brad Renwick, Max Stoddart, Andrew Hodgson, John Clasper, Owen Kirkland, Katie Furness, and Emma Wilson. The team was delighted to find out that Brad and Max were home in the first 10% of all those taking part in the race. Emma Wilson said “The crowd was amazing right along the route, but the last mile was unbelievable and that really helped us get across the finishing line.” John Clasper Chief Executive of Eden Housing Association said “As an organisation we are 20 years old this year – and so are Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland. Finding a charity to partner with was very easy. So far, we’ve raised enough money to provide 145 hours of respite…

For Eden Housing Association (EHA), no team activity could have resulted in a cooler reception or a tighter bond for the seven team members who camped out for the Cumbria Community Foundation Big Sleep at the weekend. The success of their night in the rain and sleet resulted in the team more than doubling their original fundraising target. Having decided to take part in the sleep just a week before the event, the EHA team – who called themselves The Really Very Cool and The Gang, set themselves an initial target of raising £500. But it was their epic and occasionally calamitous ‘journey’ that encouraged others to donate and the team has already doubled their original target, raising over £1,000. The team of seven changed on the afternoon of the event when one member’s car failed en-route. A new driver volunteered and the team continued to the Windermere lake side venue. After pitching tents between the heavy rain showers the team enjoyed a hit supper and entertainment before retiring to the tents for the night amidst rain and sleet. Sadly one of the tents sprang a leak which meant Jenny Everingham and Heidi Ware had to abandon their tent, joining…

There’s a ‘cool’ team spirit amongst staff at Eden Housing Association (EHA) this week as they prepare for their night supporting the Cumbria Community Foundation Big Sleep on Saturday 28 January 2017. A team of five staff, plus two co-opted supporters have called themselves “Really Very Cool and the Gang” in anticipation of finding out what it’s like spending a night outdoors in winter. The Big Sleep is a Cumbrian event organised by Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF) to raise awareness and funds for their Winter Warmth Fund.  This is the fourth year for what has become an annual CCF appeal, which has so far attracted over 500 people who have raised £75,000. Really Very Cool and The Gang have set themselves a target of raising £500, but are hoping for more. They are raising their profile to pull in the pounds, and have set up a Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/EHA Last year, John Clasper, Chief Executive of EHA took part in the event with Chief Executives from two other housing associations and it inspired the wider leadership team to join in 2017. This year the female led team includes their Director of Finance and Corporate Resources Kristina Thrush, Neighbourhood Manager…

This week (11-17th July) is Rural Housing Week. Eden Housing Association (EHA) is using the week as a platform to shine the spotlight on new affordable rural homes in Appleby. Two of seven new homes have just been released to local working families. Rural Housing Week is focusing on issues of affordable homes and aspirations for a living, working countryside. John Clasper Managing Director at EHA said “National census figures highlight that more than 1 in 5 of England’s population live in rural areas. Eden District is the least populated district in England, with just 25 people per sq. km – that makes us entirely rural. Support for rural communities has never been more important. “There is evidence that people are choosing to move way from rural areas because of the shortage of affordable rural homes and the cost of living there. We need new affordable rented homes right across our district. According to statistics, in some rural areas, only 1/5th of the homes needed have been built in the last 5 years*.” New housing in market towns and villages is vital for the survival of rural communities and services. Not only are housing associations helping local people to continue…

Family Fun Day is a winner with Dads and raises money too Families pitched up at Penrith RUFC on Father’s Day for a Family Fun Event and car boot sale organised by Eden Housing Association (EHA), and ‘ECHO’ – their Residents Assembly. The aim was to create a value for money event focusing on craft and activities to entertain families and raise money for charity. Families from across Eden enjoyed a wide variety of activities including huck-a-duck, tombola’s, designing a crown, jewellery making, trying the disability games, letting off steam on the bouncy castle and meeting the police and fire services. All activities were kept to £1 or less to ensure the best value for families, but also raising money for EHA’s nominated charity Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland. Sarah Bowman, Community Development Officer at Eden Housing Association said “This is the fifth Fun Day we have run, but the first on Father’s Day so we wanted to add in a few new activities that Dad’s might enjoy. There was Ernies Shed’, old ironwork display and Eden Valley Model Aero Club, plus Pete Osborn the wood turner who demonstrated making spinning tops for the kids, the team from…

Eden Housing Association is recognised for partnership working at TPAS Award ceremony Shortlisted for an award, Eden Housing Association represented Cumbria in a national award category that recognises excellence in engaging with contractors. It is the first time they have been nominated at the awards and only narrowly lost out on the top place. The awards are organised each year by TPAS –tenant engaging experts who bring together landlords, tenants and contractors to improve services. The shortlisted entry from Eden Housing Association focused on their ‘Creative Van Art’ project which involved working with contractors ‘Partnering in Property Management Ltd’ (PPM), Kirkby Stephen Grammar School (KSGS) and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). The aim was to create artwork to be used as van wraps for PPM vehicles in the area and at the same time, create awareness of apprenticeship opportunities. Students at Kirkby Stephen Grammar School stretched their creativity by designing a van bonnet that expresses how they feel about their local community. The two winning designs were then used as covers for the two PPM Ltd vans that travel across Eden. Sarah Bowman, Community Development Officer at Eden Housing Association co-ordinated the project, working closely with Mrs Modlin, Kirkby…

WISH Cumbria gets assertive – it is OK to say no Cumbrian branch of WISH (Women in Social Housing), held their latest event in Kendal, where attendees learned a few new tricks to help them become more assertive. Speaker Emma McColm from Lakes Coaching provided top tips, highlighting the difference between assertiveness and aggression. Feedback from women working in social housing right across Cumbria provided the organisers of WISH Cumbria with a list of topics that would be really useful for personal development. How to be more confident and assertive were at the top of that list. WISH events have been held in other parts of the country, but the WISH Cumbria team were keen to source local providers and eager to work with Lakes Coaching. Over twenty women took part in the event, including a team from Napthens Solicitors who sponsored the event. Carolyn Greenhalgh Assistant Director at Eden Housing Association and Chair of WISH Cumbria said “Our group is definitely gathering momentum and that’s because we have such a good mix of people; there were solicitors, surveyors, maintenance contractors as well as those involved in fund raising and housing management. It created a really nice buzz on the…