A team of Tenancy Gurus at Housing 21 have helped residents save a combined total of over £700k during 2021 as part of the organisation’s Helping Hands initiative. The savings have been made through giving advice across a range of services, including how to access the correct pension and housing benefit, to savings in broadband and helping with warm home discount claims. The ‘Helping Hands’ initiative involves colleagues working across the organisation to have open conversations with residents about money and how to help prevent arrears. As part of this, Housing 21 has recruited network of 45 ‘Tenancy Gurus’ and embedded them across the organisation in Retirement Living and Extra Care. The gurus all have a passion for tenancy sustainment and financial wellbeing, support colleagues, and can run sustainment-based activities for residents. Spearheaded by the Tenancy Gurus, a series of Make a Difference Days, or ‘MAD Days’ held throughout the year have proven successful in saving residents a combined total of over £700k and supported residents in having frank and honest conversations about financial wellbeing. Activities on ‘MAD Days’ include running a benefits awareness session, partnership working to resolve issues or helping residents with a benefits application. Nikki Dipper, Business Improvement Officer at Housing 21, said: “The gurus have received additional training and coaching around how to talk about money in a positive way and have those difficult conversations, as well as on benefits and budgeting specifically for older people. “Some amazing amounts of money in backdated claims have been passed on to residents. One colleague helped a resident apply for a private pension which will provide them with a total of £36,000 but it’s also the seemingly small things too, like supporting with setting up internet for a resident, which meant that £80 for a call out charge from their provider has been saved.” In 2021 colleagues have secured benefits residents were missing out on, applied to the National Lottery for funding for garden furniture, as well as making numerous agreements to help get people out of arrears and reduce anxiety around money. Simon, a resident at Denis Wilson Court in Cambridge said: “The services provided to me by the Tenancy Gurus here have been exemplary and courteous at all times. “They are on hand to answer and help with queries from any residents and the responses are always positive and swift. I often think they have large spoonfuls of patience stirred into their cups of tea. Truly a five star team and they add something special to the experience of living here.” Samantha Oliver is a Scheme Manager at Denis Wilson Court and a Tenancy Guru. Samantha commented: “Since starting the Tenancy Guru project I have helped many residents at my own scheme and neighbouring schemes, to ensure they are all getting what they are entitled to. “The role involves everything from arranging volunteers, to helping people access grants to improve their financial situation and benefits they didn’t believe they were entitled to – and helping my colleagues do the same at their schemes. “At a time when so many are struggling, being a Tenancy Guru means I really make a difference to people’s lives and give me job satisfaction.” For more information about Housing 21, visit www.housing21.org.uk.

Housing 21, a not-for-profit housing association, is proposing to redevelop an existing housing block in Richmond upon Thames, and create a new affordable housing scheme consisting of 28 apartments for older people. The Retirement Living development, together with London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, will address the shortage of housing for older people. Survey and design work has commenced and full plans are being presented to members of the local community, giving an opportunity to learn more about the scheme, ask questions and make comments. The public consultation event will run virtually, and feedback should be submitted by Friday 10 September. The website can be accessed at: http://www.spbroadway.com/howsonterrace All properties in the scheme – designed by architects, Hunters– will be affordable, either for social rent or shared ownership. There will not be any market housing built on the site. The scheme will be specifically designed for older people, promoting independent living in a community setting, with a communal lounge and scheme manager on site during the week. Geoff Reynolds, Property Development Manager at Housing 21, said: “We are excited to submit plans for this high-quality Retirement Living scheme in Richmond, which will be Housing 21’s first within the area. Retirement Living offers older people choice and control over their living arrangements as residents will benefit from having their own front door while having access to communal facilities, such as a lounge, offering a safe and secure place to call home. “The site at Howson Terrace is an ideal location for this development and is well-placed to serve the people of Richmond. We look forward to working with the council and local community to create a development that meets their expectations.” In addition to the 28 apartments, the development will provide a range of communal spaces including a communal lounge and green spaces. Responding to climate change the scheme will be built to an enhanced specification in order to be energy-efficient and have a low carbon impact. The design will feature landscaped areas around the building. Care will be taken to protect the natural environments and a sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS) will also be implemented. To access the virtual consultation, click here: https://www.howsonterrace.com/

Work has started on a £16 million affordable housing scheme in Doncaster. The development of 126 homes will be delivered by Esh Construction in partnership with Together Housing Group, which also owns and manages Lakeside Rise in the town, and Housing 21. Together Housing will take ownership of 56 two, three and four-bedroom homes and 10 two-bedroom bungalows for affordable rent, all of which will benefit from front and rear gardens and parking facilities. Housing 21 will take ownership of 58 apartments in a three-storey retirement living scheme, and two bungalows. Located off Highfield Road, Askern, the development meets an identified housing need in the district whilst the retirement living element will meet the requirements of an ageing population. The neighbourhood will be focused around extensive public open space, with the design including footpath links to the surrounding community. A Sustainable Urban Drainage scheme will also be implemented at the development. Steve Close, Chief Executive at Together Housing Group, said: “Building much needed new homes is one of our key aims at Together Housing and it’s great to see this development underway in Askern. “Working with our partners, we are helping to provide high quality affordable rented housing in the area. From the bungalows to the four-bedroom houses, these new homes combined with the retirement living scheme will meet the needs of all residents.” Paul Crosland, Construction Project Manager at Housing 21, said: “Housing 21 is a leading provider of Retirement Living and Extra Care for older people of modest means and we are excited to be working together with Esh Construction, Doncaster Council and Together Housing Group to offer further Retirement Living in Doncaster.  “This latest development will provide people over the age of 65 with choice and control over their living arrangements as residents will benefit from having their own front door while having access to communal facilities, such as lounge and garden, offering a safe and secure place to call home.” Stuart Leslie, Divisional Director at Esh Construction, said: “The scheme at Highfield Road represents the largest land led development we have on site at present, and is testament to a huge combined effort from everyone who has been involved from the very early stages.  “Esh has a strong portfolio of successfully delivering high quality affordable housing and extra care developments across the region, and we look forward to working in partnership with two of our valued clients, Together Housing Group and Housing 21, to bring much needed new homes to Doncaster.”