Core Group

This group was set up at the start of Pennine Housing 2000 (PH2K) and its main function was - and still is - to ensure that:

• Tenants received the best possible benefit from the proposed refurbishments in terms of quality, choice service etc.

• The area as a whole should benefit from the large amount of money being invested in the homes.

• This benefit should include long term and sustainable job creation for the people of Calderdale.

Have they succeeded?

For starters they have improved the lives of many people in different ways. Here is a summary of the different projects that their staff, have been or still are involved with.

Apprentice training: A scheme was set up because there were not enough qualified people in the building trade living in Halifax. One of Pennine Housings ambitions was to employ local labour, so to improve the figures for future generations the scheme was set up giving some young people the chance to better themselves.

Doors: When they need replacing they have to meet with standards regulations and are very expensive; a way to cut down on cost was to assemble them locally. Manse doors are now all put together by some people who were disadvantaged in the employment stakes in Halifax. They are very much sought after.

How else could the newly formed housing association help more people, in a town that has high unemployment figures, our schools were a starting point, some staff went to them and engaged in community projects and gave advise on different aspects of employment, this turned out to have some unexpected results, and at least one young man was able to fulfil his dream of caring for the elderly, thanks to a visit to a sheltered housing scheme.

Pennine are part of Calderdale cares they have replaced a kitchen in the SCOPE centre. The units were made so that the height can be adjusted to each users needs.

Diversity Project: a small group of decorators test trading with Pennine on 10 properties. Feed back from this is very good.

It is possible that we will join Nashaymen Housing association on gardening services. As part of social enterprise this could lead to training and consultancy funding which will assist our workforce diversity aims.

£56,000 has been secured to help women to get into construction work.

A construction craft academy has been set up to help 14-16 year olds who wish to do this sort of work, it will run along side their other school work.

Some of the partners have experienced a problem finding people to lay vinyl floor covering this may be another project to look into.

In short many a great variety of ideas are being developed to ensure that PH2K are not just involved in Social Housing, but are a Social Housing organization.

All in just 5 years, and much more to come in the future!

As a Federation we MUST remain an integral part of it.

Sheila Whiteley & Keith Stacey