Housing Association Blog provided by Chevin Housing

Chevin Skillsbuild is working in partnership with Featherstone Technology College and Wakefield Council's Alternative Provision Team to deliver construction training at the school's vocational training centre. 

The construction training programme at FEVA started in September 2011  and students in year 10 aged 14 -15  are offered the unique opportunity of gaining a City and Guilds Level 1 Certificate in construction that is equivalent to 3/4 GCSE's. 

The school first approached Chevin Skillsbuild (part of Chevin Housing Association Ltd) in early 2011 because the school already delivered vocational training in hair, beauty and motor vehicle mechanics and they were keen to expand this provision to include construction.

Chevin Skillsbuild now delivers construction training to 20 young people in Year 10 who will all gain experience and skills in trades such as carpentry and joinery, bricklaying, tiling and plastering.  It is expected that learners completing the 2 year programme will go on to further construction related training, an apprenticeship or employment.

Steve Lumb, Construction Training Co-ordinator from Chevin said:  Since we started the training in September, learners have begun to develop their practical skills and knowledge to an exceptional standard. Learners have taken part and contributed to a major project developing the area outside the classroom to provide hard standing for brickwork and block work practise as well as an area for fencing, decking and general landscaping. They will also work on a scaled down version of a house from digging the foundations to the final fix. Learners have also had experience of basic plumbing and plastering techniques and some took part in a practical demonstration of their brickwork skills at Woolley Hall where they displayed real skill and maturity".

Lee Beecher a learner on the construction programme said "I am really enjoying the course and working on practical tasks. I want to work in the construction industry and this training will give me a chance to get an apprenticeship and a well paid job when I leave school"

Wayne Parkes, Headmaster at Featherstone Technology College said "It is essential that any part of the curriculum has relevance for the future of young people so that they not only have the correct skill set for employment, but that they can also contribute to the economic well being of a community. In partnership with Chevin Housing, we are able to provide credible qualifications recognised by employers as well as offering choices for young people who may wish to work for themselves.  Throughout the course, I have seen our learners grow and take more pride in themselves and for us it is great that we can deliver all their curriculum choices under one roof".

Photographed:Two students getting stuck in to some external works to the College.

Emmaus Hull's housing association partner, Chevin Housing Association Ltd (a member of the Together Housing Group) has secured £688,000 of funding under the Homes and Communities Agency's National Affordable Homes Programme and will also invest a further 1.5m to help build an Emmaus Community in Hull.

The plan is to provide accommodation and work for formerly homeless people on land to the west of Lockwood Street. This will also bring community facilities to the area such as a coffee shop with internet access, a shop selling second- hand donated goods and recycling facilities.

Patrick Doyle, Chair of Emmaus Hull said "A wonderful new year present for the project. We welcome our partnership with Chevin and will be working closely with them to bring our plans to fruition".

He went on to say, "This is very good news indeed, but we still have to raise money to meet the funding gap of nearly a million pounds. We are making good progress with our charity shop and thank our existing donors but we do need to take our fundraising to the next level."

Denis Creaghan, Executive Director of Chevin Housing Association said "Chevin is very pleased to have secured funding from the Homes and Communities Agency and from its own borrowing for this scheme and is looking forward to working with Emmaus to deliver a full range of services. This is an exciting opportunity for everyone involved and I'm sure the people of Hull will give their full backing and support to the project".

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Wakefield Council receives £90k to help keep the district's residents warm and healthy

The Council's Home Energy Team which put together 'Wakefield Cold Homes Action Project' or CHAP are celebrating following a successful project bid in partnership with NHS Wakefield District, Wakefield District Wellbeing Consortium, Chevin Housing Care & Repair, Welfare Rights, Family Services, Disabled Adaptations Team, Wakefield Rent Deposit Scheme, National Energy Action and West Yorkshire Fire Service.

CHAP is intended as a cold home 'outreach referral' project. Frontline workers, particularly voluntary sector workers, will identify 'at risk' private households and refer them for help from a 'cold homes help package'.  The following elements make up CHAP and will receive a share of the £90,000 to provide vital support:

Care & Repair – free emergency electrical heaters and 'handyperson' service e.g. fitting draught proofing, security measures and handrails

Welfare Rights – benefit entitlement checkWakefield Energy Savers – free loft and cavity wall insulationWest Yorkshire Fire Service – home Fire safety advice and free smoke alarmsAge UK Wakefield District – 'Snowbell Support Network'

Cllr Denise Jeffery, Wakefield Council's cabinet member for Regeneration and Economic Growth said: "This is great news for the district and will help us in our aim to protect vulnerable people across Wakefield. The funding will ensure that households at 'risk' will get the support and help that they need during these tough times."

Dr Andrew Furber, Director of Public Health for Wakefield District said: "The CHAP project is a great example of agencies working together to provide vital support during the harsh winter months. The partners involved include a range of voluntary sector groups who will help identify and co-ordinate the range of help available to those who most need help and their support is vital to the success of this project.

"The funding will be used to support a range of voluntary and community groups as well as Family Services and Rent Deposit Scheme staff to provide the outreach work. The funding will also be used to,provide benefit entitlement checks and 'handyperson' visits, as well as supply emergency electric heaters to vulnerable households, the project will also support the 'Snowbell Support Network'. All project workers will be trained in fuel poverty and energy awareness, helping to provide lasting legacy."

The Warm Homes Healthy People Fund (WHHP) is part of Department of Health's first national Cold Weather Plan for England. Up to £20 million has been made available for projects up until 31 March 2012. Bids were invited from local authorities working with local partners, especially in the voluntary and community sectors.

The aim of the WHHP is to support innovative local proposals that address the consequences of cold housing for vulnerable people, where current support is not getting through or where a quicker or more comprehensive response is needed.

Chevin have been awarded up to £175,000 under the Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme towards installing air source heat pumps in 30 of their homes.   The Department of Energy and Climate Change received over 125 bids with Chevin being one of the successful 24.

Each of the homes that have been chosen to receive the pumps currently have electric storage heaters which most tenants find expensive to run and inconvenient to use. 

The new air source heat systems extract energy from the air and convert it into heat, meaning they are more economical to run yet deliver a better quality of heat. 

Each of the units has an intelligent operating system with a series of sensors inside and outside the home.  The sensors constantly talk to each other and adjust the output from the pump, maintaining a level temperature inside the home at all times. 

Gone are the days of coming in to a cold home and starting the heating up, the temperature is kept at a level at all times with the tenant having control through a thermostat setting.

The installation of the pumps is taking place now across various locations with 3 trial pumps already fitted. 

Lyndsay Rothery from Pontefract who has been trialling one of the pumps had this to say "What a fantastic new heating system.  I used to go to bed around 6pm in an evening when the weather turned cold as this was the only way I could keep warm because the electric storage heaters were so inefficient – but not any longer!! With the new system, it's great to be able to go from one room to another and everywhere be at a constant temperature with the added benefit of knowing I am in complete control being able to turn the heating up and down as I like. I have a few health issues and the new system has helped me with some of my symptoms, being able to keep warm all of the time is wonderful.  I am so happy that I don't have to worry about the bills anymore as the system is far more economical I truly feel more comfortable and happy in my home".

Sam Sykes, Head of Asset Strategy said "We think Lyndsay's experience really justifies our decision to trial this form of heating and we are really pleased to be extending the trial so that even more tenants will benefit from warmer homes this winter. We believe that air source heat pumps could be a true alternative to electric storage heaters and we hope our work will be followed up by other Housing Associations."

Photographed:  Lyndsay in her warmer home.