The group, made of six partner housing associations from either side of the Pennines, has been selected as the preferred partner to deliver 197 new apartments to Derbyshire County Council. 

This success for the Together Housing Group, builds on the Group's extensive experience as a developer and provider of extra care housing.

Chevin Housing Association Ltd, a member of the Together Housing Group, will provide the lead on the project working with Lathams Architects, PKF Financial and Wilmott Dixon Construction.

The three schemes have been carefully and sensitively designed to be contemporary, stylish and affordable and will achieve high standards of sustainability to code level 3. .

The investment is for:

55 two-bedroom extra care apartments and communal facilities with parking and gardens at Foolow Court in Foolow Avenue, Chesterfield. 

52 apartments and communal facilities on the Cressy Fields site in Cressy Road, Alfreton.

90 apartments along with communal facilities and a Day Care centre on the former Clay Cross School site in Market Street, Clay Cross, complementing the District Council's regeneration master plan.

Together Housing Group's Director of New Business, Paul Hayes, said: "The Group is delighted to be working with Derbyshire County Council and all our other partners to create fantastic new extra care schemes.  These homes will make such a positive difference to people who need extra care and support and they will also help support local communities by keeping people together and bringing new jobs and amenities."

Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Adult Care Councillor Charles Jones said: "It is very exciting that, following discussions with residents from the local communities, planning applications have now been submitted for two of the schemes (Foolow and Clay Cross).  Scheme designs for the Cressy Fields site are currently being amended in response to consultation with local residents as part of the submission process for planning application which will follow shortly.  We want everyone to live independently for as long as possible in five-star accommodation and surroundings.  Our plans for extra care mean couples would be able to stay together and have 24/7 on site care if they need it, and there would be an excellent mix of services available for all older people in Derbyshire".

Visuals shown above are architects drawings of Foolow Court (left) and Clay Cross (Right).

Smarterbuys is the exciting new website that helps you buy the essential things you need at massively discounted prices. 

Smarterbuys offers one amazing deal every month – it could be for a fridge, washing machine, bed, sofa – any of the essential items you might need for your home.  And there are a range of payment options to suit you – whether you have a bank account or not. You can pay with a debit card, use cash, or can access low-interest, affordable finance through credit unions.

We know some other high street stores and websites offer low weekly prices for goods, but you end up repaying far more than the goods should have cost you because of their huge interest rates. It's a totally false economy – and we don't think that's fair. That's why we are working with credit unions to help you access the lowest interest rates with the minimum amount of hassle. So, with Smarterbuys, you not only get a huge discount on the products you want, you get low cost finance too. It's about helping you to make your money go further – and making smarter buys.

Credit Unions can provide helpful financial advice and support, responsible lending at low interest rates and great saving terms! If you'd like to find your local credit union, you can do so by visiting the ‘find affordable credit' section of the Smarterbuys site. Simply type in the postcode of where you live or work to search for the credit union that's most convenient for you.

To subscribe to Smarterbuys visit http://www.smarterbuys.org.uk/

Smarterbuys is supported by Chevin Housing and all of the other organisations which are part of the Together Housing Group. If you don't have internet access at home, you can access the internet free of charge, or for a small fee, at local libraries, community centres, or internet cafes.

Be smart – make Smarterbuys.

You can follow Smarterbuys on twitter: @smarterbuys

The programme, supported by the Together Housing Group, has given a group of 50 unemployed residents from the Kirklees area and surrounding areas the chance to learn new skills from fashion industry experts, as well as training in budgeting and job skills.

Each designer was given a budget of £20 to spend in charity shops to buy clothes which they "upcycled" into a new creation and wore on the catwalk by the models themselves.

Throughout the project, advisors from the Citizens Advice Bureau, credit unions and JobCentre Plus have also been on hand to give advice, including how to write a CV, fill in applications and tackle job interviews.

Danielle Hinchcliffe, one of the participants, is re-taking her GCSEs in maths and is hoping to train as a dance instructor in the future.

 She said: "This has opened my eyes in lots of ways, not just about fashion. I can't prioritise when it comes to money and the advisors have helped me with that."

Chevin resident Miriam Kirby, who is currently looking for work, told how the project had helped to re-build her self-esteem.

 "I nearly gave up on the project because I felt lacking in confidence," she said. "But it's been absolutely fantastic.  Passion 4 Fashion has brought out my creativity which I thought I'd lost.  It has inspired me to look for a job that's creative because that's where I'm happiest."

After the show, Green Vale Homes resident, from Rossendale, Tracy Cope said: "I would just like to say a big thank you for the opportunity to participate. I can't describe in words how amazing it was. I am still buzzing!"

Pennine Housing resident Callista Muteswa added: "It was amazing. I feel like a celebrity now. I just loved the experience."  

Jess Ryan, also a Pennine Housing resident said: "Thank you for this experience, I had a fabulous night and I'm looking forward to the next one!"

The project was supported by Connect Housing, Kirkless Council, Together Housing Group, Deighton & Brackenhall initiative, Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, Sadeh Lok Housing Ltd and Headrow Ltd. 

Photographed above: Green Vale resident Tracey Cope on the catwalk.

Chevin Life Spring 2012 is now available with lots of great news, tips, advice and stories from our residents and staff.

Click here to view Chevin Life (Spring 2012

What's inside:

Happy Birthday – the Together Housing Group is 1 year old!

Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food project at one of our extra care schemes

Construction Training – what we are doing and where

Repairs spotlight day

Benefit news

Green Fingers Gardening Competition

Celebrating in 2012 – how you can get involved

and much more………….

Also included with the magazine:

Pest Control information – click here to view the leaflet sent with the magazine

Chevin Life Spring 2012 is now available with lots of great news, tips, advice and stories from our residents and staff.

Click here to view Chevin Life (Spring 2012

What's inside:

Happy Birthday – the Together Housing Group is 1 year old!

Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food project at one of our extra care schemes

Construction Training – what we are doing and where

Repairs spotlight day

Benefit news

Green Fingers Gardening Competition

Celebrating in 2012 – how you can get involved

and much more………….

Also included with the magazine:

Pest Control information – click here to view the leaflet sent with the magazine

Chevin Life Spring 2012 is now available with lots of great news, tips, advice and stories from our residents and staff.

Click here to view Chevin Life (Spring 2012

What's inside:

Happy Birthday – the Together Housing Group is 1 year old!

Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food project at one of our extra care schemes

Construction Training – what we are doing and where

Repairs spotlight day

Benefit news

Green Fingers Gardening Competition

Celebrating in 2012 – how you can get involved

and much more………….

Also included with the magazine:

Pest Control information – click here to view the leaflet sent with the magazine

A dance club, a neighbourhood watch scheme and a couple of Tenant and Residents Associations were amongst the bodies that were able to get some of a £5,000 pot.

The money was put up by Chevin Housing Association (part of the Together Housing Group) and contractors AU Property Maintenance, Bramall Construction, Liberty, Southdale and the Sure Group.

The judging panel chose the following winners:

Brighton Court TARA in Heckmondwike

Havercroft Parent Forum in Wakefield

Katz and Co School of Dance in Leeds

Barracks Community Association in Pontefract

Windsor Garden Community Group in Barnsley

Royal Flush Neighbourhood Watch in Barnsley

Potteries Court Residents' Association in Rotherham

St Edmunds TARA in Castleford

Together Housing Group, Deputy Group Chief Executive Steve Close and Chevin Chairman David Green handed over the cheques at a special ceremony.

Mr Close said: "These projects, while not massive in scale, are vital to improving neighbourhoods and bringing communities closer together.  Chevin aren't just about bricks and mortar, we're about improving people's lives so well done to all the winners. We know the grants will make a lot of people very happy."

Kathleen Elwell, from Katz and Co School of Dance, was delighted with the award.  She said: "It's brilliant news as it will allow us to get a new laminate floor for one of the studios.  We've worked very hard to get the base into good shape and every little bit helps."

John Crooks, from the Windsor Gardens Community Group, added: "The money we have been awarded will be used to buy garden furniture for our communal garden.  It'll be great for people to get together in the summer months and have a chat.  We're very happy to have been successful."

Photographed: Doing the splits for joy a student from the Katz and Co School of Dance.

Dedicated cooks and volunteers from the Ministry, including some Chevin residents, now prepare meals at the cafe using fresh ingredients at a low price.  The new menu has been a smash hit with diners including the wider public as well as the residents of the scheme.

Michelle Jones, Supported Housing Officer at Chevin, said the Ministry had made the scheme's cafe a hot ticket at lunchtimes.

She said: "The Ministry use our facilities to cook healthy food through a contract with the local Council, we used to get a handful of people into the cafe, now it's full everyday.  Residents get involved with preparing meals and they're having an influence on the menu but most of all they are loving the food. Good food at a low cost and good company – you can't ask for more than that."

Alan Hill, a Chevin resident, has always had an interest in food and jumped at the chance to get involved.  He said:  It's been fantastic for me because I've learned new skills and worked towards my NVQ Level 2. The cafe is always full and we've started to adapt the menu with the residents. To have healthy food available for a low price is very important in these times so long may it continue."

Dean Pry, a cook at the Ministry of Food, added: "The Ministry of Food is a social enterprise aimed at promoting healthy eating and cooking. Volunteers come in and learn a skill that can hopefully turn into a career but we're also able to prepare healthy meals at a low cost and it's been really successful.  We get lots of people coming to the cafe and we talk to the customers to prepare food they like and it's working very well so far.

Resident Doreen Kirk is a regular at the cafe. She said: "It's a great scheme and the food is smashing for the price we pay.  I've tried all of the dishes and we've been able to talk to the cooks about what we like and that's been nice. "The cafe is always very busy and it's nice for everyone to get together."

Fellow resident Elsie Thomas added: "It's nice to be able to get out and see friends so this scheme is a real bonus for me. The food is of a good quality, and so is the conversation, so I really like it."

The Ministry of Food project operates in the cafe at our Oak Tree's extra care scheme, with food preparation commencing each day from 10.30am and food  served from 12noon to 1.30pm.

Photographed: Ministry cook Dean Pry, busy doing prep work at Oak Tree's