Current track

Title

Artist

Current show

Keith Wright

10:00 am 1:00 pm

Current show

Keith Wright

10:00 am 1:00 pm

Background

Housing success

Written by on 30/11/2021

Blackpool Council’s Housing team has been recognised and celebrated on a national level by being named Council of the Year at the recent UK Housing Awards.

This past year has been exceptionally challenging for many, but the team rose to that challenge and continued to meet the housing needs of the town by rapidly responding to new changes in circumstances and retaining its focus on three key priorities – Keep intervening and innovating, keep people safe and keep building.

The judges commented that the submission “showed meaningful impact with a variety of challenges amplified during the pandemic. The motivation to make a difference in their society shown through in the video presentation.”

The council’s in-house Housing team works closely with its ALMO (Arm’s Length Management Company) Blackpool Coastal Housing and wholly owned company, Blackpool Housing Company to improve the lives of all residents.

Over past 18 months:

· New build properties were handed over at Troutbeck Crescent with the whole scheme on schedule to be completed in 2022

· Approval and funding was secured for 131 new homes at Grange Park

· Lumen Housing, a subsidiary registered provider of Blackpool Housing Company was established

· More than 850 people were rehoused during the pandemic

Cllr Ivan Taylor, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing at Blackpool Council, said: “I am so proud that Blackpool has been recognised on a national stage.

“This is fantastic recognition for the team who housed nearly 1000 people during the pandemic. In addition to dealing with this challenge, they have still managed to push forward to achieve new council homes being built at Troutbeck Crescent and at the new scheme about to start at Grange Park.

“On behalf of the council I would like to congratulate everyone within the council and at our companies that has worked so hard to protect local residents, to give them new opportunities and the warm, affordable homes which everybody deserves.”

The council’s ALMO (Arm’s Length Management Company) Blackpool Coastal Housing, has also been recognised recently. They were crowned winners at this year’s Chartered Institute of Housing Northern Awards in the New Ideas, Approaches and Innovation awards category.

They received the award for the Positive Transitions Pathway scheme which was set up in 2018 to provide tailored, intensive tenancy management and life coaching for young people leaving care to help them become successful tenants and positive contributors to the community.

The team provides intensive support, assisting young people to feel settled, make decisions, access services, and create a home. It is often the simple things that are the most important to young people and care leavers when helping them to transition into the wider community. Practical help to set up a home, making sure they are eating properly, being clear about what behaviours are acceptable and what are not, are fundamental parts of the service.

John Donnellon, Chief Executive of Blackpool Coastal Housing, said: “Care leavers are amongst our most vulnerable young people and it is immensely satisfying to see how our Resettlement Team and the Positive Transitions Pathway is helping these and other vulnerable young people establish themselves as independent adults who will make a positive contribution to the future of Blackpool.”