Volunteers give housing staff a helping hand

Volunteers from housing and regeneration organisation Midland Heart have been getting their hands dirty in a bid to bring a renewed lease of life to a housing scheme in the city.

Groups of volunteers, including staff, contractors and customers from Midland Heart’s Younger People’s Services division, spent the day collecting and bagging cut grass, felling trees, pruning hedges and bushes, and fixing and re-painting perimeter fences in the grounds of Trinity Court in the Handsworth area of Birmingham.

They were helped out by a number of Midland Heart’s suppliers who donated equipment and labour as well as giving valuable advice and guidance.

Trinity Court was acquired by Midland Heart, following the expiry of its lease on Summer Hill House in Ladywood, a supported housing scheme which provides accommodation to men over the age of 45 requiring additional support in living independently.

The aim of the project was to clear the grounds in preparation for the relocation of customers to the new premises.

Raj Shroff, head of supported housing from Midland Heart, said: “Due to the expiry of the lease at Summer Hill House, we needed to find suitable alternative accommodation for our customers.

“Trinity Court is an ideal alternative and will provide accommodation for up to 41 individuals in self contained flats, helping to facilitate their immediate housing and support needs.

“In the process of negotiating the purchase of the property, the external areas had become overgrown and we wanted to ensure that once customers started to move into the scheme, they would be able to make the most of, and enjoy, the extensive outdoor space available.

“We were overwhelmed with the enthusiasm and generosity of the volunteers, as well as our staff and contractors, who worked extremely hard together to create a pleasant and attractive garden for our customers.”

Midland Heart will work with its customers to facilitate a comprehensive relocation programme from Summer Hill House to Trinity Court, which is scheduled to commence at the end of October.

Support came from contractors Pinnacle, Morrisons, Mears, Graceland, Connaught and Birmingham City Council, Sitexorbis, L Daniels, Ian Williams and Lovell.