Member Article

Tin can ally

The partnership responsible for the construction of 2,300 new homes across Sheffield has made a ‘canny’ contribution to a local food bank and charity organisation.

The collection of more than 100 tins of food, chocolate selection boxes and £250 worth of toy vouchers was made by Sheffield Housing Company to the Norfolk Park Tenants and Residents Association (TARA).

Said Scott Smith, chairperson with the TARA: “This is a very generous gesture which is much appreciated. It will be passed on to the S2 Food Bank, a network of community and faith organisations that work together to provide emergency food parcels to families and individuals in the Sheffield S2 neighbourhood, who find themselves in short term financial crisis.”

Sheffield Housing Company is a partnership between city council, Keepmoat – which is building the homes - and Great Places. The collection was the idea of Karl Shaw, Keepmoat’s Site Manager at the Cutler’s View development in Norfolk Park.

He said: “I went along to a TARA meeting to update them on the project and heard about the collection. It seemed like a fantastic initiative and one that should be supported. I mentioned it to the build team on site and contacted our Yorkshire office, which spread the news to the rest of our company and partner organisations.

“I’m delighted that people have got behind this and have provided lots of food and vouchers that can go towards buying gifts for children who might otherwise go without this Christmas.”

Said Tom Fenton, Project Director with Sheffield Housing Company: “Although our core business is bringing quality affordable homes to Sheffield, we also have a responsibility to the local community by providing work and training opportunities and supporting good causes like this.”

“Every child should wake up to some kind of gift on Christmas morning and deserves to look forward to a nutritious meal.”

Around a third of the 2,300 homes being built by Sheffield Housing Company will be for rent or shared ownership and the remainder for private sale. All will reach the Lifetime Homes standard, making adaptations easier to allow people to remain living independently for as long as possible. In addition, 15% of the properties will be completed to Mobility Standards and 10% will be fully wheelchair accessible.

People have already begun to move in to homes at Cutler’s View, where 116 are being built and at Brearley Forge - named after the inventor of Stainless Steel, Harry Brearley – where 142 properties are under construction. Work has also begun on a further 47 more homes on small infill sites in Shirecliffe, while thought is now being given to the next phase of development on seven further sites around the city.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .