Member Article

Jacquie becomes a lockdown leader

Working through the pandemic, Jacquie Noon has become something of a lockdown leader among the communities where her employer – United Living – works.

Over the 11 weeks in which so many people have faced social, mental and economic challenges, she has consistently gone the extra mile to provide help and support to those in most need.

Working with a host of housing associations and community groups, the Social Value Manager with the new and refurbished housing specialist has, among other things:

• Helped Clarion Housing Group with funding, recruitment and training, to support the Mid Surrey Community Fridges Hub’ – an initiative supporting families in one of most needy areas in the county. Over 1,000 bags of food a week have been provided or delivered to those in need

• Arranged for six empty properties to be spruced up and equipped with essential furnishings in order to re-home Clarion residents whose apartments were damaged by fire

• Helped with recruitment and training for volunteers at the Pepy’s Social Supermarket in Deptford – a Lewisham Homes backed project which is supporting over 100 families

• Arranged remote learning and training courses for 90 Lewisham Homes residents

• Supplied art equipment for 130 children in the nearby Eddystone Tower, on the Pepys Estate, to help them continue making posters in support of NHS staff, carers and key workers

• Supported the LinkUp project in Dorking in the recruitment and training for 32 new volunteers. St. John’s church and Primary School have been working with existing links in the community to deliver food parcels, do shopping, pick up prescriptions and make regular phone contact with the most vulnerable in the community.

• Become a befriender with Peabody Housing Association, making calls to some of the 17,500 residents across London in receipt of care and support – particularly the elderly and most isolated

• Helped Westminster City Council’s Westminster Connects team, making check-in calls to vulnerable and shielding residents, to make sure they are receiving the help, food, medical supplies and human contact they need

• Secured equipment for a community fridge at the East Malling Children’s centre

Jacquie said: “I love being able to help or lend an ear. Just being kind to people who need support is really helping them through this challenging time and I’m glad I can be there for them. I’m really busy and have just adapted the way I work so that I can support our clients and their residents at this time.”

Clare Davies, Chief Executive Officer with the Mid Surrey Community Fridges, commented: “We are always looking for support in helping our communities at this time of crisis. We are delighted that United Living and Clarion have got on board. They have been and are such a support to us and our work.”

Alys Exley-Smith, Community Relations Manager with Lewisham Homes, added: “The flexible training which Jacquie arranged for our 90 new volunteers at the social supermarket was invaluable.”

Managing director for United Living Property Services, Conor Bray, said: “I am really proud of the work Jacquie has been doing with our clients throughout lockdown. I have had so many emails and calls about the support she’s given. This is what makes our business different - ensuring we work in true partnership with our clients.”

United Living is a member of the Fastflow Group which employs over 1,100 people and turns over more than £400 million. It is an independent provider of essential services to the property and utilities sectors.

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