Stakeholder event shows how Grand Union Housing Group is making a difference to peoples’ lives

Regional social housing provider, Grand Union Housing Group (GUHG), invited stakeholders to an event to showcase how GUHG is making a difference to the lives of its tenants and the wider community.

Over 100 of GUHG’s most valued stakeholders, including involved residents, local authority partners, contractors and funders, attended the half day event, which took place on Friday 27 November 2009 at Towcester Racecourse.

The key speaker was Elinor Goodman, Commissioner for the Commission on Rural Communities and former political editor of Channel 4 News. She talked convincingly about the need for more affordable homes in rural areas and the measures required for improving the sustainability of villages. Elinor also complimented GUHG for its significant efforts in providing rural homes.

The event provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the success of Nicola King from GUHG subsidiary, Aragon Housing Association. Nicola, who won ‘Tenant Liaison Officer of the Year’ in the Tenant Participatory Advisory Service (TPAS) Awards 2009, is a member of Aragon’s community development team.

GUHG Board Member, Kerry Pollard, spoke with conviction and enthusiasm about how he believes Nicola’s groundbreaking work with young people may be a “magic bullet” in tackling anti-social behaviour. Kerry, who is also a former Labour MP for St Albans and member of the crime reduction charity, Nacro, summarised why he thinks Nicola’s approach works, where political measures have not:

“One of the reasons behind her phenomenal success is that she passionately believes the only way to engage with young people is to meet with them in their environment. This may be on a street corner, at a playing field, a youth club, or anywhere where you may find groups of young people. Wherever they are, Nicola goes out to find them. “

Speaking after the event, James Sparrow, Chair of the GUHG Board said:

“The stakeholder event was very well received and set down a marker to the world at large in terms of what we have achieved and, more importantly, where we are heading. The turnout was truly impressive.”

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