Housing Hartlepool invests in communities
Issued on behalf of and with the approval of Housing Hartlepool
News Release
Contact Andrew Smith 01325 363436.
The Phoenix is rising from the ashes as Housing Hartlepool restores new life into a disused community centre in the town.
Hartlepool’s largest housing association is regenerating the Phoenix Centre, on Central Estate, to provide much-needed facilities for the local community.
The Phoenix Centre has lain dormant for several years but prior to its demise it provided much-needed facilities for the local community.
Part of the building will be used as office accommodation for the Primary Care Trust/Adult Services Integrated Team (North).
Mick Thompson, Resident Participation Manager for Housing Hartlepool said: “I am pleased that we have been able to provide this resource on the Central Estate. The estate Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) has been working over the recent years to improve services in the area.
“The Phoenix Centre will provide a focus for the residents. It will become a base for community activities and the training and support services will assist the residents in having a much greater say in the running of the estate.”
Ted Lee, Chair of Central Estate TMO, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be involved with Housing Hartlepool in bringing the centre back into use and utilising its potential as a resource to the community.
Bringing back a key facility on the estate coincides with the TMO’s successful bid for £26,000 from the Housing Corporation/Communities and Local Government Department for piloting “neighbourhood studies” aimed at helping residents extend their influence through neighbourhood management.
The building has been divided into two halves, with the PCT and Adult Social Services taking 50 per cent of the space as accommodation for their North-based Integrated Services Team. Housing Hartlepool will be carrying out work to increase the large reception area to create up to 1,250 sq ft resource that will be used for training, consultations, seminars and community events.
It is estimated that the housing company will be spending an additional £20,000 on the refurbishment and fitting out of the centre, including structural alterations, redecoration, visual aids and PCs for the computer suite.
ENDS
Editors’ Notes
Housing Hartlepool is the largest housing association in Hartlepool.
It was set up in March 2004 to take over the ownership and management of the Council's rented housing stock following a positive ballot by tenants. It is a not for profit charitable organisation.
Housing Hartlepool is run by a voluntary board that consists of four tenant members, four council nominees and four independent people.
The company manages 7,000 properties throughout the Hartlepool area and surrounding villages. These range from five-bedroom family houses to flats for single people. In addition there is a wide range of bungalows and sheltered housing complexes for the elderly.
The housing service is provided from three neighbourhood-based offices.
For more information, go to: www.housinghartlepool.org.uk