Double win for Liverpool affordable housing charity

A LIVERPOOL housing charity is shouting from the rooftops after winning two more national awards.

Housing People, Building Communities (HPBC) picked up the UK Housing Award for ‘best community-led initiative’, while the charity’s partnership with Sanctuary Group was named ‘best housing alliance’ at the First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards.

Pictured at the FTB Readers’ Awards, l-r: Stephen Harker, of category sponsor Dawson Cornwell, HPBC chief executive Liza Parry, Sanctuary Group public relations manager Lindsay Evans and TV presenter & host Nicki Chapman.

Announcing their success at the First Time Buyer event, TV presenter Nicki Chapman – whose credits include property programmes Escape to the Continent and Escape to the Country – described the project as one of her favourites.

Both ceremonies were held in London and saw HPBC beating of stiff competition from much larger organisations from all over the UK.

The two latest awards recognise the achievements of HPBC’s 32-property scheme off Kingsley Road, in Granby-Toxteth and, in particular, the combination of self-build, volunteering and corporate philanthropy that make this scheme unique. Future home owners help to build the properties, part funded by Sanctuary, working alongside volunteers from all over the world and using products, services and materials donated by some of the biggest corporate names.

Collecting the UK Housing award, l-r: Marcus Brigstocke, HPBC trustee Linda Bright, Kate Reynolds, Sanctuary Group head of communication and engagement, and Tina Drury of category sponsors, Isos.

The UK Housing Awards, organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), recognise excellence across the social housing sector. The prestigious ceremony at the Lancaster London Hotel was hosted by comedian, writer and environmental campaigner Marcus Brigstocke.

Announcing HPBC as winners of the best community-led project on the night, Marcus said: “There were lots of excellent examples of community initiatives in this category but the judges felt that the sustainability of this one set it apart. They said it had great potential to have an impact in the long-term, both on particular individuals and the community as a whole.”

The First Time Buyer awards, held at The Landmark London, were voted for by readers of the popular magazine. Best housing alliance was a new category designed to celebrate the partnerships formed by companies who provide innovative solutions to housing and community development challenges in order to help increase home ownership, improve housing quality, reduce homelessness and build stronger communities.

HPBC’s housing venture, which allows future home owners to spend 500 hours working on site or helping with administrative tasks in return for a £10,000 discount off the price of their home, clearly struck a chord with first time buyers UK-wide.

It also won praise from TV’s Nicki Chapman, who said: “This is the first time I've heard of such a project and I think it could be the future!  Any housing venture that not only helps people own their own home, but also actively encourages them and their families to be hands on and to make a difference to their own lives has to be a positive step to home ownership.”

The Kingsley Road homes are purchased on a shared ownership basis, with national care and housing provider Sanctuary Group owning any residual equity in each property and providing housing management services.

Sanctuary is providing £1.9 million to the project, and has donated essential safety equipment to aid home partners and volunteers during the building work, as well as valuable marketing support.

Overall design of the houses has been kept simple to allow unskilled volunteers to have a healthy input into the building process; while local colleges, including Hugh Baird College, in Bootle, regularly use the site to give practical experience to students who are training to become joiners, bricklayers, and painters and decorators.

Thousands of pounds worth of building materials, including roof tiles and brick pavers, have been supplied by building products manufacturer Wienerberger; Pret-a-manger donates surplus sandwiches and snacks daily from its Liverpool city centre shop to help feed volunteers; and the 75 Engineer regiment of the Territorial Army has helped build a road and lay drainage as part of a MACC (Military Aid to the Civil Community) project, using materials supplied by Balfour Beattie and Birse Civils.

For more information contact HPBC.

Low-cost Liverpool homes in running for two more awards

A UNIQUE housing project in Liverpool, which allows future owners to reduce the cost of their new home by helping to build it, is a finalist in two national award schemes.

The 32-property scheme off Kingsley Road, in Granby-Toxteth, is a contender for ‘Best Housing Alliance’ at the First Time Buyer Readers’ awards and for ‘Best Community-Led Initiative’ at the UK Housing Awards, both of which will be decided in London later this month.

This follows hot on the heels of the charity being shortlisted in the ‘Excellence in Partnership’ category of the Excellence In Social Enterprise Awards, held in Blackpool in March and chief executive Liza Parry being a finalist in the Women in Construction awards, also last month.

The homes are being built by the newly named housing charity, Housing People, Building Communities, in partnership with leading housing and care provider Sanctuary Group. The housing scheme combines self-build, volunteering and corporate philanthropy in a unique way; future home owners help to build the properties, working alongside volunteers from all over the world and using products, services and materials donated by some of the biggest corporate names.  

Liza Parry, chief executive of Housing People, Building Communities, said: “Being shortlisted for two national awards is fantastic news and a great way to celebrate our new identity. We’re creating affordable homes for those who would otherwise struggle to get onto the property ladder and, at the same time, fostering a real sense of community through volunteering, teaching new skills and contributing to the regeneration of the wider area.”  

Providing valuable help to those traditionally excluded from home ownership, the scheme favours those with a housing need, allowing them to spend 500 hours working on site – or helping with administrative tasks - in return for a £10,000 discount on the price of their home. Homes can then be purchased on a shared ownership basis, with Sanctuary owning any residual equity in the property and providing housing management services.

Sanctuary is providing £1.9 million to the project, and has donated essential safety equipment to aid partners during the building work. This includes a variety of high visibility jackets and hard hats to the value of £1,000.

Ian McDermott, Sanctuary’s chief operating officer, added: “The partnership with HPBC will make a real difference to the local people and community of Granby-Toxteth so we are delighted this unique project has been recognised in this way. As well as addressing the need for more affordable homes in the area, the project is providing practical training and work experience opportunities to people, while helping them get a first foot on the housing ladder.” 

Overall design of the houses has been kept simple to allow unskilled volunteers to have a healthy input into the building process; while local colleges, including Hugh Baird College, in Bootle, regularly use the site to give practical experience to students who are training to become joiners, bricklayers, and painters and decorators.  

Thousands of pounds worth of building materials, including roof tiles and brick pavers, have been supplied by building products manufacturer Wienerberger; Pret-a-manger, donates surplus sandwiches and snacks daily from its Liverpool city centre shop to help feed volunteers; and the 75 Engineer regiment of the Territorial Army has helped build a road and lay drainage as part of a MACC (Military Aid to the Civil Community) project, using materials supplied by Balfour Beattie and Birse Civils. 

Organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), the UK Housing Awards recognise excellence across the social housing sector. The First Time Buyer Readers Awards are organised by national consumer magazine First Time Buyer and voted for by their readers.

If successful these two latest awards will add to previous honours for the Kingsley Road houses, including ‘Best Community Initiative’ at last year’s national Housebuilder Awards and the special title of ‘Judges’ Favourite Project’ at the Liverpool Your Move Property Awards.  

For more information contact HPBC.

Liza in line-up for top construction award

Liza Parry, chief executive of Housing People, Building Communities, shortlisted for Outstanding Woman in Construction

THE CHIEF executive of a Liverpool housing charity is in the running to be named 2014 Outstanding Woman in Construction.

Liza Parry (pictured), who has led construction of 32 low-cost houses in the Granby-Toxteth district of Liverpool since July 2011, is one of seven women vying for the supreme award at the seventh annual Women in Construction awards, which will be announced in Manchester on March 26th.

She was nominated for the title by Canon Dr Shannon Ledbetter, chair of the Housing People, Building Communities charity, who said:

“Liza has been the driving force behind our charity for almost three years, leading us through some difficult challenges and forging strong relationships with diverse organisations including Liverpool City Council, the Sanctuary Group, building products manufacturer Wienerberger and even the British Army, all of which have helped to ensure we go forward in a position of strength.

“Liza works tirelessly to promote our charity within the self-build and social housing sector and to harness the support of our corporate benefactors. She is also a strong motivational force on site for our staff, our home partners and our volunteers. She is truly deserving of this award.”

Under Liza’s leadership the charity’s Kingsley Road project has already won two major awards in 2013 – the ‘Best Community Initiative’ at the Housebuilder Awards and ‘Judges’ Favourite Project’ at the Your Move awards; it has also been shortlisted for three more, which will be decided between now and April 29th:

• First Time Buyers Readers Awards: Best Housing Alliance

• UK Housing Awards: Best Community Led Initiative

• Excellence In Social Enterprise Awards: Excellence in Partnership

Liza has nearly 30 years’ experience of developing, managing and marketing a range of projects for socially excluded people within the not for profit sector. Prior to joining HPBC she was responsible for developing and delivering a range of services for socially excluded adults and youths in Merseyside and the surrounding area. 

She was also chair of East Liverpool Community Trust Ltd (ELECT), an award winning social enterprise which helped establish over 500 new business, set up 30 social enterprises and get 800 people into full time sustainable employment. Earlier in her career she worked as a residential social worker and substance misuse counsellor. She is also a qualified plumber!

The Housing People, Building Communities charity combines self-build, volunteering and corporate philanthropy in a unique way. Future home owners help to build the new homes in return for a £10,000 reduction in the cost of their home and they work alongside volunteers who come from all over the world to learn new skills, gain valuable experience and / or give something back to society.

The remaining 23 homes are being completed in partnership with national care and housing provider The Sanctuary Group.

For more information contact HPBC.

Low-cost Liverpool homes in running for three more awards

Some of HPBC’s staff, home owners and volunteers celebrate the latest award shortlistings in front of the most recently completed Kingsley Road homes.

A UNIQUE housing project in Liverpool, which allows future owners to reduce the cost of their new home by helping to build it, is a finalist in a hat trick of awards.

The 32-property scheme off Kingsley Road, in Granby-Toxteth, is a contender for ‘Best Housing Alliance’ at the First Time Buyer Readers’ awards and for ‘Best Community-Led Initiative’ at the UK Housing Awards, both of which will be decided in London in April; as well as the ‘Excellence in Partnership’ category of the Excellence In Social Enterprise Awards, which will be announced in Blackpool on March 15.

The homes are being built by the newly named housing charity, Housing People, Building Communities, in partnership with leading housing and care provider Sanctuary Group.

The housing scheme combines self-build, volunteering and corporate philanthropy in a unique way; future home owners help to build the properties, working alongside volunteers from all over the world and using products, services and materials donated by some of the biggest corporate names.

Liza Parry, chief executive of Housing People, Building Communities, said: “Being shortlisted for two national awards is fantastic news and a great way to celebrate our new identity. We’re creating affordable homes for those who would otherwise struggle to get onto the property ladder and, at the same time, fostering a real sense of community through volunteering, teaching new skills and contributing to the regeneration of the wider area.”

Providing valuable help to those traditionally excluded from home ownership, the scheme favours those with a housing need, allowing them to spend 500 hours working on site – or helping with administrative tasks - in return for a £10,000 discount on the price of their home. Homes can then be purchased on a shared ownership basis, with Sanctuary owning any residual equity in the property and providing housing management services.

Sanctuary is providing £1.9 million to the project, and has donated essential safety equipment to aid partners during the building work. This includes a variety of high visibility jackets and hard hats to the value of £1,000.

Ian McDermott, Sanctuary’s chief operating officer, added: “The partnership with HPBC will make a real difference to the local people and community of Granby-Toxteth so we are delighted this unique project has been recognised in this way. As well as addressing the need for more affordable homes in the area, the project is providing practical training and work experience opportunities to people, while helping them get a first foot on the housing ladder.”

Overall design of the houses has been kept simple to allow unskilled volunteers to have a healthy input into the building process; while local colleges, including Hugh Baird College, in Bootle, regularly use the site to give practical experience to students who are training to become joiners, bricklayers, and painters and decorators.

Thousands of pounds worth of building materials, including roof tiles and brick pavers, have been supplied by building products manufacturer Wienerberger; Pret-a-manger, donates surplus sandwiches and snacks daily from its Liverpool city centre shop to help feed volunteers; and the 75 Engineer regiment of the Territorial Army has helped build a road and lay drainage as part of a MACC (Military Aid to the Civil Community) project, using materials supplied by Balfour Beattie and Birse Civils.

Organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), the UK Housing Awards recognise excellence across the social housing sector. The First Time Buyer Readers Awards are organised by national consumer magazine First Time Buyer and voted for by their readers.

The Excellence in Social Enterprise awards are organised annually by the Social Enterprise North West network, which works to raise the profile of social enterprise in the North West of England and to encourage mutual support, inter-trading, sharing of best practice, training and development opportunities between social enterprises.

 If successful these three latest awards will add to previous honours for the Kingsley Road houses, including ‘Best Community Initiative’ at last year’s national Housebuilder Awards and the special title of ‘Judges’ Favourite Project’ at the Liverpool Your Move Property Awards.

For more information contact HPBC.