Housing Justice News Release 04 May 2007
For immediate release
Blunkett praises Guide Neighbourhoods’ approach to resident-led regeneration
Former Home Secretary David Blunkett has praised the resident-led approach to regeneration pioneered by the Guide Neighbourhoods Programme coordinated nationally by the charity Housing Justice.
Speaking at a Parliamentary reception to launch a DVD celebrating the achievements of the programme, he praised the knowledge sharing activities of the Guide Neighbourhoods and described the transformations of previously run-down estates as “inspirational”.
With the Stubbin Neighbourhood Association Guide Neighbourhood situated in his Sheffield Brightside constituency David Blunkett has taken a keen interest in the programme since its inception. He was joined at the reception by Hazel Blears who has the Seedley and Langworthy Guide Neighbourhood in her Salford constituency.
Chief Executive of Housing Justice Alison Gelder at the reception with David Blunkett and Hazel Blears
Housing Justice received £4.3million government funding over three years to finance activities to enable residents of neighbourhoods who have achieved successful regeneration, to share their experiences with residents of other places who want guidance and support to regenerate their neighbourhoods.
Through a programme of knowledge sharing, site visits, mentoring, and conferences, residents of the Guide Neighbourhoods are able to identify common problems and highlight good practice to pass on to others. The residents have tackled crime, poor housing, environmental decay and unemployment that have blighted in their communities and want to share their success.
The DVD was compiled to celebrate the programme’s achievements as it reaches the end of the first stage of funding. It is hoped that further government funding will be announced shortly to continue the work of the Guide Neighbourhoods.
Alison Gelder with David Blunkett and Barrie Scholfield, of Royds Community Association Guide Neighbourhood
Commenting on the Guide Neighbourhoods programme and the DVD Chief Executive of Housing Justice Alison Gelder said “the DVD tells inspirational stories of residents that have transformed their estates and want to share their experiences –good and bad- with others so that they can learn. The DVD shows that it is possible for residents to make a real difference and transform their estates.”
She went on “we hope that this DVD will inspire others to take the lead in regenerating their estates and help to build sustainable communities.
Ends
Watch the DVD on YouTube
The Guide Neighbourhoods DVD is available to watch on YouTube:
(click on play to watch DVD)
Images of the event
High resolution images of the event are available:
http://www.housingjustice.org.uk/images/hjregenerate/gnmay2007/gnrecep2.jpg shows Housing Justice Chief Executive Alison Gelder, David Blunkett and Barrie Scholfield, of Royds Community Association Guide Neighbourhood
http://www.housingjustice.org.uk/images/hjregenerate/gnmay2007/gnrecep3.jpgshows Housing Justice Chief Executive Alison Gelder, David Blunkett and Hazel Blears
About the Guide Neighbourhoods Programme
The Guide Neighbourhoods programme was established as Regenerate in 2000 by the Churches National Housing Coalition. In 2003 CNHC was one of the organisations that made up the new charity Housing Justice.
Housing Justice received £4.3million funding from the Home Office to continue the Guide Neighbourhoods programme in 2004.
The 15 Guide Neighbourhoods are: (click on title for further information)
Balsall Heath, Birmingham
Burrowes Street Tenant Management Organisation, Walsall
Castle Vale Community Housing Association, Birmingham
The Eldonians, Liverpool
Goodwin Development Trust, Hull
Include Centre for Neighbourhood Management, Liverpool
Leicester North West Community Forum, Leicester
The National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations, UK-wide
Neighbours4U, Medway
Pembroke Street Estate Management Board, Plymouth
Perry Common Regeneration Partnership, Birmingham
Poplar HARCA, London
Royds Community Association, Bradford
Seedley and Langworthy Trust, Salford
Stubbin Neighbourhood Association, Sheffield
Further information on the Guide Neighbourhoods programme is available at www.housingjustice.org.uk/gn
Copies of the DVD are available from Guy Cruls at Housing Justice, 209 Old Marylebone Road , London NW1 5QT, tel 020 7723 7273 or email regenerate@housingjustice.org.uk
About Housing Justice
Housing Justice is the national voice of Christian action to prevent homelessness and bad housing.
Housing Justice was formed in April 2003 by the merger of two long-standing housing charities, the Catholic Housing Aid Society (CHAS) and the Churches National Housing Coalition (CNHC). In January 2006 Housing Justice merged with UNLEASH (Church Action on Homelessness in London ).
Housing Justice brings together more than 60 years experience of working for change in the field of housing.
Housing Justice provides frontline services to people in housing need and campaigns to improve housing policy.
In total Housing Justice is actively involved in more than 35 communities across England and Wales .
The Housing Justice CHAS network of 12 housing advice centres –in Bradford, Bristol, Croydon, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Kingston upon Thames, Leeds, Central London, Middlesbrough, Oswestry and York- provide practical support to people with housing and related problems.
Housing Justice UNLEASH works to support church-based housing and homelessness projects in London . It is responsible for coordinating the Soup Run Forum.
Housing Justice Regenerate, funded by the government's Civil Renewal Unit, supports resident-led regeneration in 15 guide neighbourhoods across the UK . Regenerate brings together residents who have transformed their estates with those who want to embark on the regeneration process to share learning and offer support.
Housing Justice works with, and for, homeless and badly housed people of all denominations, and with those who have no religious beliefs. All our services are offered to the whole community and, wherever possible, we work in partnership with others who share our values, regardless of religious beliefs.
Further information on Housing Justice is available at www.housingjustice.org.uk
Contact
Luke Evans 020 7723 7273
Email media@housingjustice.org.uk