Helping hand for new moves
Whitefriars Housing Group residents can now kit out their homes for less thanks to a
partnership with four local charities.
The scheme means that new customers can furnish their properties with secondhand
furniture and have free delivery of goods straight to their door.
The four charities supporting the Whitefriars initiative are Community Transport,
Emmaus, 2nd Chance Furniture Reuse and The Recycle Warehouse. The
organisations sell kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and living room furniture, as well as
white goods, ranging from washing machines to wardrobes and television to dining
tables.
The aim of the scheme is to provide extra help to customers who may be struggling
financially in the current economic climate, as well as promoting a more
environmentally-friendly approach to furnishing a new home.
Ron Nicholson, of Blackberry Lane, Stoke Heath, is just one Whitefriars resident who
helped to shape the scheme. He said: “My wife, Julie, and I first discussed the idea of
the scheme at a customer involvement group run by Whitefriars. We thought it was a
brilliant idea to help people start up when they move into a new home.
“The purpose of the customer involvement groups is to make sure that the service
provided by Whitefriars meets residents’ needs. It’s great to know that, thanks to our
feedback, the scheme is now up and running and will help many people settle into
their new homes more quickly.”
Simon Brooke, head of lettings and empty property management, said: “As an
affordable housing provider, we’re committed to supporting our customers with all
aspects of their tenancy right from the outset. We’ve found that new customers can
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feel daunted by the potential cost of furnishing their new home, and wanted to
develop a scheme that helped people with this challenge.
“By helping customers to access second-hand furniture and providing a free delivery
service we hope to make the process of setting up a new home both cheaper and
easier. We can also sign-post people to where they can apply for grants or loans for
furniture if they cannot afford essential items.”
Thanks to the partnership, Whitefriars is also donating furniture to the charities which
has been left by residents that have moved out of its properties.
Ends
Notes to Editors
Whitefriars Housing Group Limited is a not-for-profit housing and regeneration organisation
is a not-for-profit housing and regeneration organisation
established in 2000 that owns and manages approximately 18,000 homes across Coventry.
Whitefriars Housing Group is part of West Mercia Housing Group (WMHG), which is the lead
partner of Spectrum Development Partnership. WMHG consists of Whitefriars Housing
Group, Harden Housing Association, Nexus Housing, Kemble Housing and Herefordshire
Supported Housing for Young People Project. The new combined group, which is a
development partner with the Homes and Communities Agency, manages around 23,500
homes across Coventry, the West Midlands, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Whitefriars has a key role, in partnership with others, across the West Midlands to develop
new affordable homes and regenerate communities.
Since transfer, Whitefriars has spent £340 million to repair and improve its housing stock.
The vast majority of its homes now meet the Government’s Decent Homes Standard –ahead
of schedule. It is currently embarking on a campaign, Services on the Up, aimed at improving
the core services received by residents.
In addition to providing homes, Whitefriars works in partnership with communities and other
agencies to provide training and employment opportunities and support services for local
residents, with the aim of building sustainable communities.
Whitefriars Housing Group Limited is a charitable industrial and provident society.
For further information please contact Val Hunt or Nikki Cheung at The Bridge
Group on
024 7656 0440 or v.hunt@bridge-group.co.uk