Tuesday, 11 October 2011

Leading housing association voice concerns over UK child poverty

Leading housing association voice concerns over UK child poverty


11th October 2011

A leading UK housing association has voiced its concerns over reports from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) that child poverty in the UK is likely to exceed three million by 2013.

Bromford, a leading UK housing association, have responded to the IFS statistic that by 2013 one in four children in the UK could be living in poverty – the current Government target is one in ten. This would see a reversal of the trend in recent years that has seen a reduction in poverty amongst UK children and Bromford are concerned that such positive strides should not be undone.

Bromford’s executive director, Phillipa Jones explains: “The IFS have raised a valid concern. We invest in the communities we work in to build people's skills and capacity in line with the government's agenda that the route out of poverty should be work pay. This is the most effective way to reduce the number of children living in poverty.

“Every effort should be made to ensure that the implementation of any fiscal policy does not undo the advancements that have been made. Were we to see the projected figures of the IFS realised the UK would witness the highest rate of absolute child poverty since 2001 and the of relative child poverty since 1999.”
Bromford Support provides additional support to families helping them achieve their personal goals. In the last year over nine thousand people were supported in this way with a strong emphasis on reducing dependency and maximizing opportunities for training and work.

Wendy Stephens, Head of Bromford Support, echoed the concern: “The overwhelming majority of people we work with are in receipt of benefit and therefore already living on a very low income. The potential worsening of that situation would be catastrophic to the lives of many children and set up a cycle of deprivation that becomes hard to break.

“Last year nearly seventy percent of the people we supported were in difficulty with accrued debt and over fifty percent required assistance just to secure settled accommodation for them and their children.

“Everyday, support workers witness the reality of the low incomes our customers receive and the effects of child poverty with a need to access food parcels and grants etc just to get by. Any threat of an increase in child poverty must be urgently addressed by government.”

Friday, 7 October 2011

Bromford CEO replies to Prime Minister

Bromford CEO replies to Prime Minister
 
6th October 2011

Mick Kent, CEO of housing group Bromford, has responded to prime minister David Cameron’s pledge this week to ‘inspire a new Tory housing revolution’ to tackle the faltering housing market.
 
The Prime Minister was speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester. David Cameron spoke of how the Government are addressing the shortage of homes and the fall in the housing market brought on by the debt crisis.
 
Mick Kent, CEO of central England housing group Bromford, commented: “The Prime Minister has spoken of encouraging right to buy by increasing discounts and investing the sales proceeds to provide replacement homes for affordable renting. 
 
“We would want to be convinced that the numbers add up and that the money would be ring-fenced to replace each lost social housing home.  If that really can be achieved we would welcome this move to meet the housing needs and aspirations of existing and future residents. 
 
“The pledge to release publicly owned land for housing development along with the Homes and Communities Agency’s plans for facilitating this could be very significant in stimulating the housing market and we would urge the government to make a good proportion of this land available at a subsidized price to enable more affordable homes to be provided.”
 
The Bromford CEO also addressed David Cameron’s announced commitment to families, parenting, childcare and tackling the problems in society that led to the August riots.
 
Mick explained: “Bromford works with thousands of disadvantaged families and young people, helping them to realise their potential, improve their employment chances and contribute positively to their communities.”
 
“October is Supported Housing Month and many young people we are supporting are showcasing their achievements in a way that gives me great faith in the future of this country.  With the right support and encouragement our young people can be a force we should all be proud of.”
 
 To find out more about the services of Bromford visit www.bromfordgroup.co.uk or call 0330 1234 034.

Press release by Lee O'Hanlon

Developing a habit for winning awards

Developing a habit for winning awards
“It’s not just our homes that get a seal of approval,” declares home developer.



5th October 2011



A Bromford Developments Ltd (BDL) employee has scooped a prestigious construction award at a ceremony at Birmingham’s ICC.


Peter Hamon, site manager for BDL, has won a National House Building Council (NHBC) ‘Pride in the Job’ seal of excellence – his second award from the prominent housing body in the last two years.

Bromford construction manager Archie Haywood enthused: “This is a magnificent achievement for Peter and everyone at Bromford is thrilled for him. It’s great to see our people be recognised as highly as the developments they work on.


“Around 18,000 sites registered with NHBC are eligible yet only 130 seals of excellence are presented across the country so it is a hotly contested award.


“Peter is presently site manager at our new housing development, Priorsleap, at Priorslee Road in Telford. It is already clear that Peter is executing the management of that site to the highest standards also.”


The seal was bestowed on Peter at the end of September for the quality of the work and his professional standards at a Bromford housing development site at Church Road, Wrockwardine, Telford.

He was also honoured with a quality award in 2010 for his efforts on the Bromford Homes site at Love Lane, Cleobury Mortimer.


Peter is thrilled at the latest acknowledgement of his standards of work: “I only joined Bromford just over three years ago so I am very proud to receive two awards from the NHBC in that time.

Every effort is being made by the whole team involved in Priorsleap to ensure we execute the same exacting standards there.”


The judges score site managers on 38 activities including consistency of high standards, leadership, technical expertise through to standard of workmanship and the ability to skillfully interpret drawings and specifications.


To find out more about the award winning homes at Priorsleap and other Bromford housing developments visit www.bromfordhomes.co.uk or call 0845 6010 878.

Press release by Lee O'Hanlon