Customer Services
Achievements
Here are some of our achievements in the past year:
- The £80m regeneration of Orchard Village in Havering is well underway; the first residents moved into their new homes in February 2011 after the completion of phase one of the regeneration programme.
- Phase one of the Orchard Village regeneration programme also saw the development of a new energy centre on site which supplies residents with heating and hot water. The centre is energy efficient and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by localising energy resources. Phase three of the regeneration programme will see a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) engine installed.
- Last summer saw the installation of solar panels on the roof of a block on one of the Parkside estates. This was a pilot project to promote sustainability and renewable energy. The energy generated by the panels supplies the communal lighting throughout the building.
- Old Ford's £55 million Decent Homes Plus Programme on the Parkside estates, delivered in partnership with the Apollo Group, is on schedule to complete in 2012. The internal works are now complete.
- Works to St Stephens Green in Bow are now underway. Old Ford Housing Association has invested £800,000 in the regeneration of the green in order to revitalise the area and turn the space into a welcoming park. The new space will provide local residents with a range of activities, including outside gym equipment, play sculptures for children and quiet areas to sit and relax. Works commenced in January 2012 and have included new landscaping, a new planting scheme, new ornate fencing, and the installation of two specially commissioned giant flower sculptures. The green will be officially opened in May 2012.
- Old Ford's Information Advice and Guidance and IT training services achieved matrix accreditation in September 2011, recognising that the services we provide residents and the local community are of a high standard.
- In January 2012 Old Ford was ranked among the best for managing complaints when it achieved HouseMark Complaints accreditation. The process identified a number of areas of good practice as well as opportunities to do even better. The accreditation assessment recognised successes in reducing complaints and improving the way that we deal with them. It also praised Old Ford’s plans to make further improvements of complaints handling. Old Ford is incredibly proud to be one of only 10 social landlords in England and Wales to have received the accreditation.
- Old Ford, together with its major works partner the Apollo Group, were shortlisted for a National Housing Excellence Award in the category of ‘Partnering Scheme of the year’
- Last February saw the opening of Old Ford's Roman Road Adventure Playground which was developed in partnership with Tower Hamlets Local Authority in 2010. Old Ford are the only Housing Association in England that has its own adventure playground.
Awards:
Construction Excellence Award for Leadership and People Development:
In 2011 Old Ford's Construction Training Initiative was awarded a Construction Excellence Award for Leadership and People Development in the London and South East. Old Ford have now expanded provisions and have three construction training centres delivering a mix of accredited and non-accredited training programmes. Old Ford's Construction Training Centres in Bow are recognised by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets as a local provider for vocational training.
Gold Award for Building Cohesive Communities:
In 2010 Old Ford Housing Association won the Gold Award for Building Cohesive Communities. Old Ford are extremely proud of the work we have do to help strengthen the communities on our estates. Our residents come from many different backgrounds and have many different beliefs, interests and cultures. This award recognises the work we have done to bring communities together by creating opportunities for people to socialise and get to know one another.
