Clarion Housing

In late October Equans supported one of Clarion's resident engagement events and as the event was over the Halloween weekend we also provided a face painter.

Clarion hosted a resident drop-in session at Millby and Lamberton Court in Borehamwood. Local community police were also invited along to chat to residents about anti social behaviour in the area.

Thanks to volunteers from Equans, the Stony Hall Community Centre in Stevenage has been redecorated and revitalised.

On 27th October, Equans' Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz, was joined by a team of volunteers from Equans' Technical Services and Facilities Management teams to help redecorate the hall which is owned by Clarion Housing Group.

The first task for the volunteers was a complete makeover which included painting the entire hall, including the toilets, kitchen, main hall and hallways. Great progress was made on the first day and a different group of volunteers returned the follow day to pick up where the first team left off.

On day two, Julian and his new volunteers continued the redecoration works and were able to complete the much needed transformation of the hall.

The running of the hall has been handed to some local residents, who have big plans to turn it into a busy hub for the local community.

The EQUANS site team based in Norfolk received an impressive score of 42/45 for their second audit visit by the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) after scoring high marks in each of the three categories.

On 8^th September, a CCS monitor visited the scheme and carried out their audit of the site, commenting things like "The overall appearance of the site is excellent, and it is clear the contractor is taking extensive steps to ensure this community beneficial project relates well to the locality. All parts of the site appear to be extremely clean and tidy, and a very professional image is displayed in all areas of operation, highlighting the professional manner in which the project is being run."

"There has been extensive interaction with residents and controlling authorities regarding the works and extremely effective lines of communication have been established. It is clear that safety related issues are of paramount importance to the contractor and active steps are taken to provide a safe working environment for all. I am sure this site will continue to flourish in terms of Scheme compliance and that there will be further positive advances."

The CCS is an independent organisation founded to raise standards in the construction industry to ensure all construction sites present an image of competent management, efficiency, awareness of environmental issues and above all neighbourliness. Monitors from the scheme regularly audit our sites to ensure we are adhering to the scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice which is designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirement.

Each audit is split into three categories; respect for the community, protecting the environment and valuing the workforce each with a potential score out of 15 with a total combined max score of 45 available. To score above 13 in any category warrants an excellent level of achievement for that category.

Congratulations to Site Manager, Alex and the rest of the site team, who work so hard every day to maintain such high standards

As part of EQUANS' work with Clarion in Norwich, a number of residents have taken the time to provide some positive feedback about the works carried out to their homes.

"I have never witnessed a group of men work so hard, always pleasant and helpful. Even the hot weather didn't slow them down. Karen is very handy to have around, she is calm when sorting out a problem, always cheerful and smiling. I would think other employers would love your employees." Resident of Maingay House, Norfolk

"The workers were extremely pleasant and very helpful. Also Mark was helpful with the way it was conducted and they were all courteous." Resident of Bure Valley House, Norfolk

"I am very pleased with my beautiful new kitchen. All the workmen were very friendly and helpful and did a wonderful professional job. Paul the painter and Paul the tiler really stood out as being very thorough and really good at their jobs. Karen ran a very tight ship and kept her eye on all the jobs going on and couldn't have been more helpful and friendly throughout. I am so pleased with everything, thank you." Resident of Maingay House, Norfolk

"The operatives team had taken the time to inform of any job which they were going to do each day. Polite greeting when entering the property. Apologised when there was a job which needed more time to complete. This showed consideration and understanding to customer's feelings. Final results were very good and clean work. Thank you." Resident of Wathern Way, Norfolk

"Windows were fitted quickly with no mess. Excellent job." Resident of Rodwell Corner, Norfolk

"The whole team were very very good, they were very friendly, so helpful lifting things etc. They cleaned up any mess, dust, debris, before going home each evening. I am very pleased, the shower room and kitchen are finished, the kitchen fittings, the floor etc. are lovely - one very happy resident." Resident of Maingay House, Norfolk

If you have recently received works from EQUANS and are happy about the service you received, please ask your Resident Liaison Officer for a comment card or blue house form and leave us a comment. Make sure to name any staff that you felt went above and beyond.

Army of Clarion Housing Group volunteers ensure pride day for an estate in Norfolk is a huge success.

Thanks to the efforts of a large group of volunteers from Clarion, the estate pride day at Wade Close in Aylsham this September was very successful with two large skips completely full after one day.

Social Value Manager for EQUANS, Julian Sanz, joined the Clarion volunteers and liaised with supply chain partners KM-ECO Ltd who kindly donated the two large skips for the day. He also helped residents dispose of any bulky items that couldn't be placed in the skips.

As well as helping residents get rid of unwanted items, the volunteers also helped carry out minor gardening works and working together they managed to clear a total of 28 gardens, trim 18 hedges, repair two fences and remove 18 bulky good items in addition to completely filling the two skips!

Residents in Borehamwood lose everything in home fire, but thanks to Clarion and EQUANS receive a generous donation of new furniture for their new home.

After sadly losing everything due to a home fire, the family in Borehamwood had to be re-housed and therefore needed furniture desperately. In partnership with Clarion, who generously donated all the furniture from one of their Latimer show homes, EQUANS offered to arrange transportation of the furniture from Ely to Borehamwood in order to get it to the residents.

Thanks to the efforts of Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz, EQUANS was able to source and fund the services of a removals company who were able to deal with the request at short notice and deliver the items which will help furnish a three bedroom home for the family.

One of the family members commented: "Losing everything in the fire was a tragedy, but the speedy response in finding us a new home and then the wonderful furnishings had really improved morale for my family."

Earlier in September, EQUANS returned to a Norfolk based community allotment to spread more than 14 tonnes of top soil into the raised planters that had been built several weeks earlier.

Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz, returned to the Sprowston Youth Engagement Project Allotment along with a number of his EQUANS colleagues, including our very own RLO, Karen Newell, to lay more than 14 tonnes of top soil into the raised planters he'd previously help build.

The volunteer team luckily had good weather for the day and soon had all the beds brimming with soil.

Once finished the allotment is going to be used as an inter-generational space, to encourage young and old to work together. Paul Wheeler from SYEP commented that his hope was to link in with local community fridges and food banks to donate surplus fruit and vegetables to help those local residents struggling.

The south west site team received an impressive top score of 45/45 for an audit visit to their Plymouth Planned Maintenance site from the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) after scoring top marks in each of the three categories.

In August, a CCS monitor visited the scheme and carried out their audit of the site, commenting things like "Since the first visit the works have progressed and the estate appearance has undoubtedly been lifted by them. The environmental measures are to a high standard and focussed by the EQUANS net zero commitment. Health and safety performance has been independently recognised as being to the highest standards."

The CCS is an independent organisation founded to raise standards in the construction industry to ensure all construction sites present an image of competent management, efficiency, awareness of environmental issues and above all neighbourliness. Monitors from the scheme regularly audit our sites to ensure we are adhering to the scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice which is designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirement.

Each audit is split into three categories; respect for the community, protecting the environment and valuing the workforce each with a potential score out of 15 with a total combined max score of 45 available. To score above 13 in any category warrants an excellent level of achievement for that category.

Congratulations to Frank, Karen and the rest of the site team, who work so hard every day to maintain such high standards

In August, EQUANS helped support the Vange Community Day.

EQUANS staff including Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz, was on hand to speak to residents about volunteering opportunities, what social value investment they'd like to see in the area and also upcoming planned community events.

The entire event was free to attend and including free ice cream, pizza, refreshments, garden games and even a mental health tent.

A community centre in Hertfordshire has received a new lease of life thanks to decorative works undertaken by EQUANS volunteers.

The Farriers Hall Community Centre in Borehamwood was in desperate need of a makeover and thanks to staff from EQUANS who volunteered a number of days of their own time the centre has now been given a completely fresh new look.

Across three days in August, Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz, was joined by EQUANS colleagues, Gary McGregor, Emily Scragg, Joao Brito and Mark Kelly to carry out the much needed decorative works to help transform the centre into a bright and inviting space.

To help speed along the works our supply chain partners, Speedy Services generously donated the free supply of a mobile scaffold towers which was desperately needed to reach all the high walls and also Dulux who kindly provided all the paint free of charge!