Clarion Housing

Thanks to volunteers from EQUANS, the communal garden at Resting Seat House in Braintree, Essex, has now been brought back to life.

The once beautiful communal garden, had an area that had become overrun by weeds and bushes and was in desperate need of some love and care to bring it back under control.

In July, Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz was joined by Project Coordinator, James Russell from EQUANS whom had utilised his volunteer hours to help strim back and clear a 25m stretch of weeds, then lay weed matting and spread several tonnes of bark chip to create a lovely new area for residents to enjoy the outdoor space.

As well as help from EQUANS colleagues, Julian also received support from our supply chain partner Speedy Services who kindly supported the initiative by providing the required petrol strimmer free of charge.

Alongside Clarion staff, EQUANS staff have shown further support to Clarion Futures in the delivery of their Digital Inclusion sessions for residents.

Most recently, Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz, attended the latest Clarion Digital Inclusion session at Fulbridge church in Maldon, to help offer support to residents learning about the digital world.

During the session Julian was able to advise a resident on how to send photos on email and WhatsApp, how to create a secure password on their iPad, and even how to book a meal online at their favourite resident.

After visiting a primary school in Norfolk earlier in the year to host a safety assembly, EQUANS has returned to announce the winners of a safety poster competition.

In July, EQUANS Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz, was joined by Resident Liaison Officer, Karen Newell and Mark Rule, who returned to the Cawston Primary School in Norfolk to announce and present prizes to the winners of the safety poster competition set when he previously visited the school back in June.

One winner was chosen from each year group of the school, and there were some fantastic designs.

Julian previously visited the school to host a special safety assembly warning children of the dangers of construction sites and building works, whilst asking the children to design their very own posters to help warn other children.

With EQUANS currently carrying out planned investment works in the area, it's a priority for EQUANS to deliver these special talks to local schools to ensure the safety of children, parents and residents as well as the general public.

Careers in construction are being promoted to residents living in Essex to help support school and college leavers, thanks to EQUANS.

In June, Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz, visited Clarion's Alternative Provision Unit in Wickford, Essex, where he was promoting the benefits of a career in construction by holding a virtual conference.

Julian is currently working throughout Essex on behalf of Clarion, engaging with local schools and colleges to support STEM activities and promote apprenticeships and work placement opportunities. He will also be organising 200 free e-learning spaces for Wickford residents to support student learning outcomes.

If you're interested in a career with EQUANS or would like to find out more about apprenticeships and work placement opportunities, please contact Julian on 07795 194 449 or click here to view our current vacancies.

Thanks to EQUANS building a new community allotment in Sprowston, Norwich, local youth will learn how to grow their own food.

In June, Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz, visited Sprowston to help create a brand new community allotment including six large raised planters for local youth group, Sprowston Youth Engagement Partnership (SYEP).

The new garden will be used by SYEP to teach local youth how to grow their own food, and to promote intergenerational socialisation with older allotment members.

Julian will also be hosting a volunteer day in the coming weeks to fill the planter beds with more than 16 tonnes of grade 1 top soil.

Students from a London school shown potential for a career in construction thank to careers day held by EQUANS.

Joined by staff from Clarion as well as our partner contractor, Wates, Social Value Manager for EQUANS, Julian Sanz, visited students at the Hatch End High School in Harrow in June, to deliver a careers day to showcase the potential employment opportunities within the construction industry.

Makeda Christie, a colleague of Julian's, who lives locally to the school kindly offered to talk to Year 7 and 8 students about her own career path, as well as the variety of career opportunities available at EQUANS.

Makeda and the other presenters made it clear that it is rare to have a career path that is straightforward, as often when you are young you may not know what you want to do ext. Makeda explained that in this situation, it's important to always be aware of the various opportunities open to you and to try something which interests you as you never know where you may end up working.

The session was a great way to introduce students to the world of work as well as;

• Broaden and raise career aspirations
• Help students have a better understanding of different routes into careers
• Build confidence
• Help to make a smooth transition between school and employment or further education

Earlier this month, students from the Cawston Primary School in Norfolk, received a special assembly from EQUANS to highlight the dangers posed from live construction sites.

Joined by members of the South East & East regional EQUANS team including Karen Newell, Mark Rule and Frances Harvey, Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz delivered a very special assembly to school children from Cawston Primary School to highlight the dangers of construction sites and the importance of not playing on or near them.

With EQUANS currently carrying out planned investment works in the area, it's a priority for EQUANS to deliver these special talks to local schools to ensure the safety of children, parents and residents as well as the general public.

Delivered on 16th June, the assembly included a short video an interactive safety clothing Q&A session and a poster competition to get the children thinking about safety around construction sites.

Julian will return to the school in a number of weeks to judge the poster competition entries and declare the winner of a special art prize.

In June, the communal garden at a supported living block was improved due to repairs to the raised beds carried out by EQUANS.

Thanks to a number of volunteers from EQUANS, the raised planter beds within the communal garden at George Downing House in Plymouth have been repaired, significantly improving the appearance of the garden for residents.

A few years back the Clarion Neighbourhood Investment Team, asked EQUANS if we could install raised beds at George Downing House and the works were undertaken as part of our social value commitments for Clarion. The raised beds have been used to their full potential over the last few years by the residents and they have made them their own by painting them in vibrant colours, growing all sorts in them.

Many of the residents take a lot of pride in the communal garden areas that they have and the gardens surrounding the flats are always vibrant and full of colour.

More recently it was noticed that the raised beds needed some work to keep them together so that residents could continue to use them in the coming years. Volunteers from EQUANS kindly took time out of their busy schedules and used their staff volunteering days to undertake the necessary repairs.

One resident from George Downing House was particularly delighted with the renewed planters saying, "A good job done, I'm looking forward to painting them with the paint I bought with the vouchers received from EQUANS, thank you."

"It was great to be able to update the raised beds for the residents. They get so much enjoyment out of gardening and it creates a great community spirit and brings everyone together." Karen Jones, EQUANS Resident Liaison Officer and Volunteer

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.

"Upon completion of the building and renovation work of our property, we have found the difference in temperature in the evenings to be vastly improved. The sound and noise from outside is reduced. Passers-by remark at how bright and clean the new look is.

"The workers were polite and friendly. They were consistent of health & safety regulations. Management were respectful in every way. Problems and delays were reported to us as appropriate. Thank you for all your hard work. Definitely recommend the work for other households." Resident of Edinburgh Drive, Wisbech

"Since the bungalow has been insulated and cladded I hold the heat in more. Most days it's at 23, in temperature so I don't have the heating on very often. Electric has gone down to about £120 a month, my first bill was £300 per month!" Resident of Richmond Green, Gorefield

Whilst UK Power Networks (UKPN) were on site at Churchill Road in Wisbech repositioning the power cables as part of our decarbonisation works, the residents at 15 Churchill Road asked if we could chop the tree at their property, as it was too close to the power cable. UKPN were happy to assist and cut the tree below the height of the power cable at no cost to the resident. The resident was extremely happy.

"Very happy with the people who put in the new windows and doors. They covered all my floors so there was no damage and they cleaned up when finished." Resident of Richmond Green, Gorefield

"A super team! Fast, efficient and friendly. The standard of work was impressive and respect for my property was appreciated. Left my kitchen and bathroom very clean and tidy. The finished work was exceptional. Very impressed and highly recommend." Resident of Richmond Green, Gorefield

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

Initially a resident from Belford Road was unhappy as the asbestos team failed to arrive on two occasions, but thanks to the site team, especially Taryn, we had a happy ending with the resident commenting: "I'm very happy with the work that's been carried out. Taryn has been very helpful. Thank you for all the help." Resident of Belford Road, Borehamwood

A resident from Maydwell Lodge was extremely anxious at the start of the works, but thanks to Resident Liaison Officer, Taryn and the team keeping her constantly updated she managed to have her kitchen works completed, commenting: "I am happy with the kitchen, Taryn was very nice and kept in touch with me during the works. The builders did a good job and I'm very pleased with the result." Resident of Maydwell Lodge, Borehamwood