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Housing group launch takes to the road - Between 10-13 June

Housing staff are taking to an open top bus to promote Incommunities, the new name for the Bradford Community Housing Trust Group (BCHT) which comes into effect from 9 June.

Between 10 and 13 June, the Incommunities bus will be visiting over 25 community centres, toddler groups, sheltered schemes and estates across the district.

On Monday (9 June, 10am) the open top bus will be at the big launch of Incommunities at Trust House in Bradford when the new Lord Mayor, Councillor Howard Middleton will be the guest of honour at the unveiling of a new name sign.

The new name – Incommunities - shows the organisations commitment to put communities at the heart of everything it does. It shows that after five years in business as BCHT the organisation is moving forward with a new strong single identity and brand.

It also shows that the organisation is no longer just a housing landlord but provides a breadth of other important services that have a positive impact on peoples’ lives and their communities.

Following the city centre launch, the bus will be used to take staff to a host of venues around the district. They will be available to talk about the many local services Incommunities provides to its customers and also join in fun activities with people young and old.

Some of the key local events on the bus’s timetable include:-

• Tuesday, 10 June between 1.10pm -1.50pm at Hainworth Wood Community Centre at Woodhouse, Keighley – Local people will be taking part in a healthy living day as part of a three day Community Week at the centre. They will be able to sample Reiki, massage, manicures and reflexology and other activities.

• Wednesday, 11 June between 9am -10.30am at Fearnville Primary School, Fearnville Drive in Laisterdyke. School children will be able to have great fun with the outdoor games when the bus stops outside the school.
Between 3.30pm – 4.30pm the bus will visit Sandale Community Centre, Kelmore Grove, Woodside where a bingo session will be taking place

• Thursday, 12 June between 1.30pm – 4pm at Clayton Friendship Centre at Thornaby Drive, Clayton. Bingo fun for residents.

• Friday, 13 June between 2pm – 6pm at The Gateway Centre, Ravenscliiffe. A host of activities will take place as part of a Neighbours Day celebration. They will include a children’s entertainer, competitions, face painting and stalls. The event organised by Incommunities aims to bring residents and communities together. It forms part of the annual European Neighbours Day celebrations.

On Wednesday (11 June at 2pm), Geraldine Howley, Group Chief Executive is joining residents and staff at a party at the Heygate Close sheltered scheme in Baildon to mark its 40th anniversary. They will be joined by tenants from nearby Heather Road and Laburnum Drive in Baildon.

Geraldine Howley, BCHT Group Chief Executive said: “The launch week reflects our commitment to build strong and sustainable partnerships at the very heart of communities and encourage local people and groups to get involved in our work.

“Following the big launch on Monday (9 June) staff will be going into neighbourhoods and estates on the Incommunites open top bus. They will be meeting customers, talking about our many services and joining in fun activities with people of all ages.”

The new name, rebranding and launch events has been managed and produced in-house. The cost involved is not coming from customer rents but from income generated from other areas of the organisation.
Ends

For more information, contact Ian Simpson, BCHT Assistant Chief Executive, Business Services and Development on 01274 254701.


Photocall – 10 – 13 June – various venues around the district. Any of the above events would make good photos. (see contact details below for highlighted events).

Wednesday, 11 June between 9am -10.30am at Fearnville Primary School, Fearnville Drive in Laisterdyke. If you wish to take photos of children playing games please contact Lindsay Roche at Incommunities – east office on 01274 257215 at least 24 hours before the event to enable all the necessary school permissions to be completed for photos.

Tuesday, 10 June between 1.10pm -1.50pm at Hainworth Wood Community Centre at Woodhouse, Keighley. For more info including confirming bus times at event contact Tracy Laycock at Incommunities – Aire-Wharfe on 079080 13314.

Friday, 13 June between 2pm – 6pm at The Gateway Centre, Ravenscliiffe. A host of activities will take place as part of a Neighbours Day celebration. For more info contact Mina Dye-Sharpe at Incommunities on 01274 254778/07769 932849.

For addition events taking place please see the Incommunities Launch Week timetable is attached.


• BCHT was formed in February 2003 following the stock transfer of Council homes. It followed a ballot of tenants in which 62% voted ‘yes’ voted in favour of the transfer.

• From 9 June 2008 Incommunites will take over from the BCHT Group as the not-for-profit Registered Social Landlord. As before it will be responsible for 22,000 homes across the district and as before it is made up of the existing six local area offices. From 9 June these will be renamed: Incommunities – aire-wharfe office, Incommunities – east office, Incommunities – north office, Incommunities – shipley office, Incommunities – South office and Incommunities – west city office. Further services include Incommunities – buildingservices, Incommunities – estateservices, Incommunities – propertysolutions, Incommunities trustcare and Bradford Homehunter.