Hyndburn
Enabling people to be their best
We welcomed nine Year 11 students from Hyndburn Academy on a two-day work experience placement where they spent time with different Onward teams such as Neighbourhoods and Repairs to learn about job opportunities in the housing sector and apprenticeships at Onward.
Through the Onward Community Fund, we have gone beyond housing by granting over £9.9k to eight local projects across Lancashire since March last year. For further details about how you could get support, please email socialinvestment@onward.co.uk.
Thanks to a grant from the Fund, Accrington Wildcats Rugby Club are delivering an equality project that aims to embed inclusivity in the sport and will see a focus on the recruitment of female, minority ethnic and disabled volunteers and players. The funding will also enable the club to increase its training schedule through an investment in mobile floodlights and capacity for community gatherings to enhance social cohesion, inclusivity and belonging across the borough.
We have also supported Maundy Relief which is using a grant from the Onward Community Fund to expand its food growing project by increasing food production across its allotments and delivering more produce to nine food banks and pantries across Accrington.
During Mental Health Awareness Week, our 1st Call Team invited the local community in Hyndburn to get fishing for wellbeing. The event, led by volunteers, saw 16 local people with different abilities come together to relax, enjoy the fresh air, de-stress and escape the hustle and bustle of modern life. 1st Call have also provided funding for volunteers to complete Level 2 Angling qualifications, which will enable them to teach and coach others at future events.
We held a Christmas party for refugees and asylum seekers in partnership with Hyndburn Borough Council to reduce isolation and provide money advice. The event was opportunity for customers to form friendships, access free Winter clothing and a hot meal, with games and presents for children.
Providing homes our customers love
We have worked with Hyndburn Council and Stepping Stones on their ABEN project, a homelessness reduction initiative, by helping five people with permanent homes. We will continue to work on the initiative in the coming months and offer more homes to those in need.
Our Lockside Walk development of 127 new homes in Clayton-le-Moors is also taking shape thanks to our contractors, Watson Homes, and will offer a range of affordable housing on the banks of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The first Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy homes are now available via Onward Living.
Since April last year, we have made improvements to our existing homes in Hyndburn and Ribble Valley through an energy efficiency project to make 81 homes warmer, quieter and more affordable. A total of 126 homes will benefit from the project.
Over this period, we have also made improvements to our existing homes across Lancashire, including 237 new kitchens, 180 new bathrooms, 64 new roofs, 603 new doors and 43 new boilers, as well as the installation of new windows in 284 homes.
Creating places people are proud of
When customers told us that fly tipping was an issue in our Huncoat neighbourhood, we held a joint visit with Hynburn Borough Council and cusotomers which resulted in more bins being given to those living in the area.
We also hosted neighbourhood inspections in our Clayton-le-Moors, Laneside and Springhill neighbourhoods where we spoke with our customers and local residents to improve issues with fly tipping, ground maintenance and car parking.
Over in Clayton-le-Moors, we’re also supporting Hyndburn Leisure’s Keep It Clean volunteering sessions, where Onward colleagues, students from Accrington and Rossendale College and community volunteers come together each month to litter pick and tidy spaces across the neighbourhood.
Customers in Rishton told us that fly tipping was an issue in several key hotspots. Working with Onward Environmental, we have improved bin stores and made these more secure and user friendly for customers.
Following reports of antisocial behaviour in Great Harwood, we worked with the Police at an outreach day to provide advice and information to customers.