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 this year. For further details about how you could get a grant for up to £2,500 and to apply, 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.
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.
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 this 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.
During this time, we have also installed 170 new kitchens, 131 new bathrooms, 60 new roofs, 268 new doors and 35 new boilers, as well as installing new windows in 147 homes across Lancashire.
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.