Crundale Court Transformed With Golding Homes
A run-down outdoor space in Kent has been transformed into a bright, safe and inclusive area for the local community to enjoy thanks to joint efforts from Housing Association Golding Homes and Nationwide Windows and Doors. The area, outside Crundale and Walmer Court in Maidstone was run-down, had broken fencing and was not appealing for the local community to use as a safe, recreational space. The area was identified by the Golding Homes team as an area that could benefit from significant investment and regeneration for the entire community to enjoy. Helen Critcher, Community Investment Manager at Golding Homes said: “After identifying the space as having good potential for improving the local area for our residents, we wanted to ensure that we talked to them about what they wanted from the space. Following two drop-in sessions and a letter-drop to all local properties, the general feedback was that people wanted a safe space that families could enjoy.” First and foremost, the goal was to ensure the safety of the local community. A structural engineering report was carried out on the side wall of the area and remedial works were completed. Helen continued: “We were also approached by Maidstone Borough Council to see if we had any areas that would be a good location for a mural to be painted by a local artist as they had funds available through an arts grant. We thought the new wall at Crundale would be the perfect space for it!” To further engage the local community, Golding Homes made a call-out to local residents to help with the design and submitted artwork from a young local resident called Jayden is featured in the completed mural, which was painted by local artist Danielle Williamson. The space has been enhanced with astro-turfing, sensory boards and floor game markings for children to enjoy, alongside new seating, planting, and an Alpine rock garden. Other improvements include new fencing, carpark markings, signage and security cameras. The entire project was made possible thanks to Nationwide’s Social Value Fund, which funded all works, including the structural engineer, all materials, paint for the walls and mural, new fencing and signage. The Nationwide team also played a key role in the management of the project, supporting resident engagement sessions and sourcing local suppliers. Kevin Caveney, Director of Commercial Sales at Nationwide Windows & Doors said: “Projects like this are a perfect example of how our Social Value Fund can contribute to improving the communities. It’s fantastic to see local residents, artists, companies, councils, housing associations and partners collaborating to deliver a new space that can be enjoyed by everyone. It has been a pleasure to be involved in reviving this community space.”
Pitch Perfect – Nationwide Supports Community Sports Stadium Upgrade To Meet FA Standards
Castle Vale Stadium has been transformed into a modern community sports centre thanks to an upgrade programme funded by Nationwide Windows & Doors’ Social Value Fund. The stadium, which has been at the heart of the Castle Vale community in Birmingham for more than 25 years, is managed by The Pioneer Group, the community housing association that manages more than 2,500 homes in the area. The stadium is regularly used by a number of senior and junior local football teams, as well as offering sports facilities for nearby schools. The stadium has experienced two major upgrades – modernised shower and changing room facilities and new dugouts – that have improved facilities for all stadium users and improved the stadium enough to meet FA standards. Leonie Hammond, Contracts Manager at The Pioneer Group said: “Upgrading Castle Vale Stadium was critical for supporting the wide range of community initiatives we deliver, including our regular training sessions for women and children’s football. “The installation of the dugouts has enabled us to make further upgrades to the pitch. It also means that our facilities meet The Football Association (FA) Standards so that Castle Vale Stadium can be used to host official league matches and used by local and regional teams. This increases the number of opportunities for competitive football at our stadium to sustain its use and secure its future.” Kevin Caveney, Director of Commercial Sales at Nationwide Windows & Doors said: “This is another Castle Vale project that has been a pleasure to be part of. Local and accessible sports facilities are a crucial part of any community. I’m proud that Nationwide’s contributions have enabled the stadium to meet FA standards to make it an appealing venue for a larger range of teams, making it a vibrant and essential part of the Castle Vale community.”
Nationwide Supports Day Centre With New Oven & Defibrillator
Titchfield Close Day Centre in Maidstone is the latest community project to benefit from Nationwide’s Social Value Fund. The day centre, which serves residents of Golding Homes-managed properties in the surrounding area, is a vital space for the community, serving as a venue for social activities and events to combat loneliness. Residents have built a strong and supportive sense of community and regularly use the day centre kitchen and garden to bring people together through bake sales, BBQs, and fundraising events for local charities. Following requests for a new, working cooker during resident and community meetings, Golding Homes approached Nationwide for support. “Titchfield Close is such a wonderful community,” says Leigh Cutts, OPAL Advisor, at Golding Homes. “The day centre is a wonderful space that’s regularly used by the residents, and they have been really passionate about how these kinds of improvements could transform the centre and help to create more events that reduce isolation, help neighbours get to know each other and support the community. “Having a reliable cooker in the day centre kitchen also provides a safe alternative for residents to use, should problems ever arise in their own properties. And following the sad loss of someone in their community, they also felt strongly that having a defibrillator onsite could literally be a life saver.” Using their Social Value Fund, Nationwide have donated a new range cooker and a defibrillator to the day centre, with both now installed and in full working order. Leigh adds: “On delivery of the items, our residents were absolutely blown away. They already have plans for new coffee mornings, BBQs and even a Sunday Roast Club. It will make such a difference to the community and one day, that defibrillator could save a life.” Kevin Caveney, Director of Commercial Sales at Nationwide Windows & Doors said: “With studies showing that early defibrillation within 3 – 5 minutes of collapse can increase survival rates by as much as 70%, saying yes to the defibrillator was a no-brainer. “Day Centres like Titchfield Close provide vital services and connections for communities. The new range cooker is large enough to cater for large groups and will be a great resource to help support more events to combat loneliness – a great use of our Social Value Fund.”
Nationwide donates £40,000 worth of glazing upgrades to The Myton Hospices
Nationwide Windows & Doors has completed a significant refurbishment project at The Myton Hospices’ Warwick Inpatient Unit, donating new windows and doors to enhance comfort, energy efficiency and the overall environment for patients and their families. The work involved supplying and installing energy-efficient windows and doors across 14 inpatient rooms and additional areas within the unit, delivered as a full gift in kind. The total value of the donation is approximately £40,000, a contribution that relieves financial pressure on the hospice and frees up funds to be used directly for patient care and support services. “As a business rooted in the local area, it was important to us to find a way to help that made a real, practical difference,” said John Whalley, Managing Director of Nationwide. “The Myton Hospices do incredible work for patients and families across Coventry and Warwickshire, and we hope this contribution will help create a more comfortable environment now and for years to come.” Working within an active hospice required careful planning from Nationwide’s installation teams, with work carried out sensitively and with minimal disruption. The new installations will improve energy efficiency and help create a more comfortable environment for patients and visitors alike. The donation comes at a time when The Myton Hospices – like many charities – are balancing rising demand with tightening funding. Only 17% of Myton’s annual income comes from the NHS, with the remaining £12.7m needed raised through voluntary donations and community fundraising. This means that contributions such as Nationwide’s play a vital role in the hospice’s ability to deliver services free of charge to patients and their families. Martin Watts, Corporate Fundraiser at The Myton Hospices, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Nationwide for such a generous gift in kind. This donation not only enhances the comfort of our inpatient rooms, it also means that care funding can go directly towards patient support services, making a lasting difference to the people and families we care for.” John added: “Our team takes pride in the work we do every day, but projects like this carry extra meaning. Knowing our work will help create a better environment for patients and families is something everyone involved feels proud of.”
New Doors For Whittle Croft Retirement Housing Complex
Nationwide Windows and Doors Social Value scheme has funded and installed new doors for a communal area at a retirement housing scheme in Castle Vale. The retirement housing scheme is managed by community Housing Association The Pioneer Group, who provide more than 2,500 homes in the area. Leonie Hammond, Contracts Manager at The Pioneer Group said: “The new doors that have been installed have improved safety, accessibility, and comfort for residents at Whittle Croft. “They have made it easier for residents with mobility issues, walking aids, or reduced grip strength to move around independently and safely in the communal area of the scheme.” Supporting residents to access activities and connect with each other is a core mission for The Pioneer Group, so making communal spaces like this feel safer, with new doors is a perfect use of Nationwide’s Social Value Fund. Leonie added: “The improved security and visibility also help residents feel more confident in using the communal area independently. They have made the room much warmer too, so residents’ social activity times have been extended.”
New Cooker For The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is a community hub at the heart of the Castle Vale Community, where The Pioneer Group manages more than 2500 homes. The space is used to host health and wellbeing activities and youth services and offer general support for residents in the community. At the heart of The Sanctuary is the kitchen – a vital community asset that’s regularly used by local residents to come together to connect, socialise and support each other, helping to ease loneliness and isolation among people who otherwise would have limited social contact. As part of its Social Value Fund, Nationwide Windows and Doors has funded a new cooker for the kitchen. Replacing the old, inefficient one, which no longer met the needs of users of The Sanctuary, the new, modern appliance has enabled community groups to plan and prepare more shared meals, bringing more people together from across the community. Many residents have reported that without the community activities provided by The Sanctuary, they would spend most of their days at home without seeing or speaking to another person. Improving the kitchen with a new cooker has strengthened this essential lifeline for the Castle Vale community.
Phoenix Court Community Kitchen Upgrade Funded by Nationwide
A communal kitchen in Birmingham has benefitted from Nationwide Windows & Doors’ Social Value Fund, creating a safer environment that can be used to bring local residents together over food. Phoenix Court, which is managed by The Pioneer Group, offers sheltered accommodation to older people and people with additional needs to help them live independently. As well as their own personal flats, all residents have access to a communal kitchen, lounge and garden. Residents had requested an upgrade to the communal kitchen with a view to joining together to organise more activities and events for everyone to enjoy. The existing kitchen had been neglected – equipment was old and didn’t meet required safety standards, so it wasn’t plausible for residents to use it for their activity plans. Now, it’s a different story! The communal kitchen at Phoenix Court has had new flooring fitted throughout, creating a cleaner and safer environment. A new, range-style cooker has also been installed, which is big enough to be used for large community lunches and to help residents cater for activities and events where they can prepare and share food and refreshments together. Laura Griggs, Community Hub Manager at The Pioneer Group said: “Enhancing the facilities at Phoenix Court has helped to create an even more welcoming and relaxed environment that encourages social interaction, strengthens community connections and supports shared meals and company between our residents.”
Ensuring Community Inclusivity At The Sanctuary
Providing vital services for the Castle Vale community in Birmingham, The Sanctuary community hub has benefitted from a number of improvements recently, including new windows and a refurbishment of the sensory room. Now, thanks to contributions from Nationwide Windows & Doors’ Social Value Fund, the main hall has been audibly transformed with the installation of acoustic panels and sound-dampening features. Leonie Hammond, Contracts Manager at The Pioneer Group said: “Due to the materials used during the original construction of the main hall at The Sanctuary, the acoustics of the space were really poor and sound echoed significantly. “This presented a particular challenge for the elderly and hard-of-hearing members of the community visiting the centre, who were struggling to hear clearly during our sessions and activities.” A professional acoustics consultant was hired to assess the space and propose how the sound quality could be improved within the main hall. The recommendation was for acoustic panels and other sound-dampening features to be installed. Nationwide provided funding for the entire acoustics project, delivering a quieter space with fewer echoes to help create a space that more of The Sanctuary’s visitors can enjoy. Leonie adds: “The generous funding from Nationwide has meant we could improve the acoustics of the entire hall, enhancing the overall experience and making The Sanctuary a more accessible and inclusive space for everyone, including people with hearing difficulties.”
Supermarket Vouchers Support Healthy Learning
In Castle Vale in Birmingham, 24.9% of residents are under 18 and 35.7% of these local children live in low-income households. Amongst these children, truancy and under-achievement, due to hunger, poor nutrition and poverty, are major concerns, particularly for teachers and staff at Lift Greenwood Academy, who have been topping up children’s meals out of their own pockets. It’s been proven in a number of studies that improved nutrition can boost concentration, improve attendance records and increase self-esteem in school-aged children. Other studies have shown that pupils who receive free school meals score up to 10% higher in standardised tests than similarly deprived peers who do not. The Pioneer Group – Castle Vale’s community housing association – is working towards joint educational and wellbeing programmes with Greenwood Academy and requested a shopping voucher donation from Nationwide’s Social Vale Fund as a first step towards supporting students who were arriving at school hungry. Nationwide Windows & Doors has donated a £1,000 supermarket voucher fund to help remove the barriers to learning that come with hunger and enable teachers to support students without using their own pay-packets.
Nationwide Supports YoungStars Community Hub
YoungStars Community Hub is a youth and community centre based in the heart of Castle Vale in Birmingham. Founded in 2004, the aim of the organisation is to bring children in the local community together to improve wellbeing and provide a safe, fun and inclusive space for play and learning. They deliver packed programmes of fun activities during half term holidays, run youth club sessions twice a week and host weekly stay and play sessions for pre-school children. The community space is also used for free adult wellbeing sessions, a weekly ‘nourish and natter’ soup kitchen and a community kitchen at the weekend. The Pioneer Group, the housing association based in Castle Vale which provides more than 2,500 homes and supports local people to access support, skills and opportunities, approached Nationwide for support with upgrading the community centre. After many years of use by the community, the carpet in the primary activity space had become very worn, was difficult to keep clean and was beginning to pose a safety concern. The YoungStars Community Hub was lacking the funds required to replace it, and faced the challenge of potentially cutting services or finding another space to host their activities. Now, thanks to support from Nationwide, new safety flooring has been fitted in the space, creating a safer, cleaner and more durable space where children and families can enjoy their community activities for years to come. Kevin Caveney, Director of Commercial Sales at Nationwide Windows & Doors said: “The YoungStars Community Hub is a vital part of the Castle Vale neighbourhood, offering crucial services for local families to support education, wellbeing and play. We’re so proud that our Social Value Fund can help organisations like Youngstars to survive and thrive.” Rachel Beard from YoungStars said: “The new flooring has completely transformed our space. The old carpet was rough and scratchy, which just wasn’t fit-for-purpose for our activities—especially the youth group, community cafe, and baby ‘stay and play’ sessions—and it was becoming really expensive to keep clean. This new flooring is a perfect fit. It’s made the room so much more welcoming and user-friendly, and it’s much easier to manoeuvre furniture and change the room layout to suit different activities. Most importantly, it’s cleaner and safer for everyone who visits.”