Welcome from Catherine
Hello and welcome to the spring-edition of the new-look VOICE Magazine which we have developed specifically for Muir’s new website. We hope you like it!
I would like to start by dedicating this issue to Tony Hodson, who sadly passed away earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. Tony was one of our most involved residents, and was a familiar face to many of you due to his role with the Northern branch of the Regional Residents’ Forum.
Tony cared passionately about resident involvement, and worked tirelessly to ensure that our residents get the best from us as a landlord. From a personal perspective, it was a pleasure working alongside Tony and he will be greatly missed by everyone involved with Muir.
One of Muir’s main aims is ensuring that our residents are involved in the decisions that affect them. We are inclusive, and we offer a number of ways to enable those who are keen to do so, to have their say. If this is something that interests you, then take a look at the different opportunities to get involved.
It has been a busy start to the year for Muir. One of the most exciting developments has been working towards the purchase of OP Building Maintenance Services Ltd (OPBMS) which we completed on 1st April 2015. OPBMS has carried out repairs and maintenance work on our properties in the North West for the past six years.
In this issue you will read more about our decision to purchase OPBMS and the benefits it will bring to customers and to the business. Going forward, one of the key benefits is that we will have a greater control on how our repairs and maintenance services are delivered.
A national campaign that Muir has been supporting is ‘Homes for Britain’. With the General Election just around the corner, the whole housing sector is calling on all political parties to commit to end the housing crisis within a generation.
The stark fact is we are currently only building half the number of homes we need every year. The statistics are concerning, particularly when we factor in a growing population and a lack of affordable housing options across the country.
The campaign has gained a lot of interest in recent months, culminating with a huge rally which saw over 2,500 people who care about the future of housing in the UK take over Westminster. You can show your support for the campaign by visiting the Homes for Britain Website.
At Muir, we see ourselves as more than just your landlord. One of the things I love about working at Muir is hearing about us working together with our residents to achieve great things in our communities.
In this edition, you’ll read about two such examples – featuring the Cinnamon Brow Residents Association (CIMBRA) and Blackpool resident, Sally Baddeley. CIMBRA has secured over £50,000 towards a new play area to be built in the community, whilst Sally has recently achieved a Level 2 Housing Qualification which you can read all about in our Community Roundup section!
I hope you enjoy reading this new style edition of VOICE and have a great Easter Break.
Catherine.