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Press Release |
Ref:PRSH285 Date: 12th November 2019
Kind hearts at community group
A Stafford-based community group has been celebrating acts of kindness from family, friends and strangers with the help of the area's leading provider of affordable homes.
In the run up to World Kindness Day (Wednesday, November 13), members of WhYCH met at the Round House community venue to talk about what it means to be kind and to share their experiences.
The group provides activities and events for young adults with social and learning difficulties and additional needs and meets regularly at The Round House in Stafford, a community facility owned and managed by Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH).
The housing association provides a wide-ranging support for the group, including use of the recently refurbished venue and a nearby allotment plot, as part of its commitment to the communities it serves.
WhYCH Co-ordinator, Tracy Carter, explained: "Without the help of SARH, the group would not be able to continue.
"We're very grateful for the use of the Round House and the allotment enables members of the group to grow their own fresh vegetables and get out in the fresh air."
As part of the World Kindness Day celebrations, which took place as the group prepared to embark on an outdoor pursuits weekend, members shared examples of kindness they have benefitted from.
WhYCH member, Aaron Hawkins, commented: "The club is amazing, I love it and it gives me the chance to meet up with friends. The help we get from SARH shows that organisations can show kindness, as well as people."
Volunteer and former club member Katie Bush added: "There's so much going on here and I help to run a drama group which would not be possible without the SARH facilities and the kindness shown by Tracy in giving up so much of her time to run the group!"
Now a proud member of Housing Plus Group, SARH has developed close links with WhYCH over a number of years and recently made a £500 donation to the group from its SARH C.A.R.E.S. Foundation.
Gavin McAlister, SARH Community Engagement Adviser commented: "SARH is committed to building stronger, more caring communities and WhYCH offers a great example of this spirit."
"It's fitting they're leading our World Kindness Day celebrations which will also see SARH employeessurprising their colleagues with handwritten ‘kindness cards'."
Caption:
Pictured at the Round House are Gavin McAlister, SARH Community Engagement Advisor (far right); Katie Bush, WhYCH volunteer; Tracy Carter, WhYCH Co-ordinator (back row third and fourth left), and WhYCH member Aaron with other members and volunteers.
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About Stafford and Rural Homes
Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) is the largest social landlord in Stafford with around 6,000 homes across Stafford, Stone and the rural villages across the Borough. Established in 2006 to own and manage the former Stafford Borough Council housing stock, SARHset up a trading subsidiary company Housing Worx, to deliver planned maintenance works to its properties and fulfil commercial contracts in 2012. SARHalso offers 18 Independent Living schemes for people aged over 55 andan award-winning Telecare home safety and personal security system for the elderly and vulnerable ‘You First'.SARH has invested more than £280 million on improvement and regeneration programmes and have built over 500 high quality new homes for rent and shared ownership which have benefited SARH customers by improving neighbourhoods and creating job opportunities for local people. The housing association has pledged tobuild or acquire 900 new homes by 2021 andworks in partnership with local authorities, health trusts, statutory bodies and a range of voluntary organisations to create safe, sustainable communities where residents can ‘Live, Work and Grow'.
SARH is registered as a Charitable Community Benefit Society and is part of Housing Plus Group, one of the largest housing providers in the region.
Follow SARH on Twitter@SARHomes
Media contact:
Martin Farrow
CHANGEWORKS Communications
t: + 44 (0) 1785 247588
m: +44 (0)7771 970025
e: mfarrow@changeworkscom.co.uk
Stafford and Rural Homes contact:
Mara Hargreaves
Marketing and Communications Manager
t:01785 216793 (Direct)
m:07800 619 863 (Mobile)