One Brick at a Time: Colleagues depart for International Skills Exchange
A team of plumbers, plasterers and bricklayers from two housing trusts are travelling to Uganda where they will use their expertise to help renovate a primary school.
Five colleagues from Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) have joined three members of Halton Housing Trust’s Construction Services team to spend three weeks in the town of Fort Portal.
The team will be swapping winter in the North West to work in the plus 30 degree African heat over the next three weeks, helping to reconstruct classrooms that were damaged in a major earthquake which hit Uganda in 1994.
This sustainable project has been developed in partnership with Liverpool Hope University and the Mountains of the Moon University in Fort Portal, Western Uganda, as well as the Volunteer Missionary Movement, a UK and Irish based charity. A Ugandan priest called Father Sebastian attended the launch of the project at the Ugandan Embassy in London last year. Father Sebastian’s bricks will be used to complete the construction of the primary school.
Dr Martin Carey, Chief Executive of Urban Hope; a social enterprise subsidiary of Liverpool Hope University specialising in regeneration projects and John Denny, Chief Executive of CDHT have been to Uganda and visited the Mountains of the Moon University.
John Denny said:
“Our Chester workforce is really excited about teaming up with the inspirational people of Uganda; many of our colleagues have never been to Africa before, so this is a great opportunity for them exchange skills and bring back what they have learnt to Chester.
“As well as providing much-needed skilled labour for this part of Western Uganda, the Fort Portal project is a chance for colleagues to work in an enlightening environment, working way outside their normal experiences alongside local Ugandan apprentices to procure local materials to complete projects that have been identified by the schools themselves; local needs are driving this project.
“The potential benefits for colleagues and students alike are immense – and Fort Portal will be left with better school facilities that could encourage more graduates to stay and teach and in turn children to continue their own education to graduate level.”
Nick Atkin, Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, said:
“We are aiming to ensure our team has a long-term impact on the area. It will be an amazing experience for our colleagues. It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to use the skills that they have developed over the years to move the lives of others and to pass on their expertise. They will also bring back skills and experience which will be of benefit not only to the three of them but also to the wider organisation.”
Su Bramley, CDHT Deputy Chief Executive, added:
“I know from my recent visit to the Fort Portal area the real need there is for what we might think is a basic right, to receive an education in a safe, clean and dry classroom. We’ve received amazing support from our colleagues and partners in their fundraising efforts, sponsorship or the donation of equipment. The level of training and skills that our colleagues achieve is considerable so it’s all the more important that we are also able to pass this on in partnering with the local technical colleges. As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility policy this year we will be supporting both this charitable project in Uganda and also children’s hospice Claire House when our Chief Executive, John Denny, completes the marathon Transalp bike ride across the German, Austrian, Swiss and Italian Alps.”
Speaking before going on the trip, Martin Ambrose, of Halton Housing Trust’s Construction Services Team, said:
“The chance to do something like this doesn’t come around very often. I’ve been a bricklayer since I was 15 so it’s great that I’m going to be able to pass on my skills to someone who really needs it. It’s hard to imagine what it is going to be like out there. Their lives are so different to ours. I’m currently working on a project to fit miles of new fencing for our customers in Runcorn and Widnes, so I imagine Africa is going to be quite a change. I’ve no idea what to expect, but I’m very excited to see what it’s going to be like out there.”
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CAPTION:
CDHT’s Sarah Perry, one of the multi-skilled Chester team to go to Uganda on a skills exchange.
Halton Housing Trust’s Steve Morgan, Martin Ambrose and Steve Bounds will be passing on their skills to apprentices in Uganda.
Notes to editors
Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) is a dynamic and enterprising organisation at the forefront of delivering positive impacts in the communities with which it works. The Trust’s homes span six communities – Blacon North; Blacon South; Chester City Area; The Rurals; Lache and Handbridge; Upton, Hoole, Newton and Plas Newton.
Committed to the best principles of social enterprise with over 14,000 local customers in 6,200 properties and 53% of its 275 colleagues living within its communities, the Trust adheres to key commitments and principles relating to people, places, partnerships and performance which underpin the Vision to ‘create opportunity’, through its mission, ‘by doing the right thing’.
The Trust is about being transparent and accountable in everything that is done and to this end is one of the first organisations nationally to have established a Residents’ Board, with full delegated powers from the Trust Board, to direct services which impact upon their lives.
The Trust has a comprehensive development programme delivering over 330 new homes including the £12million regeneration of the Treborth Road area of Chester providing new homes for rent, sale and shared ownership, as well as a village green and wildlife habitats.
CDHT also provides services on a partnership basis, to a number of other customers e.g. Telecare services, TrustWorks Maintenance Services, Housing Options advice, waiting list management and choice based lettings to neighbouring local authorities and registered social landlords.
The Trust is rated as two Star excellent by the Audit Commission, has the highest possible rating from Telecare Services Association and is also credited Investors in People and is the overall Employer of the Year For Cheshire West. It has been in the ‘Top 100 Sunday Times best companies to work for’ for the last 2 years.
For more details please visit www.cdht.org or request a copy of CDHT’s Corporate Plan 2009-2014.
Halton Housing Trust is a housing association that owns and manages 6,120 homes in the Cheshire towns of Widnes and Runcorn. The Trust was formed in December 2005 following the transfer of homes from Halton Borough Council.
Halton Housing Trust provides affordable homes to rent, helps the homeless and provides support to older and disabled people – helping them live independently in their own home.
The Trust has delivered it’s £85 million Decent Homes Investment Programme 15 months ahead of schedule. This has paved the way to embark upon a £262 million investment programme to homes and communities up to 2015.
Halton Housing Trust is a not-for-profit housing association and is a Registered Provider with the Tenant Services Authority.
The Trust is committed to its vision of “Delivering quality and excellence for all”. The longer term aims and objectives are set out in its Corporate Plan 2009-12.
CDHT Press Contacts: Phil Brotherhood
E: phil@marketingprojects.co.uk M: 07884 493370
Jane Harrad-Roberts
E: jane@marketingprojects.co.uk M: 07785 395705
W: www.marketingprojects.co.uk T: 01244 330000
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