Northern Ireland vet shortage must be addressed as Protocol problems deepen

A senior Ulster Unionist peer has called for urgent action to address an increasingly serious shortage of vets carrying out official meat inspections in Northern Ireland.

Lord Rogan was speaking after the Province’s Chief Veterinary Officer told a Stormont committee yesterday that, when the supermarket grace period in the Northern Ireland Protocol expires, the number of argi-food certificates processed locally will be close to the figure handled by the EU as a whole.

Dr Robert Huey advised the Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee that these duties were currently being carried out by just 12 vets and “that’s not going to work.”

Lord Rogan

Lord Rogan has also received an answer to a Parliamentary Question in which the UK Government admitted that contingency plans had been put in place in the event that the current contract to deliver official veterinary controls in Northern Ireland was not delivered (see under Notes to Editors).

Lord Rogan said: “I have been concerned about this developing situation for some time and I will be tabling further Parliamentary Questions to seek to establish a clearer picture of what exactly is going on.        

“The disastrous Northern Ireland Protocol has clearly made the situation much worse, but the shortage of qualified vets to undertake certification responsibilities should have been dealt with long ago and certainly well before the end of the Brexit transition period.

“The UK Government and Food Standards Agency must get a grip on this situation and do so urgently.

“We need more vets and they must be fully-qualified, trainees will not do.

“It is yet another instance of the UK Government taking its eye off the ball on Northern Ireland in general and Brexit in particular.

“I commend Dr Huey for bringing this matter to wider public attention, but it should never have come to this.” 

People on lowest incomes left exposed by Budget measures - housing association CEO

The Chancellor’s decision to only partially extend the time limit on additional Universal Credit payments, freeze the basic rate personal income tax threshold and increase access to the property ladder without tackling the shortage of rented accommodation has placed people on the lowest incomes at greatest risk, the Chief Executive of Bradford-based Manningham Housing association has said.

Lee Bloomfield, Chief Executive, Manningham Housing Association

Responding to Rishi Sunak’s Budget speech earlier today, Lee Bloomfield said: “Whilst I welcome news that the £20 uplift to Universal Credit payments has been extended until September, the Chancellor has merely created yet another cliff edge for those families that depend on this extra income.

“Mr Sunak claimed that income tax would not go up but, for those in the lowest paid jobs, the decision to freeze the personal allowance for basic rate taxpayers will have the same effect with workers losing increasing amounts of their take home pay as time goes on.

“I fully understand the desire to help people on to the property ladder.  However, history tells us that this will gravely impair access to decent quality homes for those unable to afford a mortgage.  Decreasing the size of the rented sector in the midst of an ever-deepening housing crisis is short-sighted at best and grossly irresponsible at worst.

“With pay for key workers also frozen and unemployment levels expected to rise in the months ahead, these decisions have placed people on the lowest incomes at greatest risk.” 

Choice on the menu as Manningham Housing Association guides Bradford through lockdown

Manningham Housing Association (MHA) is stepping up its work to engage with Bradford residents during lockdown by significantly expanding its programme of community projects.

MHA has launched a brand new ‘Menu of Choice’ which includes almost 50 different initiatives to encourage local people of all ages to gain different skills, get active, be entertained and meet new friends.

All activities are online and range from sharing tips on healthy eating, fitness classes such as yoga and chair-based exercise, music therapy, virtual coffee mornings, financial advice workshops and interactive sessions on improving mental wellbeing and developing resilience.

The schedule builds on ‘Building Bridges Bradford,’ a series of mental health, social cohesion, employment and digital inclusion schemes launched by MHA last year with funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. 

Thanks to additional financial support from the National Lottery Community Fund, a new MHA health and wellbeing project known as ‘Fighting Fit’ has been added to help people struggling with mobility issues and mental challenges, alongside ‘Let’s Get On’ to offer Bradford residents the chance to enjoy arts and crafts, learn about computers and improve their communication skills.

‘BAME Ladies Smashing Boundaries,’ a Sport England-backed project piloted last June by MHA to encourage BAME female participation in sports including cricket, boxercise and Zumba will also form part of its ‘Menu of Choice.’

 All activities are free of charge and open to everyone in Bradford.

Nasir Hussain, MHA Community Partnerships and Investment Manager, said: “We are excited to be pressing on with our tailored offering to the community which the team has worked so hard to put together.

“The past 12 months have been challenging for everyone but we have remained determined to step forward and support local people.

“Creativity, ambition, innovation and positivity are the threads that knit the programme of activities together in the ‘Menu of Choice.’

“Whilst everything has to be online for now, we hope to continue many of these projects after lockdown and build on the remarkable Bradford community spirit.”     

MHA Chief Executive Lee Bloomfield (left) and MHA Community Partnerships and Investment Manager Nasir Hussain (taken before social distancing guidelines)

Lee Bloomfield, MHA Chief Executive, said: “I am incredibly proud of Nasir and his colleagues in our Community Investment and Partnership Team.

“We were making excellent progress in delivering our three-year Community Investment Strategy and there was a risk of this being blown off course when the pandemic took hold last March.

“However, thanks to the tenacity, invention and energy of MHA staff coupled with the valued support of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the National Lottery Community Fund and Sport England, we have been able to help large numbers of people cope with the challenges of lockdown.

“Difficult months still lie ahead and I would urge individuals and families keen to be part of what we’re doing to get in touch.”           

Barrington Billings, MHA Chair, said: “Manningham Housing Association is an organisation with high aspirations for the people and places we serve.

“The past 12 months have been almost unimaginably tough for neighbourhoods with large numbers of BAME residents where COVID-19 infection rates have been disproportionately high, lockdowns have been longest and levels of deprivation deepest. 

“I am thrilled but not surprised that MHA staff have risen to the challenge and demonstrated the foresight and endeavour to put together such an impressive schedule of events, surpassing all our expectations.

“There will be further mountains to climb after lockdown, but the Bradford community can be assured that we will continue to be there for them.”

Full details of Manningham Housing Association’s community engagement activities and how to get involved are available on its website. 

Leeds financial firm calls on peers to help bridge the digital divide

Leeds-based financial services firm Hitachi Capital have delivered their first 42 machines to Leeds Tech Angels, the campaign to provide laptops to children and young people in some of the city’s most digitally excluded neighbourhoods. 

The machines, which were due to be recycled after refurbishment, were instead donated to Tech Angels after their disk drives were removed and disposed of securely, with Hitachi Capital providing funding for replacement disk drives. 

Theresa Lindsay, Group Head of Marketing, Hitachi Capital UK PLC said: “We’re really pleased to work with Tech Angels to ensure that the laptops we’re donating will go to children in Leeds who really need the equipment to continue their education. 

“It’s easy to forget there’s such a digital divide in our communities and I’d encourage all businesses in the region to look at what kit you have spare and talk to the charity about donating. 

“Every laptop really does count and can make a huge difference to a child’s life.” 

A Hitachi Capital technician hands over laptops to Leeds Tech Angels representatives

This sentiment was echoed by Ben McKenna who is coordinating the Leeds Tech Angels campaign. 

He said: “These machines will be hugely useful to pupils across Leeds struggling to catch up with their schoolwork after spending the best part of a year in lockdown.

“We would like to thank Hitachi Capital as well as all of our other donors for helping to give these young people a chance to realise their potential.

“If any other businesses have spare kit, we can ensure this is safely recycled and put into the hands of schoolchildren in need.”

The campaign to find Leeds Tech Angels is being led by a recently established group, Digital Access West Yorkshire, with funding from Leeds Community Foundation and support from Ahead Partnership, Leeds City Council and Zero Waste Leeds.

The digital divide has been exacerbated by coronavirus with many school children lacking the means to join online lessons.

More information about Leeds Tech Angels including how to donate tech kit can be found at tech-angels.net

Manningham Housing Association expresses positive hopes for 2021 in New Year message

The Chair and Chief Executive of Manningham Housing Association (MHA) have said that 2021 can bring “better times for people of all ages” after a “horrendous year of uncertainty and distress.”

In a New Year message, Barrington Billings and Lee Bloomfield said that inequalities highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic needed to be “urgently addressed” by the Government with community-based organisations such as MHA keen to help provide policy solutions. 

Barrington Billings

Founded in 1986, MHA manages more than 1,400 homes for over 6,000 residents in Bradford and Keighley and is the first housing association in the country to be officially accredited for its work in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.

Over 80 per cent of its residents are of South Asian origin but the association caters for the needs of individuals and families from all ethnic backgrounds.

In their joint statement, the MHA Chair and Chief Executive said: “2020 will be forever remembered as the year when coronavirus brought the world to a standstill.

 “Over 70,000 people have died across the United Kingdom including more than 600 in Bradford and Keighley.

“Each death is a personal tragedy and we offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have been lost.

“Last summer we raised our deep concerns over the disproportionately adverse impact of Covid-19 on BME people - confirmed in a series of studies – and that disturbing trend has continued throughout the pandemic.

“Deprived neighbourhoods have also been much more severely affected than affluent areas.

Lee Bloomfield

“Lessons need to be learnt and the Government must take a lead in urgently addressing the inequalities which organisations such as Manningham Housing Association see every day in local communities.

“We are keen to work with policymakers to find the answers to the numerous questions our society faces, including how to significantly increase provision of high quality affordable homes.”

Mr Billings and Mr Bloomfield spoke of their positive hopes for 2021.  They said: “We believe that the next 12 months can deliver better times for people of all ages after a horrendous year of uncertainty and distress.

“Alongside the many deaths and long-term health problems resulting from Covid-19, there have been a huge number of job losses, significant falls in family incomes and other opportunities lost such as access to workplace training.

“Children have also been out of school for prolonged periods.

“But the vaccination programme is about to go up a gear which will hopefully bring an end to the misery and suffering as some form of normality returns.    

“We must continue to look out for each other – our family members, friends and neighbours.

“Manningham Housing Association will be proudly at the forefront of these community efforts across Bradford and Keighley.”  

Search is on for Leeds Tech Angels to bridge Covid digital divide

An appeal has been launched for businesses and other employers in Leeds to donate unused laptops and tech to young people across the city not able to access technology at home.

The campaign to find Leeds Tech Angels is being led by a recently established group, Digital Access West Yorkshire, with funding from Leeds Community Foundation and support from Ahead Partnership, Leeds City Council and Zero Waste Leeds.

The digital divide has been exacerbated by coronavirus with many school children lacking the means to join online lessons.

With Leeds now under Tier 3 restrictions and thousands of pupils likely to be self-isolating in the months ahead, there is an urgent need for those from more challenging social backgrounds to be properly equipped to learn remotely.

Ben McKenna, Chief Executive of social enterprise Solidaritech and a founder of Digital Access West Yorkshire, has issued a plea for local businesses to invest in the future of young people by signing up as Leeds Tech Angels.

He said: “There are far too many digitally-excluded children and young people in Leeds, and we want to work with businesses and other organisations to help them.

“Laptops are at the top of our wanted list, but tablets and smart phones would also be useful.

“Unused machines can be deposited at several secure locations around the city or we can collect them.  Each item will be fully wiped and reset to its original factory settings by an IT specialist. No personal data will remain on any devices distributed to recipients.

“2020 been difficult for all young people but particularly those without access to technology in their homes.  Sadly, the likelihood of future periods out of school is high.

“I urge businesses with unused or wanted hardware to answer the call to become proud Leeds Tech Angels.  Donations of personal equipment are also welcome”   

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment at Leeds City Council, said: “We have been working hard for many months to distribute digital devices to children and families in Leeds. 

“This has included close cooperation with headteachers to maximise effective targeting of need.

“Leeds Tech Angels provides an ideal vehicle to help to achieve this and I urge employers and individuals to come forward with their donation of IT equipment.

“Leeds City Council is pleased to offer our support.”

Leeds-based social enterprise Ahead Partnership will be working with their network of corporate partners - which fund and support activities that boost young people’s career aspirations - to donate their tech to the scheme.

Megan Lipp, Head of Development at Ahead Partnership, said: “Our mission is to help partners from the corporate sector to bring positive change to their local communities and give young people a more confident start to their careers.

“We are delighted to be working with Digital Access West Yorkshire to help Leeds employers do this in the simplest of ways by donating their unused tech.

“Young people are spending more time learning from home because of the pandemic but, according to the Children’s Commissioner’s Office, up to 1.78 million children in the UK do not have access to a suitable device. 

“It is more important than ever that we all take action to close this digital divide.”

More information about Leeds Tech Angels including how to donate tech kit can be found at tech-angels.net

Leeds housing association appoints Interim CEO

The board of Leeds-based housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise has appointed Cedric Boston as Interim Chief Executive.

Cedric Boston

He will replace Ali Akbor OBE who led the organisation for more than two decades before stepping down to serve as a member of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel.

Mr Boston has over 30 years of experience in social housing, including 25 years at senior executive level.

He is a former Chief Executive of Arhag, a London BME association which specialises in addressing the needs of migrants and refugees.

Mr Boston was previously Director of Housing at Lambeth Living, one of the UKs largest ALMOs. 

He has a degree in law and politics from Keele University and is a member of Gray’s Inn where he qualified as a barrister.

Unity was formed in 1987 with the objective of building a strong, community-based housing association to address the needs of black and minority ethnic communities in Leeds. 

It now manages more than 1,300 properties for tenants from all communities and ethnic backgrounds in West Yorkshire.

Mr Boston said: “Unity has a proud history and a wonderfully bright future.  I welcome the opportunity to play a role in what comes next.

“My first priority is to get to know the staff at all levels who have worked so hard to make the association what it is today,

“I am also keen to meet the many partners and stakeholders who contribute to Unity’s success and encourage anyone who wants to get in touch with me to please do so.    

Shruti Bhargava

“I look forward to working with my new colleagues to further Ali’s many achievements on behalf of the communities that Unity was established to support.”  

Unity Chair Shruti Bhargava said: “Cedric has a good understanding of Unity and is closely aligned with our values and social purpose. 

 “We are really pleased that he is joining us on the next stage of our journey.

 “He comes with a strong track record of working with partners, local agencies and communities to improve lives.

“We have every confidence that Cedric will fit really well into the Unity family and work collectively with all staff and board members to help deliver our mission.”

Mr Boston will take up post on Friday 4 December.

MANNINGHAM housing association secures major funds to build bridges across community

Manningham Housing Association (MHA) is celebrating after being awarded more than £120,000 from the Government to run a series of projects to promote shared values and tackle discrimination as well as supporting those members of community affected by Covd-19 in Bradford district.  

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced that MHA, which manages more than 1,400 homes for around 6,000 residents in Bradford and Keighley, is one of nine organisations nationally chosen to receive support from the Faith, Race and Hate Crime Grants Scheme.

The £121,531.34 in new funding will be used to launch a pioneering new venture, Building Bridges Bradford, to strengthen community cohesion, celebrate difference and challenge prejudices.

Planned activities include workshops, online training and community events, all taking place in Covid-safe environments. 

Sessions co-designed with service users and partners will also support individuals and families suffering from personal challenges made worse by the pandemic such as financial pressures, diabetes, cancer, dementia and poor mental health.

The application was overseen by Nasir Hussain, MHA Community Partnerships and Investment Manager.

He said: “Manningham Housing Association has a proud record as a community-led organisation of achieving real and meaningful change across Bradford.

“With this funding, we will be actively supporting people from diverse communities to come together in innovative ways to build new relationships, become better neighbours and strengthen cohesion in the district. 

“2020 has been difficult for everyone but we firmly believe that Building Bridges Bradford can be the catalyst to positively impact the lives of large numbers of individuals and families for many years to come.”       

Lee Bloomfield, MHA Chief Executive, said: “This award will enable us to really step up our community engagement work.

“In addition to the Government grant, we are putting in extra support from our own resources so we can do even more.

“There are several other grant applications in the pipeline as we work to deliver an ever-growing list of projects through our Community Investment Strategy which provides a framework for us to work with stakeholders to help local residents and build more resilient communities.”

Barrington Billings, MHA Chair: “Huge congratulations to the team for delivering this funding which will really bolster our community engagement activities.  

“Investing in and developing diverse neighbourhoods where people want to live and thrive is at the heart of Manningham Housing Association’s mission statement.

“Building Bridges Bradford provides a powerful vehicle for us to play an even greater role in strengthening community relations and social integration.”

Leeds housing association CEO appointed to Grenfell Tower Inquiry panel

The Chief Executive of Leeds-based housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise has been appointed to serve as a member of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel.

ALI AKBOR OBE

Ali Akbor has led Unity since January 1999 and was awarded the OBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to the community in Leeds.

He said: “I have been privileged to work with Unity colleagues and partners for more than two decades to deliver high quality affordable homes and other essential services to those in greatest need.

“We have radically improved the quality of life for thousands of people. This is a source of great pride to me and I know that this wonderful work will go on.

SHRUTI BHARGAVA

“The future of the association and its customers will be in excellent hands.”  

Unity Chair Shruti Bhargava said: “We are sorry to be losing Ali but proud that he has been chosen to join the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel.

“He is a person of the highest levels of integrity, decency and authenticity.

“He is regarded as a role model for staff at all levels of Unity and across the diverse communities we serve.

“We are thankful for everything Ali has done to help so many people and wish him well for the future.”      

Manningham Housing Association wins more national recognition for excellence

Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has received glowing praise in two independent reports as its Customer Service Excellence accreditation was re-confirmed alongside its status as the first housing association in the country to be officially accredited for its work in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.

MHA manages more than 1,400 homes for over 6,000 residents in Bradford and Keighley.

The Customer Service Excellence quality mark is awarded to public and private sector organisations deemed to provide services that are efficient, effective, and place customers at the heart of the service provision following a thorough external assessment.

National certification body Centre for Assessment (CfA) has informed MHA that it has met all the criteria for the Customer Service Excellence accreditation - and attained Compliance Plus status in 15 separate areas.

In its assessment report, the CfA said: “The organisation was clearly focussed on providing the best service for its customers.  Staff that worked for Manningham Housing Association came across as being firmly committed to the success of the organisation through the provision of effective services to the many people that came into contact with them.”    

In a separate report, the CfA also declared that MHA should again be awarded the British Standard for Valuing People through Diversity and Inclusion, known as BS76005.  It was already the first housing association nationally to achieve this. 

The report said: “The assessor felt it was a pleasure to speak to such absolutely committed staff who really were committed to the provision of excellent customer services through valuing inclusion and recognising that people have different needs.”  

The CfA inspections were co-ordinated by MHA Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Operations Ulfat Hussain who said he was especially proud of the association’s efforts given the challenges to service delivery posed by the pandemic.

Ulfat Hussain, MHA Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Operations

He said: “Our staff have been incredible this year and I am delighted that their hard work and professionalism have been acknowledged by the assessor.

“In his written conclusions, he praises the team for going the extra mile to support people and ensure that our absolute commitment to inclusion was maintained despite the Covid-19 restrictions. 

“We see the renewed accreditations as confirmation that we are continuing to deliver for our customers, stakeholders and communities we serve in Bradford and Keighley.

“With the pandemic likely to dominate everyone’s lives for some time to come, everyone can be assured that MHA’s determination to do the very best job we can is undiminished.”

MHA Chief Executive Lee Bloomfield said the fact that the association had been awarded a Compliance Plus rating for so many different aspects of Customer Service Excellence underlined the vast array of skills possessed by his staff.

He said: “The customer always comes first and, over recent times, we have implemented a number of targetted strategies to further enhance the effectiveness of our work.

“Better understanding customer needs, reaching disadvantaged groups, supporting local communities and ensuring our customers receive the information they need -including about our own performance – are just some of the specific areas of activity recognised by the assessor.

“I am proud of every single member of the team.  They should be equally proud of themselves.”

MHA Chair Barrington Billings praised the culture of positivity and high energy at the association which had helped to carry staff and customers through the long months of the pandemic.

He said: “The extra Covid-19 restrictions on Bradford and Keighley have made life particularly tough locally. 

“But because of our cherished position as a community-based organisation, we are succeeding in partnership with those whose needs we strive to cater for

“The award of these prestigious accreditations are accolades to be shared by all.”   

Chancellor must do more to help low wage economies – housing association CEO

The Chief Executive of Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has called on Rishi Sunak not to abandon low wage workers following his statement to MPs earlier today.

LEE BLOOMFIELD

Responding to the Chancellor’s announcement that employees would have to work a minimum of a third of their normal hours to benefit from the Government’s new job support scheme, Lee Bloomfield said:

“There are estimated to be up to three million workers currently on furlough, including a significant number in Bradford and Keighley where MHA has around 6,000 tenants.

“In the wake of Mr Sunak’s statement, there is a real fear that many furloughed employees will no longer have a job to return to.

“The furlough scheme, welcome as it has been, still resulted in a significant reduction in income for families who were already struggling in a low wage economy.

“The Chancellor had nothing to say about how the Government plans to support those workers who now appear to be at grave risk of redundancy.

“If he feels unable to keep them in their current jobs, there is a pressing need to establish job creation schemes and a pathway for workers to retrain.

“Bradford and Keighley cannot afford generations, young and old, being left without a decent income and the opportunity to contribute to the economic wellbeing of their families and wider local communities.

“I fully appreciate that Mr Sunak faces unprecedented challenges in the biggest global crisis of our lifetimes, but he needs to do more.”    

Senior British peer seeks UK response to China’s ‘arrogant aggression’ towards Taiwan

LORD ROGAN

A leading member of the House of Lords has urged the UK Government to stand up to Beijing after China continued its campaign of intimidation against Taiwan and its people by invading Taiwanese airspace on two consecutive days last week.

Speaking in the House of Lords earlier today, Lord Rogan, who serves as Co-Chair of the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group, said: “I am sure that the whole House is united in its condemnation of China’s incursions into Taiwanese airspace, which are clearly acts of provocation.”

He asked UK Foreign Officer Minister Lord Ahmad: “Have Her Majesty’s Government made their opposition to these actions clear to the Chinese Ambassador in London?”

Lord Rogan continued: “What consideration has been given to supporting Taiwan in strengthening its military defences as a means of demonstrating our revulsion at Beijing’s arrogant aggression?”

Responding, Lord Ahmad said he could offer Lord Rogan reassurance “on any attempt to impact the status quo.”

The Minister added: “The issue of Taiwan is one to be settled peacefully for both sides. It is important for China to sustain and retain its objective of settling any disputes with Taiwan in a peaceful manner and in the interests of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”

Homes boost for Bradford and Keighley as Manningham Housing Association seals £50.5 million funding deal

Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has secured a £50.5 million financial package to provide affordable homes in Bradford and Keighley.  

The deal, which is made up of £36.05 million of new cash from Royal Bank of Scotland and £14.45 million of existing funds, will enable MHA to increase its housing stock by more than 100 properties over the next five years.

LEE BLOOMFIELD

Lee Bloomfield, MHA Chief Executive, said the agreement would add another chapter to the association’s growing success story less than four years after it received poor performance ratings from the Regulator of Social Housing.

“In late 2016, MHA had its governance rating downgraded from G1 to a non-compliant G3, followed shortly afterwards by a financial viability reduction from V1 to V2,” he explained.

“This led to a major organisational review, resulting in the recruitment of a new Chair in Barrington Billings, new board members and my own appointment as Chief Executive in January 2018. 

“Later that year, following rigorous inspections, the Regulator restored MHA’s financial viability rating to V1.  Governance was also improved to G2 before being raised to G1 in March 2020, meaning the association now holds the highest gradings available.

“The team has gelled incredibly well throughout this period and expanded further, including the arrival of Shendi Keshet as Director of Finance and Resources to lead negotiations on the funding deal.

“Having been unable to add to our housing stock for a considerable period, we aim to grow our property portfolio by around 10% over the next five years – taking the total number of units to more than 1,500.

“These are exciting times for MHA, particularly in the wake of the changes made to improve what we do and how we do it.  We can now concentrate fully on our core mission of providing high quality affordable homes to individuals and families in Bradford and Keighley who really need them.”

SHENDI KESHET

Shendi Keshet, MHA Director of Finance and Resources, said the growth in housing stock would be achieved by a combination of new build properties, acquisitions on the open market and a programme of bringing empty homes back into use.

“A Unit Growth Strategy was finalised well in advance of the funding package being agreed,” she continued.

“It equips us with a coherent roadmap to invest in the purchase and refurbishment of existing properties, as well as the construction of new affordable homes.

“This carefully considered approach will help us to reduce any risk to the resources we are putting in and allow MHA to address local housing needs in the most efficient and effective way possible.”

BARRINGTON BILLINGS

Barrington Billings, MHA Chair, praised the level of professionalism across the staff team and pledged the board’s full support in delivering the association’s ambitious plans for the future.

He said: “There is a national shortage of affordable homes and it is vital that MHA steps forward to deliver as many as we can.

“On average, we receive over 50 bids within a week of one of our properties being advertised with larger family homes attracting even greater interest.

“The vast majority of MHA homes are in the most deprived areas of Bradford and Keighley with high BME populations.

“We will always be committed to these neighbourhoods and, guided by our Unit Growth Strategy, are firmly focussed on ensuring the new funds are used to greatest effect.”  

Peer seeks Executive protection for people exempt from wearing face coverings

Ulster Unionist peer Lord Rogan has called on Stormont Ministers to consider issuing badges for people not required to wear face coverings in designated indoor settings or when travelling on public transport.

Since 10 August, it has been mandatory for people in Northern Ireland to use face coverings in enclosed places.

However, there are exemptions for individuals under the age of 13, shop workers and those with “reasonable excuses” including relevant health conditions as asthma, emphysema or bronchitis.

LORD ROGAN

There have been reports of people not required to wear face coverings being confronted by members of the public unaware that they have good reason for not doing so.

Lord Rogan, who suffers from asthma, said it would be helpful for the Stormont Executive to issue badges to individuals exempt from the new legal requirements.

He commented: “The vast majority of people in Northern Ireland are following the rules on face coverings and, quite rightly, want everyone else to follow suit.

“But, as someone not able to wear a face covering because of breathing problems, I have often felt uncomfortable when I’m a shop and am the only person without a mask.

“Not only does it place people like me in an embarrassing position, but it leaves others such as shop workers or fellow shoppers in an equally awkward position.

“The charity Asthma UK has helpfully produced a card which asthma sufferers can download and display when out and about.

“The UK Government has since gone a step further and created a badge as well as a card for people in England to download.

“I would encourage our own Executive to produce Northern Ireland versions of both, perhaps backed up by a metal badge which would be easier for older citizens to access and wear.

“Stormont Ministers have faced bigger challenges since the start of this pandemic.  This is one they could and should easily rise to.”     

Senior peer seeks Stormont support for most vulnerable schoolchildren

Ulster Unionist peer Lord Rogan has called on the Stormont Executive to provide “all necessary support” for pupils whose educational prospects have been put at greatest risk by the coronavirus lockdown.

Following the recent UK Government announcement that £650 million was to be shared by schools in England to help children who had missed out on teaching time, Lord Rogan told a ‘virtual’ sitting of the House of Lords that coping with the mental health impact of being away from the classroom was also an issue for pupils in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

He then wrote to UK Education Minister Baroness Berridge seeking guidance on how much money would be allocated to children in the devolved nations in need of extra help.  

In her reply, just received, Baroness Berridge said the Treasury would provide “a further £4.1 billion through the application of the Barnett formula to public services spending, including schools.”

She continued: “This comprises £2.1 billion for the Scottish Government, £1.3 billion for the Welsh Government, and £0.7 billion for the Northern Ireland Executive.

“That additional funding for devolved administrations includes funding to reflect, in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the £650 million for schools in England that the Department for Education announced in June. It will be for devolved administrations to decide how best to spend this funding to support recovery from the impact of Covid-19.”

LORD ROGAN

Lord Rogan said it was vital that a significant proportion of the £700 million allocated to the Northern Ireland Executive was used to help children most severely impacted by being out of school.

He commented: “Having spoken to teaching professionals, I know there are deep-seated worries about children’s resilience levels being eroded following such a protracted period away from the classroom

“In some cases it will take a significant amount of time for levels of self-confidence to be restored and that will necessitate enhanced volumes of teaching, coupled with extra pastoral support.        

“I commend Stormont Ministers for their efforts to help teachers and pupils make a safe return to schools in the coming weeks.

“But the needs of those pupils who have suffered most must also be at the forefront of the Executive’s thinking.

“Tailored assistance is will be essential and headteachers will require additional staffing resources to deliver it.

“The £700 million of new money from the UK Government must be spent wisely and with the futures of our most vulnerable children a top priority.”  

Housing Association concerned as delivery of affordable homes is placed in jeopardy

The Chief Executive and Chair of Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association (MHA) have criticised a Government proposal to scrap the mechanism which enables almost half of the country’s affordable homes to be delivered each year.

Section 106 agreements currently compel developers to provide affordable properties as part of a new housing scheme.

LEE BLOOMFIELD

However, in a consultation document, Planning For The Future, published yesterday by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, the Government has advocated the replacement of Section 106 agreements with a new flat-rate charge on housebuilders for each development.

MHA Chief Executive Lee Bloomfield has described the decision as “shortsighted at best, blinkered at worst.”

He commented: “We share the Government’s ambition to oversee the building of many more homes.  But for the national housing crisis to be properly addressed, a significant proportion of these must be genuinely affordable properties.

“Whilst the Section 106 process is far from perfect, it facilitated the delivery of 49% of all affordable homes in England in 2018/19.

“There is no comparable mechanism in the Government’s White Paper which is a cause of deep concern for housing associations such as MHA and, more particularly, the communities we serve in Bradford and Keighley.”

BARRINGTON BILLINGS

MHA Chair Barrington Billings said: “Cutting red tape to simplify the planning process, as the Government is also proposing, is to be welcomed.

“But the housing needs of people from all social and economic backgrounds must be catered for if Ministers are serious in their aim to ‘level-up’ society and assist communities that have been left behind.

“Scrapping Section 106 agreements and effectively depending on the goodwill of developers to provide the many thousands of affordable homes the country needs is foolish and irresponsible.

“Manningham Housing Association will play an active role in the debate and formal consultation on the Government’s proposals.  We will do so on behalf of those individuals and families who want to live in a high quality affordable property and whose ambitions are now in jeopardy.”  

Peer accuses UK Government of disrespect for care workers over ‘badge of honour’ gimmick

A senior member of the House of Lords has accused the UK Government of using social care workers for cynical propaganda purposes after failing to distribute a special badge to 99 per cent of those eligible to receive it.

Lord Rogan of Lower Iveagh

On 15 April, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock told a Downing Street news conference that social care workers would be given green badges emblazoned with the word ‘CARE’ to allow them to access the same "recognitions and benefits" as NHS staff.

He said: “This badge will be a badge of honour in a very real sense, allowing social care staff proudly and publicly to identify themselves, just like NHS staff do with that famous blue and white logo.”

However, in response to a Parliamentary Written Question tabled by Ulster Unionist peer Lord Rogan, Health Minister Lord Bethell admitted that only “around 15,000 badges have been distributed” in the 10 weeks since Mr Hancock’s high profile announcement.

This amounts to just one per cent of the current 1.5 million adult social care workforce.  

Lord Rogan said he was “appalled” by the UK Government’s “cynical and shallow tactic” which demonstrated “total disrespect” for social care workers.  

He commented: “The sight of Matt Hancock brandishing a ‘CARE’ badge at that press conference in the early weeks of lockdown was regarded by many at the time as a cynical exercise designed to distract from the UK Government’s failure to protect care home professionals and residents from Covid-19. 

“That is precisely what it has turned out to be. 

“Social care workers did not ask for a badge all of those weeks ago, they asked for adequate supplies of PPE and access to proper tests.

“It’s now clear that the vast majority of social care workers received none of these.

“This should be a matter of shame and embarrassment for the UK Government in general and Mr Hancock in particular.”

New affordable homes development brings cheer for Leeds residents

Leeds-based housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise has handed over the keys of 30 brand new properties for affordable rent in the north-east of the city.

The scheme at Beckhill Grove in Meanwood includes 24 three-bed houses, two four-bed houses, two two-bed houses, and two two-bed bungalows.

All homes have been let and the final residents have just moved in.

The site was previously owned by Leeds City Council, which chose Unity as its preferred development partner.

Planning permission was granted in March 2018 with Esh Construction beginning building work shortly afterwards following a tendering process.  

The new properties will complement the 125 homes Unity owns and manages in the nearby Stonegates estate.

The completion of the development takes the BME-led housing association a further step towards its goal of delivering 220 new homes in the five-year period to 2021 under the Government’s Affordable Homes Programme.      

Ali Akbor OBE, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said he was delighted to see the impressive red brick properties being occupied.

And he paid tribute to the efforts of Unity staff and project partners to ensure tenants could move safely into their new homes despite the ongoing coronavirus restrictions. 

He said: “The past four months have been challenging for everyone and housing associations are no exception.

“Despite Unity’s head office being closed and most staff working at home, all essential services have been delivered to our tenants including urgent repairs.

“We have placed the wish of our prospective tenants to move into their properties in Beckhill Grove as a priority.  I am thrilled that this task has been completed safely and they can now begin the process of settling in.

“The 30 new affordable homes are of the characteristically high standard that tenants rightly expect from Unity. 

“They have significantly enhanced our presence in Meanwood, taking the number of Unity properties in the area to 155.

“We are proud to be providing so many first class homes in the heart of a wonderful local community.”

Chancellor has wasted a golden opportunity to build new affordable homes

The chief executive of Leeds-based housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise has expressed his disappointment that Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak did not include renewed investment in genuinely affordable homes in the Government’s package of economic measures announced today.

Ali Akbor OBE said: “The Chancellor had the chance to place a new house-building programme at the heart of the Government’s pandemic recovery plan, but he failed to take it.

“The housing association sector has never been shy in calling on successive Governments to tackle the national housing crisis by building the many genuinely affordable homes the country needs.

“Given his desire to keep people in work and create more jobs in the wake of the economic damage inflicted by Covid-19, the timing was never more appropriate than now. 

“It was a golden opportunity that the Chancellor has wasted.”