Langley Community Benefits Society
The need and the communityThere is a shortage of affordable social housing on the Langley estate forcing some local people to move off the estate, live with their parents or friends or take on the financial risk of a more expensive property on Langley. Riverside Housing are the main housing provider on the estate but the demand for properties outstrips supply. Rochdale Council and Riverside Housing support this need and the group feel there is demand for properties for people to down size, for young and big families and for individuals to move into their own place. Local residents approached Resonance Community Developers Fund (RCD Fund) in 2019 with the aims:
• To work in partnership to create and own good standard social housing, that are easy and efficient to run for local people to rent. • To support residents to increase health and well-being and connect to local services and activities • To create opportunities for the local community to get involved through training, volunteering and employment Founding membersCouncillor Sue Smith has been a community activist for most of her adult life, she is a qualified youth and community worker, fitness instructor and local councillor. She is an active volunteer in the community providing numerous projects with people aged from cradle to grave. Terry Smith began researching Social Housing and Community Led Housing over 5 years ago. But before that he has always been an advocate for social housing. He is a qualified youth and community worker and has been a community activist for over 40 years. To be able to build the much-needed affordable social housing in our community will see one of his main dreams becoming a reality. Along with his wife he co-founded Status 4 All, a charity on Langley who support children with alternative curriculum activities, and they manage a huge allotment and community space on the Langley Estate, which houses a youth allotment and many other plots that 2 benefit the community. Sue and Terry are also part of Bowlee Community Association who are refurbishing, reopening and taking over community management of the Bowlee Pavilion. Ivy Isherwood is an active member of the community, she has lots of experience in housing issues as she has been the chairperson of Riverside Housing Committee for many years. She is also a volunteer on numerous projects supporting people from the community who are lonely and isolated. Secretary: Kathryn Carr is an active member of the community; she’s been the secretary of Riverside Housing Committee for 2 years and member for 4 years. She’s also a Rochdale Champion for RMBC and has a keen interest in disabilities. She has 20 years’ experience of working in the NHS and her and her husband have been foster parents.
|