Customer service and great tenants feature at housing association’s Annual General Meeting

Rob Simons, Vice Chair of Tor Homes, reported that despite the difficult economic times, the housing association has performed well, returning 91% overall satisfaction from the tenants with its services.

Howard Toplis, Chief Executive of Tor Homes, said: “Tenants’ satisfaction with our services is extremely important to us and these figures put us in the top ten of south west housing associations. However, we are not resting on our laurels and will be working hard to improve on this.”

“Tor Homes spends about five million a year on repairs and improvements to its properties and much of that goes into the Devon economy.”

Investment from the Homes & Communities Agency is vital to delivering new homes and since the company was formed in 1998, Tor Homes has received £25m of social housing grant, together with grants from local authorities in Devon and has built over 700 homes in the last twelve years.

Vice Chair of Tor Homes’ Board, Rob Simons and Pauline Seymour, a Board Member made presentations to tenants who had made significant contributions to the work of the housing association.

The nominations were made by fellow tenants. Pauline Seymour said: “Many residents give their time willingly to help us improve our services and these awards are well deserved.”

Jayne White from Aveton Gifford was given the ‘Commitment to Tor Homes Resident Involvement Award’. She received a certificate and voucher. Jayne has been living at Icy Park, Aveton Gifford, for the past ten years and can often be found tidying up and planting. She also represents the area on consultation panels run by Tor Homes. Her nomination stated: “Jayne is what I call a true residents’ person. She keeps the estate so beautifully clean. She is perfect as our estate representative.”

June Eells from Ivybridge was given the ‘Tor Homes Resident who has made a significant contribution to their local community’. She received a plaque and a voucher. June lives at Waterside House, Ivybridge, a sheltered housing scheme. She is a member of the Waterside House Residents’ Association and has set up the very successful social group, “The Waterhole” – a room at Waterside where residents can get together and socialise whilst enjoying Beetle Drives and Horse Racing and eating tempting morsels such as toasted tea cakes and bacon rolls. Profits will be used to fund Christmas events. Paul Rogers is the Secretary to the Residents Association and said that June had been instrumental in setting up the Waterhole which has been so successful.

Friends of Brixton Play Spaces – Alex Whish, a Brixton Resident and Landscape Officer for South Hams Council was there to receive the award made to the ‘Community Group or Partnership that has made a significant contribution to their local community’. Alex received, on behalf of the Friends of Brixton Play Spaces, a plaque and a £100 cheque to help their funds.

The Friends have been working tirelessly for over two years to bring about a Play Trail throughout the village, linking its public green spaces and finishing at a Tor Homes play space. They have already opened the ‘Brix Stix’ play space and work is well underway on the next stage of the Trail which will see a new play area at Woodland Drive, Brixton.

The Woodland Drive project has been funded by Tor Homes and the Community Spaces Programme. The Community Spaces grants programme is being managed by Groundwork UK as an Award Partner to the Big Lottery Fund. Community Spaces is part of the Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces initiative.

Alex Whish said that he was pleased to receive the award on behalf of the hard working Friends of Brixton Play Spaces. “Working with so many organisations, there has already been an amazing transformation and we look forward to seeing the children exploring their new play area.” The group is always looking for new volunteers to join.