Intouch - Issue 35 April 2018

Blackwall Reach | May | issue 35

Demolition of Robin Hood Gardens

Update on Robin Hood Gardens East Local Councillors, Tower Hamlets and Tower Hamlets Homes (THH) have recently held a series of meetings with residents. The meetings have led to a number of positive actions which should help to make the estate a safer place to live.

The Robin Hood Gardens West building has now been fully demolished, and the site is currently being prepared so that construction of the new homes can start in the summer.

The phase 2 site is expected to be completed in 2021 and will provide 268 new homes including 99 homes for

social rent and 15 shared ownership. It will also incorporate the first part of the re-landscaped Millennium Green.

Residents who are due to be rehoused within Phase 2 will be contacted and consulted on their available options once the plans have been further developed later in the year.

Annual General Meeting The Resident Board is holding their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 21st June at 6.00pm at the Reach Community Hub. At the meeting residents’ will have an opportunity to elect the new committee members and discuss how the Board can address local priorities working with Swan and other local agencies.

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The AGM papers will be circulated on the estate and we would like to encourage more residents to join the Board to help us build a vibrant community on JUNE Blackwall Reach.

If you want to receive more information on the Board or AGM please contact Swan Resident involvement Team on 01277 844 242.

www.blackwallreachcommunity.co.uk

THH has improved the cleaning standard and upgraded the lighting across the estate. THH is delivering regular estate surgeries so that they can get residents' feedback.

Information and contact numbers to report incidents are on the other side of this newsletter. Tower Hamlets homes would like to encourage residents to meet regularly and work with officers to help make the estate a safer place to live.

Swan residents improve their job prospects after completing certificated training courses

Useful numbers Swan Housing Association Blackwall Reach Office, 9 Webber Path, Poplar, London E14 0FZ 0300 303 2500 Senior Neighbourhood Officer (Swan) Phillipa Drummond 01277 844290

Sixteen residents recently collected their certificates at an award ceremony held to mark their success in completing courses in Level 1 Childcare and Level 3 Mobile Phone repairs.

They completed the accredited courses as part of Swan’s sector-based skills development and employability programme helps to support residents to access employment.

Eight residents completed a Level 1 Childcare course which is an entry level qualification suited to people who are looking to work with children. A further eight residents completed an intensive five-day Mobile Phone repair course where they learned how to repair and service a

variety of mobile phones. One resident who completed this course has already said that he would like to use his new skills to open a mobile phone repair shop!

“Swan is committed to building sustainable communities and upskilling our residents. Our sector-based skills development and employability programme helps to support this. We are delighted to have supported sixteen residents to gain valuable qualifications which will help them to gain employment or even start their own business. We wish them all every success in the future!”

Sandra Fawcett, Swan’s Executive Director – Operations

A piece of Robin Hood Gardens is in Victoria and Albert Museum You may be aware that the Victoria and Albert Museum collected a three-story section of the Robin Hood Gardens West building, including a ‘street in the sky’ and the interior fittings of two flats. The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance. It was established to make works of art available to all and to inspire British designers and makers.

They plan to keep this part of the block in the V&A’s permanent collection as an internationally important example of Brutalist architecture and a significant part of London’s architectural and social history. Residents and former residents of Robin Hood Gardens will all be welcome to visit it once it is on display.

In May, the V&A are taking a section of the Robin Hood Gardens façade to the Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy. It will be on display until November where 350,000 people are expected to see it. The display will be accompanied by a specially commissioned film by Korean artist Do Ho Suh which documents the architecture and interiors of the building.

We’re grateful to all of the residents who allowed Do Ho Suh into their homes to film his documentary as it has made this project possible.

This summer, we would like to invite residents to a special visit to the V&A in South Kensington to show you around the museum, which has something to interest everyone.

www.blackwallreachcommunity.co.uk

Estate Services (Swan) 01277 315225 Resident Involvement Team (Swan) 01277 844242 Reporting Repairs / Defects (Swan) 0330 222 0322 or shacustomercare@swan.org.uk (Office hours).

0800 783 2768 (Out of office Hours) Project Shop 020 7987 5260 Regeneration (LBTH) Sabaj Uddin 0207 364 2534 Decant and Lettings (LBTH) Abdul Hoque 020 7364 0205 Housing Management (THH) Godfrey McCurdy 020 7364 5015 Anti Social Behaviour (THH) 0800 917 5918 Crime - Blackwall Safer Neighbourhood Team 020 8721 2877 Tower Hamlets Homes 020 7364 5015

Working together to make a positive change

www.blackwallreachcommunity.co.uk

www.blackwallreachcommunity.co.uk