Staff From Across Accent Nene Come Together To Provide Residents With A Great Day Out

Published by Mike Holland for Accent Nene in Housing and also in Environment, Local Government

Peterborough-based housing association Accent Nene (www.accentnene.org) showed that it understands the importance of community spirit when it organised this year’s annual sheltered housing event, which saw more than 170 of its residents competing in general knowledge and music quizzes. Two events were held at the same time – one in Peterborough and one in Nottingham – to ensure that all residents from across the housing association’s sheltered schemes were able to take part.

The event was organised by Natasha Chilcot, assistant resident involvement officer at Accent Nene, who explained that the day was all about community involvement. She said: “There is a great community spirit within our sheltered schemes but we also encourage residents to meet and socialise with those living in our sheltered schemes in other areas.”

Each year Accent Nene holds a sheltered scheme event and asks the residents for their feedback and ideas on what they would like to do for the next event. Past events have included dominos and darts matches and this year the residents requested a quiz.

The Peterborough event was held at Napier Place in Orton Wistow, with one of the scheme’s residents providing musical entertainment on his guitar. There was a barbecue and residents enjoyed playing games like tin can alley and hook-a-duck. Proceeds from the raffle went to Macmillan care for cancer in Peterborough, the winning team’s charity of choice. Meanwhile a similar event was being held in Milton Court in Nottingham. The winning team from all those taking part across the two locations was from Joan Wake Close in Market Deeping.

Natasha added: “In all there were 11 schemes represented – seven in Peterborough and four in Nottingham. The event had a 40’s theme and scheme managers dressed up. “Staff from other areas were involved in the day – office based staff, members of the repairs team, housing officers and our directors all made sure the events were a success. As well as helping the residents to socialise, the event provides an opportunity for staff to get to know the residents better.”

Accent Nene resident Pauline Barnes from Chesterton Court in St Neots commented: “Living in St Neots we’re a bit further away from the other schemes than here in Peterborough so we have a lot of our own events within Chesterton Court, but it is good to get together with other residents so we jumped at the chance of coming to the quiz. The events that Accent Nene put on always make for a good day out.”

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Notes to editors:

1. Accent Nene is a Registered Provider of Social Housing (RP). The main office is in Peterborough and there are local management offices in Nottingham and Fulbourn. Accent Nene has been an active social housing provider in the East of England for over 35 years.
2. What is now Accent Nene was formerly Nene Housing Society. It became a member of Accent Group in January 2005. Accent is one of the UK’s leading community investment businesses.
3. Accent Nene operates in the East Midlands and East Anglia. It provides a range of social housing and manages around 4,000 rented and leasehold homes mainly in the Peterborough, Nottinghamshire and Cambridgeshire areas.
4. Accent Nene aims to provide high quality, affordable homes for rent or purchase on an equity share basis for those in housing need. It helps single people, couples, families, elderly and disabled people and some special needs groups such as deaf/blind people.