Tenants' Association grateful for free kitchen refurbishment

Published by Claire Tinston for IPB Communications in Housing and also in Communities

A local building company has left a big impression on a group of Wolverhampton tenants after transforming their community kitchen free of charge.

Community regeneration specialist Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) has spent three months delivering refurbishment works under the Decent Homes Programme to homes in the Rake Gate community on behalf of Wolverhampton Homes.

During this process, the local Tenants' and Residents' Association (TRA) agreed their office could be used as a drop-in centre for anyone who wanted respite from the renovations.

To show their appreciation, FHM agreed to completely refurbish the centre’s 50-year-old kitchen.

TRA Chairwoman, Marie Lane told how the new facilities would make a huge difference to the local community.

She said: “When the work on the estate started, FHM approached us to ask if they could use our meeting room as a place for people to come for a coffee if the work got a bit noisy or dusty.

“We agreed and were over the moon when they then said they would re-fit the kitchen as a thank you.

“The new kitchen looks fantastic, we can’t thank FHM enough for doing this for us.”

As well as being used by the TRA, the centre is used by several youth groups, a drama group and other local clubs and organisations.

Amongst them is the Rake Gate Girl’s Club. The club meets every Wednesday evening and often spends time in the kitchen, cooking healthy dishes for members to enjoy.

Most of the work to install the new kitchen was carried out by Nick Palmer and Andy Leszewski, of FHM, with electrical work carried out by Dodds and plumbing by Dam Plumbing.

FHM project manager, Tony Phillips said: “We spent three months working within the Rake Gate community carrying out the work and built a fantastic relationship with the locals. So we were keen to contribute to the community in whichever way we could.

“The TRA office is the centre of the local community and as a small token of our thanks for the help and cooperation given by the Association, we offered to refurbish their kitchen.

“We hope it will make a real difference and be used by local people for many years to come.”

The Rake Gate TRA runs regular committee meetings from their estate office which local councillors, the police and Wolverhampton Homes officers all attend.