Announcing Thrive Homes’ Year of Ambition

Published by kerri smith for Thrive Homes in Housing and also in Communities

A community-minded organisation which has invested millions in the local area has declared this its Year of Ambition.

Thrive Homes marked its fifth anniversary on Tuesday, 19th March and is using the milestone as an opportunity to inspire its staff, residents and community partners to think bigger and better.

The social housing provider, with more than 4,000 homes in South West Hertfordshire, has enjoyed much success in its relatively short history. Just weeks ago the Homes and Communities Agency, which regulates the sector, awarded Thrive the top rating for both governance and financial viability – evidence it is well-run and financially sound.

Over five years, Thrive has proved it invests in homes, keeps its promises, creates employment, supports communities and is financially strong.

Chief Executive Elspeth Mackenzie said ambition and success would be central to the next chapter in Thrive’s story.

“We’ve already achieved a lot and I see no reason to stop now. Our short, medium and long term goals are the same: to create a thriving community where there are life choices and opportunities for all. Declaring this our Year of Ambition will inspire and motivate us to keep aiming higher.”

To mark its fifth birthday, Thrive is announcing a special ‘Go for it award’ for residents with ambition.

This award, open to all Thrive residents, is a one-off grant (of up to £5,000) to help someone reach their goal. Maybe a resident has an unrealised ambition to train for a qualification or become an apprentice or a change of career? Their application will need to tell us how achieving this ambition will really make a difference to their personal development, or their family’s options, or their contribution to the community. Perhaps they need to pay professional fees, or care costs to enable them to complete or return to studying or training.

We want to know what their ambition is, what motivates them and anything they’ve done towards achieving it already including details of what it would cost.

Details of how to apply are on Thrive’s website: www.thrivehomes.org.uk or ring the Policy and Communications team on 0800 917 6077. The closing date for applications is 30 June 2013.

Thrive was formed in 2008 following the large scale transfer of properties from Three Rivers District Council. It was tasked with fulfilling over 40 promises made to residents, the deadline for completion being this anniversary.

Over the last five years Thrive has invested more than £55million in homes and communities across the district and delivered on every promise. Investment will continue and the first of a number of new Thrive Homes properties will be built in the coming months.

It has introduced a Community Grant to support projects that are improving lives in the area, with more than £200,000 awarded to date, and in January Thrive co-launched ‘Jobs at Home Three Rivers and Watford’, an innovative resident enterprise that has already created jobs for local people.

Board Chairman Richard Laval said: “These first five years have been a whirlwind of activity. At times it’s been challenging, but always rewarding.

“Thrive Homes is a permanent fixture within its communities, we’re here for the long haul.”

Organisations who would like to work with Thrive should contact them on 0800 917 6077. To apply for funding or to find out more about the Community Grant scheme, call the Policy and Communications Team on 0800 917 6077 or 020 8428 4428 or visit www.thrivehomes.org.uk/grants