Port of Leith Housing Association – Page 13 – The NEN

New affordable housing development opens in Leith

The latest affordable housing development in Leith has been officially opened, making a significant impact in the regeneration of the area. Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) welcomed the first of 100 households to a block of new, high-quality properties in Fox Street at a ceremony last Friday.

Speaking at the event to mark the opening of the development, Councillor Cammy Day, Housing Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “These new modern affordable homes in the heart of Leith represent a significant investment by the Council and Port of Leith Housing Association. It is also a reflection of the shared commitment between the Council and housing associations to tackle the city’s shortage of affordable homes in the city. These new homes will also mean modern family homes and lower energy bills. This is our commitment to helping struggling families deal with the range of financial pressures they face.”

This £13m development comprises 60 social rent and 40 shared ownership homes – where people buy and own a percentage of the property and rent the remainder from the Association. There is a wide range of housing types from one bedroom through to four bedroom main door duplex apartments.

Features include secure underground parking and a central landscaped courtyard. Solar thermal panels located on the roof will provide hot water for a number of properties with condensing gas boilers supplying heating and hot water.

This is the first of a number of affordable housing sites to be completed in Leith and North Edinburgh this year by the Association. Work is currently underway on four other sites and in conjunction with its subsidiary company, Persevere Developments, a further 189 new affordable homes – 101 for social rent and 89 for mid rent – will be completed this calendar year.

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive at PoLHA, said: “Fox Street is a significant development for PoLHA providing access to much-needed, high-quality, affordable housing for local people to buy and rent. This complements our existing affordable housing throughout Leith and North Edinburgh. It is the living embodiment of our commitment to developing vibrant and sustainable communities in homes people want to live.”

PoLHA worked closely with the City of Edinburgh Council which allocated £7 million of grant monies for the development. An additional £6.2 million was funded through private finance raised by the Association and from shared ownership sales receipts.

Bingo! Citadel play brings the ‘house’ down!

PORT OF LEITH RESIDENTS ENJOY CITADEL ARTS GROUP PERFORMANCE

Sheltered housing residents at Port of Leith’s Jameson Place and St Nicholas Court complex were entertained to an unusual play presented by Citadel Arts Group recently. ‘Bingo!’ written by retired engineer Alan Mountford, not only included a real game of the popular activity, but demonstrated how people can get quite possessive about the seat where they usually sit – especially when they are playing bingo.

The cast of Caroline MacKellar (Betty), Sharon Erskine (newcomer, Morag) and Mark Kydd (careworker and amateur bingo caller) treated the audience to afternoon of fun and entertainment.

Liz Hare, Artistic Director at Citadel Arts Group, said: “Citadel Arts Group gives older writers the chance to see their work professionally performed in a variety of settings including libraries, pubs, theatres, schools and centres for elderly people. We regularly perform for Port of Leith Housing Association residents who thoroughly enjoy our performances, but I think this was their favourite as they also got the chance to play bingo!”

Elaine Edwards, Scheme Co-ordinator at the Port of Leith Housing Association’s Jameson Place Sheltered Housing Complex, said: “Our residents had a great time. Many of them used to be keen bingo players, so it’s nice when there is something for them to relate to and get involved in.”

Red-nosed residents to celebrate Comic Relief!

A sheltered housing complex in Leith is supporting this year’s Comic Relief. The Port of Leith Association (PoLHA) development at Jameson Place will host a series of fundraising events next week for its residents as well as anyone who wants to drop by!

On Monday at 2pm there will be a quiz followed by afternoon tea and on Tuesday at 12pm a lunch will be served. A race night at 7pm on Wednesday and a traditional fairground games afternoon and tombola at 2pm on Thursday will raise funds, culminating with a social night and auction on Friday at 7pm.

Elaine Edwards, Scheme Co-ordinator at Jameson Place Sheltered Housing Complex, said: “The residents have a ball getting involved in the fundraising activities and we hope local people will pop along to join in the fun while raising some money for this important cause.”

Jameson Place will charge between £1 and £3 for people to join in the fun. The complex fundraisers for Comic Relief every two years and in 2011 raised £288 for the charity.

Citadel performance inspires Leith kids to put on a show

Residents from Port of Leith’s Jameson Place sheltered housing complex and pupils from St Mary’s Primary school have been treated to a play presented by Citadel Arts Group. ‘Granny was a Rock Star’, written by Jim Brown, highlights the importance of recycling and community responsibility.

The cast of Andrea McKenzie (wee Donny), Iona Soper (her big sister Sandy) and Corinne Harris (Kath, the former rock star) raised laughter and tears in this heart-warming play.

St. Mary’s P5 pupils will now go on to explore some of the play’s themes. Working with Citadel Arts Group, the children will devise their own play and perform it for the Jameson Place residents after Easter.

Liz Hare Artistic Director at Citadel Arts Group, said: “The play looked at exploring green issues in a fun and informative way. The pupils liked the songs and thought it was a great way of getting across important issues. We’re very much looking forward to working with the pupils and helping them come up with their own play.”

Elaine Edwards, Scheme Co-ordinator at the Port of Leith Housing Association’s Jameson Place Sheltered Housing Complex, said: “It is a nice treat for the residents to have a fun-filled afternoon and there was a lot of laughter. The children are also so good, always polite and helpful. It means a lot to the tenants here.”

The project is funded by Foundation Scotland, Leith Benevolent and Age Scotland.

Funding for Leith community group

Leith-based community project Saheliya has been awarded almost £43,000 after Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) secured funds from the Scottish Government’s Community Fund.

Saheliya will receive £42,482.00 over the next two years to provide learning activities to improve language and communications skills to over 90 ethnic minority women living in the North Edinburgh area. A number of PoLHA’s tenants use the service.

Mary Hastie Business Development Co-ordinator at Saheliya, said: “This funding is vitally important and allows us to reach out to women and young girls who are disengaged and feel disempowered and give them a voice. This money will allow us to provide vulnerable women with the confidence and skills needed to access additional services to support and encourage integration within the wider community.”

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive at PoLHA, said: “We are committed to supporting communities and creating a sense of purpose and belonging for our tenants. Saheliya is a fantastic initiative and I am delighted we have been able to support them through access to the Scottish Government’s Community Fund.”

Seasonal sale at Saint Nicholas

Saint Nick’s celebrate Saint Nick!

Port of Leith Housing Association’s (PoLHA) St Nicholas Court sheltered housing complex raised £1500 at its Christmas fayre held last Saturday (1 Dec). All funds raised will go towards supporting activities for residents including day trips, theatre trips, exercise classes and lunch clubs.

The complex, on Leith’s Ferry Road, had an array of stalls including a raffle, tombola, home bakes, bric-a-brac, books and toys. There was also the opportunity to buy gifts hand-made by the residents, including decorations, necklaces, knitting and aprons.

Maureen Tait Senior Sheltered Housing Co-ordinator with PoLHA, manages the complex. She said: “The annual Christmas fayre is always great fun for the staff and residents and a great chance for us to interact and have a good time with the local community. We’re delighted to have raised £1500 and are grateful to the all those people who came along to support us. Many of our residents are young at heart and really enjoy getting out and about on trips and this fundraising event helps make it happen for them.”

Pictured: St. Nicholas resident Frances Veitch displays festive treats

Port of Leith residents attend advice event

Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) hosted an event for its residents to provide information on issues such as welfare reforms and benefits advice recently.

Over 60 people attended the open day at South Leith Parish Church Hall where the Association was joined by the Department of Work & Pensions, the City of Edinburgh Council, an energy advisor, a money advice worker from Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Edinburgh Housing Advice Partnership and employability initiative Community Renewal.

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive at PoLHA, said: “There are a lot of changes coming and issues surrounding benefit, energy and money management for our tenants to consider. Holding this event with our partner agencies helped those who came along to understand how these will affect them and how they can make the pounds in their pocket go further. It was a great turnout and I hope people found it useful to help them manage finances in the run-up to the forthcoming benefit changes and the winter months.”

PoLHA was formed in 1975 and now owns and manages 2400 properties in the Leith and North Edinburgh area.

Letter: Focus needed on ‘mid-market rent’ housing

Dear Editor

I write in response to the survey by Shelter Scotland showing that one in five young couples have delayed starting a family due to not being able to get on the property ladder. The charity says this highlights how the lack of safe, affordable social housing is impacting every level of society.

As the property market continues to struggle, many people who once would have thought about buying simply cannot and are being pushed into renting. A soar in the number of ‘reluctant renters’ has pushed rental prices, already renowned for being very high in Edinburgh, beyond reach of many of the city’s key workers.

With the average rent for a two bedroom property in Edinburgh currently at over £700 per month, and over £900 in the city centre, people on modest incomes working in roles such as nursing, teachers and youth and charity work, would find it very difficult to afford a safe and secure tenancy in a modern and well-equipped home.

This is why, in addition to providing more social housing, there now also needs to be a focus on supporting this group through the recently formed ‘mid-market rent’ model. At Port of Leith Housing Association, of the 500 properties we plan to build in the next three years around half of these will be available for this category.

The need for affordable housing is at its most pressing for a generation. The average wait for a social rented home is now counted in years rather than weeks or months and the problem is growing. To deal with the remaining backlog alone, it would take approximately 20 years. These figures may seem an insurmountable task but they only take into account those who are eligible for social housing. We estimate there are thousands in Edinburgh who would benefit from mid-market rent homes.

Pricing people into dilapidated properties will only, in the long run, likely price them out of cities. It also creates a real disparity and does not encourage vibrant, mixed communities that are essential for the ongoing success and wellbeing of communities.

Keith Anderson

Chief Executive, Port of Leith Housing Association

Constitution Street, Edinburgh

Ferry Road’s friendly games get underway

OhLimpNix squad — Oh-Limp-Nix athletes: a tense wait before going for gold …

OH-LIMP-NIX IS UNDERWAY

Depressed with Tom Daley? Frustrated with Zara Phillips? Had enough of Hannah Miley? Or cursing Mark Cavendish? Only three days in, is the London Olympics experience wearing you down? Perhaps a sporting event being held closer to home will reawaken your Corinthian spirit – yes, it’s the St Nicholas Court Oh-Limp-Nix!

The eagerly-awaited sporting extravaganza – perhaps the biggest event in Leith’s sporting calendar – is underway at last! The St Nicholas Court Sheltered Housing Complex’s ‘Oh-Limp-Nix’ kicked off yesterday with John Haggie for the Australia team victorious on the first day of the tournament on the Wii bowling round with a score of 201.

Four teams – Great Britain, USA, Australia and Spain – each made up of three people, are battling it out for the coveted win at the end of the four day games being held to coincide with the London Olympics.

Ian Vanhegan, a resident of the Port of Leith Housing Association Ferry Road complex is part of the Australia team – but his wife May is on the rival Great Britain team! He said: “We’ve been preparing for about three months so it’s great it is here. It’s a good laugh.”

Each day the teams will play different games. Today (Tuesday) there will be shot putt and hoopla, tomorrow (Wednesday) Wii archery and on Thursday Trionimos (three sided dominoes).

Frances Veitch, who ‘represents’ America, said: “It’s been good fun training” while her husband Alex, who is on the British team, said: “It makes the Olympics feel more real and it’s great to be involved.” Lets hope the competition doesn’t cause any rifts in the ‘special relationship’!

The competition is already heating up. On the first day, ‘Spain’s’ Margaret Dodds got four strikes in a row which were met with applause from her fellow competitors and spectators. She said (in perfect English!): “We all have the same chance really so the week will be interesting.”

Food from a different nation will also be served following the day’s games, including paella and fish and chips – but apparently there’s no room on the menu for deep-fried Mars bars.

Maureen Tait, Senior Sheltered Housing Coordinator, said: “It’s been a long time in the coming so we’re absolutely delighted that we’re now underway and cracking on with a great week of games. It’s certainly created some good-natured rivalry in the complex and everyone has been really excited in the build up. It’s been popular so far and we’re delighted family, friends and our other residents are all getting involved in the spectator action.”

The event will culminate with a prize giving ceremony on Friday (August 3) where Port of Leith Housing Association’s Chief Executive Keith Anderson will present the twelve Olympians with medals and the winning team will be revealed. It’s not known at this stage whether Her Majesty the Queen will be making a surprise parachute landing at St Nicholas Court to join the celebrations …!

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