It’s hard to believe, but this month marks one year since we began our partnership with Stonewater, officially becoming part of the Stonewater Group along with Greenoak Housing Association.
The partnership has allowed us to make significant strides to enhance the homes, communities and experiences of our residents, as well as directly addressing resident feedback and developing stronger communities.
Access to new funds for residents, through a community improvement fund doubled by Stonewater, has allowed us to undertake several initiatives in response to residents’ input over the past year.
These have included new outdoor storage, railings to make sure outdoor areas are safe for children, extra bin storage, greenhouses, new external lighting, car ports for more accessible parking and landscaping projects – all making a notable and direct difference to the everyday lives of our residents.
Our partnership with Stonewater has also opened avenues for additional support through the Longleigh Foundation. This charitable fund has provided crucial aid to residents facing unforeseen challenges. Examples include one resident who received financial aid after their home was flooded, and another dealing with complex mental health needs, who was able to furnish their home with essential items. Thanks to the grant funding, they were able to create a more comfortable and supportive living environment.
We’ve also benefitted from access to Stonewater’s specialist damp and mould team, and thanks to the partnership with Greenoak Housing Association, have also been able to improve our repairs and maintenance offering, forming our in-house labour, or DLO, team.
There’s still lots to look forward to in the partnership. Building on the successes of this past year, we’re excited about several upcoming initiatives and developments.
These include managing all of Stonewater’s homes in Surrey and Sussex, with our Direct Labour Organisation providing dedicated maintenance services, and a new Resident Portal launching soon, offering residents more streamlined access to services and support. As we mark the first anniversary of our partnership, Marcus Canning, Mount Green’s recently appointed Director, said: “It’s clear to see the benefits that are already being seen by Mount Green’s residents thanks to becoming part of the Stonewater Group.
“I’m excited to continue that journey of collaboration and improvement, working towards our ambitions to increase the number of homes we provide, while retaining the localised service our residents value.”