Building stronger communities

With the help of our Estate Services team, we have now completed all our 2020 Community Improvement Fund (CIF) projects.

The CIF is our annual fund designed to help tenants set up their own community project. It offers grants of up to £3,000 for projects that will make a positive difference to tenants and their communities

The project must fall into one of the following categories:

• health and wellbeing
• community
• environmental improvements

A panel from our Tenant Action Group assesses the applications and awards funds as appropriate. In 2020 there were bids for landscaping, new garden furniture and communal garden improvements to encourage more use of the garden, provide enjoyment for all tenants and benefit their social wellbeing.

Tenants at Elizabeth Fry Road in Norwich, for example, put forward an application to improve their communal gardens. Their plan included re-seeding the grass, planting bulbs and creating wildflower areas to encourage wildlife. The plan also included re-establishing hedges and beds, and planting new shrubs and small trees. Some of the plants were grown in our very own polytunnel.

“The gardens are looking lovely now - thanks to Estate Services for their help and hard work,” said our tenant James, who has since planted some geraniums and an azalea next to the scheme entrance.