SARH ‘Get Out There’ to support community projects

STAFFORD and Rural Homes staff have rolled up their sleeves and spent a day helping local community projects.

Over 150 staff – including chief executive Karen Armitage – took part in the ‘Getting Out There Day’ to mark SARH’s fifth anniversary.

One of the projects involved included a community garden at Blessed William Howard Catholic High School.

SARH staff joined a Year 7 Environmental Club and a team of Year 11 students working towards their Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN) award – to help bring the school’s eco garden back to life.

Sarafina Montali, science teacher and leader of the Environmental Group at the school, said: “We are so grateful to SARH for all their support for our garden project.

“SARH worked really hard to help re-lay a footpath, repair the greenhouse and shed and fix hooks to the outdoor classroom to hold bird feeders as well as general cleaning and tiding.”

Other projects included decorating work on public benches at Swinburne Close, in Highfields, and improving the appearance of 196 garages across the borough including those in Barlaston, Blythe Bridge and Stone.

SARH customer Irene Harris, 82, who lives on Swinburne Close, said she was delighted with the work.

“The project is a fantastic idea and the work being done is really helping to make the estate look neat and tidy,” she said.

“I’ve lived on Swinburne Close for 11 years and I can’t speak highly enough of all the work SARH does in the local community.”

The project was also praised by the MP for Stafford Constituency Jeremy Lefroy.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Stafford and Rural Homes than for them to help the communities which they are already serving,” he said.

“In these difficult financial times it is more important than ever that our communities have a strong and responsible social housing provider. Many congratulations to everyone at Stafford and Rural Homes for their hard work over the past five years.”

The event was supported by SARH’s partners Frank Haslam Milan, G Purchase Construction Ltd, William Davies Homes, BGC, Baily Garner, Kiers, Stafford Borough Council Streetscene, NonConform, Greenfingers and CDP.

Karen Armitage, Chief Executive of Stafford and Rural Homes, painted benches and railings on Swinburne Close as well as collecting litter from around the neighbourhood.

“This was a great opportunity to mark our fifth anniversary by spending a day doing work that will benefit our customers and the neighbourhoods and communities.

“The effort and enthusiasm of all our staff and partners was fantastic and helped to make the project a real success.”