Stafford and Rural Homes Celebrating 10 years

2006

Stafford and Rural Homes formed

02/06/2006

Stafford and Rural Homes is formed in February 2006 following the transfer of homes, garages and shops from Stafford Borough Council.

The Rurals

10/07/2006

SARH moves in to its new headquarters at The Rurals, Parker Court on Staffordshire Technology Park.

SARH goes mobile

08/01/2007

SARH went on the road with the new Mobile Office in 2007 to provide accessible services to customers across Stafford Borough, enabling customers to report repairs, find out about homes to let and get housing advice on their own door step.

2007

The Big Picture

02/06/2007

Reach for the stars… The Big Picture is created by SARH staff.

Tall Ships Adventure

23/06/2007

In 2007 SARH made a donation to Walton Hall Special School to help send children with special needs on a Tall Ships Adventure, demonstrating our commitment to supporting the local community.

SARH goes mobile

01/08/2007

SARH went on the road with the new Mobile Office in 2007 to provide accessible services to customers across Stafford Borough, enabling customers to report repairs, find out about homes to let and get housing advice on their own door step.

2008

Customer Training Programme

01/01/2008

The Customer Training Programme, later the Community Learning Programme, was introduced providing a range of opportunities for our customers. Events for the year ranged from gardening to computer skills.

The Handyman Can

01/04/2008

In April 2008 SARH launched the Handyman service to provide a helping hand to SARH Independent Living Customers. This service provides a range of help with small jobs for no charge from changing light bulbs to hanging pictures.

‘First’ brands launched

06/01/2009

Repairs First, Homes First, You First and Neighbourhoods First are launched.

2009

RoSPA Gold Award

20/03/2009

SARH celebrated winning one of the prestigious RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards in 2009 – RoSPA Gold.

New way to apply for homes

01/10/2009

SARH launches the new online system for home applications, Choice Based Lettings, giving people more choice about where they live and what type of property they live in.

SARH gains major Telecare accreditation

07/01/2010

Stafford and Rural Homes’ You First Telecare Service was accredited by the TSA – the UK’s representative authority on Telecare services. You First Telecare are on hand 24 hours a day every day of the year to respond to emergency calls triggered by Telecare equipment in customers’ homes.

2010

£46m invested

06/02/2010

By its 4th anniversary in 2010, SARH had invested £46 million in the Borough of Stafford. “We have come a long way in a short space of time and I hope we can now build on our achievements and continue to deliver the best possible service for our customers for…

First new SARH homes

01/11/2010

The construction of nine brand new SARH properties at Morton Road begins, marking the start of an ambitious development plan.

2011

SARH is 5

02/06/2011

SARH celebrates its fifth birthday with the ‘Getting Out There’ project, which sees staff helping out with painting, gardening and cleaning in the community.

Learning Academy and apprenticeship scheme introduced

05/10/2011

SARH launches a new Learning Academy and apprenticeship scheme giving young people the chance to gain working experience.

SARH hailed as climate change champions in Green Awards

01/11/2011

SARH was named ‘Climate Change Champion’ in Stafford Borough Council’s Green Awards for its work to reduce the carbon footprint of over 300 homes in the Highfields area through a national Community Energy Saving Programme.

2012

New Customer Board formed

13/01/2012

The new Customer Board is formed to give customers a greater voice and help SARH deliver a better service.

Housing Worx established

01/11/2012

In 2012 SARH set up a trading subsidiary company Housing Worx to deliver maintenance works to its properties. Customers benefit from greater choice and an improved service and SARH invests surplus cash back into affordable housing.

2013

Total Place project begins

01/04/2013

Work starts on the innovative Total Place project to regenerate six streets in Penkside, Stafford. [vimeo id=”142865628″ maxwidth=”600″]

Charity of the Year

19/12/2013

SARH donated over £4,000 raised by staff to its charity of the year, Greenhall Nursery. [vimeo id=”75758756″ maxwidth=”600″]

2014

New Corporate Plan

01/09/2014

A brand new chapter for SARH is outlined in a Corporate Plan that sets out the new Vision and Corporate Objectives, whilst retaining the values that have distinguished SARH since 2006.

The Bigger Picture

01/11/2014

2015

A BEST Company

27/02/2015

In February 2015, Stafford and Rural Homes was named 10th in the Sunday Times Best Not for Profit Organisations to Work For list.

William Horton Court

05/05/2015

The £4.4 million William Horton Court, a flagship new SARH development of apartments on Foregate Street in Stafford town centre built by Kier Partnership Homes, opened in May 2015. [vimeo id=”128231988″ maxwidth=”600″]

New mobile-friendly website

25/06/2015

SARH launches its new mobile-friendly website, enabling customers to easily pay rent, report repairs and apply for homes on the go or at home.

2016

SARH is 10

06/02/2016

SARH celebrates its 10th year of affordable housing.