Supporting Vulnerable Residents in Client Communities

Our client, Southern Housing, is a social landlord and provider of high quality, affordable homes. Their mission is to enhance lives by building new homes, and continuing to support its residents and communities.

Southern Housing works closely with Fresh Visions, a registered charity that undertakes a number of vital projects aimed at helping people gain control of their lives by developing skills, confidence and motivation so they can build a brighter future.

About the cause

Meeting regularly with Southern Housing, Fresh Visions and their community officers is an important part of our social value commitment to them. It allows us to understand what’s important within their communities, and how we can make the greatest impact.

One issue that became apparent was how Southern Housing residents who lived alone would often feel isolated and lonely. Having recognised this, Southern Housing and Fresh Visions launched the Sussex Wellbeing Health Membership Scheme.

The programme is aimed at tackling isolation and loneliness by promoting active lifestyles and wellbeing activities. Through a Community Wellbeing Coordinator, residents are referred to services and initiatives that could help make a difference to their individual issues.

One of these initiatives is the Freedom Leisure Pass, which allows residents access to the likes of swimming, gym sessions and exercise classes free of charge for three months.

How we helped

Collaborating Southern Housing and Fresh Visions, with support from the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), we formed a three-way funding partnership. With a fund-matching promise from all parties, we were able to fund 24 Freedom Leisure Passes, over double the number originally pledged.

Whilst the passes provide residents with valuable exercise, they do so much more. Getting people together so they feel included as part of a group, helping to ease feelings of loneliness, and giving them something to get up for in the morning.

For many, just having someone to talk to can make a huge difference, especially when it comes to reducing feelings of isolation.

One Freedom Leisure Pass user said:

“I’ve been joining exercise classes in the pool. I talk to other ladies in Aquafit. We have a joke and a laugh, the company stops me feeling lonely and I like the exercises. I feel much stronger, less isolated.”

“I can go to the pool anytime without worrying about money. I would highly recommend getting out of bed in the morning, joining a group or just go for a walk before breakfast. It has given me strength, physically and mentally.”

“Supporting residents to make them feel more confident and less isolated”

Emma Cummings, Southern Housing Community Wellbeing Manager, said: “This funding helps us provide more residents with access to fitness facilities, supporting them to feel more confident and less isolated”.

Our social value commitment

Supporting the social value commitments of our clients is something we are heavily invested in at FFT. So much more than simply meeting an obligation, we take time to understand how the things we support impact our clients’ communities.

Regular meetings with clients and community officers allow us to get involved in assessing what we can do to make the greatest possible impact. All of this combines to help us gain a better understanding of the wider effects of social intervention in urban areas so that we can identify where our help in supporting our clients’ vulnerable residents is best placed going forward.

latest projects

Fire Risk Assessments and Fire Door Surveys

FFT has partnered with Islington & Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA) to enhance fire safety compliance across its homes in North and East London. Through services such as Fire Risk Assessments, Fire Door Surveys, and Building Safety Case Assistance, FFT has provided tailored solutions, leveraging technology and expertise to ensure safer homes for ISHA residents.

Diocese of Southwark – Bishop Thomas Grant School

FFT was commissioned to act as Principal Designer and Contract Administrator to oversee the term-time replacement of windows across two blocks of the Bishop Thomas Grant School. Works went to plan causing minimal disruption, resulting in a much- improved learning environment for students, and potential energy savings for the school.

London South East Academies Trust – Horizons Academy

FFT was commissioned to act as Principal Designer and Contract Administrator to oversee the replacement of the rooﬁng system at Horizons Academy in Bexley, part of the London South East Academies Trust family of schools.

Cyclical Redecoration Works for MTVH’s Sheltered Housing Scheme

FFT were appointed by long term client Metropolitan Thames Valley (MTV) to manage cyclical redecoration works to 48 properties under their sheltered housing scheme for residents with special needs.

Options Appraisal at Randlesdown Road, Lewisham

FFT were appointed in October 2021 to conduct an Options Appraisal to assist Phoenix Community Housing to consider investment requirements at one of their owned ﬂats in the London Borough of Lewisham.

New Build at Darwin Green, Cambridge

FFT were Employer's Agents on a project in Darwin Green which includes a local centre, primary school, mixed use development with 1593 residential units of which 40% are to be affordable, a new library and health centre all designed around a large central park.

Intrusive Building Surveys for MTVH

FFT was appointed by long term client Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) to manage intrusive surveys of their building stock.

Bathroom Pods at King George’s Hospital

FFT was appointed by London & Quadrant Housing Trust to design and install bathroom pod facilities for 187 staﬀ bedrooms at King George’s Hospital in East London.

Victoria Court External Repairs & Redecorations

FFT were appointed in multiple roles by long term client Gateway Housing Association to manage extensive repair and redecoration works to a tenanted residential block within their sheltered housing scheme.

Fire Safety Upgrades to Listed Properties

FFT were appointed by AD Construction Group who were working on behalf of Islington Council to carry out ﬁre safety upgrades to 18 listed properties located in a Conservation Area

New Build at Crewe Lane, Kenilworth

Faithorn Farrell Timms were appointed by Warwick District Council and Milverton Homes as Project Monitors, Employers Agents and Clerk of Works for the new build development of 310 homes.

Cladding Remediation at Equinox House

FFT were appointed as Employer’s Agent to manage a signiﬁcant cladding remediation project at Equinox House, a 10-storey residential block located in a busy East London town.

Taberner House New Build, Croydon

FFT were appointed to act as Employer’s Agents and Clerk of Works for the design and construction of 172 units across two blocks in central Croydon.

Stock Condition Surveys for Southern Housing Group

FFT were delighted to be appointed to conduct a comprehensive programme of condition surveys of 38,000 homes and related buildings over a five-year period.

New Build Apartments at Shenfield Bloodbank Site

FFT was appointed by the Estuary's development team to provide Employer’s Agent and Cost Consultant services to oversee a much-needed aﬀordable housing development.

New Build at Haling Park Road, Croydon

L&Q approached us with a requirement for Clerk of Works services on a new build residential project in Croydon.

Net Zero Carbon Development at Europa Way, Warwick

Faithorn Farrell Timms were appointed by Warwick District Council in July 2020 to provide Employer’s Agent services for the provision of 54 new-build net carbon zero houses and flats at the Triangle, Europa Way, Warwick for affordable rent and shared ownership.

New Build Apartment Blocks at Bilton Road, Perivale

Following appointment to Network Homes EA framework, we were approached to advise on the development potential of a prospective land opportunity Network’s land and new business team had been presented with.

FFT Delivers the First Pilot Disposal for MTVH’s Stock Rationalisation Programme

MTVH, working with FFT, have identified a geographically diverse portfolio for a multi-year stock rationalisation programme.

FFT Housing Consultancy Team Supports Settle Group to Secure Affordable Housing Portfolio

Settle retained FFT to carry out a strategic review of growth opportunities within a defined geography. As part of this commission FFT identified a number of leads and supported settle to secure a mixed tenure social portfolio of 138 homes through private treaty.

Stock Condition Survey for Sutton Housing Partnership

Faithorn Farrell Timms LLP was appointed by Sutton Housing Partnership (SHP) to undertake a stock condition survey covering 6,000 dwellings and 450 communal blocks. Our client wished to capture full component information for the assets in order to provide data for works programming and long term financial forecasting.

Stock Condition Surveys for Eastbourne Borough & Lewes District Councils

Faithorn Farrell Timms was appointed to undertake a stock condition survey covering the entire portfolio of 7,500 dwellings and 575 blocks of flats in Sussex.

Fire Safety Inspections for Extensive Housing Association Portfolio

When an extensive programme of block fire safety inspections posed a number of challenges, not least a requirement to accommodate working around vulnerable residents, and a need to meet rapidly changing COVID-19 related health and... Read more

Barnsbury Housing Association Asset Management Support

FFT were appointed in July 2019 to provide asset management support in respect of circa 29 properties in Barnsbury Street.

Coldstream House, Seaford Refurbishment

Faithorn Farrell Timms (FFT) were initially instructed by Lewes District Council (LDC) to prepare a Feasibility Report and budget estimate as part of a larger brief looking at external redecoration and repairs to Sheltered Schemes.

FFT Housing Consultancy Team Supports Paradigm to Secure Shared Ownership Portfolio

Registered social housing provider Heyford Regeneration brought a portfolio of 68 tenanted shared ownership units to the market in June 2019 for sale by competitive tender. The properties formed part of the Heyford Park Masterplan, a regeneration scheme in Oxfordshire.

FFT Successfully Completes Hyde’s 2019/20 Stock Rationalisation Programme

Housing association The Hyde Group, working with FFT, identified a geographically diverse portfolio of around 900 social housing properties selected on the basis of strategic performance indicators. Tactical advice and a fully comprehensive service were needed to complete the sale of the portfolio against a time-stretched and geographically challenging situation.

FFT Supports West Kent Housing Association to Secure Stock Rationalisation Portfolio Off-Market

West Kent Housing Association (WKHA) had previously commissioned FFT to deliver a Strategic Growth Opportunities Review to identify opportunities for growth that met their strategic, financial, operational and geographical objectives. One of the opportunities identified was the potential acquisition of tenanted stock owned by housing association Stonewater Ltd.

FFT Successfully Completes Sale of Stock Rationalisation Portfolio in Wiltshire, Swindon and Berkshire for Southern Housing Group

the project Southern Housing Group (SHG) identified a need to rationalise its geographical footprint by transferring its westernmost stock holdings to a provider with a stronger local offer. The stock holdings comprised 731 social housing... Read more

Sovereign Housing Association Value for Money Review

the project FFT were appointed by Sovereign Housing Association to undertake a Value for Money (VfM) Review. Sovereign are a leading and very large Housing Association within England, with over 58,000 properties located across a... Read more

Refurbishment and Modernisation Works, Royal Albert Hall

FFT is delighted to have been appointed to provide a range of professional and contract administration services, undertaking various redecoration and refurbishment projects within the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.

Procurement of Fire Remedial Frameworks

FFT were appointed to assist and support Paragon Asra Housing Association (PA) with the procurement of: Two long-term Fire Remedial Frameworks across London and the Midlands Two Planned Works Contract across London and the Midlands A Fire Safety Maintenance Contract across both regions

Co-Operative House Remediation of ACM Cladding

FFT were instructed by London & Quadrant to manage the remediation of ACM cladding (aluminium composite material) to a large mixed-use seven-storey building located on a busy high street within Peckham Rye, South London. Two elevations were to be clad in ACM. These had commercial units at ground floor and residential units above with external balcony areas.

Locks Court Refurbishment

Faithorn Farrell Timms (FFT) were appointed by Adur District Council to undertake a condition survey of Locks Court, prepare the specification and provide full Contract Administration and procurement services for planned maintenance works and remedial structural repairs to 1-20 and 21-40 Rock Close, Southwick.

Newhaven Youth Centre New-build

Sussex Community Development Association (SCDA) appointed Faithorn Farrell Timms (FFT) to undertake the role of Contract Administrator, Quantity Surveyor and Principal Designer for the construction of a new single-storey youth centre.