Hull in print

Val Moore, chair of the Bricknell Estate Residents' Group, outside the community centre, which was closed for two months following an explosion in a nearby take-away.

A much-needed community centre has re-opened its doors after an explosion almost razed it to the ground.
It's now business as usual at Bricknell Community Centre, in Bishop Alcock Road's shopping parade, west Hull - after it was closed for two months following an explosion at a take-away in the same block.
"Just before the explosion, we were looking forward to celebrating our first birthday as a community centre," said Val Moore, group chair of both the Bricknell Community Centre and Bricknell Estate Residents' Group.
"Hopefully now we'll finally be celebrating - even if it is a little late!"
The centre, which was officially re-opened by Cllr Andrew Percy in July, provides many services for the local community.
Not only is it a venue for courses run by Hull College and for local councillor surgeries, but is used by the fire service, police and antisocial behaviour team as an advice-giving centre. The centre also provides a lending library, help with Internet use and arranges day trips.
Meanwhile, it's providing a temporary home for the local housing estate office, which was also badly damaged in the explosion. Tenants can visit on Thursday afternoons and Friday mornings to seek information and advice from a housing officer.
Val added: "We weren't allowed back in to the centre until about six weeks after the explosion.
"Inside the building there was a lot of surface dust, fallen plaster, and broken glass. We did the majority of the clearing up ourselves, with help from an industrial cleaning company.
"One of our volunteers, Pat Thompson, has been a jack of all trades for us, vacuuming, dusting and generally turning her hand to anything to help get us back up and running. We've been very lucky to have her.
"The council replaced the door and window frames, and fitted a new alarm, while we replaced the badly damaged window shutters."
Cllr Andrew Percy said: "It's been a fantastic effort by local residents to get the centre back up and running again and that's typical of the spirit of the people in the Bricknell area. Cllr Fareham and I ultimately want to see a purpose built centre on the estate and we hope that this re-opening will mark the start of bigger things."

For more information contact the Community Centre on 876457.

tenant news in brief

Shaping the future

The Area Housing Board team wants to thank the people who attended one of the city-wide consultation events or who took the time to complete a questionnaire. The results from the consultation and the name of the Ł100 prize draw winner will appear in October's Hull in Print.
Your views are important and are helping to shape the way that the Boards will operate in the future.

If you would like an application pack or more information about becoming an Area Housing Board member, call 300300. It's not too late to get involved!

Shout for the Academy

The Tenants' Housing Academy, a 13-week night school course about the housing service, has received national recognition. Tenants Maureen Bristow and Jack Ford delivered a presentation about the Academy to an audience at the Blackpool Northern Housing Consortium conference.
Participants recognised the Academy as an example of best practice and were interested and impressed by the idea of a course created especially for tenants. Jack Ford said: "Speaking at the conference gave us the opportunity to tell a wider audience about the Academy and to receive such high praise was an added bonus."

For more information about the Tenants' Housing Academy, call 300300 and ask for the Tenant Participation team.

Reaching out

Hull Housing tenants have a voice - and their views and needs are very important!
That was the message at the annual Tenants' Conference, held at the Ferens Art Gallery last month.
The conference was attended by tenants and residents from across the city and enabled them to find out about what is happening in their local areas.
Penny Rodmell, tenant and key speaker at the Conference, said: "It gave us an opportunity to celebrate tenant involvement in Hull and look at plans for the future."
She added: "The Conference is an important part of getting the message across to people who are not already actively involved. We need to show them that their views and needs do count and there are many ways they can have a voice."
Also attending the conference was Cllr Allen Healand, who is responsible for housing in the city.
He said: "The event has been really useful. I learned a great deal by listening to the views of tenants and residents from across the city.
"Since the last Conference tenants and residents have worked with council staff to give local people an even greater say in how the Housing Service is run. With their help there have been significant improvements in many areas of the service over the last year."

Watch out for the council's new mobile exhibition unit, which can help residents find out more about Hull Housing services.

Coming to a street near you!

More tenants and residents across Hull will have an opportunity to find out about housing services - thanks to the council's new mobile exhibition unit, which can be transported to any part of the city.
It's been introduced following a request by tenants themselves.
John Cartwright, member of the Tenants' Forum, said: "It is important that tenants and residents play their part. We plan to use the new mobile exhibition unit to share information with tenants and residents in their own areas. Rather than expecting tenants and residents to come into the city or visit their local Customer Service Centre or housing office to find out about the Council's future plans, we can go out to them. The unit can go to any part of the city, enabling us to reach tenants in their own neighbourhoods and gather their views."
Watch out for the exhibition unit in an area near you.


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