RESIDENTS HAVE ONE VOICE

More than 50 residents attended the first 'One Voice' conference on Wednesday 9th December to take a look at what has changed in the NDC area since 2001.

The conference was hosted at the Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre by local residents who sit on the NDC board. Guest speakers spoke to delegates about changes in the area around Crime, Education, Employment, Health, Environment and Housing.

The second part of the conference was held in the Bistro area where guests had the opportunity to look at NDC statistics ask questions and give feedback.

A VISION OF THE FUTURE

NDC residents had a virtual tour of the first 622 homes in phase 1A in the £360m redevelopment project in the WEHM neighbourhood this week.

Residents who attended the drop in from 2.30pm – 7.30pm at Moat House Leisure and Neighbourood Centre looked at details of house types, new road layouts, play areas and landscape and green space improvements, as well as the new environmentally-friendly district heating proposals, for the  first 154 homes which are due to be built by October 2010.

The consultation was hosted by architects Broadway Malyan and engineers White Young Green. The redevelopment project is an eight-way partnership between Whitefriars Housing Group, Coventry New Deal for Communities (NDC), Coventry City Council, Advantage West Midlands (AWM), Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and developers Keepmoat Homes, Bovis Homes and Westbury Partnerships (BKW). 

CENTRE WINS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

Wood End's brand new Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre scooped 1st place at the Coventry and Warwickshire FORCE awards recently.

The Forum for Construction Excellence (FORCE) Awards, which pays recognition to outstanding construction projects, held their sixth annual awards ceremony on Thursday 19 November and awarded Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre 1st place in the Regeneration category.

The £11million centre was built through the New Deal for Communities (NDC) regeneration programme and officially opened in March this year.  Residents in the four NDC neighbourhoods of Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore, prioritised the funding of the centre to improve health and fitness within the area and also create a community hub for young people and adult residents to enjoy.

The centre has also been nominated as a finalist in the Coventry City Council Design Awards which is held every two years to recognise design excellence in the city's buildings, public squares and public art.

MANDY IS OUR STAR

Manor Farm resident Mandy Pearce is smiling after she was nominated as a finalist for Community Volunteer of the Year at the National Association for Neighbourhood Management Awards.

Mandy, who has been a long-standing member of Manor Farm Residents Association, was nominated for the award by Coventry NDC for her role as a dedicated and tireless community volunteer in the WEHM neighbourhood.

Her involvement first came about through an intensive community involvement campaign which was run to boost representation on the Manor Farm estate. Over the past 2 years her support along with her friends Josey Smith and Lorna Round has been instrumental in establishing Manor Farm's first resident association.

Afzal Hussain, NDC Director said: "Mandy's passion for her neighbourhood comes from her drive to provide better opportunities and activities for the area's young people. She is an asset to both NDC and her community."

PUDSEY PAYS A VISIT

BBC's Pudsey Bear paid a visit to Moat House Leisure and Neighbourhood Centre on Friday November 20th where more than £1,000 was raised through fundraising activities for Children in Need.

The all day event was held by Coventry NDC with support from local residents. Everyone dug deep into their pockets on the day and donated generously to support the event which included a Coffee Morning, Tea Dancing, Karaoke, Fun Bingo, a fancy-dress car wash, and a bric-a-brac.

Stinder Johl, Head of Development and Neighbourhood Services at NDC said: "It was a real treat for young people when they spotted Pudsey outside the Leisure Centre on the way home from school – we hope to hold events like this every year at Moat House.

BRIDGE TO WORK

Moat House Community Trust has employed four local people as part of its new DIY enterprise project - Bridge To Work.

The new recruits, who started in November, took part in a six-week training programme funded by NDC before going through to interviews for the trainee jobs. They now join Team Leader Stuart Munro and have already undertaken a number of key landscaping jobs around the area.

Sheila Sturgeon, Moat House Community Trust Development Manager said: "It was important for us to recruit locally as not only are we investing back into the community but it offers residents a unique training opportunity."

Bridge to Work offers an affordable DIY service for tasks like redecorating or landscaping.
For more information or to get a quote call Stuart Munro on 024 7662 2964.

NDC'S FIRST NEIGHBOURHOOD AGREEMENT

NDC launched its first Neighbourhood Agreement on Crime and Community Safety during National Not in My Neighbourhood Week in October. The signed agreement between residents and agencies focused on the commitments and priorities for the NDC area.

NDC is now working on the second Neighbourhood Agreement which will look at priorities around the Environment including parks and open spaces.

Like the Crime and Community Safety Agreement, the Environment Agreement will be put together with support from a number of local residents who are part of a focus group.

Karen Buttle, Neighbourhood Services Manager said: "These agreements will play a key role in our succession strategy by helping to lock in support for this area once NDC funding finishes in 2011."