From the first of July, John Whitelock joined the Executive Team as Director of New Business taking on a new role combining the housing development side of Saffron Housing Trust with bringing in new services and opportunities. Some of our customers will know John as he has been with Saffron, initially with the supported housing team, since it started six years ago. He is looking forward to his new role and believes that Saffron is well placed to help develop new services for tenants and the wider community. Saffron is also delighted to welcome new Board members, South Norfolk Councillors Eloise Ellis and John Overton.

What seemed a great idea back in February seemed rather daunting when the day for the Saffron Community Foundation’s Three Peaks Challenge arrived! Seven members of staff from Saffron Housing Trust, the husband of the organiser and a volunteer minibus driver, departed Saffron’s offices in Long Stratton and made the long journey to Scotland to start their first climb of Ben Nevis, to be followed by Scafell Pike and Snowdon – and all in 24 hours! The group encountered bright sunshine; pouring rain and snow so wearing shorts was at times rather chilly! The climbers slept whilst they were driven between Peaks and a fantastic team spirit kept them all climbing and pushing themselves to the end. Five of the eight completed the climb within 24 hours with the others just outside that time but what an achievement for them all.

In the current very hot weather, Saffron Housing Trust was delighted to celebrate breaking the ground on a new Low Cost Housing Project in the village of Bergh Apton, South Norfolk. Richard Bacon MP for South Norfolk and Councillor Derek Blake, South Norfolk Council Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and the Built Environment joined Saffron Directors John Whitelock and Stephen Flowitt-Hill and their guests to mark the first of the exciting new housing build in South Norfolk.

Saffron Housing Trust is delighted to announce the completion of the redevelopment of the former “Ethel Tipple” site in Hellesdon with tenants moving in this week. (from 14/6/10) Saffron Housing Trust, in partnership with Norfolk County Council and Broadland District Council, is delighted to be meeting further housing needs in the area. The redevelopment of the site in Hellesdon has produced 8 specially designed flats for young disabled people, 1 large bungalow with a high standard of accessibility and 9 houses to be rented out to people on Broadland District Council’s housing register.

Whilst the rest of the country is caught up with swings to the right and left and polls going up and down, the children of Willbye Avenue in Diss are enjoying similar movements on their play equipment at the newly landscaped recreation area.

Thelma and Charles Duffield of Rattle Row in Wymondham celebrated their Diamond Wedding today(21/01/2010). Thelma was 19 and Charles 25 when they married with three bridesmaids and a pageboy on a rather grey January day in 1947 but they have managed to keep the light going for sixty years

With an upcoming general election, Norfolk social housing providers came together at an event to discuss what the challenges and changes might be in the coming few years. Saffron Housing Trust had invited other local providers such as Flagship, Freebridge and the Norfolk RSL Alliance to reach out to local politicians,

Celebrations are taking place in Davy Place Loddon where the residents’ committee has been awarded £8000 by the Big Lottery Fund Awards for All to enable a computer club to get up and running. Over the next few months residents of the Saffron Housing Trust scheme will be asking members of the community to come and join them as they surf the web.

Saffron Housing Trust is delighted to offer another service to support its tenants. As from April 2009 Saffron will be able to refer tenants who are experiencing debt problems directly to a CAB debt advice worker (Jude van Hattem) who will be working exclusively on Saffron cases.