Tenants celebrate new community shelter
Published: 22 August 2023
Older people living in a housing complex in Exeter are celebrating after having a new community space built for them.
Exeter City Council’s Housing repairs partner, Mears, created the outdoor shelter for the tenants of Southlands.
The social value project was seen as a way to improve the wellbeing of the local community.
Unlike other older persons’ residential areas in Exeter, Southlands didn’t have a community space where tenants could gather and socialise. The Southlands residents are very sociable, and whilst they hold regular barbecues and evening gatherings, they were unable to do so when the weather was poor.
With the use of a Mears foundation grant, and additional funding from the City Council’s housing department, the team were able to construct and decorate a beautiful shelter that the residents can now use throughout the year.
Other organisations contributed both their time and materials to the project; Enviro-tec supplied the machinery, materials and labour to do the base and the path, and Buildbase provided materials to complete the rest of the project.
The residents were delighted with the finished result and celebrated with a special coffee morning and a barbecue party in the evening.
Cllr Barbara Denning, Lead Councillor for Council Housing Development and Support Services, said: “Mears have done a wonderful job creating a welcoming space for the residents, and the project will no doubt have a positive impact on the wellbeing of the local residents of Southlands for years to come.”
While the shelter was being constructed, Mears also ran a volunteering project with the help of five Year 10 work experience students from various schools in the city. The students worked alongside the Mears team to redecorate a not-for-profit community store and café. They spent the week working with different workers and learning various trades.
Mears have so far supported eight work experience students throughout the year, as well as three new apprentices and two finishing apprentices. One of the student’s mothers said: “We have been very impressed with the fantastic work experience package. The kids were all exhausted by the end of the week!”