The South Glos Post

Merlin Housing Society has reassured tenants that improvements to their homes due to be carried out by Connaught will still go ahead.

Connaught, which called in administrators KPMG last week, is one of three companies carrying out Merlin’s decent homes improvement programme. It was appointed to the programme in 2007 and had fitted new kitchens and bathrooms in thousands of homes.

Connaught was working, or due to start work, in around 60 homes when it went into administration. Now South Gloucestershire-based Merlin Housing Society is writing to all those residents to let them know what it’s doing to minimise any inconvenience to them.

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Source: Merlin Housing Society

Young people have been airing their views on life in South Gloucestershire and the services provided by Merlin Housing Society.

Twenty-five young people aged 16 to 25 attended a recent event specifically designed to allow them to have their say. Organised by Merlin and 1625 Independent People the event followed a similar one the housing society ran with its black and minority ethnic residents earlier in the year.

Community Investment Manager Verona Vidal said she was delighted with the response to the event. “It was excellent and everyone had a lot to say,” she said.

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Source: Merlin Housing Society

The ground has been broken on the site of a new housing development in Kingswood.

Merlin Housing Society’s chairman Les Good, who is a Merlin resident, got the work underway last week.

Over the coming weeks and months two new buildings will be built on the site, providing ten new flats and a new Kingswood Housing Office.

“This development will provide much needed homes in South Gloucestershire and I am delighted that work is underway,” Les said. “It’s exciting to think that in the new year this site will be the home for ten families plus our new area housing office.”

The High Street development, which is due to be completed in January, is just the start for Merlin’s building plans. Over the next four years, it aims to build 100 new homes in South Gloucestershire.

Merlin Housing Society is the largest provider of social housing in South Gloucestershire, managing a stock of around 8,000 homes for single people, families and the elderly.

Source: Merlin Housing Society

Merlin Housing Society is asking young people to give their views on the services it provides.

The society houses more than 16,000 people in its 8,000 properties in South Gloucestershire, a third of who are aged under 25. Now Merlin is inviting people aged 16 – 24 to a meeting at Patchway Community Centre on Monday 28th June from 12 noon – 2.30pm to hear what they think about the society’s services and the area where they live.

Community Investment Manager Verona Vidal, who has organised the event for Merlin, said: “We want the services we provide to be representative of everyone, no matter what their age. But at the moment we don’t have many young residents who get involved with us.

“We want to know what young people think about living in our neighbourhoods and what services they’d like us to provide to help improve their lives. We’ll use their views to develop our services in the future. And you don’t have to be one of our residents to come along – we want to hear the views of everyone.”

The event follows similar successful meetings Merlin has held this year with black and minority ethnic residents. Everyone who takes part in the event will receive a £20 shopping voucher. Merlin can provide free transport and childcare for anyone who wants to attend.

Anyone interested in attending the meeting should contact Verona Vidal on 01454 821500 or email verona.vidal@merlinhs.co.uk.

Source: Merlin Housing Society