Blunkett Praises Resident-Led Regeneration Project

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett has praised the resident-led approach to regeneration pioneered by the 'Guide Neighbourhoods Programme', which has been coordinated nationally by the charity Housing Justice.

Speaking at a Parliamentary reception to launch a DVD celebrating the achievements of the programme, he praised the knowledge sharing activities of the Guide Neighbourhoods and described the transformations of previously run-down estates as "inspirational".

The Guide Neighbourhoods programme was established as 'Regenerate' in 2000 by the Churches National Housing Coalition. In 2003 CNHC was one of the organisations that made up the new charity Housing Justice.

Housing Justice is the national voice of Christian action to prevent homelessness and bad housing.

Housing Justice was formed in April 2003 by the merger of two long-standing housing charities, the Catholic Housing Aid Society (CHAS) and the Churches National Housing Coalition (CNHC). In January 2006 Housing Justice merged with UNLEASH (Church Action on Homelessness in London). In total Housing Justice brings together more than 60 years experience of working for change in the field of housing

David Blunkett, who has taken a keen interest in the programme since its inception, was joined at the reception by Hazel Blears who has the Seedley and Langworthy Guide Neighbourhood in her Salford constituency.

Housing Justice received £4.3million government funding over three years to finance activities to enable residents of neighbourhoods who have achieved successful regeneration, to share their experiences with residents of other places who want guidance and support to regenerate their neighbourhoods.

Through a programme of knowledge sharing, site visits, mentoring, and conferences, residents of the Guide Neighbourhoods are able to identify common problems and highlight good practice to pass on to others. The residents have tackled crime, poor housing, environmental decay and unemployment that have blighted in their communities and want to share their success.

The DVD was compiled to celebrate the programme's achievements as it reaches the end of the first stage of funding. It is hoped that further government funding will be announced shortly to continue the work of the Guide Neighbourhoods.

Commenting on the Guide Neighbourhoods programme and the DVD Chief Executive of Housing Justice Alison Gelder explained that the DVD tells inspirational stories of residents that have transformed their estates and want to share their experiences "good and bad, with others so that they can learn. The DVD shows that it is possible for residents to make a real difference and transform their estates."

She concluded: "We hope that this DVD will inspire others to take the lead in regenerating their estates and help to build sustainable communities."

The 15 Guide Neighbourhoods are:
Balsall Heath, Birmingham
Burrowes Street Tenant Management Organisation, Walsall
Castle Vale Community Housing Association, Birmingham
The Eldonians, Liverpool
Goodwin Development Trust, Hull
Include Centre for Neighbourhood Management, Liverpool
Leicester North West Community Forum, Leicester
The National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations, UK-wide
Neighbours4U, Medway
Pembroke Street Estate Management Board, Plymouth
Perry Common Regeneration Partnership, Birmingham
Poplar HARCA, London
Royds Community Association, Bradford
Seedley and Langworthy Trust, Salford
Stubbin Neighbourhood Association, Sheffield

Further information on Housing Justice is available at www.housingjustice.org.uk