Ho sed usi a ng B A ty s i s n o u c i m a t i m o o n

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CBHA Annual Review 2007

Involving residents, improving lives Contents

Since 1996 ...... 4

From the Chair and Chief Executive ...... 6

Supporting Residents ...... 8

Partnering with Peabody ...... 10

Developing Communities ...... 12

Tackling Anti-social Behaviour ...... 14

CBHA Conference Up Close ...... 16

Working with Others ...... 18

Financials and Performance ...... 19

Involving People ...... 20

Contacts ...... 22

This report covers the year ended March 31, 2007, however to maintain continuity and convey consistent messages, events beyond this period have been included in some instances.

About CBHA

Established in April 1996 to continue the regeneration work of the Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust, CBHA is a true tenant-led housing association with 10 resident places on its 15-member board. CBHA owns/manages more than 1,600 properties located in four areas in Waltham Forest and also manages another 450 properties in Newham on CBHA Annual Review 2007 behalf of Peabody Trust.

Cover photo by Zetti Photography, featuring Nadia Slater. See Solomon Chanikira provides maintenance related story on page 12. care for vulnerable CBHA residents CBHA since 1996 Celebrating with events

The Gala Charity Ball, attended by more than 200 people at the Leyton Orient Football Club in October, netted £1,246 for the charity of the th CBHA celebrated its 10 anniversary Mayor’s choice, the cardio unit at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone. in 2006 with a variety of events and activities, including a 10th Birthday Mayoresses Mrs Imutaz Begum Qureshi and Miss Qara Qureshi party for 50 children, and a Gala celebrated with CBHA Chief Executive Gary De Ferry and Charity Ball. Chair, Susan Nwalema (pictured above from left to right). Held in July, the party for 50 children In addition, seventeen staff received the 10 year CBHA Service celebrating their 10th birthday award. These were Gary De Ferry, Paul Brown, Jude Leighton, Edward Ogundele, Martins Aimiuwu, Dennis Ibrahim, Kevin Aris, Monica Kessie,

CBHA Annual Review 2007 captured the spirit of the year, featuring a huge birthday cake, bouncy Collette Curran, Michala Jervis, Ragell Esther, Jon Reeks, Tom Fleming, castles, music, and face-painting. Abeey Osho, Sue Graham, Ben Thumbadoo, Nigel Harrison, Kerry Wicks and Salim D’Jemil.

4 Since 1996

Celebrating with people

CBHA’s residents and staff are the faces behind the success of the organisation. Thirty-five per cent of CBHA’s staff have been around since inception, taking on different roles while others have joined throughout the years.

Jacky Smith (left) a resident since inception, started working as Chief Executive Gary De Ferry’s Personal Assistant in 1999. Her job changes and grows as the organisation does, giving her the opportunity to influence change in her own community. Matthew Weekes (centre) joined the CBHA as a Foundation Modern Apprentice in 2004. After completing his apprenticeship with the organisation, Matthew was appointed as a Customer Services Assistant in the Leytonstone Area. Susan Nwalema and Sue Graham celebrate the official launch of Ching Way Health & Housing Centre with Waltham Forest Mayor Jude Leighton (right) who has held a number of positions with CBHA Farooq Qureshi since inception, joined the Management team in 2005 and is now Head of Continuous Improvement and Communications. Jude is now based in Leytonstone.

Involving residents, improving lives 5 From the Chair and Chief Executive Breaking New Ground Through funding from the Better Neighbourhoods Initiative (BNI) we were able to work with an enthusiastic group of young people called Rollin G, who are an inspiration in their own right to anyone working to We can proudly say we are never far from our mission at CBHA to improve lives. (Read more on page 13.) involve residents to improve their lives. We particularly rely on our mission, core values and roots to keep us grounded when we We will continue to seek ways to support key initiatives related to implement change or expand. In 2006, we expanded our services and gang violence and also to explore what we can do directly. As one programmes within and beyond our four areas and with a good deal of of the leading housing association’s in the borough, we have already success. sponsored our first external conference, ‘Guns, Gangs and Terror’, which is reported on in this Annual Review. Whilst we have continued to meet the objectives for our core housing services, we have introduced new services such as Financial Inclusion Gang violence is a pressing and complex social issue throughout London and Tenancy Support to ensure we are continuing to meet the changing and other UK cities and we are determined to play our part in finding needs of families and individual residents. These efforts are about ways to deal with it. We want to help our young people to realise their making sure that CBHA residents are able to live independently, potential and enjoy a good quality of life. enjoying the best possible quality of life. To fully embrace and understand these new ventures, we have cultivated key relationships Our partnership with Peabody Trust is stronger than ever, both within the community with for example, the East London Financial organisations enjoying mutual benefits. CBHA is well positioned to Inclusion Unit (ELFI) and Worknet. offer specific local services to the Peabody Group such as re-housing tenants at Clays Lane and youth services at Vicarage Lane, due to our Indeed our general approach is to use the skills and experience of our grassroots approach in working with tenants on every level. in-house staff alongside other partners, statutory, voluntary and private to bring the most comprehensive and cost-effective services to our Peabody reciprocates with specialist services, including Finance, IT, residents. Human Resources and Development. With support from the Trust we launched a new CBHA website www.cbha.org.uk. With the support of some of our partners, we focused our Community Development work on social transformation. We also formed some The CBHA has always been “more than just a landlord” and this year new partnerships, key to understanding communities and influencing we have proved this by moving up a gear in our wider community change. development role and by adding services for residents which don’t just look after the bricks and mortar; something actually we do very well. Christ’s Hospital, an independent boarding school providing high quality We are grateful to everyone from the Board members and staff to our education for all regardless of parental income, is one such new partner. unpaid volunteers and external partners for their commitment and We are delighted that in the first year of our partnership one of the expertise in helping us to improve lives. CBHA’s own residents secured a place at this school. (See page 18.)

One of the most important areas for us has been extending our partnership with the London Borough of Waltham Forest to reduce gang violence in the Borough. CBHA Annual Review 2007

Susan Nwalema Gary De Ferry

6 From the Chair and Chief Executive

Involving residents, improving lives 7 Supporting Residents Developing Financial Inclusion Thus far, five workshops have been held. Around 10 residents participated in each on topics such as using a credit union, budgeting,

setting up small businesses and sourcing employment. CBHA began exploring a Financial Inclusion strategy in 2006, as part of Martins explains that it is early days yet to measure the programme’s the organisation’s focus on improving success but many of the benefits are immediate and tangible. the lives of all residents. Many of the residents who have been involved have given positive Martins Aimiuwu (pictured left), Area feedback. He encourages residents with relevant needs to take advantage Housing Manager, Specialist Services, of the service. explains that assisting with personal finance is not new territory for the CBHA. However the 2006 programme, Money Matters at CBHA MoneyMatters, brings everything together and looks at CBHA’s overall Pauline Williams need to encourage financial inclusion of Leyton completed and address the issue of rent arreas in a MoneyMatters a holistic way, understanding that this workshop and certainly might be part of a host of appreciated the financial problems. opportunity to look at her personal finances “MoneyMatters is about providing support for households rather from a wider view. than just residents,” says Martins. “It also has to do with improving standards of living and sustaining tenancies. A CBHA resident since “In many ways, MoneyMatters is an anti-poverty strategy, offering inception, Pauline went people access to mainstream financial packages as well as job along to the Budgeting opportunities.” Advice workshop in February, which was CBHA works in partnership with East London Financial held over five sessions Inclusion Unit (ELFI), Worknet, O-Regen, SureStart and in cooperation with ELFI. the London Borough of Waltham Forest Credit Union to make the programme a reality. Also, the organisation’s Pauline (pictured right) tells Money Adviser Nazeerah Seedat that the own financial advisors play a key role in working with workshop, held at CBHA’s Leyton office, was not only “very interesting residents, giving them opportunities to discuss welfare but also an excellent opportunity to find out what her options were” for benefits and debt problems. managing her money.

The Money Advice service offers training in overall personal finance, The workshop covered a range of topics, including a session on how financial health checks, debt management and advice, related to start your own business, which she passed on to her daughter. In CBHA Annual Review 2007 workshops, an ongoing advice column in CBHA news “Ask Naz and addition, there was at least one tenant in attendance looking for work. Nigel” and a host of other services. This includes advice on a daily basis through home visits, telephone conversations, interviews in the Workshop participants receive certificates to recognise their completion area offices, email and letters. of the training programme.

8 Supporting Residents She initially meets with the tenant to assess needs before she can make Tenancy Support Services appropriate recommendations. This could involve bringing in a CBHA money adviser to help with benefits, arranging a move from one type of Supporting vulnerable tenants rose to housing to another or even assisting with finding or transferring to a GP. the top of CBHA’s agenda in 2006 with the implementation of a new service, “Sometimes vulnerable tenants need hands-on support such as those Tenancy Support Services (TSS). with health and medical problems. This ensures that they get what they require to cope on a daily basis,” says Angel. “Cases are worked Michala Jervis, Area Manager for Clays through according to different needs and once concluded, they are Lane & Supporting People says: “The revisited every three months. Files are closed after 12 months.” key aim of the service is to provide support at a certain level and for a In 2006, Angel began working with Robert Hands, an elderly resident, period, which allows the tenant to who was simply unable to cope on his own due to heart related health achieve a more independent life and to issues. Angel recommended that he be transferred from his general sustain the new lifestyle.” needs, first floor flat to sheltered housing, where he would still have a sense of independence but a scheme manager to monitor him and a 24 Those needing TSS among CBHA hours Emergency Response Unit. residents include over 60’s with special needs, tenants with Mr Hands says he “likes his new situation”. He has someone checking mental health concerns, teenage on him regularly and doesn’t have to worry about getting into difficult parents, people who have alcohol situations as in the past. Before moving, he recalls having incidences or drug issues and newly housed of being on the floor several times, unable to get up because of heart homeless persons or families. attacks. He also had a series of fire risks because of his health situation. Now he has everything he needs to have a better quality of life, “Most of the cases are extremely including a cleaner and sensitive and require expert care,” explains Michala. “In November 06, food services, Angel adds. we brought on our first Tenancy Support officer, Angel Abisola, who has a background in supporting people with different types and levels TSS also offers a of vulnerability in residential homes, schemes, day centres, and out in decorating and gardening the community. She has an NVQ in Health and Social Care, a good service, for which there knowledge of Housing law. are 14 new referrals. Seven jobs are in progress “We are very excited about TSS,” she says. “There are many cases and three completed. being dealt with, enabling so many people to get up on their feet.” The Garden Maintenance TSS at Work Scheme was set-up to provide grass cutting, TSS gets referrals from other CBHA staff working with residents. hedge trimming and general tidying of the garden area of CBHA This could be through Housing, Specialist Services, Community residents living in sheltered schemes. The scheme also offers services Development or contractors. Currently CBHA has 24 on-going cases to vulnerable or disabled residents living in general needs housing. The and 19 new referrals. Internal Decorating Scheme offers decorating services to vulnerable or disabled tenants, who have been living in their flats for some years. In some instances Angel is able to offer direct support; in others, she refers tenants to Social Services, support groups, counsellors and other “The idea is to give their homes a face-lift because they are not able to agencies in Waltham Forest that are able to contribute to the well being do this themselves or they do not have access to facilities to do this,” of its residents. says Angel.

Involving residents, improving lives 9 Partnering with Peabody

CBHA has enjoyed the benefit of a strong relationship with Peabody Trust, its parent organisation, from the onset. In 1996, Peabody (in partnership with the Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust) established the CBHA as a subsidiary. Since then, the two organisations have worked together in a number of ways to develop a mutually beneficial relationship.

CBHA works as part of Group

On behalf of the Peabody Group, CBHA manages Clays Lane, a London Borough of Newham estate with 450 tenancies, and provides youth services on Vicarage Lane, a Redbridge estate where CBHA youth worker Douglas Muhammad assists with youth club on Tuesday nights.

Clays Lane Clays Lane estate in Newham, located on the site of the future Olympic Village, was transferred to Peabody Trust in August 2005. Peabody’s goal was to re-house the residents by 23 July 2007. With CBHA leading on this Clays Lane staff Jade Maskell, Leticia Dowsett, and Toni George make their rounds key project, 85 per cent of the residents have been re- housed successfully so far CBHA Specialist Services Director Edward Ogundele (pictured with the Peabody Group re- left) says the project is progressing according to schedule, meeting housing a quarter of them. the London Development Agency’s targets. The CBHA has a history Other housing providers of successfully re-housing people, having re-housed more than 2,500 involved include East households on behalf of the Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust. Homes, Toynbee and the London Borough “As a Peabody Group member, CBHA is well positioned for this project,” of Newham. Edward says. “The staff team have worked diligently and we are pleased with where things are.” CBHA Annual Review 2007

10 Partnering with Peabody Vicarage Lane Peabody supporting subsidiary Douglas Muhammad, CBHA As parent organisation to CBHA, Peabody provides support services youth worker (left), supports such as Finance, Human Resources, IT and Development. This year Peabody’s Vicarage Lane Youth Peabody supported the launch of CBHA’s new interactive website. Club offering services every Tuesday night at the estate for Development about 15 to 20 teenagers and Development continues to be a key young adults, ranging from age part of CBHA’s remit as a housing 15 to 21. association which focuses on Sharon Barbour, Peabody improving the lives of its residents. employee, who visits a Peabody’s Development further night each week runs team, with many years of the club which was set-up to experience, oversee CBHA’s pilot youth clubs on Peabody Development schemes. estates. In November 2006, the final 18 Modelling CBHA’s youth homes were completed on the clubs, the Vicarage Lane club Oliver Road scheme in Leyton. This has offered a photography marked the final phase of CBHA’s workshop and looked closely work with the Waltham Forest HAT. at career development. Peabody Development Manager “We have also worked with Natalie Stump (pictured right) the youth to complete four explains that all the properties, applications to the Youth which were for social renting, are Opportunity Fund, which is occupied. They had been pre-allocated to Waltham Forest nominees. funding by young people for young people,” says Douglas. “They have applied for some equipment, workshops and residentials, which Next on schedule for completion this August is the will create opportunities for them to get away from the estate and do Stephenson Road scheme, the first CBHA Development new activities like team building.” build scheme, which has not been built on land inherited Looking ahead the group will participate in a bike project with the from the HAT. Redbridge police to mend lost or stolen bikes, keeping them as their “Stephenson Road is on target,” says Natalie. “There are eight shared own once repaired. ownership flats, and nine units for social renting, eight of which are two Douglas says: “The key to running a successful youth club has to be bedroom flats and one is a six family four bedroom home. We are very building relationships.” much looking forward to completion.”

Involving residents, improving lives 11 Developing Communities Community Development The personal benefits are enormous, she says, describing Community Development sits at the heart of CBHA, giving life to the fun experiences many of the projects and programmes that saw growth in 2006-07. ranging from paint Roz Gordon, Area Manager Community Development, who heads a team balling and camping of five says that their most important work in 2006 was closely tied to to the opportunity to young people, although CBHA is looking to extend the strategy to adults work with children, in the community in the future. something she has always wanted to do. In 2006, with the continued support of other CBHA departments, the team was able to expand youth services. “I have always CBHA also relies on the generosity of volunteers to been interested in organise events and programmes. youth work,” says Roz and Nadia discuss Summer Programme 2007 Nadia. “And having “Our strategy has been very effective,” says Roz. “We are developing studied sociology relationships with young people and can see a vast difference in what and participated in Summer Programme myself, the role comes very was and is now.” naturally.” Nadia has also completed a 12-week course in youth work, For example, she says young people want to volunteer and will come organised by CBHA. and talk if they have an issue to discuss, showing respect. They can Nadia, who also volunteered for Defending da Hood, is looking forward also voice their opinion through the Youth Forum. to offering her services during the 2007 Summer Programme in which her siblings will participate. Volunteering She looks forward to developing more positive relationships with the Volunteers are integral to CBHA’s Community Development work, young participants. assisting with the planning and implementation of key events and activities. For example, some 21 volunteers contributed to 2006 Summer Programme, which included more than 1,700 participants, a Youth Forum massive increase from the 30 participants in the first event seven The CBHA set-up a Youth Forum of 38 young people in 2005, offering years ago. young residents aged 14 and over an opportunity to voice their opinion The programme, originally set-up to provide CBHA youth with about specific issues. “The aim is to ensure that young people have a constructive activities during the holiday periods, brings young voice in the community and to ensure that they are represented locally people from all the areas together. Last year’s event included five and nationally,” says Roz. days of camping. One of the representatives, Navinya Lee, sits on the CBHA resident Nadia Slater of Chingford has fond memories of Community Development and Resident Involvement volunteering during the event, and says she would recommend it Committee, a Board committee.

CBHA Annual Review 2007 to anyone. Youth Forum meets every six weeks drawing interest from around 10 participants per session.

12 Developing Communities Better Neighbourhood Initiative Approximately 13 young people, who live in different parts of Waltham Forest, meet up as friends and also as a group with specific goals and objectives. Rollin G Roz Gordon explains that LBWF funded the project, asking CBHA “to CBHA teamed up with the London Borough of Waltham Forest in 2006 help get young people on the outskirts involved in activities. The idea on the Better Neighbourhood Initiative (BNI) to help reduce gang was to get them involved in education or training and not involved in violence in the borough, which resulted in an ongoing relationship with anti-social behaviour or criminal activities.” Rollin G, a group of young people who have set out to put a positive As a part of BNI, Rollin G joined in the Damilola Taylor slant on ganging up. Trust’s Knife Campaign, ‘I will not carry a knife’, which Rollin G, organized by Jason Dolphin and Aron Jervis, are positive has been running since January this year. Thus far, Rollin role models in the community, offering an alternative lifestyle to G members have visited youth clubs and schools in the belonging to a gang. Borough and encouraged 600 young people to pledge with their signature not to carry a knife. Another aspect of the partnership was a film/media course in June, bringing in youth in the Borough to show them how to make a professional video. “One stipulation was that they had to make an anti-crime film as a group,” says Roz. “There were four different sessions running, and at the end of the four days, we had a long list of other young people interested.”

Youth Services

The BNI also extended the Chingford Youth Services, available to ages 8 to 21, funding two further nights per week and two staff persons per night since January. As part of this effort, the Police provided funding for more equipment. “The project is going very well, including activities such as video nights, pool and table tennis and workshops on sexual health, self development, MoneyMatters and creative writing,” says Roz. “The numbers of young people in attendance are definitely increasing. One night we had as many as 50 young people. ” CBHA currently runs youth clubs in four neighbourhoods, Leyton, Leytonstone, Walthamstow and Chingford and assists Peabody with their Ilford club. See story on page 11.

Involving residents, improving lives 13 Tackling Anti-social Behaviour Respect Agenda

In 2006-07, the CBHA reviewed its already robust strategy on anti- social behaviour to ensure that the organisation’s policies, procedures and practices are in line with recognised best practice, local views and issues and the Government’s Respect Agenda, which has a six step action plan, consisting of the following themes:

• Activities for children and young people • Improving behaviour and attendance in our schools • Supporting families • A new approach to the most challenging families • Tailored services for residents and provision of support for victims and witnesses • Protecting communities through swift enforcement • Support to tackle the causes of ASB

According to Paul Brown (pictured “And although much of our ASB is very low level (minor neighbour left), Housing Director, CBHA’s policies disputes and nuisances involving ball games), it adversely affects large are largely in line with best practices, numbers of our residents and means that they are not always able to including having an effective partnership enjoy the quality of life that they are entitled to.” with the London Borough of Waltham Forest and the Police to tackle ASB. To this end, CBHA will look at a number of new measures However, to ensure that CBHA is meeting over the coming year to deal with ASB. These include Respect Standards, plans are underway further staffing in this area, provisions of more CCTV in to improve the overall ASB strategy. ASB hot spots, introducing parenting orders and curfews, and continued participation in education campaigns “CBHA takes ASB very seriously,” says through CBHA youth clubs. Paul. “We have programmes in place where we always talk to the perpetrator CBHA has future plans to sponsor ASB related conferences, offering and use whatever avenues are open residents the opportunity to participate in discussions on neighbourhood

CBHA Annual Review 2007 to us to tackle anti-social behaviour. violence and supporting vulnerable residents. This can range from mediating between CBHA has already hosted an external conference related to ASB. See parties to obtaining ASBOs or possession ‘Guns, Gangs and Terror Conference’ on page 15. orders in the most extreme cases.

14 Tackling Anti-social Behaviour Guns, Gangs and Terror Conference “We also looked at the issue of terror, recognising the overlap between terrorism and gang violence.” In addition to the host of speakers, the conference included a Around 200 people attended CBHA’s first ever external conference, Questions & Answers session and featured a video, Portraying the Guns, Gang and Terror, this March, to consider the problems of gun Journey of a Gun. crime, terror and violence among young people in Waltham Forest, all extreme forms of anti-social behaviour. Guns, Gang and Terror, a one-day event, follows CBHA’s involvement in Defending da Hood, bringing together different groups and individuals from the community, including the Metropolitan Police’s Trident Unit, Parents Against Violence and Rollin G, a group of young people from Waltham Forest who aim to positively influence their communities. (See story on page 13.) Speakers at the conference also included individuals from the Muslim Young Peoples Project and the Damilola Taylor Trust. Mike Wilson, CBHA Board member (pictured left), hosted the event. He says together with CBHA’s day-to-day Community Development work, the organisation continues to look at a wide range of options to make neighbourhoods safer for everyone. “The conference was a groundbreaking experience for CBHA and we hope to be in a position to sponsor similar conferences in the future,” he says. “We are unable to ignore the scale of the gang problem in our communities. The conference was an opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss what can be done collectively to combat these issues.

Involving residents, improving lives 15 CBHA Conference Up Close

James Highlighting CBHA’s ‘first ever’ Brokenshire, External Conference Shadow Home Affairs Minister, All Party Guns, Gangs and Terror was held in cooperation with the police, London Parliammentary and Quadrant Housing Trust, Ascham Homes, Breaking Thru, and the Group for Child Active Change Foundation. See feature on page 14. & Youth Crime, offered the keynote Several speakers took the stage at the event. address.

Wayne Campbell, Director of Lyrical Wordz

Hanif Qadir of the Active Change Foundation talked about the importance of engaging with London’s young Muslims who are at risk of being recruited into terror groups. CBHA Annual Review 2007

16 CBHA Conference Up Close There were also opportunities to highlight good practice initiatives.

Heidi Watson, Chief Executive of the Damilola Taylor Trust talked about the organisation’s ‘I will not carry a knife’ campaign.

.

Richard Taylor, Damilola Taylor’s father

Roz Gordon CBHA Area Manager, Community Development, explained how Defending Da Hood (DDH), the award winning initiative which CBHA has been involved with since 2004, works with young people exposed to the gangs operating in their community.

Involving residents, improving lives 17 Working with Others New Initiatives He says: “Christ’s Hospital School has a rich heritage, one that has lasted more than 450 years. Founded on an ethos with special regard to families in social, financial or other particular need, the School is The CBHA took on several new initiatives in 2006, teaming up with a dedicated to providing a high quality boarding education to boys and variety of community organisations within and beyond Waltham Forest. girls from all walks of life.” Some of these relationships are ongoing such as the ones with the He is proud to be an Old Blue, a former Christ’s Hospital pupil and looks London Borough of Waltham Forest, the police, and Sure Start and forward to staying in touch with the student whom have been strengthened through new opportunities as outlined in this he sponsored. Annual Review. Others are new partners, providing specific support and expertise to CBHA residents including those such as East London “I learnt so much from my time at Christ’s Hospital - to set personal Financial Inclusion Unit. high standards, to be conscious of my responsibilities and to treat my Each of these partnerships, regardless of scope, is significant to CBHA’s fellow man with respect. Still I enjoy the opportunities which were regeneration work. offered to me.” For example, the opportunity to work with Christ’s John is pleased that CBHA parents were invited to Admissions Open Day Hospital School, an independent boarding school near and that one of CBHA’s residents now has this opportunity. Sussex, has been yet another opportunity for the CBHA to explore avenues for improving the lives of residents. The School This initiative came as the result of an invitation from the School last year inviting CBHA residents to Admissions Open Day to learn more An independent school and charitable foundation, Christ’s Hospital about how to apply for a Year 7 place for September 2007. educates 840 pupils from all walks of life. Christ’s Hospital facilities include a Music School, Art Christ’s Hospital School, Science School, 500 seat theatre, and a modern Sports and Leisure Centre with an indoor swimming pool.

This year marked the first time ever There are also acres of sports fields for football, hockey and many other that a CBHA resident has enrolled outdoor sporting pursuits. at Christ’s Hospital School, after Established in the City of London in 1552, the School moved to its passing a demanding entrance 1,200 acres purpose-built site in 1902. examination. John Chumrow (pictured left), former Waltham Forest Housing Action (HAT) Chair, who attended the School and is a current governor, offered support and sponsorship for CBHA Annual Review 2007 this prestigious opportunity for the CBHA resident.

18 Working with Others Financials and Performance

Income and expenditure 2007 2006 £’000 £’000

Turnover 9,782 7,019

Operating costs (6,810) (4,486)

Operating surplus 2,972 2,533

Surplus from Right to Buy sales 788 1,394

Interest receivable and similar income 524 407

Interest payable and similar charges (2,289) (2,321)

Retained surplus 1,995 2,013

Balance Sheet 2007 2006 £’000 £’000

Housing properties at cost 59,278 57,277

Less: social housing grant and other grants (16,973) (16,194)

Outstanding loans 28,992 33,966

Pension deficit 1,500 1,812

The above are extracts from the audited Financial Statements of CBHA for the year ended 31 March 2007.

Key Performance Indicator Target 2006 Actual

Repair Completions 98% 99.2%

Gas Safety Checks (CP12) 100% 98.49%

Void Tunaround Times 18 days 20 days

Reduction in Rent Arrears 10% 10.12%

Resident Satisfaction +88% 91%

Involving residents, improving lives 19 Involving People The CBHA Board

Resident Board Members

Susan Nwalema Susan works as the Director for Climbers Kids Club Nursery in Anne Flatts Walthamstow, which she has been involved with for 12 years. She has Elected to the Board in April 2005, Anne is chair of the Community held a number of Community Development and fundraising jobs. Development & Resident Involvement Committee. She currently works in the Citizenship Office assisting with applications for naturalisation. A CBHA board member since 1996, Susan is chair of the Board. She is also a board member of Sure Start, St. James and HATRA. She was previously chair of Climbers and a board member of Orient Coralie Francis Regeneration (O-Regen). Coralie lives in Walthamstow and works as Tenant Participation officer with the London Borough of Hackney and previously worked for the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. Vevet Deer Vevet is a Finance officer /accountant at the Court Funds Office. A board She has been a board member since February 2003. member since 1996, Vevet is a vice-chair and also chairs the Resources Committee. Jerry Nwakaeze She was elected to the National Council of the NHF in 2000. Elected to the Board in April 2005, Jerry has been involved in the Chingford Hall regeneration scheme since 1988. Debbie Griggs Jerry works as a psychiatric nurse with Camden and Islington Social Debbie is a Community Development professional with 16 years & Mental Health Trust and has been with them for five years. He experience. She works for a Sure Start project in Waltham Forest. originally trained as a town planner and has an MSc from London A board member since 1997, Debbie is a vice-chair and chair of the University in Economic Development Planning. Service and Continuous Improvement Committee. She is also a trustee of SCORE, a community, health and sports project in Leyton. A Rehman Perwez Mr Perwez is a retired civil servant. He worked in the legal services of a Victoria Baffour-Awuah Government department for 25 years. A resident board member from Victoria founded the South Leytonstone Ghanaian Association in 1996 Leytonstone, he has been on the Board since October 2002. and continues to run it today. Elected to the Board in December 2005, she is a longstanding volunteer in the Leytonstone community where she is chair of the Epicentre Users and Management Committee, a board member of the Community

CBHA Annual Review 2007 Empowerment Network and vice-chair for Sure Start. Victoria received the Black Achievers Award in 2005.

20 Involving People Independent Board Members Paul Brown, Housing Director Paul began his housing career as a resident local authority caretaker Rosemary Bonna and has held a number of Housing posts at junior and senior level. Rosemary has been a solicitor for 16 years. She is a sole practitioner Paul has considerable experience of working with and helping develop with her own private practice. A board member since 2001, Rosemary tenants associations and resident groups. He also spent ten years is also on the board of another housing organisation in Waltham Forest as an active board member of BCHA (Basildon Community Housing for whom she does pro bono legal work. Association) and vice-chair of Swan London, both part of the Swan Group. Mike Wilson Mike is Director of JVM Consultants Ltd and currently works with the Edward Ogundele, Specialist Services Director London Development Agency (LDA) and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in interim and consultancy roles. He was previously Director Edward started his Housing career as a volunteer with the Waltham of Regeneration at the North East London Strategic Health Authority Forest Housing Action Trust (HAT) and has held a number of front-line and Chief Executive of the Waltham Forest HAT until 2002 when the and managerial posts. HAT handed over its regeneration work to the CBHA. Prior to the HAT & CBHA, he worked in the City with a firm of He is chair of SCORE. brokers before leaving and setting up his own business in property management.

Peabody Group Jude Leighton, Head of Continuous Improvement and Communications Julie Webb Jude was appointed to the Senior Management team in April 2005, after Julie joined the CBHA Board in November 2005, following her becoming Continuous Improvement Manager. She began her Housing appointment as Interim Resident Services Director at Peabody Trust career with the London Borough of Waltham Forest where she worked where she is now Customer Services Director. with a number of teams including the Allocations team. She joined the HAT in 1992 and has been with the CBHA since its CBHA Senior Management Team inception in 1996.

Gary De Ferry, Chief Executive Gary helped to establish the CBHA in 1996 as the Housing Director of CBHA Trustees the Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust (HAT). Steve Howlett, Chief Executive, Peabody Prior to working at the HAT & CBHA, he held a number of positions in local authority housing departments, including four years at the London Catriona Simons, Finance Director, Peabody Borough of Hackney as a District Comprehensive Housing officer. He Julie Webb, Customer Services Director, Peabody has also worked in the private sector providing affordable and market rented housing. Ken Olisa, Board of Governors, Peabody Hattie Llewelyn-Davies, Board of Governors, Peabody

Involving residents, improving lives 21 Contacts

Chingford Area Office 5 Ching Way Chingford London E4 8YD

Leytonstone Area Office 433-443 High Road Leytonstone London E11 4JU

Leyton Area Office 40 Oliver Road Leyton London E10 5TE

Walthamstow Area Office 7 Saxon Close Walthamstow London E17 8LE

For CBHA offices telephone 020 7922 8500 or email [email protected] CBHA Annual Review 2007

Oliver Road homes, part of the final phase of CBHA’s work with the www.cbha.org.uk Waltham Forest HAT. See page 11.

22 Contacts a member of the CBHA Central Office, 433-443 High Road, Leytonstone, London E11 4JU telephone 020 7922 8500 Or email [email protected]

www.cbha.org.uk