Representatives from Accent visited local Fenland charity the Ferry Project this week to celebrate a donation made by construction partner Allison Homes.
The visit underlines a joint commitment to supporting the local community linked to our latest partnership development, Whittlesey Green.
Allison Homes donated £13,000 to the Ferry Project, a homelessness charity in Fenland. This substantial donation contributed to renovating a commercial kitchen into a modern cookery school at the Ferry Project’s headquarters. The donation was made to mark the start of the Whittlesey Green development and Allison’s strategic commitment to donate £100 for every new home contracted through a partnership scheme to a local charity.
The Whittlesey Green development will provide 130 new affordable homes, as a mix of shared ownership or social rent. The new homes will form a community on the outskirts of the market town of Whittlesey, within easy reach of local facilities and Peterborough. The homes have been designed to meet customer needs in a range of styles and sizes, from two-bedroom to four-bedroom houses, and are due for completion next year. This is currently one of Accent’s largest schemes being delivered through their strategic partnership with Homes England.
Sarah Ireland, Executive Director of Strategy and Growth at Accent Housing said:
“Accent Group is delighted to have formed such a successful partnership with Allison Homes. Our social values align, and we are proud to be working in collaboration with a construction partner who is keen to give back to the local community through charitable giving and sponsorship. We are looking forward to working together to provide more affordable homes to those in highest need. We eagerly await the completion of our Whittlesey Green scheme, which will provide 130 new, safe and sustainable homes for local couples and families.”
After having a tour of the new community kitchen at Ferry Project and learning more about the charity, Allison Homes CEO John Anderson shared his thoughts:
“It is very inspiring to see how our donation has been put into action at Ferry Project. Keith and his team are doing exceptional work to support the homeless community in this part of the country. This new community kitchen is just one of the progressive ways they are helping to empower and assist people in housing need. It’s a privilege to be able to support them with this donation.”
He continued: “We want to develop meaningful links with the communities that we build in, so it’s a pleasure to bring our ‘Kindness’ value to life today by coming to see Ferry Project and supporting the community of Fenland. We look forward to continuing to support them alongside our partners Accent Group.”
Keith Smith, Director of Ferry Project explained what the donation has meant:
“2023 was a transformative year for us, with huge steps made in our build and renovation projects. Using the Allison Homes donation we were able to transform our old commercial kitchen into a cookery school. The school will hold private courses and fund free classes for our clients and the vulnerable in our community, teaching them how to cook healthily and cost-effectively.
“We plan to run classes and clubs which will bring groups together who may be lonely or struggling with mental or physical health issues. Since we opened, 230 people have attended our workshops and cooker events. This year we will continue to deliver more of these activities and forge more links with community groups.”
