Operation Easter Eggstravaganza
Apr 11, 2012You’d think Easter would bring a little light relief to the busy site teams working on the Salix Homes sites, with a few days off to give the teams a chance to recharge their batteries and fill up on Easter goodies. But before they closed down their sites, they had one major task to complete… ‘Operation Easter Eggstravaganza’.
Armed with 300 Easter Eggs, Resident Liaison Officers Garry Holt and Michelle Bailey delivered the chocolatey goodies to children on the Duchy estate. Salix Project Officer Daren Wright came along to lend a hand “it was great to see the delight on the faces of the families when we called, it’s the little acts that they don’t expect that mean so much”.
Meanwhile, across town, lead Resident Liaison Officer Adam Berry, along with Site Operative Lee Barham, played Easter Bunny to every household in Black Friar Court.
Residents were truly delighted with the Easter act of goodwill, and the site teams can now have that well earned break!
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Dorothy gets a birthday surprise
Mar 6, 2012
Dorothy Bailey of Black Friar Court got more than she bargained for when she was asked to leave her flat for the day to allow essential asbestos removal works to be carried out.
Lead Resident Liaison Officer, Adam Berry, noticed that it was Dorothy’s 85th birthday on the day of her works. In an effort to make the day a little special for her, Adam arranged a bit of a surprise. He kitted out the Respite Flat with balloons and bunting, bought a birthday cake and presented Dorothy with a birthday card. When Dorothy thought it couldn’t get any better, Adam popped out to get Dorothy some lunch – her favourite – pudding and chips!
Dorothy and Adam spent the day together talking about her experiences over the years. Dorothy has lived in Blackfriars Court for 39 years, so she has seen many changes. Despite her time within the block, she was still very apprehensive about the works. Adam told Dorothy about his plans to hold Reiki sessions, which might help relieve her anxieties about the forthcoming works. Dorothy loves the idea – and was the first to sign up!
Dorothy’s grand daughter and son-in-law were also invited to celebrate her birthday, but were unable to come along. But when Dorothy’s grand-daughter, Caroline, heard about Adam’s little act of kindness, she was moved to tears, and sent in a lovely e mail to thank him…
“Hey Adam… can I just start with saying YOU are AMAZING!!!!!!!
You have made one little old lady VERY happy!! She’s actually looking forward to having the work done on the flat now so she can go over there to see you!!! ha.. (she was dreading it before).
You made her feel so special on her birthday and for that we are all truly truly grateful!!! She said you couldn’t do enough for her, she loved her cake, her flowers, her balloon and she said you even went out early to get her a chippy dinner!! She felt like a mini celeb ha..
I love you for making her feel so special as she is a very special lady to us. Just wish I could have joined in fun too I would have loved that, sounded great. You actually make me feel really emotional on how kind you’ve have been. You’ve put a right little spring in her step (and walker ha).
I just needed to stress how not just me, our whole family appreciate your time and effort in making her feel so comfortable because the reality is you don’t have to, you could go and do your job and leave and not give it a second thought really as I’m sure a ot of people do. So it just means so much that you care, but not because you have to but because you actually genuinely do and THAT is the difference!! We wanted her up here with us whilst it was going on, but she’s still so independent that she wanted to be at home and do her own thing and so she should but now were happy she’s happy.
Everyone should know what a fantastic job you are doing!! Especially when they are your grandma or older relatives you want everyone to treat them like you would, with love and care and that is exactly what you are doing!! So keep up the good work.
Ooh and I think she’s quite excited about the reiki too although I do not think she’ll ever pronounce it correct!
Again thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!”
Caroline
Emanuel Whittaker celebrates 175 successful years in Oldham with 175 little acts of kindness
Feb 9, 2012
Oldham’s oldest company, Emanuel Whittaker, which built many of the town’s landmark buildings including the Coliseum and the Lyceum, celebrates its 175th anniversary in 2012.
To mark the occasion, the company is planning to continue its commitment to supporting the community by carrying out 175 ‘little acts of kindness’ during its anniversary year.
Founded as a building company by Emanuel Whittaker in 1837, it expanded to include joinery manufacturing.
Today the company, owned by Clive Newton and John Gallagher, provides public sector regeneration, refurbishment, construction and conversion services and an active joinery division.
Managing Director Clive Newton said: “As you would expect after 175 years in Oldham, we have close links with the community and many families who have worked for us through the generations.
“We value those relationships and are committed to putting something back into the community.
“We supported 82 community projects and individuals in 2011 and we plan to more than double that to 175 to mark this 175th anniversary year.”
In 2011, the company donated £25,000 to individuals and community projects, including £5,000 to ROCA (Respect Our Community Oldham).
Alongside the financial support for the community, the company gave more than 650 hours of employee time to a range of projects.
The company has also launched a new website which gives the history of Emanuel Whittaker from the early days to the modern supplier of building and joinery services it is today – www.emanuel-whittaker.co.uk
A 175th anniversary event will be held in September for the company’s 140 staff and their families.
The Big Clean Up at Stoney Knoll and Gloverfield
Jan 25, 2012The preparations in the lead up to Christmas can be hectic, but construction sites are usually about getting everything put away and made safe, ready for the Christmas Close down. But our site team at Stoney Knoll and Gloverfield in Salford decided to use the last morning before the site close down for something a little more productive…
Eight members of the site team including labourers, joiners and plasterers, resident liaison and site management staff decided to do a ‘Neighbourhood Clean Up’. Over the course of a cold morning on 23rd December, the site team gave residents a surprise ‘helping hand’ in getting the neighbourhood looking ship shape for Christmas.
During the afternoon they removed all manner of litter and debris, as well as a skip load of items that had been dumped including beds, and old settee, mattresses, TV cabinet’s and old bric a brac.
Residents were delighted with the big act of kindness shown by the site team, who found the exercise got them well and truly into the Christmas spirit.
An old settee that was removed
Looking ship shape after the clean up
Streetgate residents – home for Christmas
Dec 23, 2011
Elsie cuts the ribbon at the Grand re-opening of the newly refurbished community facilities at Streetgate Sheltered Scheme
It’s been a long five months, but residents were finally invited back to enjoy their newly refurbished communal facilities at City West’s Streetgate Sheltered Scheme in Salford.
The £370k refurbishment was completed by Emanuel Whittaker in an astonishing five months, just in time to allow residents to enjoy their new facilities over the Christmas break. The makeover included extensive demolition, remodelling and extending the existing communal lounge, extending and remodelling the kitchen and wardens offices, providing fully adapted toilet facilities and creating an outdoor landscaped area. The facilities were equipped with new furniture and soft furnishings selected by residents during the extensive consultation period.
At 97 years and being the oldest resident in the scheme, Elsie Davies was given the honour of cutting the ribbon, along with staff from City West. Residents, their friends and family were then invited in to take a tour of their new facilities and enjoy and afternoon of celebrations laid on by City West and Emanuel Whittaker.
The party gets underway
The residents were truly overjoyed with their new facilities… ‘It’s absolutely beautiful’, ‘they’ve really gone to town on us’ and ‘we can’t wait to have our parties in here’ were just some of the comments from the appreciative residents.
City West thanked the residents, City West staff and Emanuel Whittaker’s for their hard work. Residents then enjoyed a buffet before the entertainment started and in true Streetgate style, it wasn’t long before the residents were dancing and enjoying their new facilities.