Sandwell Homes is working in conjunction with its partners Urban Design and BM3 Architecture to run two separate open days next Wednesday 3 September, where tenants will be given the chance to choose from a series of landscaping and colour cladding options prior to the start of Decent Homes improvements on their homes.

The events will allow tenants from high-rise blocks in Sandwell to view proposals and plans as to how their homes will be improved when work begins later this year at four blocks in Farley and Horton Street, Tipton and early next year at Russell House in Wednesbury.

The blocks will benefit from new windows, redecoration of balconies, new entrance lobbies, wall insulation, new roof coverings, redecoration of internal communal area including new floor tiles and re-painting of walls, new front doors to flats, and fire precaution works.

Gulshanara Begum, customer care co-ordinator for Sandwell Homes said:

“It is hoped that these open days will empower tenants as they get to make decisions on landscaping surrounding the flats as well as choosing aspects of the blocks’ overall appearance. We can also field enquiries about how the programme will roll out to allay any concerns residents and tenants may have.”

Sandwell Homes is working in partnership with Sandwell MBC’s Urban Design, Connaught Partnerships Ltd, Lovell Partnerships, Thomas Vale Construction, and Rider Levett Bucknall, who are supported by Peter Brett Associates and BM3 Architecture, to deliver an external high-rise programme worth £80 million. It will see improvements to 44 high-rise blocks in Sandwell that need either extensive or reduced levels of refurbishment or repairs and enhancements during the course of the Decent Homes Programme.

Tenants and residents from Horton & Farley Street are invited to attend 3 September 2008 anytime between 3–6pm at St. Peter’s Church Hall, Whitehall Road, Great Bridge.

Tenants and residents from Russell House are invited to attend 3 September 2008 anytime between 2.30–6.30pm at Russell House Community Room, Holyhead Road, Wednesbury, WS10 7BA.

Sandwell Homes is making a big contribution to this year’s Sandwell Show with a home-from-home community involvement gazebo, a community services marquee to celebrate cultural diversity in Sandwell, and even ‘It’s a Knockout’ being hosted by the Sandwell Decent Homes Partnership and presented by none other than TV’s Keith Chegwin.

The community involvement gazebo will be made to look like a typical home garden setting and will have a display of Sandwell Homes pictures with descriptions – celebrating the way the organisation engages with the community. The pictures will form the basis of a competition giving people the chance to win an i-pod shuffle on each day of the show.

Meanwhile, in the community services marquee there will be a number of fun activities including henna, hair braiding, live cooking demonstrations and cultural dance, not to mention free exclusive cultural and religious recipe cards.

The purpose of the event is to raise awareness and celebrate the diversity of Sandwell. A number of community organisations are taking part including the West Bromwich African Caribbean Resource Centre and Sandwell Deaf Community Association.

The Sandwell Decent Homes Partnership are organising ‘It’s a Knockout’, which will take place on Sunday 24 August 2008 between 11am and 6pm.  Celebrity Keith Chegwin will be presenting the show, helping to spur teams on and get the crowd going. 

We hope to raise as much money as possible for the Sandwell Young Carers charity. Sandwell Young Carers are children and young people from the age of 5 to 18 and living in the borough, who take responsibility for the care of a person who may be chronically ill, disabled, elderly or infirm. Young Carers can be responsible for cleaning, cooking, shopping, washing, dressing, toileting, money management, caring for siblings and administering medication.

‘It’s a Knockout’ involves lots of fun games using highly imaginative giant colourful inflatables, backdrops, obstacles, props, water and foam.  Several teams from across Sandwell Homes and the Decent Homes Partnership will be giving up their time on a Bank Holiday weekend to take part and raise money for this worthy cause.

So, bring your family and friends and come along to what promises to be a great weekend of activities and fun for all ages.

Sandwell Show Opening Times

Sunday 24th August – 11.00am – 6.00pm

Monday 25th August – 11.00am – 6.00pm

Sandwell Homes is going that extra mile for customers by introducing an 8am til 8pm repairs and housing telephone enquiry service. You can now contact us Monday to Friday with all new enquiries from 8am to 8pm by ringing your repairs and local housing office number.

If you need to get in touch with us because of an emergency outside these hours please ring:

• Emergency Repairs and Caretaking Service Telephone: 0800 844112
• Emergency Homeless Enquiries Telephone: 0121 525 4688
• ASB Enquiries Telephone:0121 525 4688