Eastlight Community Homes

Stellar Bella to the rescue! 🚑💪🏽 When our Trainee Building Surveyor, Bella Rigby, visited an Eastlight couple to carry out a routine survey, the door was opened by a panicked resident whose husband had just collapsed. An Eastlight First-Aider, coolheaded Bella calmed the wife, called the ambulance, went to the local hall to get a defibrillator (thankfully not needed, in the end), then came back and got the grandchildren settled upstairs. The resident was so grateful that a beautiful bunch of flowers arrived for our 'Bella of the Ball' the very next day, with a note saying: “Thank you so much for your help.” What a safe pair of hands you are, Bella – fabulous work! 👊🏾😎

Last week, we held our very first Residents Conference, bringing together more than 30 engaged residents 🥳 On the day, residents took a deep dive into the history of social housing and were introduced to an exciting proposal for a brand-new Residents Members Charter. They also discussed Eastlight’s approach to supporting residents experiencing anti-social behaviour during the re-launch of our in-person Resident Academy. Afterwards, they met with colleagues from across Eastlight, who answered questions about their role and helped build stronger relationships. Following a jam-packed day of information, ideas and discussions, residents left the Public Hall in Witham with smiles on their faces and a better understanding of how we can support them in navigating the complexities of the housing sector in today’s challenging climate. Their feedback on how they’d like us to deliver future services will help shape and develop our approach to ensure residents receive the quality of service they need and deserve. One attendee summed up feedback when they said: “The whole day has been amazing. I’ve learned so much and am looking forward to doing more like this!” A big well done to our Resident Engagement Team for pulling together a great event 👏

We’re making homes warmer and more energy-efficient for residents thanks to the Government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund! 🙌 We've secured £1.2 million to invest in energy-efficient upgrades and we'll match that with an additional £1.2 million, bringing the total investment to £2.4 million over the next three years. But what does this mean for Eastlight residents? 275 homes will see reduced energy bills through upgrades like solar panels - to generate renewable energy - and air source heat pumps for low-carbon heating. Plus, improving loft insulation will help ensure homes stay warm when residents need it the most. These improvements will also help to reduce carbon emissions and ensure we meet our Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) grade C targets. We look forward to building a more sustainable future for our communities 💚 #Sustainability #NetZero #SocialHousing

What does it take to build a successful career? How can we overcome challenges and seize opportunities? This International Women's Day, we embraced the powerful theme of #AccelerateAction as a reminder to not only be ambitious for ourselves and others, but also to hold ourselves accountable for driving change and working together to create an inclusive culture. We are proud that, at Eastlight, so many of our senior leaders are women. That said, gender equality is not only about who is sat in Leadership Team meetings – it’s about ensuring everyone can progress. Whether you’re at the start of your career or looking for your next step, hearing first-hand experiences, gaining practical advice and taking away valuable insights to support your own development is critical for success. A big thank you to some of our brilliant female colleagues who have shared what #AccelerateAction means to them. Check out their thoughts below. #IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInHousing #WomenInLeadership Jenna Bell Debbie Mitchell Jo Barrett Mavis Adombire Sofiya G. Charlotte Todd Bukola Akinyemi Emma Palmer

Giving your colleagues the appreciation they deserve is key to delivering a top-quality service for our residents. That’s why, as we celebrate Employee Appreciation Day today, we want to take a moment to recognise the dedication, passion, and hard work of our incredible colleagues across the organisation. Every day, our teams go above and beyond to make a real difference in the lives of our residents, and we couldn’t be prouder. To highlight just how much their efforts mean, we’ve gathered a few words of appreciation from colleagues: 💬 “Thank you to Chelsea D. for letting me shadow her for the day to find out more about her job. I learned a lot about the ins and outs of Chelsea's role and how she works closely with a number of teams at Eastlight to provide a great service for residents. Thanks again for letting me join you for the day!" 💬 “Thanks to Dave Grove who went above and beyond when he turned up at a job and was made aware the next-door neighbour had just had a fall. Dave went round to check they were ok to find a lady in her 80s in severe pain. Dave called an ambulance and then contacted the woman's son and waited with her." 💬 "I just wanted to say thank you to Andy French MCIOB for always being helpful, responsive and friendly. Despite what must be a heavy and complex workload, he always takes the time to say hello and to answer my questions." A culture of appreciation leads to stronger teams, happier colleagues, and ultimately, better services for our residents. That’s why recognising the contributions of our people is something we strive to do every single day. A huge thank you to every member of our team for all that you do. Your hard work truly makes a difference! 💙 #appreciation #colleagues #teamwork #thankyou #employees #community

We’re pleased to be a finalist for the Net Zero Initiative of the Year Award at the forthcoming ASCP UK Awards after working closely with two Eastlight residents 🙌 Neighbours, Craig Clackett and Chris Weston, had their homes retrofitted with innovative technology to reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions whilst eliminating the use of fossil fuels in their home. Installing new technology such as air source heat pumps, solar panels and smart hot water cylinders, the homes have since improved their EPC ratings, more than halved their carbon emissions and are very close to being Net Zero – what an achievement! Asset Manager (Sustainability & Performance), Charlie Edgar MCIOB, said: “Working with Chris and Craig was a great opportunity for us to pilot various technologies and understand the benefits they offer, both for energy efficiency of our homes and cost reductions for residents.” Chris said: “I was paying £150 per month in electric. Thanks to Eastlight, I’ve now got storage batteries and solar panels, and it’s saved me a huge amount of money. My electric bill is now about £78 a month.” Craig said: “It’s working brilliantly – I’m near enough running on net zero at the moment so I’m very pleased and very grateful.” Good luck to our Asset (Sustainability & Performance) Team at the awards this May! We’ve got our fingers crossed for you. 🤞 #Sustainability #NetZero

The Housing Edit ⚡ We've got five more of the latest important market updates this week from our Head of Commercial and Regeneration, Ian Christmas. Get the latest news here 👇 #rent #houseprices #enquiry #homlessness #housingedit #marketupdates

🌙 Sending peaceful Ramadan wishes to all who are observing ☪️ Ramadan is a holy month for all practicing Muslims, observed by millions worldwide through fasting and prayer from dawn to sunset. As this sacred time begins, we send our warmest wishes to colleagues, residents and partners honouring this special month of reflection, compassion and community. At Eastlight, we’re committed to building an inclusive environment where diverse beliefs are valued and celebrated. To everyone marking this special time, we wish you peace, gratitude and connection. Ramadan Mubarak! 💙 #RamadanMubarak #InclusionMatters 

🏡 What does it really take to buy a home in the UK today? 🏡 With house prices at 8.5x the average salary, affordability remains a huge challenge – one that deeply impacts our residents and communities. In our latest Resident Academy video, expert speakers Dave Smith, Gavin Barwell and David Orr CBE break down the realities of homeownership – covering everything from mortgages and deposits to policy impacts and the future of housing. 🏘️ At Eastlight, we know that homeownership isn’t an option for everyone, which is why we’re committed to providing high-quality social housing and Shared Ownership opportunities to help bridge the gap. This video series aims to inform and empower residents, giving them the knowledge they need to navigate the housing landscape – and get involved in shaping the services they receive for the better. 📺 Watch now: https://bit.ly/4bkvcDh

"None of this would have been possible if I didn’t have a safe home to live in." We all know housing is important, but for domestic abuse survivors, it’s life changing. More than a decade ago, Eastlight resident and Customer Influence Committee Member, Rue Garande 🇿🇼🇬🇧, made the brave decision to leave an abusive relationship to seek safety for herself and her daughter. Finding refuge with Next Chapter before settling into their Eastlight home, Rue is now using her voice to support and advocate for others, reminding us all of the vital role housing providers play in helping survivors rebuild their lives. Her story is powerful, thought-provoking and inspiring. 📽️ Watch the full video here: https://bit.ly/3EPRlNG #DomesticAbuseAwareness #HousingMatters