phoenix refurb

Done and Dusted. How was it for you?

2012-02-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

And so this stage of the adventure is over. The project to renovate 9 flats in a block on Spey Street using volunteer and trainee labour is completed. The corridor has been painted, the launch event has been had (photos up soon), the flats have been let and (most of) the tenants have already moved in.

Carlita will be writing a a project evaluation on Spey Street which will look at

- Securing the property

- Operational delivery

- Project staff

- Budget and costs

- Volunteers/ Trainees

- Project monitoring and reporting

- Conclusions/ Next steps.

As a Spey Street resident and volunteer I'm enjoying the quiet. However, there is real mileage in getting all the Co-op volunteers together in order to share their learning and insights on the projects delivery, probably around mid February-23rd or 24th most likely. Hope to see you all there. Paul.

back to work

2012-01-02T04:07:00.000-08:00

We're back to work at the refurb from Tuesday 3rd January. It's a busy time as we aim to be finished by Friday 13th January. 87 and 89 are so nearly finished we can taste it - 85 still needs plumbing, electrics and a bath putting in - it's a tight schedule.

Come on Down!

Open Saturday 10th December

2011-11-28T08:08:00.001-08:00

Since start of the project, 23 Co-op members and 25 external trainees have been involved in the renovation work.

To date, Co-op members have contributed a total number of 700 hours of their time and external trainees a total number of 417 hours.

In relation to the completion of the work in the properties, 93 & 95 are completed and Co-op members will be moving in tomorrow. 97 & 99 are ready for members to move in.

We are anticipating 91, 89, 85, 87 and 101 being completed and ready for Phoenix members to move in by January 2012.

Please remember the site is open Monday to Friday 9.00am- 4pm, so if you had some spare time to get involved please give Maihan (07949570873) or Steve (07713215413) a call. In addition, the Site will be open Saturday 10th December for all Co-op members who are unable to make it down during the week.

Many thanks for the hard work of everyone involved!

Volunteering at Spey Street

2011-11-25T07:01:00.001-08:00

Dear members,

Spey Street will be open again tomorrow 26th Nov from 9:30am -1pm.

We are very close to the completion of project - So if you haven't had the chance to come on site yet, this is the time, come and join!

We look forward to seeing you.

For further info, please contact Steve Hopson on 07713215413 or Maihan Hamed on 07949570873.

We need more volunteers on site!!!

2011-11-14T03:58:00.001-08:00

Many thanks to those members who attended the site on Saturday - your help is hugely appreciated.
This morning Steve told me how grateful he is for the work you have done over the weekend.
We are still desperately looking for more volunteers - today we have only one external trainee and Steve is struggling on his own. Can you please make your way to Spey Street and help us.
We are looking forward to seeing you.
For further information please contact myself (Maihan) on 07949570873 or Steve on 07713215413.
Thank you

Spey Street is open again this Saturday 12th November and we are looking forward for more volunteers

2011-11-11T03:27:00.001-08:00

The site will be open again this Saturday 12th November from 9:30am-1pm.

Please come and help - This is your project so lets work together and turn it to a real success.

We need volunteers to help us with painting/decorating, carpentry work and cleaning- If you think you have the skills, PLEASE don't STOP come and HELP.

We will be looking forward to seeing you all.

For further information please contact Steve on 07713215413 or Maihan on 07949570873.

Our address is:

85 – 107 Spey Street, London, E14 6PP

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=538066&y=181655&z=0&sv=E14+6PP&st=2&pc=E14+6PP&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf

Coop members having their tea break on site.

Open this Saturday

2011-11-09T08:10:00.000-08:00

As a result of the break in and theft of copper piping to 95 Spey Street on Tuesday 25th October, the decision was taken to Sitex all of the flats under renovation. The Sitex and internal property security monitors will only be removed once each flat has been completed and a Phoenix member is ready to move in. This will ensure that the site remains as safe as possible.

In relation to the water damage to properties, the fact that the properties had concrete floors meant that there was no permanent water damage to the walls or ceilings of 95, 93, 85 and 87. Whilst the Site was closed between 28th October and 7th November these flats completely dried out and there has been no permanent damage noted in them. This is indeed very good news as it means that the flats are still on track for their current completion dates and the renovation project has not been delayed by these events.

We are anticipating 95 and 97 being completed and ready for Phoenix members to move into by the end of this week (Friday 11th November)

The next SpeyCom meeting is being held on Wednesday 16th November, 7-9pm, William Guy Gardens. Please let me know if you are planning on attending.

Remember the site is open Monday to Friday 9.30am- 4pm, so if you had some spare time to get involved please give Maihan (07949570873) or Steve (07713215413) a call. In addition, the Site will be open this Saturday (12th November) for all Co-op members who are unable to make it down during the week.

-Carlita.

back in business

2011-11-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

It's back to work time at the refurb. This morning Steve had four (or was it six) women coming in from Women into Contruction - web address as soon as I find it). Gary seems to have been energised by the break in. Steve was planning on getting the plumbers back in and on getting the carpets down and aiming to have the mid-floor flats complete soon.

Now is the most exciting time - Come one Down.

Refurb shut this week.

2011-10-30T03:55:00.000-07:00

The refurb will be shut this week as Steve is away on holiday. It will not be open on Saturday either. The building is looking a bit forlorn having been tinned up by Poplar Harca following the burglary. Work will resume Monday the 7th of November.

a setback

2011-10-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

After months of uneventful progress and hard work on the Spey Street Refurb there has been a set back - I'll let Colin tell you about it;

Unfortunately 95 Spey Street was targeted last night by thieves wanting the copper piping... Steve and I attended the site from 10pm till around midnight last night. The Police, London Fire Brigade, Poplar HARCA and the Water Board also attended.

Copper piping was removed from the bedsitting room in 95 and some damage was done to the bathroom, however not much was actually taken, the most damage occurred because a service pipe located in the ducting in the bathroom had been cut and therefore a substantial amount of water penetrated both 95 and 93 and also 85 and 87 on the ground floor. Steve managed to locate the stopcocks in the lofts and we had to turn off the water supply to the whole block. Poplar HARCA will attend today to re-cap the service pipe, re-instate the water supply and check for leaks. As you know the site was due to be closed today because Steve is at a funeral so Carlita and/or me will be liaising with HARCA once this work is complete. We will also be discussing, on Steve’s return additional security measures for the site in light of last night.

On the phone today Steve estimated that this would set the project back about 3 weeks - it is fortunate that we were so far ahead.

Volunteers time and effort are making a real difference at Spey Street

2011-10-14T05:33:00.000-07:00

To date, we have 20 external trainees registered on the project and 19 Coop members have taken part. Day by day more and more coop members joining in, which is fantastic.

Yesterday, we registered 6 trainees from Women into Construction project. They will be starting next week.

Big thanks to David and Mal, our Spey Street garden looks beautiful and tidy, ready for the summer.

We are open every week Mon-Fri from 8am-4pm also we are open every other Saturday of the week from 9:30am-1pm. Our next opening on Saturday is 22nd of October.

Come and join us!!!!!!! Every little helps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For more information you can contact me (Maihan) on 07949 570 873 or email me at hamedm@phoenixhousing.co.uk

The Young Ones

2011-10-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

or at least that's what it sounded like Steve was singing. Steve, Pat, Paul and Erik worked Friday - mostly tidying up and taking the boards off number 85 (the former rubbish store) and putting the windows back in. Erik got on with sanding down and painting the bathroom in number 97. 95 is basically done (and very chi-chi it looks too) - Colin showed it to our first prespective tenant yesterday. There's a lot of interest in the garden flats - but sadly only two of the groundfloor flats have gardens and they won't be available for a long time yet.

Not much can be done about the patio doors - this will require an outside contractor because the hinges weren't there in the flats - so this is still boarded up. By the end of the day 85 did look much better.

Looking forward to seeing you Saturday.

Open Saturday 8th October

2011-10-05T09:45:00.001-07:00

The refurb is open for volunteers Saturday 8th October but at least you won't have to move this stuff - it's gone already, the skip came Monday. Hope to see you all there. Paul.

City Too Hot!

2011-09-30T08:17:00.000-07:00

Every time Phoenix does a refurb project it seems to cause (by sods law) an unseasonable heatwave. Today Pat and Steve worked (Paul called in for 2 hours between jobs because he was working locally).

95 is nearly completely decorated and once the boiler is commisssioned will be all ready to go - 97 is still being decorated and will require work getting the gas into the flat and a meter putting in. 93 and 99 are lagging slightly - it would be really good if we could find a member with some plumbing skills for the next saturday (or a day in the week say). The College of NorthWest London trainees have continued to come in (Moussa was in Wednesday) but Phoenix members visiting in the week have been few and far between - this is a shame because the kind of work we are doing now - decorating - is the kind that many volunteers feel comfortable doing. If you have these skills please phone Maihan and Come On Down.

That's more like it...

2011-09-24T07:57:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen I am proud to declare the Saturday Opening (this Saturday -the 24th - this morning) a success. Steve and Eight Phoenix members (Paul, Ray, Steve - another one, Ofa, Ninad, Mike - another one, Amit and Mark White) came and painted and sanded and stripped wallpaper and attempted a little light carpentry and even helped bring down the plasterboard cupboard in 87. A further two members got as far as the shops on the estate and then got lost - it is tricky to find, bring a map. Ken Kamara came down and took photos (and even shot some film of the Phoenix massive grafting away), we hope to post some of these soon.

'It does make a difference.' Muttered (a somewhat abashed) Steve.

If you fancy some more we're here Monday to Fridays and every second Saturday - Come On Down.

Saturday Opening

2011-09-23T08:27:00.000-07:00

We are trying another Saturday Opening this saturday the 24th. We will be open from 9.30 til 1.30 - come on Down.

Pat and Brahim have been ill with the flu that is going around, Chaban has found other work, Andreas was busy but Edward, Moussa, Paul and Eric came in to do their days. Steve is clear that he needs more help to get the mid-floor flats painted up if we are to keep to schedule.

On Site things are looking good and even ahead of schedule with 95 nearly finished being decorated and 97 soon to be finished. Two of the flats on the middle floor have gas already and so should be ready for letting soon - the others won't be lettable until the gas is finally installed (this involves the national grid drilling through the walls and then fitting a meter in each).

Today, on the principle of a change is as good as a rest and a little fed up with painting, Steve and Paul opened up 89 (on the ground floor) and put in the windows (leaving the garden door which will require a new locking mechanism and hinges). They also took down the large cupboard in 89 (perhaps something they can repeat in 87 on the Saturday) - this is a little ahead of schedule (but that's not a problem really).

We Need A Radio

2011-09-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

There is no radio on-site so the only music people get to hear is the tune that slips its way past our internal censor and ends up getting sung. 'Don't stop the carnival' was the most up-to-date song Steve has sung yet. Stevie (the plumbing contractor - who has been in finishing off the central heating installation to 93 and 99) was caught doing some human beatboxing (Snap's 'I've got the power'). Like I said, we need a radio.

Thursday British Gas achieve what EDF had repeatedly failed to do and get the power on in two flats on the middle floor. Was this a difficult task? No - they just had to inspect the installation, approve it and fit the main fuses. Now the only problem remains the gas supply - while the building was scheduled for demolition new gas piping was fitted on the outside of the building but in 3 of the flats on the middle floor the piping was never brought inside the property and no new gas meters were fitted. This means we will have to pay National Grid to drill through the walls in 3 properties - the waiting time for this is about 6 weeks.

On the plus side (for me) we are into the tiling phase, Pat has been busy fitting the kitchens in 97 and 95 after Steve and a number of the trainees (Edward in the hoto above) fitted the sinks in them. These look like being the first flats we will be completing. David Sanchez has been in a lot (helping to install the bath in 97). Darryl and Steve are getting on with the decorating in them.

Getting Better

2011-09-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

The Second Saturday Open Day at the Refurb and Pennie, Mike, Marike, Paul and Steve and his wife came down. There was some painting, some tiling and some plumbing in of the bath in 95 and the sink in 97. We are now pining our hopes on British Gas to get the electricity on in 99, 97 and 95.

We are open again on Monday - the next Saturday Open Day is in 2 weeks time.

Moving On Up (Open Day Saturday)

2011-09-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

Today the Refurb seemed to move up a gear as it had one percent of Phoenix members actually on site at the same time - Paul, Darryl, Pat and David (Sanchez). Eric (one of the College of North West London trainees) was also there, as were Maihan and Steve. Carlita came down and took some photos which we hope to put up soon.

There is an Open Day Saturday, September 10 · 9:00am - 1:30pm for more info please contact Maihan on 07949570873 or mhamed@phoenixhousing.co.uk

The following map should get you there. the best hint I can give is to look at the photos on the blog, or to walk up past the parade of shops and through the short tunnel at the top, you'll see a little walled off greenspace, next to that is a building with all the ground floor weindows boarded up. You've found us.

Please make every effort to come - looking forward to seeing you.

Back from our Summer Holidays

2011-09-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

The refurb is back open to volunteers and trainees after our summer break. Steve went to Portugal (everyone else stayed home). Monday Steve, Brahim, Paul and Darryl worked, today Steve, Paul, Andreas and Edward worked, and Sumner House stalwart Pat will be coming down regularly as well (apologies for the old photo).

This Saturday we are open to volunteers and trainees 9 until 1pm again - it would be good to see some Phoenix members there.

Refurb shut to volunteers until 5th September

2011-08-27T08:13:00.000-07:00

The refurb will be shut to volunteers until the 5th of Spetember to permit the plumbing contractor (Stevie not to be confused with Steve) to plumb in the central heating systems for the middle floor flats 99,97,95, and 93. After much discussion it was thought that this task was better carried out by a contractor rather than volunteers - though it is expected that plumbing in the kitchens and bathrooms will be done by volunteers. Steve is taking a well earned break in Portugal for a week.

The power is now on in 93 and we expect to have all 4 powered up on ther monday of Steve's return. We have begun painting in number 95 and will be continuing with this in one weeks time.

Progress - the 1% barrier is broken

2011-08-24T11:44:00.000-07:00

One percent of the membership of Phoenix have now visited the refurb site - our lucky member to break this first barrier is Ola. Now how about we try for 5% - we have after all only been open to volunteers for a week. The site is open daytime weekdays and every second Saturday. Phone Maihan if you are coming in and if you are not sure where it is try Google Maps. Come on Down.

On the other hand volunteers from College of Northwest London (Moussa, Ibrahim, Shaban, Andreas, Edward) continue to come one day a week each and do good work, also in today was Erik from Archway who read about Phoenix online and is interested in becomming a member (as is Ibrahim). The electrical installations of the four mid-floor flats (99,97,95,93) have been certified today and the installation of the kitchens in them is proceeding well. Tommorow we begin painting in 97 (and perhaps 95) - Darryl (a Phoenix member) and Erik having spent a lot of time sanding down the walls.

The power is finally on in room 101 - EDF having pronounced themselves pleased with the installation. We have a toilet, hot water, two sinks, a kettle, a fridge, tea bags, milk and sugar, helath and safety notices cover the walls.

Volunteer Saturday - Thanks to all who came.

2011-08-23T10:54:00.000-07:00

There must have been some kind of logistical problem - and please tell us what it is, because this Saturday NO-ONE came to the refurb that had been made open specially. This is not strictly true - Paul came down (but he lives in Spey Street), Steve and his Wife came down from Essex, Darryl arrived late in the afternoon.

At a guess one third of the members of the co-op live within a mile, something like 250 members live in the same borough, and the DLR stop (which was open) is 100 yards away. We must be failing to reach people, please tell us what we can do. Otherwise I can only conclude that people were too busy, perhaps they were put off by the sunshine in the morning (or the rain in the afternoon).

Here are a few reminders as to why the refurb is important.

The numbers of flats Phoenix gets from Poplar HARCA has peaked and there is no large scale alternative - this means Phoenix will have to chose who it rehouses and who it doesn't from people as their properties are handed back. Subtle Hint, Phoenix does this based on the rent account record ('Do you pay your rent on time?') and the Volunteering record ('Did you volunteer while you were a member of Phoenix?').

I have already had a number of people asking me about flats in Spey Street when the refurb is done - I have to say that seeing as they will last a minimum of 5 years and will be done up to a very good standard I think they will go like hot cakes. On the whole I would like to see them go to the people who have done the work.

If you are in the Co-Operative but not in imminent danger of handback perhaps the best way to think about it is that Poplar Harca properties pay for most of the running costs of the Co-op (this is why they show up as a loss in the budget) and if we didn't have these properties we wouldn't have this money coming in, and it would therefore have to be paid by all the remaining Co-op properties by means of increased rent.

Phoenix can only undertake these development projects if its members volunteer their labour, if they do not then nothing can be done. Thanks to all who came.

Volunteer Saturday at the Refurb - Come on Down!

2011-08-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

Midweek and things are progressing in their usual contradictory fashion. The supply to two of the flats has been 'discontinued' (7 years derelict -you don't say) so the MPAN (meter identification) numbers that Steve has for them 'need' to be replaced by new numbers - This will take 10 days but fortunately Steve is now in contact with someone who knows what they are doing and has already applied for the replacement numbers. The rewiring of 101 is complete, and the rewiring of the middle floor flats will be finished tommorow, so all we need is the fuses for the company head to turn the power on. themselves - so by the middle of next week we'll have power in 101, and most of the middle floor flats. Fingers crossed.

Volunteers from North West London College keep coming - two Tuesday (Andreas and Edward), One yesterday (Moussa) and one today (erm. Sorry dude forgot your name, Darryl (correct name spelling this time) came Tuesday and today.

Steve is coming in specially to make the refurb is open to volunteers from across the Co-op this Saturday. Bring your painting clothes. All safety equipment, tools and paint will be provided. Come on Down!

Volunteer Day One (Another One Bites The Dust)

2011-08-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

Day One and five volunteers came down - Phoenix members Kevin, Paul and Daryl and College of Northwest London construction students Ibrahim and Chaban. It may seem a long way to come (from Dollis Hill) but 4 CNWL construction students have said they will volunteer on the project - the practical experience will look good on the CV's.

Kevin got on with plumbing in the bathroom in copper, Kevin seems confident he can get the next set of kitchens cheaper as flatpack - which is good even though we are already underbudget on this. Steve (the Site Manager), Daryl and Paul variously at one time or another assembled kitchen units, made concrete to patch up floors. Steve demonstrated how to apply bonder to the areas where the plaster had been removed from the walls (due to weakness) - Paul, Ibrahim and Chaban took turns following his instructions - the next job is to skim it with plaster.

More people with plumbing experience would be good - we have five bathrooms and kitchens to outfit and more people with carpentry experience would be good - we have 5 kitchens to fit. If you don't have these skills? Come on down anyway!

Volunteers - Come on Down!

2011-08-13T02:57:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen - the refurb is now open to Volunteers from Monday August 15th.

Phone (or email) Maihan and come on down. For those of you who work weekdays we will be open this Saturday August 20th, we hope to see you then.

Flat 101 - the site office now has central heating, hot water, a functioning toilet (thoroughly tested), a desk for Maihan, a noticeboard and all the health and safety signage is up. The high-vis vests, safety boots and safety helmets are all stacked up waiting for Volunteers to put them on and go to work. Thanks to Steve for all his hard work and to the people who showed up to help get the site office ready (Kevin, Marike and Paul). It hasn't all been plain sailing however, we are still waiting for the main company head fuse for flat 101 to be put in to get the power on after we were repeatedly misinformed about which company's responsibility it was. We also ran out of time to get the bathroom sink fitted (so that's a job for monday if anyone fancies it).

Elsewhere in the building we are still ahead of schedule despite delays with the gas and electricity. Having wired up 101 on the top floor and 95 on the middle floor the electricians are coming back next week to finish off 99, 97, and 93. In 95 and 97 the outsize storage cupboards (that took up most of the room in these flats) have been taken down to create a bigger living space. (Here's Steve showing Marike how it would work.)

The ground floor we are leaving for Phase 2 of the refurb, we are leaving it boarded up and using it as a rubble store.

Monday we hope to begin the task of putting new work surfaces and cabinets into the kitchens (people with carpentry skills required). Thanks to Kevin for coming down and putting mortice locks into the doors for added security.

See you Monday.

Week Two Done

2011-08-06T03:29:00.000-07:00

Full steam ahead getting the Site Office (Room 101 as it's become known) up and running in time for the volunteers coming on August 15th. It's Friday and Steve, Marike and Paul are painting (erm. you're supposed to be painting the ceiling Paul). Steve has gone and got the first load of paint from Community Repaint , here Phoenix (and all Phoenix members)can get free paint that's been donated by construction companies and paint manufacturers to save them the costs of disposing of it.

But there's a problem 'It needs sieving.' says Steve after careful consideration. Marike volunteers to go get a sieve from nearby Chrisp Street Market. Once it's sieved it's fine. What colour are we painting it Steve? 'Mag(nolia) and White - you know the SP.')

One success has been getting the gas re-connected to the site office (so it's all ready to go)but getting the gas and electricity reconnected to the 8 other flats is proving to be a slow business ('One step forward, six steps back.' mutters Steve. The process is being slowed down by the fact that the blocks have been out of commission for 7 years, by the measures Poplar Harca took to render the block squat proof, by the whole range of different bodies Steve has to contact to get the utilities back on.

The plumbing for the Site Office is getting done early next week and so are the electrics and the power connection, the radiators are going on (hence the need to get the walls painted). The August 15th deadline is looking do-able.

Steve has two volunteer co-op members who actually have building skills coming on Monday next week - we can begin to move the four flats on the middle floor forward.

Midweek

2011-07-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

While 6 flats now have front doors and the top floor flat and the four on the 1st floor have their windows in, for some things it feels that progress is slow. As anyone who has attempted to get their gas or electricity reconnected will know deregulation has made doing this an absolute nightmare of competing agencies, companies and established contracts. Steve has spent a lot of time with a mobile phone clamped on one ear. 'How's it going?' I mouth to him (silently). He responds with the international gesture for 'Shoot me now'.

The gas meters on the four ground floor flats are external - contained in those ugly white plastic boxes - except these have been smashed and the meters are gone. All are gone but one has to be reported to the police as stolen before the flat can be reconnected (go figure!). Steve has bought four replacements - those for the the front 2 flats have now been replaced, those for the back 2 flats on the ground floor we will do when we've got the windows in and have access to the back gardens.

By the end of the week we hope to have front doors on all the flats. A steady stream of plumbers is coming round to bid for putting in the boilers and putting in the heating, but our budget for doing this is very tight.

Phoenix’s Summer General Meeting

2011-07-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

Just in case you missed it elsewhere. Phoenix’s Summer General Meeting is being held on Tuesday 26th July -7-9pm at 1-17 William Guy Gardens. The meeting will not have an agenda and will instead be an open forum for the discussion of all things relating to the Co-op and its future. There will then be a summer garden party for all members to enjoy. Please RVP your attendance by emailing mail@phoenixhousing.co.uk.

Week One Done

2011-07-23T00:30:00.000-07:00

'That's good progress for a week.' says Steve as he closes the front door he's just put back with a satisfying thud. So where are we with Phoenix's plan to refurb 9 flats in a block in Poplar?

Flat 101 - top floor, the site office to be. Front door on, windows unboarded to let daylight in for the first time in seven years, the glass put back in, wallpaper stripped, floor tiles stripped, lino stripped out of the kitchen. Once this flat is done up - to provide a toilet and washing facilities for volunteers - the volunteering can begin in earnest - probably from Monday August 15th.

Flat 99 - these next four flats are on the first floor. New front door on, unboarded.
Flat 97 - front door on, unboarded, swept out, floor tiles stripped, lino stripped out of the kitchen, windows unboarded and glass put back in.
Flat 95 - New front door put on, otherwise ditto.
Flat 93 - ditto but the front door still needs doing.

The four flats on the ground floor we are leaving boarded up until we are ready to start work on them - though one is being used as a waste store for the rubble as it is generated.

In rendering the flats squat proof (and to prevent scavengers from stripping out the electrical wiring etc.) Poplar Harca rendered the flats exceptionally difficult to get into - everything has been glued and screwed (and the screwheads covered over). The power's not on yet, the water's not on yet, the toilets, baths, sinks and kitchens aren't in yet and Steve is busy gettting quotes to get the work not suitable for volunteers done.

Next week - more of the same - if you are interested in helping out email Maihan.

(Day 1) Lease signed and Steve is onsite.

2011-07-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

So Monday morning and the lease is signed and Steve (the site manager)is getting a look at the flats in the light of day. But before the project can 'go live' with volunteers, he needs to convert the top floor flat into the site office - this means getting a kitchen and a toilet put in (they were removed to deter squatting) and getting all the services hooked up. And before that even, there's a lot of stripping 70ies wallpaper to be done - thankfully it seems to be coming off fairly quickly and completely.

Inside the top floor flat is in surprisingly good condition. Most of the tiling in the kitchen and bathroom can be saved. Steve has already got the lino/ floor tiles up.

We are planning on the site going live to external trainees and volunteers on Monday 15th August. But before the 15th Steve will need some member help and so we will be contacting the Co-op members who have already expressed an interest in getting involved.

The site will be open Monday – Friday 9.30- 4.30pm and every other Saturday (beginning 20th August) for Co-op members who work full time. If you are interested in volunteering and supporting Housing Plus and the development of the Co-op, please contact Maihan Hamed, Phoenix’s Employment, training and education (ETE) Co-ordinator on mhamed@phoenixhousing.co.uk.

Volunteer Meeting Wednesday 13th July 7pm-9pm Oxford House

2011-07-12T01:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Phoenix members,
Just a quick reminder that there will be a meeting for all Co-op members who are interested in finding out more about volunteering on the Housing Plus renovation of Spey Street. The volunteer meeting will be held on Wednesday 13th July from 7pm-9pm at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, Bethnal Green E3 3LE.

If you are interested in volunteering on the renovation project, then please come along to meet Steve and Maihan and find out more about the project. Steve Hopson is the full time Spey Street Site Manager and Maihan Hamed is the part time Employment, training and education (ETE) Co-ordinator who will be working on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Please RSVP your attendance. Best wishes Carlita

next devcom

2011-02-22T06:35:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who attended the development committee meeting thursday 17th february, the next one is tuesday march 8th - by then we should have heard back from the management committee regarding the proposal for the next refurb project.

More news (as well as a list of scheduled management committee meetings) can also be found at http://www.phoenixhousingcoop.org/news.html

communications update

2010-11-17T01:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Phoenix members,

We are in the process of improving the design and layout of the Phoenix Co-op website and we’d really value your feedback. Click on the link to our website and please let us know what you think of the ‘new look’ design and layout and also let us know about any further improvements that you would like to see added to the website. Please let me have your comments and suggestions by Tuesday 30th November. http://www.phoenixhousingcoop.org/

Secondly, we are trying to develop and improve our use of Facebook in order to keep you up to date with everything that is happening in the Co-op. If you are on Facebook and have not yet found us or become our friend, then please do! We can be found by searching for ‘Phoenix HousingCoop’. See you there…

Finally, the Department of Communities and Local Government has just published a consultation on the New Homes bonus. The full document can be viewed here http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/newhomesbonusconsult This consultation is aimed at local authorities and how to provide the right incentives around the building of new homes. There are 13 consultation questions in total, including question 4 which asks ‘do you agree with the proposal to reward local authorities for bringing empty properties back into use through the New Homes Bonus? Are there any practical constraints?’ The deadline for the submission of consultation responses is 24th December so please can all members send comments over to me by Friday 10th December for inclusion in Phoenix’s response.

Thanks very much!

carlita

Are you free for a couple of hours from 1pm on Saturday 13th November?

2010-11-09T09:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Co-op members,

We are looking for members who are keen to volunteer by cycling or walking around to help us build up our local knowledge of empty buildings. I have just looked at the weather report and the outlook is for a dry, bright afternoon. The borough will be divided into different areas for different volunteers and the bike ride should only take a couple of hours.
If you are keen to take part, please do drop me a line and let me know. We are planning to meet at 1pm in Café Otto on Ashwin Street in Dalston. If you have any questions, please give me a call.
Otherwise I hope to see you on Saturday at 1pm!
Best wishes

Carlita McKnight

Saturday November 13th - we search West Ham, Plaistow and Canning Town.

2010-09-29T06:19:00.000-07:00

Many thanks indeed to those brave souls who ventured out on our cycle search across Tower Hamlets last Saturday. Please don't forget to post your finds to Carlita! And to all, a date for your diaries, Saturday November 13, when we hope to search West Ham, Plaistow and Canning Town.

saturday 25th September - empty property hunt.

2010-09-10T02:32:00.000-07:00

Dear members,

Phoenix are looking for volunteers for a couple of hours to help in finding empty buildings across Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Islington. As some of you will be aware, we urgently need up to date information about empty buildings so that we can look into their suitability for both short life and Housing Plus project acquisition.

To this end, we are looking for Phoenix members to come along for a couple of hours on Saturday 25th September meeting at 12noon in Bethnal green. All volunteers will be allocated a geographical area to research and then everyone will meet up after a couple of hours and share the property information that they found out.

If you are keen to take part, then please can you drop either me or Carolyn a quick email.

If you are unable to volunteer but are aware of empty buildings in your area, please do contact me and let me know.

Best wishes

Carlita

Housing Plus Development Manager
Phoenix Housing Co-operative
Oxford House
Derbyshire Street
E26HG

Phoenix is recruiting!

2010-03-27T02:26:00.000-07:00

'HOUSING PLUS' DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
FULL TIME: £32,000 pa (neg) – 1 year rolling contract

Phoenix Housing Co-operative is a Social Landlord in East London housing single people on low income.

We are looking for a development manager with responsibility for securing affordable housing for single people via Phoenix’s innovative 'Housing Plus' scheme; turning empty properties into homes via work experience and self-help projects.

This is a key strategic and operational role requiring a person with strong partnership building, fundraising, project management and housing development skills.

Contact mail@phoenixhousing.co.uk for an application pack.
Closing date: 12 April 2010

special request

2010-01-23T02:14:00.000-08:00

Friday morning and Jonnie Walker (sometime development committee member) is in the office writing an article for the newsletter on energy efficiency. Jiska is doing a poster and colour insert for the newsletter calling on member to volunteers more - as she points out phoenix EXISTS because of the volunteering of the members.

Meanwhile it's thursday afternoon and longtime co-op member Stefan is volunteering, working on window frames and guttering (and looking at the stars) at Durlston Road.

The photos on this page show just one weeks volunteering by the members. Come on down.

skills transfer

2010-01-21T02:04:00.001-08:00

Hi All another batch of photos. With Loiri changing a tap amongst other things.- Chris B.

Loiri(?) changing a tap.
"Erm. Does this look right to you Chris? I think it needs changing."

The great thing about volunteering is that you get to learn things - useful things that will save you money with plumbers later on in life or even get you paid.

whose car is that anyway?

2010-01-20T12:58:00.000-08:00

Chris has asked about transporting tools and materials between the jobs (because if Chris's partner sees this photo showing what he's been doing with the car he's in big trouble). If he's moving between properties 1-2 a week this obviously means the tools have got to be moved somehow - which will mean timetabling Johnnie and the work van to do it. Another issue is picking up the materials to do the job (like the huge quantities of loft insulation seems above) - obviously many builders merchants deliver but all this means unproductive time and delay waiting for deliveries and for tools to be moved and also Johnnie/Colin won't have use of the van then etc.

Anybody got a cunning plan?

Spaceman (whatever happened to Babylon Zoo)

2010-01-20T12:44:00.000-08:00

Never mind babylon Zoo - What happened to altern8?

They seem to be raving in a rather small barn.

I tell a lie - Chris and the volunteers are installing loft insulation in the phoenix owned properties to keep us nice and toasty over winter.
Hi All (another batch of photos) - Chris B.
These photos were taken on the 19th January - I think round Durlston Rd. Anybody know for sure?

year of the giant refurb I

2010-01-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all those who helped with the installation of loft insulation at Ickburgh Road, one of the houses we all own together as part of phoenix housing co-op. Many of these properties have inadequate insulation. Hopefully this should form part of an ongoing programme to deal with cyclical maintenance and energy efficiency tasks at the properties we own.

However, due to cashflow issues we may have to look at getting Chris to do more outside (paid) work to bring money into the co-op either for Oxford House or for other Co-ops, and this will inevitably slow things down a little.

Chris can be contacted on 07973383430 ar email Colin at the office if you wish to volunteer.

2010 - year of the giant refurb II.

2010-01-17T08:35:00.001-08:00

Thanks to all who have been helping out at William Guy Gardens, bringing this former old peoples home back into use as housing.

happy new years refurbing!

2010-01-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

After Sumner House Chris and his roving band of volunteers have been working doing cyclical maintenance on the properties owned by Phoenix. Chris has also done some maintenance work for Oxford House where Phoenix has its office. Here you can see a keen volunteer helping Chris remove the floor of 7 Reighton Road that had a rather nasty dry rot problem.

The plan for 2010 is to continue with this Cyclical maintenance and a timetable has been drafted for doing the work. We will probably also be doing some work on flats in William Guy Gardens - a former old peoples home we will have on a medium term lease.

Again volunteers will be vital.

Chris Bridges 07973383430

Sumner House residents to be on TV.

2009-11-20T08:29:00.000-08:00

Hannah Farnie, one of the Sumner House residents will be on TV this Sunday 22nd November at 10am in The Big Questions, BBC1, contributing to a debate about empty homes and homelessness - and how self-refurb makes a difference to people's lives.

Chris and other Phoenix members (Paul, Yuri, Nick and Jim and my apologies to anyone if i left you out) have been busy doing cyclic maintenance tasks on phoenix properties in Daubney, Reighton, Ickburgh and Evering Roads. Replacing floors damaged by damp and dry rot, replacing fencing, replacing worktops in kitchens.

Keep your fingers crossed because we're hoping for some very good news very soon.

Paul

Sumner House Launch - 25th September -3pm.

2009-09-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Members,

Phoenix Co-op just finished its first refurbishment project bringing empty property back into use in Poplar.

To celebrate and publicise this, an open event is being held on Friday 25th September at 3pm at 5 Sumner House (off Maddams Street , see link below)

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=537512&y=181969&z=0&sv=E3+3RB&st=2&pc=E3+3RB&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf

A range of local and national politicians and press have been invited to see David Ireland, Chief Executive of the Empty Homes Agency officially hand over the keys to the Phoenix tenants. Our hope is that the exposure will help to secure more property and more funding to restore more homes…….

It would be great to see you all there.

With best wishes,

Alison
Co-op Manager

Next Project.

2009-09-11T07:40:00.000-07:00

Our next refurb project is to help with the cyclical maintenance of the properties we all collectively own as members of Phoenix.

Two have been identified as priorities;

First - 7 Reighton road E5 8SQ- One of the two properties the co-op bought in 2008. Here the garden wall is in danger of collapsing into next door's garden. This needs taking down, the tree that knocked it over needs cutting down and it's roots removing, the excess bricks need carting out and finally the wall needs rebuilding. And Then:

Durlston road - the outside of the house needs some repairs.

Work on Reighton will begin early next week - as before Chris will have workboots and full protective clothing available. Come on Down!

Sumner house project complete - Where to next?

2009-09-04T02:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all the members who volunteered the Sumner House project to refurb 4 flats (one double and 3 singles) is now complete. Extra special thanks go out to Site Manager Chris (currently enjoying a well deserved holiday in France), Co-op Manager Alison (whose idea it was) and Maintenance Man Johnny (for coming through with the gas plumbing). There will be an official handover and launch party at the end of the month (round about the 25th I think) - more details soon.

Where to next?

Sunny Hackney - to prevent the garden wall of one of our owned properties collapsing onto our neighbours - the project will commence around the 14th September

Big turn out today...thanks to one & all!!xxx

2009-08-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to New members Stuart & Hannah, Muni & Natalia, Pat, Chris, Paul, Johnny Cashman and myself on deck, showin' genuine love and giving their time and energy today to the Phoenix Refurb.... If you've got a spare hour or 2, or even 3... come on down ...We can do this...come on folks ...we're nearly there!!xXX

Ray

Snagging and prepping

2009-08-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

Another Saturday opening. Enter Ahmed, Alison, Jiska, Marcus, Mark, Paul, Ray and myself – with John Walker being our excellent foreman whipping us kindly in shape in order to complete a long long list of tasks for the day put together by Chris.

So it was 'snagging' no. 10 – paint removed of where it didn’t belong, paint applied where it was still missing. Cleaning. Mark spending the entire afternoon in solitude to complete painting the woodwork. Not too long ago, when I was struggling with my first steps in the art of rendering, the flat was in an awful state. It’s looking fantastic now.

As for no. 7..... What seemed to be years of dirt in the kitchen of no. 7 has been chopped off and scrubbed away by Jiska. Radiators and pipework painted meditatively by Ray. More painting, more filling, more cleaning done also. Almost there – almost ready.

Ahmed and Paul prepping no. 5 – sandpaper! Marcus cleaning the windows, removing years of paint and months of building dirt. The kitchen walls now no longer blue but magnolia.

Sometimes the Ashes score coming through the ether. Fry-ups with tabloid reading. Tea and roll-ups. Beers & 80s tunes as afters.

Throughout the day I often felt really proud of what Phoenix volunteers and Chris have managed to do with this project. 5 more working days to go – 5 more days for you to contribute to what I think is a success.

Marike - pix by Ray

Groundrush: 9 working days to go (and that includes this saturday)

2009-08-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

Only 9 working days left to go before completion and that includes THIS SATURDAY (August 22nd when the refurb will be open 9-5pm). Please come down - WE NEED YOU.

Last week was very quiet on the volunteering front - just Johnnie Walker and Chris in for most of the time (with Johnny Cashman doing some work on getting the boilers working - curiously enough his mother and younger brother once lived in Sumner House). Today was busy with Johnnie, Johnny, Chris, Pat and your humble narrator on site - Alison called in long enough to inspect progress and drink a cup of tea.

See you saturday my dayjob peoples!

If you remember altern-8...

2009-08-07T14:33:00.000-07:00

Perhaps I spoke too soon last time.

There was a rush of new volunteers (Gary, Akani) but the few people who have been trained to do what they do - in particular Sten who had just completed a plumbing course and Pat who's been taking care of most of the carpentry- are away on unavoidable holidays next week. Even your humble narrator will be away next week. This is at a crucial stage in the refurb when we need to sort out the more difficult plumbing tasks and the electrics.

Now Chris has the skills to do these - but that would mean he couldn't deal with the volunteers at the same time - so the plan is to get Johnny (the maintenance man) in for two days both do the work on the boilers and certify them (as he is CORGI registered to work with gas appliances).

Obviously the only other alternative would be to shut down the refurb to volunteers while Chris did the work and then have Johnny certify it but while this would get it done it would be less than ideal in terms of keeping the refurb a project of Phoenix's members. One problem Chris faces is never knowing what volunteers he's got coming in on which day and what skills they will have (and therefore what level of supervision/ help they will require) - it makes it difficult for him to timetable and complete the tasks that only he can do - if there is a lesson to be learnt from this refurb it is that this side of things must be better organised.

If you wish to come down please get in touch with Chris or the Office first and lets try to plan this further ahead than on a day by day basis.

We have only a few weeks left to complete the project and we need to get No.10 let pronto. Thanks to all those who have shown up this week - Keep the good things going in my abscence.

Back Soon. Paul.

at last! people who know what they're doing

2009-08-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

Volunteering has picked up with people coming in having useful skills - painting and decorating Akani and Hazel, plumbing Sten, carpentry Pat - please come back again soon you were all great!

Chris has temporarily shut down no.10 (which is pretty much painted and decorated) so that we can concentrate on no.7 (which still needs a lot of work). no.14 is finished and people are already living there, no.5 (the site office) still remains to be done.

More people have also been coming who have no building trades skills but just want to help out, eg. your humble narrator. Our thanks go out to Ray and Martin who've been phoning around. While there are still a lot of the more skilled tasks to do there are still lots of opportunities to learn things - your humble narrator has tried his hand at plastering (as did Tony during his visit)and tiled his first bathroom wall in no.10 (with creditable results).

More photos soon.

paul.

saturday 25th july - hard work, tea breaks & getting to know the neighbours

2009-07-26T15:27:00.001-07:00

See also below.

And despite the ban on singing The Smiths, a very good day....

..... with the added pleasure of a fry-up, saying goodbye to 'Treasure' (the neighbourhood kids' very dead goldfish) and a couple of pints.

marike

Saturday 25th July - Refurb Open.

2009-07-26T03:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday - Nancy, Alison, Marike, Mark, Chris and Paul graft away on the painting of number 10. Magnolia walls, white ceilings, eggshell woodwork, combine with the remnants of pale blue woodwork from the previous occupants to produce a 'beachcomber' look - there is a brief discussion on the merits of this look before it is obliterated under a fresh tide of paint. There is some discussion as to the level of care required - eventually a consensus is reached that it should be done to a (adopts a Lily Savage accent) 'fook it! thar'll do!' Plus One standard.

A very productive day.

tuesday and wednesday

2009-07-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

tuesday paul pat and chris all day
wednesday paul and chris all day, ray (am) and pat (pm).
development committee meeting tonight.
see you saturday my dayjob peoples...

Saturday 18th

2009-07-19T04:24:00.000-07:00

With strong determination I went down to Sumner House and got stuck in prepping walls and window frames, and hulked into a demon with a paint roller & brush...
In the end it was just Chris, Johnny, Alison, Marike & me ..It's not enough...This message goes out to ALL phoenix members...those of you who haven't helped thus far PLEASE get involved!!...we are doing this for us...if you can spare just a couple of hours we can turn this refurb project around....Please help!xx

Ray

2009-07-14T03:12:00.000-07:00

I cannot stress enough how much I have become empowered through learning skills (like rendering and plastering) has added to my skillset. We have under 8 weeks to go to finish 3 flats. time is tight. Money is tight. Geting down to site to help complete this project has been challenging for those who juggle this with their own paid work. The rewards are and will be great when it is completed. I for one will do everything I can to promote, work on the project and get my own work completed in time to see this through. If you're reading this I hope you feel the same way.

Ray

Come on, all!

2009-07-12T03:38:00.000-07:00

Workers of the coop - UNITE!

In Sumner House

Plastering, plumbing, painting

And if you can't do the weekdays - Saturday 18th & 25th July are you chance to help.

Monday 6th July - rendering

2009-07-06T23:16:00.000-07:00

1:6 - cement:sand. oh, and some water. And lots of patience from Chris, an excellent teacher, trying to explain, yet again, how to attend to those walls - how to make them smooth, how to deal with corners, how to avoid the mixture dropping on the floor.

He had to put up with all the Dutch swearing
also. The frustration but mostly pleasure of learning a new skill - with unfortunately neither enough time nor talent to learn it properly. Yet.

Rendering of flat 5 completed-with a start in flat 10.

Very little to do with my half-day of clumsy, enthusiastic efforts. Even so, it feels it mattered.....

Also this Monday - the Development Committee exploring the possibility of other self-refurb project. To be continued....

marike

Saturday Openings - Come On Down.

2009-07-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

Chris will be opening up the refurb on 2 days on the weekend so that people who work in the week can make their mark - those days are Saturday 18th July and Saturday 25th July. If either of these are the only days you can make it then please Come On Down, skilled or unskilled what matters is that we are in this together. Please tell everyone you meet in the co-op about these days, lots of things still need doing on the 3 remaining flats.

If you want to come in just phone up Chris Bridges (07973383430) and let us know.
See You There.

The Site Office has now moved to 5 Sumner House.Today, Pat and Tony got on with replacing the skirting boards in 10 Sumner, while Paul did his first plumbing in copper using solder, flux and a blowtorch (end feed technique) under Chris's expert supervision. Monday - Alison (on her day off!!!)and Marike will be in.

handover party weds at 4.30

2009-06-30T11:40:00.000-07:00

At 4.30 on wednesday 1st July we will be downing tools and celebrating the completion of 14 Sumner with a few (well deserved) ales (and possibly some cheap cava). If you took part in the refurb you should have recieved a text from either Chris or Johnny inviting you - if we accidentally forgot you come down anyway.

Thereafter the Site office will be moving to 5 Sumner...

Heatwave!

2009-06-29T05:34:00.000-07:00

It's Official - after the biblical hail of Saturday - It's a Heatwave!

Surprisingly 14 Sumner is quite cool inside - the sitex steel grills keep it shady with a slight breeze. Outside the sun warms up the steel, the grills are hot to the touch, but the breeze seems to take the heat away, little of it makes into the flat. Chris leaves me to 'cut in' with the black floorpaint round the skirting board Pat painted on Thursday with varying degrees of success (Ooops! Sorry Pat). The board shows 3-4 people coming in for Tuesday and Wednesday looking particularly busy. It's tantalisingly close to being finished - so much so that each step forward (in making things look messy again) feels like a step back.

Soon there'll be nothing left to do but the 'snagging' - picking up the missed bits and blotches - see how quickly we've all learnt the secret argot of painters and decorators.

Tune of the day 'Tell me why (I don't like Mondays)' by the Boomtown Rats.

One Last Push (and a Party?) 26/04

2009-06-26T03:44:00.000-07:00

One Last Push to finish off 14 Sumner on Monday and Tuesday
- if you can make it down that would be great.

...Then we celebrate :) A Party - not sure when yet.
But all the people who've come so far will be invited.

This Thursday. Myself, Pat and Chris paint woodwork and pipework. Chris paints the floor. Colin and John show up and show a prospective tenant around, on Friday Chris is away to a wedding in Wales (so no build).

When 14 Sumner is let we will be moving the office to5 Sumner (entrance on the other side of the block) and work will start on the remaining 3 single flats. Come on Down.

In the Summertime (when the weather is hot...)

2009-06-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

Things going a bit quiet on the volunteeering front what with the good weather. Several people who were down on the list have cancelled or just not shown up. Please phone up if you are not coming - it affects how chris uses his day depending on who is coming in.

What Chris really needs is more people with painting and decorating experience he can just leave to get on with the job (while he gets on with the other stuff in the other flats) - the problem is that most of the people who can do this in the co-op are getting paid doing it and so not available (so much for the credit crunch! - Though this does show what a valuable skill it is to learn.) We need to work out how to pull more people in.

Chris is is persuadable to work on the weekends eg. to swap one saturdays working for a monday (usually a quiet day) - perhaps we could pick some saturdays in a few weeks time and then phone around to see who is actually up for working on them (that way we know for sure). Perhaps we could post out a leaflet to everyone in the co-op: Ray's piece below perhaps?

refurb shut this friday

2009-06-22T10:07:00.000-07:00

Volunteers needed everyday except friday when the refurb will be shut. Contact Chris or John on the numbers below.

A quiet Friday - What about working on a Saturday?

2009-06-20T02:45:00.000-07:00

friday june 19th - progress so far.

A quieter day than usual. On Friday myself and Chris did a half day (well til 1pm) because Chris had to go to the dentists, this meant I was only exposed to half a day of Radio 2 (the builder's choice) as opposed to the full dose. The top tune of the day was 'Lucille' by Little Richard, previous top tunes have included '(you make me feel) mighty real' by Sylvester and 'hit me with your rhythm stick' by Ian Dury.

14 Sumner is almost finished and ready for hand over. The bath is in, the kitchen is in, all the walls have been stripped, replastered, sanded off, filled, had their undercoats. The woodwork has been replaced or keyed and filled and has (mostly) had its undercoat, the tiling in the bathroom just needs grouting and filling. All in all it has stopped looking like a building site and started loking like a flat all of a sudden - so much so that Alison is looking around for people who want to move in. I feel fairly confident it will be finished within the next week. This means the dusty dirty heavy work with it is over and what we really need now are people with decorating skills.

The other flats have less work to do on them - the project is running to schedule.

Looking at the volunteer list (the one sent round at the Annual General Meeting) many people asked about the possibility of working on Saturdays. I think this is something we have to think about carefully, as Chris points out it is hardly worth closing down the build one day in the week if (when push comes to shove) he would only get 1-2 people along on a Saturday instead. Cost is an issue here - we can only afford to pay Chris for the days allocated in the budget already not for any additional ones. While clearly we can't do noisy drilling type work at the weekends for fear of disturbing the neighbours, painting we can do.

I think we should give it a go. It's true most people in the co-op (like Dolly Parton - damn that Radio 2) work 9 to 5s and are only available weekends and evenings, but the real question is not can we find enough people to volunteer for this build but whether we can find enough to take on further and bigger projects.

What do other people think?
ps. Any chance of someone posting a photo of me?

- Paul Helliwell

Phoenix Newsletter article: We're Building!!...By Ray Clarke

2009-06-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

Over the last 8 weeks, Phoenix has undertaken an unprecedented development programme..

An agreement between Phoenix Community Housing Co-Operative & Poplar Harca Housing Association has afforded Phoenix the use of 5 vacant ground floor properties at Sumner House in Watts Grove, Bow, London E3.

These properties will offer mid-term agreements to our membership.

In addition to the successful completion of the renovations to these properties, Poplar Harca will offer Phoenix up to 85 more units "in perpetuity". Ultimately providing some more security for our membership and a little more financial stability in an extremely unstable economic/ housing climate.

On site throughout the course of this project is
Chris Bridges (07973383430)

Chris has many years of experience & training in the construction industry. As site manager, Chris is also fully trained in all aspects of health & safety.

As a member of Phoenix, I can truly say that being around
Chris has been an education.
Brazing copper pipes, fitting toilets and bathroom sinks,
removing old rendering, damp-proofing, Sanding down are just a few of the skills I would not have picked up off chris had I not become involved.

Chris loves playing with his toy!

Chris drilling a larger hole for the sink drainage..

Fitting my first toilet

(cistern & throne!)...

My first sink plumbing!!(including

my second compression valve)

Along side Chris we have Johnny Walker (07879618081)

Johnny has to date successfully co-ordinated volunteers from Phoenix Membership. Galvanising us into transforming
these 5 properties into a viable, affordable housing solution.

"I cannot express the awards you get from working on this project!! Volunteers who have given their time usually spend much more than they orignally volunteer, which goes to show the tangible benefits members get educationally, socially and, dare I say it, spiritually."

As well as overseeing the membership participation Johnny has broadened Phoenix's awareness by bring to our attention the economic and ecological benefits of joining a community paint scheme. Phoenix are now implementing this scheme, providing a useful supply of paint in a variety of colours to it's managed properties.

In fact, great emphasis has been given to renovation and sustainability throughout this development programme: Refurbishing existing cupboards, skirting boards, doors, restoring pipework and heating systems. This is as environmentally & ecologically conscious a project as anyone can hope to become involved in.

So far this project has amassed around 100 hours of labour per week through membership participation. But this is by no means enough to complete this scale of work and more help is vital to the success of this project.

At the time of writing this, out of the 5 properties managed & developed by Phoenix, 1 is currently now being let to Phoenix members, with another ground floor flat potentially ready to be let by Friday 26th June. Work to the 3 remaining flats are ongoing.

Phoenix would like to thank all it's active members for donating their time and effort into such a timely and essential project.
If you'd like to become involved, contact Chris Bridges on 07973383430, Johnny Walker on 07879618081, or contact Alison Masterman at the Phoenix Office on 020 7033 9539

ray's photos

2009-06-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

information for volunteers

2009-06-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Main office
Phoenix Housing Oxford House, Derbyshire Street,
London E2 6HG
tel: 020 7033 9539
email: mail@phoenixhousing.co.uk
www.phoenixhousingcoop.org
Volunteer information

1. The aim of this project is to:-
a. Provide good quality self contained housing for phoenix members
b. Give work experience and skills to those who want it (you don’t need skill to get involved just your keenness).

2. Project address:-
a. 5, 7, 10, and the Site office14 Sumner House
Watts Road
Popular
E3 3RB

3. Site hours 9am till 5pm

4. Map attached
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=537512&y=181969&z=0&sv=E3+3RB&st=2&pc=E3+3RB&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf

5. Closest station is on the DLR Devons road

6. Project / site manager: - Chris Bridges 07973383430

7. Volunteer coordinator, eco material sourcing:
Johnny Walker 07879618081

8. Essential things to have: -
a. You
b. Your own CE marked safety boots - Or your boot size in advance (please note that without a pair of C E marked safety boots you won’t be able to help on site) However there are many boots on site so check with John or Chris.

9. Available training in addition to practical work experience on site and a great deal of work satisfaction along with a strong future for Phoenix (see 11):
a. Through Alison in the main office some free courses have been found and are available for volunteers to gain CSCS cards
i. For people looking to find jobs in the building industry the main agencies and builders (but not all) require individuals to have a Construction Skills Certification Scheme card (CSCS) - the first steps in acquiring one is to sit a health and safety test in Canning Town, Phoenix can provide the study materials – once the test is passed you can apply for a labourer CSCS with a reference from Chris – the Canning Town training centre could even arrange for you to go on to take tradesmen courses.
b. First aid courses which are a great skill to have and are good for your C.V.

10. All tools, safety equipment and supervision will be provided.

11. This project is a pilot and future projects of this kind are already taking shape at the planning stage. We have attracted interest from other housing orgs who have been very positive about working with them in the future.

call for materials

2009-06-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

Hello Sir/Madam

My name is John Walker; I am the volunteer and materials coordinator and a member of Phoenix Housing Co-op. We have a unique on-going pilot project I would like to inform you about.

Firstly here’s some info about Phoenix Co-op:

Founded in 1980 Phoenix is a fully mutual housing co-operative run by its tenant members. We seek to provide accommodation for single people in housing need who are on a low income.

For over twenty years we have provided a local, volunteer-led solution to the problem of homelessness in East London.

The Sumner House rebuild project

Phoenix housing has a unique opportunity to develop 5 flats for use as mid term lease accommodation. The Flats are unused and in need of total modernisation. This project will allow us to house some 6 Co-op members for a minimum of 5 years, while at the same time making a positive use of Local Authority flats that would be empty and boarded up indefinitely.

Phoenix are able to undertake this project only as the Co-op’s members volunteer their labour to negate our labour cost. We also receive help from organisations such as Community Repaint, who supply us with free paint. The aim of this communication is a call to all suppliers of building materials as well as suppliers of white goods and bathroom suits for assistance with the rebuild project.

The Co-op are confident that successful completion of this project will allow us to pursue future projects of this kind to secure phoenix Co-op long term survival?
Sustainability is our aim ecologically as well as socially. As a result future-proofing this project is also high on our agenda.

We are at present 2/3 of the way through damp coursing all flats and are about to start re-plastering and refitting the kitchens and bathrooms. Please check out our photos.

The payoff for your involvement and support would include knowledge that you have helped vulnerable people to re-house themselves in unused property. We would also document the impact of your support, which you could use as content for your PR purposes.

If your company/organisation are interested and would like more information please use the contact details below. Phoenix are a registered charity, please see our website for more info.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

John Walker.

jwalker@phoenixhousing.co.uk-07879618081/02070339539
Phoenix Community Housing Co-operative Limited,
Room 9, The Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, Bethnal Green,
London, E2 6HG
Tel: 020 7033 9539
Email: mail@phoenixhousing.co.uk