22 October 2007

Fraserburgh learning house aims to bridge the ‘digital divide’

[Click here for a text copy of full press release]

The Rt Hon Alex Salmond, First Minister and MP for Banff and Buchan, performed the official opening of Fraserburgh’s new Learning House today (October 22, 2007).

The Learning House, which is part of the Tenants First Housing Co-operative affordable housing development on High Street, Fraserburgh, aims to bridge the digital divide by offering people informal and flexible learning opportunities with free access to computers.

The Fraserburgh Learning House project is operated by Opportunity Gateway, and funded by Tenants First Housing Co-operative, Scottish Enterprise Grampian, Communities Scotland and Aberdeenshire Literacy Partnership. It will be managed by Aberdeen Foyer.

Speaking at the opening, Mr Salmond said,

“I’m delighted to be in Fraserburgh today to mark the opening of this new development.

“Everyone in Scotland should be able to have a secure, warm home at a cost they can afford. The Scottish Government appreciates that there is a clear link between a healthy community and the availability of decent quality of housing for all. This fantastic development offers this as well as providing access for people to engage in much needed learning opportunities.”

The Learning House is part of a £2.1 million affordable housing development pioneered by Tenants First. In addition to the Learning House, the development comprises of a sheltered housing complex with 20 flats, a landscaped courtyard area, private car parking and a further six terraced houses situated to the rear of the 2.4 acre site.

Sandy Murray, chief executive of Tenants First and chairman of Opportunity Gateway commented:

“The opening of the Learning House marks the completion of this affordable homes development in Fraserburgh. The Learning House is somewhere where anyone of any age can drop in and take advantage of the learning opportunities available to them. It gives parents, children, older people, and even younger school leavers access to learning in an informal environment. It’s a great opportunity for us to help those who wish to do so, to get back into learning and restore their self confidence.

Continuing, Sandy said, “The entire development includes sheltered housing, residential housing and of course the Learning House. The design solution aims to enhance the prosperity of the area, breathing new life into a brown-field gap site by integrating the development within the existing landscape of the High Street.”

Ken Milroy, chief executive of Aberdeen Foyer, who will manage the Learning House on behalf of the partners, said:

“The Learning House has been deliberately designed like a home, we find the domestic-style and informal, friendly environment is more welcoming and less intimidating than formal education opportunities. The idea is that people should feel comfortable to come along for free tuition at times that suit them.

“Existing Learning Houses in Peterhead and Aberdeen have surpassed targets for supporting people into work and further learning, providing an effective service to everyone in the community, reaching people who may never have considered any type of learning and improving their employment prospects.”

Adding to this, Dr Ian Heywood, director of growing business and skills at Scottish Enterprise Grampian, said: "We work with a range of partners to help people access learning opportunities and develop skills which mean they can get into employment and play a full and valuable role in society.

"SE Grampian has invested in the Fraserburgh Learning House because we know the real difference the environment can make to encourage people and develop their confidence and capabilities.''

The Tenants First affordable homes development on Fraserburgh’s High Street has a total of 26 homes, all of which were designed by Michael Gilmour Associates. All of the homes feature high levels of energy efficiency and sustainability. A high specification of insulation aims to reduce energy consumption, and passive solar heat panels, where appropriate, will help to reduce heating costs.

Click here to find out more on the development at Caledonia Court in Fraserburgh.

8 October 2007

Important Information on Homechoice Option Shop

Please note that after 8 October 2007 homehunt® NES will not be displaying vacancies at the Homechoice Option Shop on George Street.

After 8 October if you wish to view all of our current vacancies and/or to note an interest in any properties you will have to use either of the following methods:

Remember you must be Registered before you can note an interest in any vacancies.  For more information about homehuntNES contact 01224 628101, view our Applying for Housing section on this website or visit our office.

1 October 2007

Scottish Secure Tenancy Agreement

Whilst most of us are sitting thinking, “where has the year gone, it’s October already!” believe it or not it’s not been five years since the Co-operative introduced the, then new, Scottish Secure Tenancy Agreement.

Back in 2002, the agreement was of course all new. Since then there have been a few changes in other laws that have an impact on tenancies. There have also been developments in good practice. So now is a good time to revamp the agreement.

The major changes that are proposed is a move away from separate tenancy agreement formats for general needs, sheltered and supported tenants to one single document with, if necessary, up to three appendices containing the information for sheltered, etc.

The new agreement, once approved by the Co-operative’s Solicitor and Committee of Management will be introduced for any new tenants. There are no plans to have all existing tenants complete the new agreement.

If you would like information regarding the changes proposed and to take part in the consultation process, please contact Graeme Watson at the Aberdeen office.