Housing service gets a face lift after cash injection

Mill Bank Wellbeing Centre, owned and run by Places for People, was nominated by staff as the deserving winner of an annual community competition organised by the property and leisure management, development and regeneration company.

More than 45 operatives from Places for People’s property maintenance team, and contractors Keepmoat and Novus Property Solutions, came together to make the project a success.

The makeover took a week to complete and included: the creation of a wellbeing room to host one to one advice and therapy sessions, renovation of the current community hub, a new state-of-the-art IT suite, and extension of the current reading space into a larger, well-stocked library. Staff at Places for People got involved, donating more than 300 books and 50 DVDs to the cause.

Eileen McSweeney, who manages the Mill Bank Wellbeing Centre, said: “Mill Bank is a temporary housing service for young families. It offers a person-centred approach, and works closely with families to build the necessary skills needed for them to move on to permanent housing.”

The improvement works will make a big difference to residents who call Mill Bank Wellbeing Centre home. The new facilities will give them a suitable environment to enjoy downtime, as well as equip them with the resources to learn new skills.

Eileen added: “We’ve been running a jobs club for the past 2 years to help get people back into employment, so it’s especially great to see the new look IT suite. It will have an important role to play in the continued success of jobs club, and will also provide a facility for members of the public who would otherwise be digitally excluded.”

One of the residents at Mill Bank Wellbeing Centre, said: “I’ve really enjoyed seeing the work progress. The new facilities will be enjoyed by everyone at Mill Bank – and I personally can’t wait to start using the new IT suite, it looks fantastic.”

Places for People is committed to giving back to the communities it operates in. Its annual makeover project is part of a campaign aimed at delivering services that enhance economic, social and environmental wellbeing among residents, communities and suppliers.