Tenants and other members of Grampian Housing Association were addressed by guest speaker Dave Simmers, chief executive of Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE) at its annual general meeting.

In an informative presentation, Dave advised of the help available through ‘AHEAD’, a partnership project tackling disadvantage in a holistic way and involving Grampian, CFINE, North East Scotland Credit Union (NESCU) and Pathways (employability project).

The range of services AHEAD offers to tenants includes affordable savings and loans, benefits and budgeting advice, support to get into training and employment, access to community food outlets and food banks as well as information about health and wellbeing.

In presenting his annual review, Gordon Edwards, chair, said “I am delighted to be chair in the year when Grampian Housing Association is celebrating a double achievement by reaching its 40th anniversary and completing its 3000th property for social rent.”

Other highlights of the year included a financial gain of over £1.1 million for clients of SMART (money advice project) and the presentation of long service awards to 55 staff representing a combined total of 657 years’ continuous service.

With an annual turnover of £16m, reserves of £21.5m and a rental income of £13m members were informed that the Association was well placed to deliver on its commitment to build over 200 homes in the North East over the next three to five years.

New board members Austin Akhigbe, Carwyn Littlewood and co-optee Ursula Boyle, along with sharing owner, Peter Kennedy and tenant, Gloria Umeadi, were welcomed. All bring valuable experience from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Tribute was paid to Graham Morrison, the Association’s longest serving board member and former chair who retired. First elected in 1997, Graham was passionate about social housing and always put the interests of customers first. Other retiring board members, Fiona Willis, Ray Walkinshaw, Rob Simpson and Amanze Ejiogu, were thanked for the excellent service they had given to Grampian.

A board meeting followed the AGM and saw the re-election of Gordon Edwards for a third term as chair and Keith Jones as vice-chair.

@GrampianHA