- Date: 15/09/2020
It hardly seems five minutes since we launched our five incredible brands to the world, where did that time go?
It’s been a whirlwind year for Honeycomb Group and we have never been more clear about what we stand for or more focused on the impact we want to have as a Group of socially-minded businesses.
We not only launched five new brands but introduced fresh services and projects, developed innovative housing and welcomed hundreds of new customers and staff too. Although the last six months haven’t gone quite to plan, the COVID-19 outbreak has shown just how resilient we are. It’s proven that nothing can deter our vision of a progressive, passionate region with no barriers to a happy home.
We were more than ready to launch our brands 12 months ago. In Concrete and Glow they were desperate for their own unique identity and voice to drive their mission. I can’t believe the transformation and impact they have both had and just how much the support for what we do has grown.
Concrete is here to make homelessness history. And over the last year we have taken on multiple new projects including playing our part in the national ‘Everybody In’ initiative to keep rough sleepers safe during the COVID crisis. We moved 66 people without a home from across Stoke-on-Trent into a local hotel. The project created an amazing partnership which we will build on to tackle the on-going challenges of homelessness, with the right support and the right home.
Glow too has had a busy 12 months launching its first move-on accommodation and building upon new services like our Relationships Without Fear education programme, which has taught over 500 children and young people the importance of healthy relationships. We won’t stop on our mission to Address, End and Overcome domestic abuse. The way in which Glow transforms women’s, men’s and children’s lives is an incredible achievement but is now sadly needed more than ever before.
Staffs Housing is all about building quality affordable homes around our customers. It’s been a priority to support our customers through this challenging period, checking-in with those who were vulnerable and isolated gave us a real understanding of what services mattered. We carried on building new homes and completed one shared ownership site with 18 homes but have almost completed a second! We’ve also built over 40 houses in Stoke-on-Trent - transforming derelict sites like the old Florence Primary school into 20 family homes, as well as much needed adapted bungalows for local people and families whose children are supported by the Donna Louise charity.
Revival has continued on their mission – bringing your home to life - not only across the Home Support Services team who have played a critical role in our local hospitals during the pandemic but also our befriending team who have made sure lonely and isolated people are not left behind as well as the Revival repairs target hardening project – fitting safety adaptations to make sure people feel safe in their home.
All of our brands, 40+ services and 288 members of staff collectively form the Honeycomb Group. We are a hive of activity, one team striving for one even bigger goal to provide shelter, connection, security, stability and confidence – a happy home!
Our new strategy will create further quality, affordable homes, help more people feel safe, sound and secure in their current home and continue to fight for those without a home.
But passionate progressive regions aren’t built in a day, or in 12 months even. Past, present, future we deliver results and our work will continue to provide real impact to the people and places we serve. No matter how far our work takes us we’ll always prioritise those who need us the most to change their homes and their futures forever.
The journey continues!