Hackney - Seaton Point

After successfully securing £10,000 of funding from the South East Consortium back in April, EQUANS have now begun to put this money to good use at the Clapton Park Estate in Hackney.

In September, Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz, was joined at the community allotment on the Clapton Park Estate by labourer, Boris, who was supplied free of charge by our fantastic supply chain partners Soundgate. Boris helped construct seven large raised beds, a beautiful table and several sturdy benches. A volunteer day was also recently held, where EQUANS staff were joined by local volunteers from the Clapton Green Gym and Clapton Park Management Organisation to help fill the planters with more than 18 tonnes of top soil, so they're ready for planting. A new shed, four additional herb planters and a greenhouse will also be installed next month.

"It was very hard work but so rewarding to see so many people from the local community excited about the new community space. The allotment is open to the local community and it's hoped that it will help combat food poverty, while at the same time generating some community cohesion." Julian Sanz, Social Value Manager, EQUANS

"A great project and really feel privileged to have been able to be part of it. I found it very rewarding and great to meet Julian, Mark and members of the local community." Ronnie Long, Technical Supervisor and volunteer for the day, EQUANS

Over the past 12 months the EQUANS team have delivered an amazing £356,000 worth of measured social value within our partnership with London Borough of Hackney.

As a responsible contractor, EQUANS is committed to providing a tailored and responsive programme of social value which has a lasting and positive impact for residents and the wider community, focusing our efforts across five key strands: Jobs, Growth, Social, Environment and Innovation, to provide the best support for levelling up communities.

Thanks to our Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz, and the rest of the site team including Scott Pheby, Sharon Bandelow, Paul O'Neill, Tony Elliott, Darren Denham, Chris Calrow, Stevie Pitman, Paulius Cibulskis, Alex Saunders and Jahdai Conquest who all volunteered some time and resources assisting this.

The site team for Seaton Point and Fermain Court received an impressive score of 43/45 for their latest audit visit by the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) after scoring high marks in each of the three categories.

On 8^th March, a CCS monitor visited the scheme and carried out their audit of the site, commenting things like "The site is well organised, clean and tidy with community litter picks undertaken daily."

The CCS is an independent organisation founded to raise standards in the construction industry to ensure all construction sites present an image of competent management, efficiency, awareness of environmental issues and above all neighbourliness. Monitors from the scheme regularly audit our sites to ensure we are adhering to the scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice which is designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirement.

Each audit is split into three categories; respect for the community, protecting the environment and valuing the workforce each with a potential score out of 15 with a total combined max score of 45 available. To score above 13 in any category warrants an excellent level of achievement for that category.

Congratulations to Darren, Jahdai and the rest of the site team, who work so hard every day to maintain such high standards

The Clapton Park community centre was in desperate need of new windows, so they could start renting out rooms to local community users again.

Our Project Manager, Scott Pheby, arranged teams to carry out the installation of 20 new windows for the centre, bringing them up to current health, safety and energy efficiency guidelines.

Local charity, Clapton Park Green Gym secured £10,000 funding for it's community allotment scheme at Longford Court with support from EQUANS.

Earlier this month, Clapton Green Gym were presented with a cheque for £10,000 to support the expansion of the community allotment scheme at Longford Court in Hackney.

EQUANS worked closely with Merle White from the Clapton Park Management Organisation to secure the funding from the South East Consortium's SEC Foundation. The Foundation is investing £150,000 over three years to support community projects in the areas they operate in.

Throughout 2021 EQUANS have been working with Hackney Council and Clapton Green gym to carry out works to help enhance the quality of life on the borough's estates.

The much needed funding boost will be used to purchase tools, a storage shed, and materials for up to 25 additional raised allotment beds, at a disabled access height, installed for free by EQUANS and a team of volunteers. It's expected that the improved allotment space will now be able to welcome 25-40 new users of mixed ages.

Merle white, representing both the Clapton Park Management Organisation and Clapton Green Gym, said "We're thrilled to receive this grant which will make such a difference to Longford Court residents! Green Gyms operate across the UK, with several projects across London, offering people an innovative way to get physically active, enjoy the outdoors, improve their wellbeing, and make a difference to their local environment and communities, like we do here in Hackney."

Cllr Clayeon McKenzie, Hackney Council's cabinet member for Housing and Resident Participation also attended the cheque presentation event. He said "Allotments and community gardens are fantastic ways for local communities to become more environmentally sustainable. They are also great ways for people to relieve stress, become more physically active and can help tackle issues of isolation and loneliness."

Working in partnership with our kitchen supplier Moores Furniture Group, EQUANS have generously donated and installed a brand new kitchen for a community group working out of St Margaret's Church in Hackney.

The church was in desperate need of a new kitchen, so that they could prepare meals for some of the boroughs most vulnerable residents. In June, EQUANS' Social Value Manager, Julian Sanz responded to the church's request and liaised with Moores and Project Manager, Scott Pheby to arrange for the donated kitchen units to be installed.

Father Tola said: "God bless everyone for helping us in our hour of need. The new kitchen will allow us to help so many needy families and local homeless. We can't thank you enough."

Local resident, Mr John Larkin, was the lucky recipient of a festive Christmas hamper as the winner of EQUANS' annual Christmas raffle.

Resident Liaison Officers Jahdai Conquest and Alex Saundersand, presented the hamper to Mr Larkin who said this about winning the raffle: "A huge thank you to everyone at EQUANS for my amazing hamper! I've never won anything in my life so this was an amazing surprise."

The site team also donated 200 Cadbury gift bags to local children.

Pictured left to right: Alex Saundersand, Mr Larkin and Jadai Conquest

EQUANS site team with Cadbury gift bags