Help at risk for people in 'cherished' housing estate

A project which helps council tenants in one of England's most deprived areas is under threat amid funding cuts.

Volunteer-run scheme Street Reps was initially started by Swindon Borough Council in 2015 to improve communication with tenants but has expanded to include a youth club, street cleaning and more.

Di Pithers, a street rep on the Penhill estate, said the area was "cherished" and "everybody there had something to give - a skill, a story, a memory, a history - something they can share with this community, for this community".

But council cabinet member for housing and property Matty Courtliff said the "model has not been working as intended" as it was picking up work outside of housing.

Swindon Borough Council had paid for the insurance, storage and training needed to keep the scheme going as part of a previously ring-fenced housing fund. From October, that funding stops.

Pithers said the project had been her "everything" for the past 12 years and she hoped another council department would pick up the bill, otherwise the team would "without doubt be looking at potential closure".

There are street reps in a number of areas of Swindon, including Walcot, Toothill, The Railway Village and Stratton.

About 20 volunteers run the biggest scheme in Penhill where, according to Ofsted, 69% of children are living in low-income families, ranking it among the 10% most income-deprived areas in England.

Brothers Malachi, 16, and Ethan, 14, attend the youth club run by the group and said it helped kids who would not normally go out to socialise.

They added it was the "best thing that's happened to us".

The Street Reps team also runs a surplus food station with fresh fruit and vegetables and a free weekly cafe offering access to advice about benefits, housing and health.

Swindon Borough Council is the biggest social landlord in the town, responsible for more than 10,000 council homes.

Courtliff said the local authority would "continue working with tenants and the regulator to improve our engagement and how we improve as a landlord".

"Following an inspection from the regulator of social housing, we've taken steps to improve our communications and engagement with our tenants.

"This has included replacing some of our previous activities so we deliver better outcomes for our tenants," he added.

Swindon Borough Council has been asked whether it is considering other funding options for the project.

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