Sheffield Housing Company
Established in 2011, SHC is a joint venture originally established by Sheffield City Council, private sector construction partner Keepmoat Homes and Great Places Housing Group. Since then, ENGIE and Sigma Capital have also partnered SHC to deliver homes for sale, private and affordable rent.
SHC has built almost 1,000 properties, of which around 8% are for affordable rent, delivered by Great Places; 20% are private rent, through Simple Life - part of Sigma Capital Group plc - and the remainder are for private sale.
Two new allotments have been created as part of the NHS ‘Green Social Prescribing Places’ initiative thanks to Esh, SHC and YORhub teaming up to provide funding.
Green places for health
Working in partnership with SOAR Community in Sheffield, a regeneration charity that provides services to improve a person’s health, wellbeing and employability, the donation has funded allotments at Foxhill Medical Centre and Grenoside Medical Centre.
The NHS ‘Green Social Prescribing Places’ initiative allows GP’s, health and care practitioners, and local agencies, to refer people to nature-based interventions and activities, such as local walking for health schemes, community gardening and food-growing projects.
SOAR Wellbeing Coaches will manage the allotments and support individuals that are referred to the green prescribing spaces at each community centre. Each allotment features flower beds at accessible heights, pathways, lockable storage, soil, tools and young plants.
Wheelchair access
Chris Stocks, Practice Manager at Grenoside Surgery, said: “Grenoside Surgery has a long-standing relationship with SOAR in their role as a provider of social prescribing to our patients. One of the areas that the surgery has been interested in is the concept of green prescribing which encourages patients with issues of social isolation to meet socially and undertake projects around gardening."
“We were therefore delighted when contacted by SOAR to hear that Esh, who are building new homes in our area, had this as one of their objectives and would be able to support a project at our main Grenoside site.
“The project centred on the building of two large, raised beds for the planting of plants and vegetables and enhanced access to enable wheelchair users the ability to access the garden."
Esh & YOR4Good
Esh Construction pledged the funding as part of its commitment to YORhub’s, YOR4Good Fund, a community grant initiative which supports economic regeneration projects through schemes awarded through the YORhub construction frameworks. The donations were made as part of the Lytton Road development.
Megan Roberts, social value manager for Esh, said: “We are always striving to support organisations, charities and community groups that work within the local communities surrounding our construction projects. The two medical centres are located just one mile from our site, which will allow us to leave a lasting legacy in the area. It has been a pleasure to work alongside Sheffield Housing Company and YORhub on yet another successful project, helping support great charities."
YOR4Good
More information on our YOR4Good Fund
Photos A.Heptinstall/Esh
