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Tees Valley Housing Group has started work on the development of new homes to help teenage mothers in the Wear Valley find independence. Following the success of award-winning projects in Darlington, Hartlepool and Sunderland, the development in Coney Avenue, on Bishop Auckland’s Woodhouse Close estate, will house nine teenage mothers. As well as nine two-bedroom apartments, the site will include office space and staff accommodation, as well as communal gardens, laundry and lounge area and a guest room. By bringing young mothers together in a supported environment, they are able to interact with people in a similar position to themselves, learn independence and be relieved of the stigma often carried by their situation. The project is being developed in partnership with Durham and District Supporting People Partnership. Tees Valley Housing Group is working with builders Southdale Homes, architects ADG, project managers at Faithful + Gould and clerk of works the NAP Partnership to complete the development by the end of August 2007. In 2005, TVHG won two prestigious industry accolades at the iNbiz Awards, held by the National Housing Federation. Not only did the Group’s young mothers’ units in Darlington, Hartlepool and Sunderland take the Griffiths Independent Living Award, TVHG also took the event’s overall inBiz National Housing Federation Award for the best schemes across all categories. Alison Thain, Tees Valley Housing Group’s chief executive, said: “In Darlington, Sunderland and Hartlepool, we have shown that projects such as the one we are developing in Bishop Auckland can have a real and positive impact on the lives of these young mothers. There is an often unfair and unfortunate stigma attached to being a young single mother, but by putting teenage mums together with support when they need it, we can help to take that stigma away and get them back on their feet and ready for independence. We are looking forward to reproducing that good work in Bishop Auckland when the Coney Avenue project is completed in 2007. |
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