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January 2009

Coast & Country grants scheme, which contributed £60,000 to community projects, is already making an impact.

The first scheme to be completed with the help of ‘Your Way – You Say’ funding is improvements to an open space near bungalows at Eston.

Coast & Country was the first housing company in the country to spearhead participatory budgeting which invited tenants to bid for up to £5,000 for ideas that would improve or benefit the local environment or community.
Betty Skelton, of Fabian Road, Eston, was among those to present ideas to an audience of Coast & Country tenants who then voted for the ideas they thought should receive some funding.

She successfully secured £4,000 to make improvements to the grassed area near her home. This has included the landscaping the area with trees, plants and a rockery, and a fence around the area, the elderly residents will be able to sit outside in the summer, enjoy the view and each others company.

Iain Sim, Coast & Country Chief Executive, said: “This really is community involvement in action - all 20 schemes, which secured funding under the Your Way – You Say initiative – were put forward by Coast & Country tenants and then voted for by our residents.

“We are delighted to see the first scheme come to fruition and look forward to seeing the other projects, which will benefit communities right across the borough, get under way.”

Mrs Skelton said: “My neighbours are thrilled to bits, and I can’t thank Coast & Country enough as this work has totally transformed the area.

“The Your Way – You Say scheme is a fantastic idea as it gives people a real say in to how their neighbourhoods can be improved and, importantly, provides the necessary money to allow projects to go ahead.”

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