A small voluntary organisation that has worked tirelessly to provide affordable homes in Keswick has been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The Keswick Community Housing Trust (KCHT) has developed a portfolio of 40 homes across the town for local people unable to buy or rent privately.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service recognises outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. It is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE – 281 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups will receive the prestigious award this year.
KCHT was set up in 2010 in response to concerns that locals were finding themselves squeezed out – and it was initially thought that it may be able to provide one house.
It quickly gained the support of the people of Keswick and £60,000 raised in 2012 in response to its community investment share issue. This enabled the trust to buy its first site, secure planning permission and unlocking government grant funding to build 11 houses. This provided the foundation on which the KCHT has been able to continue growing.
Organisations with sites in Keswick have worked with the trust so that “potential areas” could be transformed into real homes.
St John’s Church sold part of its graveyard that was unsuitable for burial to the trust. It became the trust’s first development and was aptly called The Hopes.
Allerdale Borough Council also sold the trust a disused toilet block for a nominal amount, enabling it to provide four one-bedroom flats.
And Keswick Methodist Church sold to the trust its old church hall site on Southey Street for the provision of a further four homes.
The KCHT volunteers give so generously of their time and effort to ensure that the trust meets its responsibilities as a registered provider of social housing and fulfils its landlord responsibilities towards residents.
Their actions allow the trust to operate with lower costs than other social housing providers and to gradually build up reserves in readiness for future opportunities.
“We are proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but we can’t rest on our laurels,” said Bill Bewley, the chair of KCHT. “The reality is that the challenge is even greater than when we started out.
“In a 10-year period from 2013, Keswick has seen over 280 properties change to holiday homes and second homes, while only 80 new properties have been added.
“We therefore remain committed to investigate new opportunities to increase the number of homes we are responsible for.”
To learn more about KCHT visit: [email protected]
