Curo News

Curo comes to you with Community Catch Ups

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 22:02:15 Z

Our regular Community Catch Ups offer an opportunity to chat through issues and ask any questions you have about your home or neighbourhood. Our Resident Engagement team recently shared the programme below for the weeks ahead - look out for Hannah and Neil down your way soon.

We offer lots of ways to get involved with Curo and influence what we do, including via our VoiceBox online consultation and engagement platform. Would you like a Community Catch Up where you live? Email the team on voicebox@curo-group.co.uk.

Date	Place	Venue (or door knocking)	Time
13/01/2026	Peasedown - Sunnyside View	Door knocking	midday - 2pm
20/01/2026	Maple Leaf Court	Maple Leaf Court Community Room, BS8 1EF (for residents only)	midday-2pm
22/01/2026	Twerton Village Hall - B&NES collaboration	Twerton Village Hall - Landseer Road, BA2 1DX	2pm-4pm
27/01/2026	Rosewell Court	Salvation Army Upper Hall, Green Park Rd, BA1 1XE	6pm- 7.15pm
03/02/2026	Pine Court & Chichester Place- Radstock	Community Room, Pine Court, BA3 3ES	midday-2pm
07/02/2026	The Green, Council surgery drop in	Community Room, Odd Down, BA2 2TJ	10am - midday
10/02/2026	Toynbee Road & Samual Barnett Close	Door knocking	11am - 2pm
17/02/2026	Orchard Close - Portishead	Community Room, Orchard Close, BS20 6BG	10am - midday
24/02/2026	Keynsham Downfield (St Margaret's Close)	Community Room, St Margaret's Close, Keynsham, BS31 2EW	10am - midday
26/02/2026	Keynsham South (Mead Estate)	The Mead Estate, Keynsham Door Knocking	11am - 2pm
03/03/2026	Nightingale Court, Brislington - Revisit	St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Sandy Park Rd, Brislington, Bristol BS4 4HQ	1pm-3pm
07/03/2026	Twerton Council Drop In	Infant School, Poolemead Road, BA2 1QR	10am - midday
17/03/2026	Springfield Crescent- Radstock	Door knocking	11am - 1pm
19/03/2026	Larkhall - Uphill & Coxley Drive	Door knocking	11am - 1pm

Bath Area Play Project gets back on the road thanks to donation

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 10:22:40 Z

Pictured from left, Bath Area Play Project family and community support workers Emily North, Chloe Dalton and Jess Exton, Director of Bath Area Play Project Caroline Haworth, Curo Supply Chain and Fleet Contract Business Partner Samantha Thomas, and Lee Palmer Store Manager at Travis Perkins store.

Bath Area Play Project (BAPP) now has a new van to thanks to Bath-based housing association Curo, and Travis Perkins Managed Services.

The Odd Down-based charity runs free play sessions for children around B&NES, and relies on its van to transport the equipment to and from the different venues. Sadly, their van was stolen, and the insurance payment didn’t cover the cost of a replacement used vehicle.

But a joint Curo and Travis Perkins funding pot, which is available for local community projects and ideas, was able to donate £5,000 to cover the shortfall and now the charity once again has a van, complete with brightly coloured branding.

Caroline Haworth, Director of BAPP, said: “We are very grateful for this donation. It’s meant we can get a van that we can rely on, and that we can get it branded which we hope might be a deterrent to thieves.

“Having a van is vital to our work as we use it to transport our equipment to our sessions so that we can provide different resources than the children might get in school or home – such as our very popular spin painting bike. The opportunities we can provide help children to develop some skills that they don’t necessarily get from formal education.”

Samantha Thomas, Supply Chain and Fleet Contract Business Partner at Curo, said: “We know that many of our customers and their children benefit from Bath Area Play Project’s important work, so we’re really pleased that we can support them with this donation.”

“We welcome all types of diversity”

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 15:09:59 Z

As we celebrate Pride Month, Julie Evans, Chief Property Officer, talks about the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility and recognition.

Julie Evans, pictured above

Why did you volunteer to be the Executive Sponsor of Curo’s LGBTQ+ Resident Engagement and Colleague Groups, and what does that mean in practice?

I’m a gay woman, and I think it’s important for a senior leader in the business who is out and proud to support our work in this area. It sends a visible signal to colleagues, customers, and to people who might be considering working with us that we welcome diversity of all types. It shows that sexuality is no barrier to career progress at Curo.

As part of this role, I participate in our LGBTQ+ Colleague Engagement Group, where we discuss issues such as how we can better capture the views of customers and the unheard voices in our sector. I don’t think we currently understand how many LGBTQ+ customers we have, or what they need. But if we don’t understand their requirements, we can’t shape our services to suit them. Our new vision is that ‘Everyone feels proud about the quality of our homes’, and it feels pertinent that LGBTQ+ pride is part of this.

Why has Curo taken the HouseProud pledge, a scheme that all social housing providers can sign up to, to demonstrate their commitment to LGBTQ+ resident equality and support?

It’s a visible commitment to improve the experience of LGBTQ+ customers. We hope that having this overt badge will help customers who have felt reticent in the past to share their experiences of their neighbours and communities. We want it to give them confidence that we’re welcoming.

Recent research from HouseProud found that one in five gay men reported modifying their home in some way – for example, moving pictures or books – to hide their sexual orientation from a visiting repairs operative or housing officer. Have you ever witnessed anything like this?

When I was younger and less confident, I did similar things myself. I have moved photos and haven’t corrected people when they’ve assumed my partner was a man. I suppose I felt a sense of shame that I had absolutely no reason to feel. If you’re gay, there is nothing to be ashamed of.

Unfortunately, there will always be prejudice in the world. But you should expect your landlord to treat you with equity. An LGBTQ+ person should never feel afraid or embarrassed in one of our homes.

What are the aims of the LGBTQ+ Resident Engagement Group?

We want to give LGBTQ+ residents the opportunity to help shape our services and policies. This will help us to be a better landlord. We’d like customers to take ownership of the group and for it to be completely led by them. My colleagues and I can play our parts by sharing our experiences and advocating on behalf of customers. We don’t want people to suffer in silence if they are experiencing discrimination.

We’re conscious that we have Extra Care and Sheltered homes for older residents - and we don’t know if some of these are LGBTQ+ customers. The older generation may have faced more discrimination and may be more likely to hide their sexuality. We’re keen to work with them and address these issues. There has been too much ignorance. We need to know what their experiences are.

I have been personally very lucky because my family and friends accepted me for who I am. We now have gay marriage and equal rights. But you do hear horror stories. When I first met my partner, she said that we must never be complacent nor take for granted the rights that we now have. The political rhetoric that surrounds us can be challenging. For example, we have a responsibility towards transgender customers to understand their lived experiences so that they don’t have to hide who they are.

What would you say to a customer who was thinking about joining the group but felt a bit nervous and didn’t know what to expect?

We’d love you to come along. It’s a great chance to meet new people and make friends. But if the thought of joining a group is putting you off, you can have a chat with one of us first. And if you don’t want to join the group, you can still let us know your thoughts and experiences.

For more information on the LGBTQ+ Resident Engagement Group, email pride@curo-group.co.uk

Pride month

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 14:23:06 Z

Curo have signed up to the HouseProud Pledge, a scheme that all social housing providers can sign up to, to demonstrate their commitment to LGBTQ+ resident equality and support.

The home is of huge importance to LGBTQ+ residents, it should be a place where people can freely express their sexual orientation and/or their gender identity without prejudice.

At Curo, we want our customers to feel welcome and heard. This is why we signed the HouseProud Pledge. You can find out everything you need to know about the pledge here.

If you have any questions, or would like to join to our LGBTQ+ Resident Engagement Group, please email pride@curo-group.co.uk.

Meet the team

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 14:29:30 Z

There are some new faces in Curo’s Resident Engagement Team. We find out a bit more about Neil Rogers and Hannah Gavin (pictured above).

Neil Rogers, Resident Engagement Coordinator:

Tell us a bit about what you do at Curo…
I recently joined as Resident Engagement Coordinator. I'm excited about the opportunity to meet our customers and establish trusting relationships with the communities we serve.

What did you do before?
My career journey began at Lloyds Bank, where I held various positions including Financial Consultant, Branch Manager and Area Community Engagement Consultant. Later, I took up a Senior Debt Advisor role at a company in Somerset, helping both individuals and businesses with financial matters. Following that, I went into the communications industry with roles at Avonline Satellite Broadband and Truespeed, where I focused on community relationship-building. In addition, I volunteer as a befriender for young children and frequently organise charity events.

Why Curo?
I wanted a role that would inspire me to jump out of bed each morning and use my community engagement skills to make a positive impact on people's lives. The position at Curo offered exactly that.

What's the best thing about your job?
I love the welcoming and supportive atmosphere from colleagues at Curo. And I’m enjoying getting out and meeting lots of our customers.

What's your favourite hobby or pastime?
Drumming has been a passion of mine for more than 35 years, and I play with two rock bands. One of them has released two original albums, a live album and a Christmas single, available on streaming platforms. I've had the privilege of performing at various venues, including Glastonbury Festival and the Bristol Beacon. We’ve even supported 70s band Hot Chocolate at a music festival. I also enjoy going to gigs – rock and metal are my favourite genres.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
While it might sound clichéd, I would choose the ability to prevent people from committing evil acts. Imagine a world free from invasions and wars – a safer and better place for everyone.

Hannah Gavin, Resident Engagement Coordinator:

Tell us a bit about what you do at Curo…
As part of the Resident Engagement Team, I’m a point of contact for our customers, someone to talk to face to face. I help to run different groups, giving voices to our customers and can act as the midpoint between customers and our specialist teams.

When did you join Curo and what did you do before?
I started at the end of February. I previously worked in membership engagement at sports organisation British Fencing in London for five years. I’d worked in sport since I graduated from uni. But I’d moved to Bath and I was ready to do something new. It was important that my next job would give back to the community.

Why Curo?
From my research, I saw that Curo is ahead of the curve when it comes to engaging residents, and I wanted to be part of that. For example, I was impressed by the Board Connect sessions, which are a chance for our Board to directly hear the concerns of residents.

What’s the best thing about your job?
Getting out and about to see people, especially at Community Catch-ups. We might not be able to fix people’s problems there and then, but we can make sure that people feel seen and heard. We’ll then follow up queries and get back to the customers with answers.

What’s your favourite hobby or pastime?
Tap dancing! I’m part of a local group – they’re a lovely bunch. We work on a different dance every six weeks.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
The ability to time travel. Living in Bath, I’d love to go back to Georgian or Roman times and see firsthand what life was like.

Why not join Hannah and Neil at a Community Catch-up? Find out if they'll be coming to you area here. To request a Community Catch-up visit to your area, please email Voicebox@curo-group.co.uk

Crafting a community

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:17:21 Z

We visited Curo’s Community Room at St Margaret's Close, Keynsham, BS31 2EW, where residents are joining together to share their skills.

Bag decorating, crochet and needle felting are just some of the crafts residents have sampled at a crafting club at Curo’s Community Room in Keynsham.

The club takes place each Friday at 12-4 pm and was started by Livewell Officer Clare Pollock as a way to bring the community together. The club helps to prevent older residents from feeling isolated, says Clare. “They’re making friends and trying something new,” she says.

At the club on 9 February, Margery Leever was sharing her bag-making skills with fellow Curo resident Faye Wright.

“We all have different abilities and everyone is friendly,” says Margery. “If someone is alone, I’d say give this a try. We’ll give them a cup of tea, a slice of cake and a warm welcome.”

Roz Stute, who was teaching Carol Allsop how to crochet at the club, says: “Crochet helps me unwind. This is a chance to share that.”

Janet Durk was having a go at needle felting, taught by Clare Hudson. Janet is partially sighted, but said she didn’t want it to be a barrier. “You have to keep on doing things,” she says. “Trying this has been extremely satisfying and has made me happy.”

Clare says that the group is planning to try new crafts in the future, including dry clay modelling and woodwork. “I got a £500 grant from the Travis Perkins community funding pot. We’re spending it on craft supplies, including magnifying lights and tabletop easels to make painting more accessible.”

If you have an idea for a club in your local Community Room, we can help you set one up. Get in touch with Livewell Officer Tasia Talbot on 07773 059244.

Celebrating Curo Awards

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:11:18 Z

Community and Curo in Bloom Award winners announced

The winners of this year’s annual Community and Curo in Bloom Awards were announced on Saturday 16 September at Curo’s resident event the BIG Get Together, which took place at The Hub, Mulberry Park, Bath.

Victor da Cunha, Curo’s Chief Executive, said, “It was a privilege to present the 2023 awards, which put our residents and the communities we serve centre stage. Huge congratulations to our winners and thank you to everyone who entered.”

Curo’s Community Awards celebrate local neighbourhoods and recognise the fantastic work of residents.

Steve Hartley (pictured above) won this year’s Community Hero Award. Neighbour Elizabeth Jackson was one of the people who nominated Steve. She says, “Since he moved into Tiledown Close, Bath, Steve has been busy helping people with their gardens, completing minor repairs and giving advice where he can. Everyone in our community has benefited from his help.”

St Johns Close, Peasedown St John, won Community of the Year. “Residents have worked very hard since lockdown to revive the events and activities at the community room,” said one of the nominations. “They hold monthly big breakfasts and anyone is invited. New residents are supported to find out about their neighbourhood and what’s on offer.”

The Curo in Bloom Awards highlight the beautiful outdoor spaces and gardening talent of residents. Strong entries across the categories made picking 1^st place prizes a tough task. The winners were:

Balcony & baskets: Malgorzata Burzynska
Small Garden: Viv Fear
Large Garden: Debra Smith
Community Garden: Phoenix House

Phoenix House won with a gorgeous memorial garden which resident Matthew Brimley created in memory of his late partner, Jen. It features a heart-shaped border and a vibrant mix of planting. “The garden is a peaceful place where we sit and remember Jen,” said Matthew. “Children love it – we’ve transformed it from a neglected patch of grass into a lovely space for them to play.”

All the 1^st prize winners were presented with a trophy and £75 Love2shop voucher.

If you’d like to nominate someone for next year’s Community Awards or enter the Curo in Bloom Awards, keep an eye on Curo’s social media and website. Nominations and entries will open in June 2024.

Chance to win

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:15:56 Z

The Communications Team at Curo look after the main Curo website, social media channels, monthly Facebook Live events, e-newsletter Open and printed magazine Prime Time News. We also help teams with the letters and leaflets that we provide to customers.

In the survey linked to below we’d love to get your feedback on these communications so that we can make sure they’re meeting your needs. If you take a few minutes to complete the survey, you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win one of two £50 Love2shop vouchers. Your responses will help us to improve how we communicate with you. Take the survey here.

We’ll share the results of the survey on our website and social media.

Time to get EGG-sited

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 14:47:00 Z

Show off your creative side in our 2023 VoiceBox Easter bonnet competition.

To get involved get in touch with us at VoiceBox@Curo-group.co.uk and request your FREE Easter bonnet starter kit. We would like you to get creative and add your own items to your bonnet to make it EGG-stra special, unique and eye-catching.

To enter head over to the VoiceBox forum competition page and post photos of your creation.

If you are not a VoiceBox member its free to join here.

Entries will be judged in three categories:

0-8 years, 9-15 years, 16 and over.

For each category the prizes are as follows:

First place - £25
Second place - £15
Third place - £10

*All prizes are supplied in Love2Shop gift vouchers. Entry deadline Sunday 23rd April 2023. Full T’s & C’s can be found here.

Join us for our January Facebook Live

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 11:52:10 Z

Click here to join us on Wednesday 11 January for our Facebook Live Q&A with Curo Executive Director of Customer Experience Paul Harris and Director of Accounts and Lettings Emma Owens. They'll do their best to answer as many of your questions as they can between 7-8pm.

Listen to episode two of Curo's Cost of Living podcast

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 11:10:23 Z

At Curo, we’re really concerned about the effects the rising cost of living is having on our customers. We want you to know that support is available and we’re here to help. That’s why we’ve created our Cost of Living podcast.

In each episode, Marianne Rawlins, Communications and Media Manager at Curo, talks to people who can help with everything from money advice to saving energy. In episode two we speak to Ciara Aylett, Employability Service Manager, who tells us about Curo’s Work Wise service and how is can support people to maximise their incomes.

Work Wise offers support for people to gain employability skills, build confidence and get placements to take the next step in their careers. It’s not only for Curo customers, Work Wise is available to all residents of our communities. Opportunities include apprenticeships and access to construction careers. One example is our Power Up programme, which is introducing people to new ‘green’ jobs, as well as roles in construction and trades, many of which aren’t manual roles and which may surprise you.

Contact the Work Wise team on workwise@curo-group.co.uk or call 01225 366000 to find out more.

If you’re having money worries, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Contact Curo’s Money Advice service on customeraccountshelp@curo-group.co.uk or 01225 366000.

You can find our podcast on Spotify, Amazon Music and Audible.

https://open.spotify.com/show/5fYpHbE8aVNk7KDNEz3rf6

Curo · Podcast Ep 2 Final Compressed

Enter our spook-tacular Halloween competition

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 11:06:22 Z

Get in the Halloween spirit and show off your Spook-tacular side in our Halloween fancy dress competition! It’s open to all ages and your furry friends too - with our all new best dressed pets’ category.

It’s easy to enter. Just post photos of you or your pet decked out in your goulish garms on the Halloween VoiceBox forum competition page here.

The more unique and eye-catching your ghastly get-ups, the better!

If you are not a VoiceBox member its free to join https://voicebox.curo-group.co.uk/users/new

Entries will be judged in three categories: 0-8 years, 9-15 years, 16 and over. For each category the prizes are as follows:

First place - £25

Second place - £15

Third place - £10

New for 2022 Pets Corner – Best dressed pet

First place – £15

Second place – £10

Third place – £5

Prizes are supplied in Love2Shop gift vouchers or Pets at Home voucher for the best dressed pet. Entry deadline Sunday 6th November 2022. Full T’s & C’s can be found HERE.

The Better Social Housing Review

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 11:17:01 Z

We’re partnering with The Better Social Housing Review to help gather insights and experiences about social housing in the South West.

The Better Social Housing Review was set up in June this year by the National Housing Federation and Chartered Institute of Housing to look at the issues and quality of social housing in England. By gathering as much feedback as possible from people and organisations with a stake in social housing, the project aims to make practical recommendations to Government, housing providers and other organisations about what improvements will make social housing in England better for everyone.

The review has brought together an independent and diverse panel of experts, all with direct experience of social housing. Together they have been travelling around the country speaking to tenant groups and customer-facing staff in their communities about their experiences in social housing and ideas on what could help improve it.

Curo are hosting the panel for a day in our area on 26 October at The Hub at Mulberry Park in Bath with a session for customers to get involved in the afternoon between 2-4pm.

If you’d like to come along to share your thoughts, experiences or ideas about how we could make social housing better, we’d love to hear from you. You can send us your details here VoiceBox@curo-group.co.uk and we’ll be in touch.

You can find out more about the review, the panel and its aims here: www.bettersocialhousingreview.org.uk

We’re looking for imaginative gardens created by our customers!

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 10:02:36 Z

Show off your glorious garden and dazzling displays to see if you can win some great prizes with our VoiceBox Curo in Bloom competition. Whether you have a window box, hanging basket or giant garden, there's a category for everyone.

All shapes, styles and sizes of garden are eligible, balconies, large gardens and even a communal garden that you are involved in maintaining. We even have a category dedicated to cheery sunflowers.

How to enter

Just log on to VoiceBox (if you’re not a member it’s free to join), look for the category you wish to enter and upload your pictures to enter your garden in to the Curo in Bloom 2022 competition.

Our gardens have proved more valuable than ever during the pandemic, so if yours has been your sanctuary, please tell us a little about how you made your garden your own and what it means to you.

We’ve had some blooming marvellous entries in previous years and we would love to see them again this year and more!

If you need any help please email us at VoiceBox@curo-group.co.uk and someone will get in touch

Curo in Bloom 2022 categories

Balcony/Baskets
Small garden
Large garden
Community garden
Vegetable/sensory garden
Best sunflower

First prize for each category is a £50 gift voucher and trophy. Second place prize is £25 and Third place prize is £15, all in Love2Shop gift vouchers. Closing date for entries is midnight Wednesday 24th August 2022.

For full T's and C's click here.

Curo community comes together to celebrate Jubilee

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 11:13:19 Z

Residents living in Curo sheltered accommodation were treated to live music, a delicious buffet and raffle at an event to celebrate HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The celebration, at All Saints Centre, Bath, on 9 June, was one of three Jubilee parties which have brought Curo communities together, providing fun and company for older people.

Local DJ Infinity Alexander got residents in on their feet with classic tunes from the 1950s and 60s, while acoustic duo Sian and Rob started a singalong to feel-good songs, from Elvis to Cliff Richard.

Guests even raised a toast to HM The Queen as she watched over proceedings in the form of a life-sized cardboard cut-out.

Residents also took part in a raffle, with gifts such as fruit hampers generously donated by Stokes Greengrocers on Moorland Road up for grabs. And Radio Bath were there, gathering stories from residents for their community shows.

Holly Reed, Curo’s Livewell officer, helped organise the events. “More than 150 customers attended the three celebrations and it was fantastic to be able to reach out to so many people,” said Holly. “Isolation is a problem for many of our customers. They may have lost friends and family members over the years and not get out much anymore. The celebrations were a way for them to meet others.

“It was so heartwarming to see our residents on the dancefloor. One told me it was the first time he had danced in 40 years. The little things can mean so much.”

Curo resident Mehmet Fidahoglu said, “I very much enjoyed the celebration and was honoured to be invited. It has been wonderful meeting everyone and there was such a good atmosphere.”

After the event, the team created food boxes of leftover supplies and donated them to Curo’s Pathways service, which provides accommodation for vulnerable young people.

These Platinum Jubilee celebrations were for anyone living in Curo sheltered housing, or who receives Curo’s Independent Living Service which helps people to live life to the full in their own home.

Older people who aren’t Curo residents were also welcome, along with any carers or family members.

The events were supported by Travis Perkins Managed Services, who have contributed £3,000 through the joint Curo and Travis Perkins funding pot which is available for local community projects and ideas.

Housing association Curo and contractor Jehu inspire Bristol’s next generation of builders

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 06:45:04 Z

More than 60 children from Oasis Academy Bank Leaze in Lawrence Weston, Bristol, visited the nearby affordable housing development at The Willows to learn about construction in a fun-filled session organised by housing association and housebuilder Curo and contractor Jehu Group.

Children from Nursery and Reception had the opportunity to see how plant machinery works, including a crane raising timber frames and excavators digging foundations for the new homes. They also learnt about roofs, what they’re made of and how they are installed on new build homes.

But by far the children’s favourite activity was trying their hand at bricklaying, with help from contractor DTM Brick N Stone. Every pupil had the chance to help build a brick wall, with varying degrees of success.

Oasis Academy Bank Leaze teacher, Mrs Georgina Fitz-Gerald, says: “This has been such a fantastic activity for the children, and we’re grateful to Curo and Jehu for helping us to inspire future generations of professionals as part of the current term’s Early Years Foundation Stage topic, ‘when I grow up’.

“The trip was a great opportunity for children to learn about the different construction trades involved in building a house in a practical way, outside of the traditional classroom setting. Pupils and teachers alike, we’ve all had a brilliant day and I’m sure we’ll be talking about it for months to come!”

Curo is currently building 57 new affordable homes with contractor Jehu Group at The Willows development, at Corbet Close in Lawrence Weston, Bristol.

Curo Deputy Managing Director of Housebuilding, Sarah Maylor, says: “It was wonderful to welcome pupils from Oasis Academy to our development to show them the fun side of construction in a safe environment. We loved seeing them engage with all the hands-on activities and hope that we’ve been able to stir up their interest in these highly skilled and very rewarding trades that make up the housebuilding sector.”

Jehu Group Site Manager for The Willows, Tomasz Magiera, says: “We’re delighted to work with Curo at The Willows in Lawrence Weston – together we’re not just building new homes, but also investing in the local economy and skills and supporting communities.

“It was great to see so many young children getting excited about construction and we’re pleased that we were able to put a smile on their faces and make this experience possible for them.”

This is the third time Curo and Jehu Group have partnered with Oasis Academy Bank Leaze. Not long after the start of construction works at The Willows, the pupils took part in a drawing and painting competition, with their artwork now proudly displayed on the construction site’s hoardings. More recently, Curo and Jehu Group created a sensory garden for the school, to help promote the pupils’ wellbeing and mental health.

St Mary's School get £1,200 from community funding pot

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 10:49:22 Z

Pupils from St Mary's Primary School in Writhlington will receive new picnic benches thanks to a donation from a joint Curo and Travis Perkins Managed Services community funding pot.

In total, £1,200 was given to the school from the fund, which is available for local community projects and ideas.

As part of their English curriculum, the school's current Year 5 pupils put their ‘persuasive letter writing’ skills to the test and wrote to Curo asking for help purchasing the new equipment.

Curo Resident Engagement Co-ordinator, Michelle Sage said:

'It was an absolute pleasure to be able to help the school. These new benches for their outside spaces will let them learn outside and enjoy the summer even more.'

Year 4 teacher, Mrs. Dobson said:

'We are extremely grateful for this donation and look forward to the arrival of some new outdoor seating, just in time for the children to enjoy the warm weather.'

Find out how to take a first step on the property ladder with Shared Ownership in Lawrence Weston

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 13:00:52 Z

Residents in Lawrence Weston and surrounding areas who are dreaming of taking a first step on the property ladder at Century Park or The Willows developments can now find out more about the affordable homeownership scheme, Shared Ownership, directly from Curo’s sales team.

The Shared Ownership experts will be hosting a free drop in event on Saturday 26 February from 10am until 3pm at Ambition Lawrence Weston Youth Centre (BS11 0RX).

Curo are currently building 185 new homes in Lawrence Weston, across two developments: The Willows at Corbet Close and Century Park at Henacre Road. More than half of these – 95 homes – will be affordable housing, including 28 homes for Shared Ownership.

Paula Beel, Affordable Sales Manager at Curo, says: “Shared Ownership homes are allocated on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis and we want to make sure that local residents in Lawrence Weston and surrounding areas are prepared to take advantage of these fantastic homeownership opportunities in their neighbourhood.

“Come along to find out if you qualify for Shared Ownership and how to access this government-backed scheme. Our friendly team will be on hand to offer advice and answer any questions you may have.”

Local residents will also have the chance to speak to independent financial advisors from Evolve Financial Solutions about their specific circumstances on the day.

Shared Ownership enables first time buyers - and those who used to own a home but can no longer afford one - to purchase a share of a property, significantly reducing mortgage requirements and the sum needed for a deposit. The buyer then pays rent on the remaining share and has the option of increasing their own share over time until they reach 100% ownership and no longer need to pay rent.

For further details about the event call our Curo Sales colleagues on 0345 140 5050, or Ambition Lawrence Weston on 0117 9235112.

What?

Shared Ownership drop in event

When?

Saturday 26 February

From 10am until 3pm – drop in anytime

Where?

Ambition Lawrence Weston Youth Centre

Long Cross, Lawrence Weston, Bristol BS11 0RX

Curo to spread Christmas cheer with sweet treat donation

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 10:33:22 Z

170 chocolate oranges were donated by Curo to Bath Open Christmas, to help put a smile on their guests’ faces at this year’s event.

Bath Open Christmas usually takes place every year on 25 December and welcomes 160 guests for a hot festive meal, entertainment and good cheer in the Dining Hall at Kingswood School, in Lansdown.

Caroline Holcombe from Bath Open Christmas says: “Christmas can be a difficult time for many people who find themselves on their own over this festive period. Not everyone is lucky enough to have lots of family to spend Christmas with and some feel particularly lonely at this time of the year.

“At Bath Open Christmas we welcome anyone who would otherwise be alone at this time. There will be a delicious festive lunch, an opportunity to chat with other people and even gifts from Father Christmas – and we’d like to thank Curo for their donation which I’m sure will help us spread some much-needed joy this year!”

Alongside chocolate oranges, Curo also donated prizes for the raffle which will take place on the day, including a tea service set, a variety of sweets and more chocolate!

Curo Sales Manager, Jodie Winter, says: “We’re delighted to support Bath Open Christmas this year and help them bring a little happiness to so many people.

“Supporting the communities we work in and partnering with organisations whose work benefits local residents is really important for us at Curo. We hope everyone has a fantastic time at this year’s Christmas lunch!”

This year’s Bath Open Christmas will be a little different, with measures in place to protect the safety of all guests and volunteers. The venue will be regularly ventilated and everyone attending will need to wear a face covering and take a lateral flow test in the 24 hours prior to the event.

There are still some places available for this year’s event. Call Bath Open Christmas on 01225 312271 or 07392 974405 to book your free ticket.

Bristol school opens sensory garden with help from local housebuilders

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 09:26:36 Z

Image above: Curo Sales Advisor, Ruby Webber and Jehu Project Manager, Tomasz Magiera helping Year 1 and Year 2 pupils to plant their new sensory garden at Oasis Academy Bank Leaze.

A school in Lawrence Weston, Bristol has opened a new sensory garden to help promote the pupils’ wellbeing and mental health.

Oasis Academy Bank Leaze, also known locally as ‘the blue school on the hill’, was helped to set up the garden by housing association and housebuilder Curo and their contractor Jehu Group.

Curo is working with Jehu to deliver 57 new affordable homes for social and affordable rent and shared ownership at The Willows, a residential development near the school.

The materials and labour for the planters as well as all the plants were donated by Curo and Jehu as part of their joint commitment to support communities and make a positive contribution to the neighbourhoods they work in.

Students from Year 1 and Year 2 were helped by Curo and Jehu colleagues to plant the garden with low ferns, rose bushes, ornamental grasses, coloured heathers and some herbs.

L-R: Paula Beel, Curo Sales Manager, Ruby Webber, Curo Sales Advisor, Tomasz Magiera, Jehu Project Manager and Georgina Fitz-Gerald, Oasis Academy teacher with Year 1 and Year 2 pupils.

Curo Sales Manager, Paula Beel, says: “Supporting local communities where we build much-needed new homes is part of Curo’s purpose – Homes for Good.

“Over the past couple of years, we’ve all rediscovered how powerful nature can be in helping us to maintain and improve our well-being and mental health. We’re really pleased that, alongside our contractor Jehu, we were able to help the school create this lovely garden for their children to enjoy every day.”

Jehu Project Manager, Tomasz Magiera, says: “We’re proud to work with Curo at The Willows, delivering much-needed new affordable homes in Lawrence Weston, and supporting community initiatives that benefit local residents. It’s great to see how much the children are already enjoying the new garden and we’re proud we could come together and use our strength as a force for good in society.”

Oasis Academy Bank Leaze teacher, Georgina Fitz-Gerald, says: “The children loved planting and tending to the garden. They’re really excited about watering the plants to help them grow and look forward to seeing how they will change over the seasons.

“At our school, we try to use the outdoors as much as possible to teach our children about nature and the environment, and to promote their mental health. We’re over the moon with our new garden and I’m certain it will be enjoyed by the kids for many years to come.”

The Willows is a 100% affordable housing development, including 19 homes for sale through the part-rent/part-buy scheme, shared ownership. The development will be completed by the end of 2022.

For more information about The Willows click here. For shared ownership, visit our sales website.

Youth football teams sport new strip thanks to Curo sponsorship

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 08:00:00 Z

Clutton’s youth football teams are sporting brand new kits after receiving a £3,000 sponsorship donation from housing association and housebuilder Curo.

Curo last year completed the Highbury Fields development of 36 new homes in the village, which included 21 affordable homes for social rent and shared ownership. The development has enabled many local people to put down long-term roots in the community near to family, schools and jobs.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’ve always believed that truly integrated, sustainable and happy neighbourhoods need more than just new homes. That’s because it’s the people, not the homes, that make it a great place to live.

“As a developer and housing association, we remain involved in local communities well after we build our homes, by providing a wide range of activities and services to support people and neighbourhoods - from tailored individual support for those needing a little extra practical help, to skills, training, employment advice and job opportunities. We also offer funding for community-led projects, such as the wonderful youth football club in Clutton.

"The club is very active, popular and successful locally, and doing a great job in helping families and kids to connect, socialise and keep healthy. We’re proud to be associated with them and to play a part in helping them to keep doing what they’ve been doing so well for a while. We hope that this donation helps them continue to go from strength to strength.”

Curo’s donation has enabled the club to purchase new Hummel kit including shirts, shorts and socks for all players from the under-7s, under-9s and under-11s teams, as well as 25 children from Reception and Year 1, also known as the ‘Mini Swans’. In addition, the club was able to purchase other much-needed equipment, including 40 new footballs and two goals for matches.

Clutton Football Club Chairman, Stuart Price, says: “We’re thrilled to have received this generous donation and really grateful to Curo for their support. Our young players are loving their new Curo-branded equipment and it’s great to see them looking the part on the pitch.

“Football is really important in our community, bringing together not only local children, but also their parents, grandparents and siblings. Our matches make for great fun days out for the whole family and Curo’s sponsorship will help us to continue this important work.”

Brownies name new roads at Yatton housing development

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 16:19:03 Z

Image above: 1st Yatton Brownies with Curo Sales Manager, Jodie Winter

Roads at Eaton Park, a new housing development of 154 homes in Yatton, have been named after the sixes from the local Brownie unit, following a competition organised by housing association and housebuilder Curo.

The winning names were chosen by Yatton Parish Council from a number of ideas proposed by local residents, which included suggestions inspired by Somerset’s wildlife and dialect, as well as foods and historic place names from the wider area.

Eaton Park’s main road will bear the name of the unit’s leader, ‘Barn Owl’ Road, while the smaller streets have been named after the sixes: ‘Fox’ Avenue, ‘Rabbit’ Close, ‘Hedgehog’ Way and ‘Squirrel’ Close.

Curo made a £200 donation to 1st Yatton Brownies to thank them for their help. The sixes will be using the money to hire a mobile climbing wall and have some fun after a year that has been largely lacking in exciting activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sue Willis, 1st Yatton Brownies Guider, says: “It’s wonderful that Curo have involved the local community in naming the roads at Eaton Park. We can’t believe we won, and we’d like to thank Curo for the generous donation; the girls are over the moon!

“We’re hoping that this will also help increase awareness of Girlguiding. 1st Yatton Brownies are part of Girlguiding UK, a female only organisation with sections for girls aged 5 to adults. We’re always keen to welcome new members, especially adults. We’re all volunteers and are always looking for more willing pairs of hands. Guiding is great fun and provides amazing opportunities to try new things both for girls and women. Anyone interested in joining can apply through our website.”

Jodie Winter, Curo Sales Manager, says: “We’d like to thank all local residents who have taken the time to send in their suggestions – we loved the contributions and it was a tough call for us and the Parish Council to choose the winners. Congratulations to 1st Yatton Brownies whose ideas were very warmly received by the ‘selection committee’.

“We’re proud to be working with the local community to deliver a beautiful new residential development at Eaton Park in Yatton. Our sales suite is now open seven days a week by appointment only and we encourage those interested in our stunning two-, three- and four-bedroom homes to give us a call on 0345 140 5050 or email eatonpark@curo-group.co.uk for more information.”

If you're interested in the new homes at Eaton Park, Yatton, head over to our sales website to find out more.

Yatton Junior Football Club scores sponsorship from housebuilder Curo

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 10:06:45 Z

Junior teams at Yatton FC are looking great on the pitch thanks to a donation from the builders of a new residential development in the village.

West of England housing association and housebuilder Curo donated £3,750 to the club as part of their commitment to working together with local communities and supporting residents in areas where they are building new homes.

In total, 126 children with ages ranging from under-9s to under-14s have benefitted from brand-new Nike football kits, including shirts, socks and shorts. Curo’s sponsorship also enabled the club management to purchase folding bench shelters to keep the junior footballers dry and comfortable during matches played at home and away.

James Bellis, Yatton Junior FC Chairman, says: “We’re absolutely delighted to receive this generous donation from Curo and we’re grateful for their support. It means a lot for our talented young players to have their own team kit and it’s great to see them looking so smart and confident on the pitch.”

Curo are building 154 new homes for sale and rent at Eaton Park in Yatton, where the first few properties will be ready to receive their new residents in May 2021. Sales Manager Jodie Winter says: “It’s really important to us at Curo to support the communities we work in. As a developer and a housing association, we remain a part of the community long after we have built and sold the last property, as we continue to manage the affordable homes on site.

“We’re pleased that we were able to support Yatton Junior FC with the purchase of new equipment and we think the young players are looking very professional in their Curo-branded shirts!”

Plans for new Bath park given the green light – but what should it be called?

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 13:47:28 Z

Image above: illustrative bird's eye view of the new park

Curo have secured planning consent to create a new park at their development of almost 700 homes at Mulberry Park in Combe Down, Bath. Now, the housing association and housebuilder is asking local residents to get involved in a competition to find a name for the new community open space.

This is the final major planning application to be determined by Bath & North East Somerset Council for Mulberry Park, after the fourth and last phase of development was granted detailed planning permission in July this year.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “Local residents, stakeholders and B&NES officers have helped us to develop and refine proposals for a new park that is beautiful, inclusive and can be enjoyed by people of all ages; we’re delighted to be able to start works on the public open space soon.

“We want to continue the tradition we’ve established at Mulberry Park, of celebrating the area’s history, its people and their contributions to community and country and we’re inviting residents once more to choose a name – this time, for their new park.

“The development itself was named by local resident Ken Cookes in 2014, to reflect the city’s long military history and celebrate the Mulberry Harbours, designed in Bath by the Admiralty and used for the D-Day landings in World War 2 – while the streets in Phases 1 and 2 at Mulberry Park have been named after the young men of Combe Down who served in the First World War. We’re keen to continue working with the residents in naming these new local landmarks.

“So if you have an idea for a great name for the park, we’d love to hear from you!”

The new park will include an equipped play area for ages 2-11, as well as a picnic zone, flexible event spaces, areas of wildflower meadow, sensory planting, and hedge and tree planting to encourage biodiversity. Curo will also look at developing a centrepiece for the park, such as a bandstand, to support cultural activities.

In addition, footpath links will facilitate access to the park from the development and the wider area, while the Woodland Walk, which will be created north of the park, will connect the community to other places in Bath via Pope’s Walk.

The park, which was granted planning permission by B&NES officers via delegated decision, will open in 2022. The case officer’s report highlighted that “the proposed park will provide an attractive area of public open space with a mix of uses and activities which will cater to the needs of the newly established community at Mulberry Park.”

Curo celebrates local community heroes

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 09:57:07 Z

Two Bath residents, including a six-year old with a passion for keeping his community looking great, have been crowned Curo’s 2019 Community Heroes at the housing association’s annual Residents’ Conference held on 17 and 18 September.

Joint winners of the inaugural Curo Community Hero Award were Bath residents Oliver Brooke and Lily Johnson, with the Tintagel Close residents’ association in Keynsham picking up the Community Award. All were nominated by fellow Curo residents for the positive difference they have made in their neighbourhoods.

Six-year-old community hero Oliver Brooke first became involved during one of Curo’s action days at Rosewell Court where he lives. Oliver loved helping out so much that when the local residents’ association asked for litter pickers to keep the estate tidy, Oliver was among the first to volunteer. He is now a regular litter-picker and is out with his community every week helping to keep his neighbourhood tidy.

The Curo Community Hero Award was shared with Lily Johnson of St John’s Court, a Curo sheltered housing scheme in Bathwick. Lily was nominated for the care she shows for her elderly neighbours, and for the endless energy she brings in helping to organise numerous events, from coffee mornings and quizzes to fundraising activities.

L-R Liz Potter (Chair of Curo) and Sharon Tucker (Chair of Tintagel Residents’ Association)

Residents of Tintagel Close in Keynsham were the winners of the Curo Community Award, receiving a cheque for £500 to spend on further neighbourhood initiatives.

Curo Chief Executive Victor da Cunha said: “We know that many people do amazing work in their community without the recognition they deserve. We wanted to highlight some of the residents who are often unrecognised community champions; people who make their communities better places to live.”

“We also hope that in launching these Curo Community Awards, others will be inspired to get involved, or even perhaps nominate others, in years to come.”

Curo can help residents to get more involved in their community, for example by setting up residents’ associations or organising litter picks. We have grants of up to £500 available for initiatives that benefit Curo residents. Find out more here.

Pictured (top), L-R: Victor da Cunha (CEO of Curo), Oliver Brooke, Liz Potter (Chair or Curo) and Lily Johnson