Balmoral Project: Complete!
We are pleased to confirm that works on the Balmoral Estate are now complete.
Given the disruption the works caused to residents we wish to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while these essential works were undertaken.
Special thanks to Ranj Singh, Bob Ayriss, and Keith Ducker for their help and assistance in ensuring residents welfare was always considered throughout the project. As well as Houghton & Son and all South Essex Homes staff involved in the project especially Paula, Donna, and Sarah.
Notable points on the project include Houghton and Son providing a monthly financial donation to the Balmoral Food Bank for the past two years, the community projects and BBQ’s that were held for the local community and of course the structural and improvement works that were delivered which will ensure the long-term future of the Balmoral Blocks.
Paul Longman
Head of Major Projects, South Essex Homes
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Time to Reflect
Since the opening event in 2021, several community events have taken place during the Balmoral Project with the help of our Resident Engagement team, here are some of our favourites…
Art Project
Over the Easter holidays, children from the Balmoral estate, SECH Youth Club and ‘Get the Kids Out’ worked together on an art project. Houghton & Son, in partnership with South Essex Homes, asked children to design four of the site hoardings. John Bulley, a local painter, helped them turn their work into attractive murals.
Over the 2 weeks, approximately 20 children contributed by designing, planning and painting the hoardings which expressed their ideas about climate change. This was such a fun and exciting activity as they were able to experiment with paint, mixing colours and drawing with their imagination.
The project ended with the children visiting the site and seeing their artwork displayed on the hoardings. This visit also gave the children the opportunity to meet the contractors who congratulated them on their excellent achievements.
Summer Parties
Two end of summer parties were held during this project. In 2022 Houghton & Son donated paints and tote bags for the children to design and make their own! One girl designed a bag for the contractor to say thank you as she really enjoyed the afternoon. The team enjoyed burgers, chatted with residents, and helped with the clear up. Working with SECH Youth club, Get the kids Out, and Triple-T’s on this project enabled our Resident Engagement team to make sure that we were connecting with children from the Balmoral estate and the surrounding area.
In 2023 South Essex Homes worked with South Essex Community Hub (SECH) to host an end of summer Hawaiian themed party! The party included a BBQ, slush machine, plenty of games, stalls from local organisations, a crafts station, and a face painter! Staff from Houghton & Son joined the party, as well as local councillors and even the Mayor.
Christmas Events
Two Christmas events were also held during the project, in conjunction with SECH. In 2022, staff from Houghton & Son helped us to set up a makeshift Santa’s Grotto and Santa handed out selection boxes to the local children and the young people at the youth club.
In 2023, the works at Balmoral were coming to an end, so SECH, South Essex Homes, and Houghton & Son came together one last time to host a cosy Christmas event. The young people at SECH had designed a thank you banner for the contractor to acknowledge all their help within the community over the past few years.
What’s being said?
“We received a monthly donation of £50.00 from Houghton’s until their contract finished. They also provided endless help with lifting and carrying heavy items, and provided further donations as and when possible from workers when we've had events happening. The support has been wonderful and we're very grateful to you and your team.”
- Southend Communities Outreach Group Food Bank
“Houghton and Son are proud to have worked alongside South Essex Homes to deliver a number of community events over the last couple of years. It’s great to have met and engaged with so many local residents of Balmoral and Southend and to see how we, as a contractor, have been able to contribute to so many exciting projects and exceed our social value commitments.
“Part of our business ethos at Houghton and Son is to drive towards a more sustainable future and a particular event highlight for us, was the Balmoral Art Project. We discussed key areas such as climate change and carbon footprints with the children and found it to be a very rewarding experience. The children painted some fabulous artwork, which have been proudly displayed on our hoardings throughout the project.
“I would finally like to make a special mention to the teams that have made it happen. To those that gave up their time, everyone who attended and, especially to Sarah and her team from SEH, who helped organise these events.
“It’s great to see how much of an important impact these events have had to the local residents and how we as a contractor have been able to contribute to so many of these brilliant events. It’s been a pleasure contributing to and helping all of the events and projects during our time at Balmoral!”
- Houghton and Son