Dearne Community Housing
Revitalising our Community: A Partnership for Success
This project is unique because it brings together several organizations for a common goal: tackling empty properties in our community. Barnsley Community Build (BCB), Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC), Berneslai Homes, and Efficiency North are working together to make a difference.
The project focuses on two key areas: training and renovation. BCB trains apprentices aged 16-24 in construction skills. These apprentices then gain valuable hands-on experience by renovating the very houses they’ve been learning about.
Thanks to Big Local funding, four houses in Goldthorpe were purchased. These will be brought back to life through high-quality renovations and then offered to local people in need at slightly below market rent.
The project’s benefits are far-reaching. It:
- Creates jobs and provides valuable training for young people
- Improves the overall look of the neighborhood, inspiring others to invest
- Boosts the local economy by using local companies for supplies
- Provides much-needed affordable housing
We are incredibly grateful to all the organisations and individuals who made this project possible. They are providing life-changing opportunities for vulnerable members of our community.
The Success Story of 34 Albert Road Project
We’ve just completed renovations on our second property, located at 34 Albert Road. This project with Barnsley Community Build has yielded impressive results:
- 9 people secured full-time employment
- 75 on-site NVQ assessments completed
- 382 days of apprenticeship training provided
- Supported 2 full-time construction supervisor jobs
- Supported 5 full-time construction apprentice salaries
- Offered 14 work experience placements
- Enhanced the neighborhood’s appearance, motivating further investment
- Created a new, high-quality affordable rental home
The achievements of this housing project are widely recognised and celebrated. It’s a shining example of what can be accomplished through collaboration.
Local & National Awards
EN:Able Efficiency North 2016 - Highly Commended
The Dearne Community Housing project has won local and national accolades and attracted external funding from BMBC, Efficiency North and Coalfields Regeneration Trust.
Nesta New Radicals 2016
Every two years, the New Radicals list showcases 50 radical thinking individuals and organisations changing the UK for the better. In 2016 the Dearne Community Housing project was chosen to be part of the list by a panel of judges.