OUR
ANNUAL
REPORT
2023/24
Grove Community
HOUSING ASSOCIATION
Working
Together to
Build Thriving
Communities
2
OUR MISSION
“To provide quality homes and services
for our tenants and wider community”
SHARING GOOD PRACTICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02
OUR MISSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03
A REVIEW OF THE YEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04
PERFORMANCE REVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 06
INVESTMENT IN OUR HOMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08
DEVELOPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
COMMUNITY FUND SUPPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
ADVICE SERVICES FOR ALL THE COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
OUR JOURNEY TO NET ZERO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
. . 17
MEET SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
FINANCE & ECONOMIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
VALUE FOR MONEY STATEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
STABILITY DURING ECONOMIC TURBULENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT & ADVISORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
CONTACT DETAILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
03
CONTENTS OUR MISSION
“To provide quality homes and services
for our tenants and wider community”
Grove Community
HOUSING ASSOCIATION
SHARING
GOOD
PRACTICE
We were honoured to host the DfC housing policy
panel meeting at our oces in 2023-24 along with
Supporting Communities representatives. It was
lovely to receive such positive feedback on our
approaches to tenant engagement and support.
02
04 05
A Joint Welcome
Forward Statement
on our Year 2023/24
by our Chair and
Chief Executive
HELLO,
Welcome to our joint reection of another year of service at Grove Community Housing. We remain
deeply committed to our mission of providing quality homes and services for our tenants and the
wider community. Our unwavering dedication to our values of approachability, service-focused,
honesty and integrity, accountability, and compassion continues to guide our work.
We are proud of our small staff team and their dedication. We recognise the importance of a friendly,
accessible team. We are delighted that our Senior Housing Ofcer, Paul Stuart, was shortlisted
for the ‘Housing Hero’ category at the CIH All Ireland Housing Awards which took place in March.
Additionally, he received a NIFHA ‘Shining Star’ award in December 2023 which recognises those
that go the ‘extra mile’. Paul’s unwavering commitment to our tenants and his dedication to providing
exceptional service is an inspiration to us all. He represents everything that makes a great employee
and colleague. Additionally, we were thrilled to see Mr. Erskine Holmes OBE, our founding and
long-serving board member, nominated in the ‘Outstanding contribution to Housing’ category. His
invaluable contributions to developing the wider NI housing sector and incredible charitable sector
experience he has amassed over the decades have been instrumental in shaping not only our
success but the regenerated built environment around us. He is cherished by us all.
Throughout the year, we have continued to foster a sense of community and belonging through
events such as our Spring celebration, the Spring Community Clean-up, our participation in the
Belfast Mela, the Summer Fun Day in August, and our seasonal and special celebrations. These
events provide opportunities for our tenants to connect with one another, build relationships, and
enjoy a sense of inclusion, understanding and belonging.
Through our Community Engagement Fund, we were delighted to have been able to support the
Rooftop Football Club and the Midlands Boxing Club, and other local events and initiatives, fostering
positive outcomes for young people in our community. We hope to double our funding in this area in
2024/25 demonstrating our commitment to supporting the community.
Our tenant voice group activity remains an integral part of our work, ensuring that the voices of our
tenants are heard about many things; how we deliver our housing and maintenance services, set our
rents and community activity and that their needs are understood. Through our tenant engagement
strategy, we remain committed to creating a culture where all tenants feel empowered to participate
at a level that suits them and contribute to the ongoing improvement of our services and provide
opportunities to foster good relations.
In response to the ongoing cost of living crisis, we have advocated on behalf of our tenants through
various media outlets highlighting the impact on social housing tenants. We have also responded
proactively and supported our tenants by providing a welcoming home from home ‘warm space’
at our ofces and partnering with the North Belfast Advice Partnership to offer free independent
advice to the whole community. It’s the ‘wee’ things that count here - like Margaret taking time out
of her busy day to have a latte and chat with our tenant Esther or a call from LCAP to Paul to see if
a tenant needs food support or an extra fuel voucher. These are the things valued by our tenants.
These initiatives have been designed to help relieve nancial hardship and provide essential support
and wellbeing to those we serve.
We will continue to be agile and shape our organisation to be staffed at the appropriate levels
to both address our sector and economic challenges and commit to ensuring delivery of quality,
responsive services by dedicated people that strive to live by our values. We greatly appreciate our
tenant’s patience and colleagues commitment during periods of staff shortages to maintain service
delivery. We both have personally enjoyed getting to know our tenants better, listening and acting to
re-shape services in response. As we go to print, we are delighted to announce we are joined by Mr
Keelan McGaghran, our new Director of Operations who is already making a valued contribution in
leading how we operate our services.
We are pleased to welcome new members to our board, whose expertise and fresh perspectives,
diversity of thinking and energy will contribute to our ongoing success and strengthen our overall
governance. We thank our regulators for their expert guidance and advice in maintaining the highest
levels of Regulator status, Grade 1 and accountability.
Regrettably, we continue to operate in a very challenging economic climate, which has resulted in a
brutal 80% cut in new build social housing programme across Northern Ireland at a time where there
are over 49,000 households on the waiting list for rehousing. The shortage of homes due to increasing
local need is nally being recognised with housing now featuring in the recent draft Programme for
Government for the rst time.
We will ensure we work strategically at the highest levels with all to advocate for increased
investment in social housing and affordable homes and the infrastructure funding for NI Water to
enable delivery. Additionally, we have been working tirelessly with colleagues to seek ringfenced
retrot funding for NI to align with the rest of the U.K. This vital funding would enable us to provide
the highest level of thermal comfort and households could experience greatly reduced bills, at a time
where no one should ever face a ‘heat or eat’ situation. We will work collaboratively with government
agencies and other stakeholders to address these pressing issues. We welcome the Ministers
active engagement to understanding the housing sector’s needs within the context of competing
priorities of health and education. We rmly believe good housing is the passport to good health and
life outcomes. We have provided good housing for many families for almost fty years and risen to
deliver extra, caring and personal services where it counts. We ask our elected representatives to
focus on delivering for our residents and communities vital funding during this housing crisis and
in turn we will use our experience to deliver what we do best, providing quality homes and added
services that improve lives for the next fty.
Thank you for your interest and support in our work and hope you enjoy reading about our
achievements and performance.
Warm Regards
Mr Brian Dunn Ms Agnes Crawford
Chair Chief Executive
B. Dunn
A. CrawfordA. Crawford
Grove Community
HOUSING ASSOCIATION
6 706 07
PERFORMANCE REVIEW
2023/24 2022/23
Type of Repair
No. of Jobs
Completed
% Rate
Achieved
No. of Jobs
Completed
% Rate
Achieved
DfC Target
Emergency
(24 hours to complete)
170 out of 178
on time
95.51%
90 out 100
on time
86.54% 85%
Urgent
(4 working day response time)
218 out of 270
on time
80.74%
220 out 265
on time
83.02% 80%
Routine
(4 week response time)
178 out of 233
on time
76.39%
155 out of 181
on time
85.64% 80%
PERFORMANCE
REVIEW
Compliance
with Statutory
Obligations
Gas Safety
(CP-12)
up-to-date
100%
Required Fire
Risk
assessments
carriedo ut
100%
Required Carbon Monoxide
100%
%o f HA stock
that meet the
decent standard
100%
Grove Community
HOUSING ASSOCIATION
RENT COLLECTED 2023/24 2022/23
Rent, rates & service charges due
£1,221,822.00 £1,138,791.00
Amount Collected
£1,214,024.67 £1,118,949.53
Grove rent collection of rent due in 2022/24
99.36 98.26
RENT ARREARS AS AT
31 MARCH 2024
2023/24 2022/23
Arrears of all current tenants
£55,744.29 £33,954.60
Current arrears as % of total amount due
4.56 2.98
DFC Target Rate for Arrears
<5% <5%
VOIDS LOST 2023/24 2022/23
Voids
£11,786.00 £15,817.00
Voids (%)
0.96 1.39
DFC Target Rate for Voids
<4% <4%
Abandonments
0 0
Allocations
12 11
ANTISOCIAL
BEHAVIOUR
2023/24 2022/23
Complaints (First Stage)
4 1
Anti-Social Behaviour
cases recorded
5 0
Court Action
0 0
Units Recovered
0 0
Last year, we invested significantly in improving our properties, spending over £461,000 on
planned works like new boilers, bathrooms, kitchens, roofs and doors. While this exceeded
our initial budget of £368,000, it reflects the substantial improvements made. We also
addressed response repairs spending over £73,000, 114.79% of what was budgeted and
carried out cyclical maintenance spending over £14,000.
Average
Weekly
Rent £
One bed
£63.95
Four bed
£89.02
Two bed
£95.86
Three bed
£104.22
8
We invested heavily in
the reporting year 23/24
and are delighted with
the exceptional standard
of workmanship by our
contractor PK Murphy in
both the kitchen and door
replacement schemes.
Kitchens were improved
to a high standard; Grove
didn’t opt for a vinyl
wrap finish but fitted a
higher quality door unit.
Tenants were consulted
comprehensively, and they
received kitchens which
met their needs in terms of
design, quality, and color.
New composite doors fitted
were to a Secure By Design
standard, which provided
better safety, comfort, and
warmth for our tenants.
Grove Community
HOUSING ASSOCIATION
INVESTMENT
IN OUR HOMES
9
DEVELOPMENT
Planning approval for the new homes on North Queen Street has been granted, we are
grateful for the tireless work of local representatives and our board to secure this approval.
It is a difcult site with several additional abnormal costs and factors to be considered due
to the varying levels within the site and issues identied during survey works and need to
retain existing trees.
When the scheme is complete it will add to the changing investment in the area and
compliment the signicant improvements that have been brought from the new private
homes being built. The 31 additional homes in the Grove area are for social housing
rent, and like all our homes will be allocated based on need from the Common Selection
Scheme waiting list. There are 4 homes specically designed for those with physical
disabilities, including two bungalows which our tenants have already been identied for.
This new development will provide housing for 112 people, contributing to the improvement
of our community’s health and well-being.
We are eager to move forward with the next steps, such as securing a contractor and
commencing construction on site. In addition to the new build scheme, we continue to
appeal for increased funding to address the housing crisis and essential infrastructure
investment to make the homes deliverable.
Over £6m pounds will be invested in much-needed homes for households in housing
stress on the waiting list. We have applied for additional funding to deliver the scheme to
Passive House Standards and are hopeful that this necessary grant funding is secured to
cover the additional costs of state of the art, highly energy efcient homes. Together, we
aim to build a sustainable and thriving community for all.
Unfortunately, Department of Communities ofcials outlined that the initial capital budget
for 2024/5 has been cut which means the budget will only allow for up to 400 new social
homes to be started in 2024/5 throughout Northern Ireland. We will continue through
Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations to lobby for this cut to be reversed.
10 11
We have worked hard with a number of
stakeholders, statutory agencies and local
politicians to bring the scheme to planning
approval and hope for positive news in the
coming months in order that we can seek
our contractor and get on site. We have also
raised our concerns in local media on the
very real impact cuts to the development
programme funding will create for local
families waiting too long to be rehoused.
We continue to call for increased funding to
address the housing crisis and infrastructure.
Over £6M will be invested in much
needed homes in the area, to households
registered on the waiting list. North Belfast
continues to have one of the highest
waiting lists in Northern Ireland.
To reduce fuel poverty we would hope
that any additional homes could be built
to Passive House Standards if adequate
grant funding is provided and are working
through the feasibility of funding for new
pilot schemes.
Our residents would be educated on the
use and benefits of living in these modern
homes of the future. This would build on
GCHA’s previous achievements in eco-
housing awards e.g. UK Retrofit of the Year.
15NO 3PERSON, 2BEDROOM
GENERAL NEED HOUSES
8NO 5PERSON 3BEDROOM
GENERAL NEED HOUSES
1NO 3PERSON 2BEDROOM
WHEELCHAIR BUNGALOW
1NO 6PERSON 4BEDROOM
WHEELCHAIR BUNGALOW
2NO 3PERSON 2BEDROOM
WHEELCHAIR APARTMENTS
4NO 3PERSON 2BEDROOM
GENERAL NEED CAT1 APARTMENTS
We look forward to adding
these new builds to our existing
stock portfolio. We call for
any developers to contact
us directly regarding any
potential sites or schemes.
Housing Stock
As at 31st March 2024, we owned and
managed 215 homes made up of:
1 BEDROOM 8 HOMES
2 BEDROOM 90 HOMES
3 BEDROOM 111 HOMES
4 BEDROOM 6 HOMES
COMMUNITY
CLEANUP
Working Together to Keep our
Community Welcoming and Clean
The Castle Neighbourhood Policing Team, in
collaboration with local sta and residents,
supported a successful community event that
brought together people of all ages. The gathering
was a perfect blend of fun, education, and
community spirit.
One of the main attractions for the younger
attendees was a Police Land Rover on display. Local
children had the opportunity to explore the vehicle,
learning about its features and the important role
it plays in community policing. This hands-on
experience not only entertained the kids but also
helped foster positive relationships between the
Police and the community’s youth.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, Asda generously
donated Easter eggs, which were distributed to
the children, much to their delight. The event also
featured refreshments provided by the Belfast
Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP),
ensuring that all attendees could enjoy light snacks
and beverages while mingling with their neighbours,
Grove sta, Board members and the PSNI.
To promote energy conservation and sustainable
living, we had previously held an Energy Saving
Competition. During the event, we announced
the winners, awarding two practical and energy-
ecient prizes: an air fryer and a slow cooker.
These prizes not only recognised the winners’
eorts in energy conservation but also encouraged
other community members to adopt more
sustainable practices in their daily lives.
Overall, the event successfully combined
community engagement, education, and fun,
strengthening the bonds between residents, local
businesses, and Police while promoting important
values such as sustainability and community safety.
12
Grove Community
HOUSING ASSOCIATION
13
We were delighted to have been again been
shortlisted at the CIH All-Ireland Housing Awards
following our win in 2022 for “Housing Innovation”.
In 2023 we were shortlisted for “More than Bricks
and Mortar” category for our tenant engagement
work. In 2024 we were represented again when Paul
Stuart was shortlisted for the “Housing Hero” category
and Erskine Holmes for the “Lifetime Achievement”
category. We were invited to Dublin for the prestigious
event and while delighted with our achievements we
always strive to learn more and do more. While we
were there, we made the best use of our time with
a wonderful tour of award winning accommodation
designed by John Dobbin of Shay Cleary Architects
in Dublin, kindly hosted by KSN Project Management
highlighting the exceptional quality of high density, low
level housing that can be achieved. We look forward
to welcoming new development opportunities to the
area and working with stakeholders like Belfast City
Council in availing of land acquisition opportunities
bringing quality and much needed new homes to
the area and best use of unsightly vacant land.
We are thrilled that our Senior Housing Ocer, Paul Stuart,
has been chosen to receive one of NIFHA’s 2023 Shining
Star Awards. Congratulations, Paul! This award is truly well-
deserved, and we want to thank you for your unwavering
support and assistance to our tenants and the Grove area.
Paul always goes the extra mile for everyone and
has fostered wonderful local relationships. His
dedication is evident in his constant search
for donations, often seen with
trolley loads of pumpkins, crisps,
and selection boxes throughout
the year. Additionally, his alter
ego “Mr G the Grove Mascot”
is extremely popular at events.
Thank you, Paul, for your outstanding
commitment and congratulations on
this fantastic achievement!
OUR SHINING STAR!OUR SHINING STAR!
Erskine Holmes OBE
15
14
COMMUNITY
FUND
SUPPORT
ADVICE SERVICES FOR
ALL THE COMMUNITY
1414
The Vine Centre, as part of the North Belfast
Advice Partnership, provides advice services
on an outreach basis along the York and
Shore Roads, with Grove Community Housing
Association as the primary location.
The outreach at Grove, which has been
operating since the autumn of 2022, is open
three days a week, and provides clients who
use it with advice, information and advocacy on
issues such as benefit entitlement, consumer
rights, housing and employment issues. The
location is ideal for clients, being close to the
Grove Wellbeing Centre and easily accessible
via public transport.
We oer advice primarily on a face-to-face
basis, either through a weekly drop in on
Tuesday mornings or pre-arranged appointment,
depending on the nature of the enquiry; we
can also oer clients telephone appointments if
these are more suitable.
During 2023/24, our adviser dealt with 846
enquiries on behalf of 419 clients.
75% of enquiries were benefit related. People
living on low or fixed incomes are generally
more dependent on benefits for part of their
household income and are more likely to have
to access the benefits system if their financial
circumstances change. Welfare Reform has
made that system more complex and makes
more demands on those seeking to access it.
In this context, helping clients maximize their
household income by identifying eligible benefit
entitlement, and making and maintaining their
claim to it, is the key piece of work undertaken
on behalf of clients.
In those cases where we know the outcome,
in 2023/24 our adviser helped clients secure
£1,094,225 in additional entitlement. Based
on recorded household size, we estimate that
965 local people benefited directly from this
additional income.
Clients tell us that extra money helps them to
cope better with rising costs, buy better quality
food to support a healthier diet, enables them
to pay back money they owe and less reliant on
borrowing to make ends meet, allows them to
live more independently, and reduces levels of
stress and anxiety.
In addition to the service we provide directly,
our advisor has also referred clients to other
support services, including money advice,
money management programmes, local food
banks for access to food in emergencies, The
Scullery (social supermarket) in Mount Vernon
and the Belfast Citywide Tribunal Service for
representation at appeal.
1515
We enjoyed receiving many applications from local groups
to support the great work that they do. We are pleased we
were able to successfully provide funding to Midland Boxing
Club and really enjoyed our visits to the newly refurbished
club and learn more about their fantastic work. Our Chair,
Brian Dunn, had the pleasure of experiencing the warm and
inclusive atmosphere that the club oers to all its members.
During our visit, we were proud to announce our sponsorship
for new equipment and gear specifically for the female youth
members of the club.
The open event on Wednesday, 9th August 2023 was a
fantastic opportunity for our tenants to witness the state-
of-the-art facilities, enjoy thrilling exhibition fights, and
even meet the renowned former professional boxer, Carl
Frampton MBE.
We hope those of you who were able to attend had a
great time and got a chance to connect with the vibrant
community at the club. We are committed to supporting
such positive initiatives and look forward to more
opportunities to engage with our amazing community.
Find the club on Facebook at @MidlandABC
Carl Frampton, MBE and Brian Dunn, Chair,
Grove Community Housing Association
Telephone: 028 9035 1020
Email: info@vinecentre.org
twitter.com/nbapadvice
Proud sponsors of Midland Boxing Club
- new tops for their new boxers
OUR JOURNEY
TO NET ZERO
OUR COMMITMENT TO
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY
AND INCLUSION
17
Grove’s Energy Conservation Initiatives
Grove has recently partnered with an energy costs
consultancy firm to optimise our energy usage.
This has yielded impressive results, with oce
energy expenses for gas and electricity slashed
by over 50%. Additionally, Grove has successfully
reduced electricity costs in the communal areas of
Loughview Terrace, a measure that should translate
into lower service charges for the building’s tenants.
Future Sustainability Plans
Grove is committed to furthering our environmental
initiatives. Our upcoming plans include:
•
Investigating solar energy solutions
at their oce building
•
Reducing their overall carbon footprint
•
Promoting the adoption of electric
vehicles among sta members
To facilitate the transition to electric vehicles,
Grove is intending to take advantage of current
government grants to install EV charging points at
our oce premises.
Key Commitments:
•
Resource Allocation: We will dedicate the
necessary resources, including personnel, time,
and financial support, to ensure the eective
implementation of our Equality Scheme and
compliance with Section 75 requirements.
•
Internal Arrangements: We have established robust
internal processes to monitor and review our
progress in achieving equality. These arrangements
help us identify areas for improvement and
ensure that our commitments are being met.
•
Communication and Training: To foster a
culture of equality within our organization,
we will conduct comprehensive training
programs for our sta and board members.
These programs will raise awareness of
our Equality Scheme and the importance of
promoting equality in all aspects of our work.
•
Leadership Commitment: The Chair and Chief
Executive of Grove Community Housing are fully
committed to fulfilling our Section 75 statutory duties
and ensuring the eective implementation of our
Equality Scheme across all our functions, including
service provision, employment, and procurement.
•
Community Engagement: We recognise the
vital role that the community and voluntary
sector play in promoting equality. Our Equality
Scheme provides a platform for individuals to
raise concerns and contribute to our eorts to
create a more inclusive and equitable society.
As part of our
commitment to
equality, we have
recently published
an article in Ability NI magazine
promoting the positive impact on Laura a Grove
tenant who recently moved into one of our adapted
properties. This article showcases our dedication
to creating accessible and inclusive housing and
support service for people with disabilities.
We remain dedicated to fostering a culture of
equality, diversity, inclusion, and non-discrimination.
Through our ongoing eorts, we are committed to
ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities to
access aordable housing and support services.
Regrettably we have seen an increase in hate crimes
across Northern Ireland including a direct attack
on a Grove property from the ‘homes for locals’
campaign. We have liaised closely with the PSNI
and other statutory and voluntary organisations and
strongly believe that by working together we can
create a more just and equitable society for all.
Recycling and Waste Management
Grove has recently launched a
comprehensive recycling program
in collaboration with Belfast City
Council and RiverRidge. The
latter is a company recognised for
its commitment to environmental
sustainability, as evidenced
by their ambitious and publicly
available ESG (Environmental,
Social, and Governance) strategy.
This recycling initiative represents a
significant step towards reducing Grove’s
environmental impact and aligns with
our broader sustainability goals.
Through these various eorts - from energy
conservation and renewable energy adoption
to promoting sustainable transportation
and implementing robust recycling
practices - Grove demonstrates a strong
commitment to environmental stewardship
and corporate responsibility. These initiatives
not only reduce operational costs but
also position Grove as a forward-thinking,
environmentally conscious organisation.
16
Grove Community Housing is proud of our unwavering commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion,
and non-discrimination. We believe that everyone, regardless of their background, should have equal
opportunities to access aordable housing and support services. Our commitment to equality is rooted
in our belief that all individuals are valued and respected.
In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, we continue to develop strategies and
actions to promote equality of opportunity and good relations. This ensures that we comply with our
statutory duties and eectively implement our equality commitments.
news
The Grove Housing Association
was established in 1977 in North
Belfast to alleviate poor housing and
environmental conditions in the York
Road and Shore Road areas of Belfast.
Since its inception, the association has
worked successfully to improve these
conditions through renovating older
dwellings and building new homes.
“We offer a locally-based housing
service and are actively engaged with
the community through close ties to
voluntary and statutory groups,” said
Steven Law, Quality Assurance Officer at
Grove.
“Our organisation listens to our tenants
through a large, active Tenant Voice
group which gives tenants a platform
to discuss important issues, providing
input all the way up to the CEO and
Board level.”
How to Apply
To apply for housing through the Grove
Community Housing Association, you
should contact the Housing Executive
which is responsible for carrying out
all assessments for Grove, both for new
applicants and for transfer requests.
The Housing Executive will ensure that
applicants are eligible for social rented
housing and will arrange either a visit
or a telephone interview to assess your
individual circumstances.
For more information on Grove
Community Housing Association,
call 028 9077 3330, email
info@groveha.org.uk or visit the
website at www.groveha.org.uk
Laura’s Story
Laura had cancer, which led to her
developing peripheral neuropathy.
Prior to this, she was living in a third-
floor flat in Belfast. However, due to her
condition, she was unable to access the
dwelling.
As a result, Laura had to move back to
her mother’s house.
Unfortunately, her mother’s home
was already busy and overcrowded,
and it lacked the necessary facilities to
properly accommodate Laura’s
needs.
After applying to the
Northern Ireland
Housing Executive,
Laura researched
housing associations
and found Grove, in
the north Belfast area
(in Northern Ireland,
all social rented
housing applicants must
apply through the Housing
Executive).
Finding a Suitable Home
In Laura’s case, Grove was able to offer
her accommodation that specifically
met her needs.
She required a dwelling that was
accessible and had the necessary
facilities to support her mobility and
care requirements.
By allocating her a suitable property
from the Housing Executive’s waiting
list, Grove ensured that Laura could
move into a home that addressed her
particular housing needs – in her case,
a two-bedroom flat, in a modern block
on the Shore Road in Belfast, situated on
the second floor with lift access.
The flat that the Grove Housing
Association allocated to Laura had
already been adapted to suit the needs
of the previous tenant. This included
having a walk-in bathroom/shower (wet
room) as well as an adapted kitchen.
The kitchen modifications
allowed Laura, who uses
a wheelchair, to safely
cook and prepare meals
while seated.
These pre-existing
accessibility features
made the flat an ideal
match for Laura’s
requirements
A Safe Haven
Laura explained that with
this accommodation, she feels
safe, secure, and valued.
Importantly, the adaptations mean
the flat can be further modified if her
condition were to worsen, allowing her
to maintain her independence.
From the comfort of her armchair, Laura
now gazes out upon a super view, her
eyes take in a sweeping panorama of
North Belfast, its bustling streets and
vibrant energy on display before her.
Grove Community Housing Association provides quality homes and services for
tenants and the wider community in North Belfast…
Quality Homes from Grove
20
18
MEET SOME
OF OUR
BOARD
MEMBERS
We’d like to introduce you to two key Board Members.
1918
Vivian Chestnutt (Vice Chair)
Vivian’s journey began in North Belfast,
where he attended the Belfast Boys’ Model
School. This local upbringing gave him a deep
understanding of the area’s unique challenges.
His insight proved invaluable during his 12-
year career at the Northern Ireland Housing
Executive. There, Vivian worked his way up
from hands-on roles to strategic positions. As
Assistant Principal Ocer, he made significant
contributions to housing policy. Notably, Vivian
developed new ways to consult with tenants
and get them more involved in decisions. His
ability to blend local knowledge, gained from
his school days and beyond, with professional
expertise has made
a real dierence in
improving housing
services for the
community.
Jack Peel (Treasurer)
Jack is a qualified accountant with significant
NI Audit Oce and public sector experience.
He now plays a key role in the private sector,
leading a successful and growing property
related business focused on environmental
solutions for businesses and households. It
drives down carbon and oers eco-friendly
solutions for heating, insulation and solar panels
and many new technologies.
Under Jack’s guidance, the company has grown
quickly. Jack’s work goes beyond just increasing
sales. He’s set up strong systems for handling
finance and administration. He’s also put in place
rules to make sure the company runs eciently
and follows all regulations.
This experience and
skill set makes Jack
an ideal Treasurer
for Grove. His
proven track
record in financial
management,
coupled with his
ability to drive
growth and ensure
compliance, positions
him perfectly for this
important role.
Grove Community
HOUSING ASSOCIATION
Statement of Financial Position as at 31st March 2024
Notes
2024 2023
Fixed assets £ £
Housing properties 9 12,237,630 11,911,346
Other tangible fixed assets 11 539,858 557,442
12,777,488 12,468,788
Current assets
Trade and other debtors 12 88,342 109,174
Cash and cash equivalents 943,031 1,321,853
1,031,373 1,431,027
Less: Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 13 850,277 543,774
Net current assets 181,096 887,253
Total assets less current liabilities 12,958,584 13,356,041
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 13 8,536,608 9,201,461
Pension fund asset 18 - (14,000)
Total net assets 4,421,976 4,168,580
Reserves
Share capital 19 14 8
Revenue reserve 20 4,421,832 4,168,442
Capital reserve 21 130 130
Total reserves 4,421,976 4,168,580
Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Year ended 31 March 2024
Notes
2024 2023
£ £
Turnover 3 1,427,345 1,367,343
Operating costs 3 (1,129,380) (1,071,374)
Operating surplus 3 297,965 295,969
Gain/(loss) on disposal of fixed assets (6,869) 226,769
Transfer from/ (to) disposal proceeds fund 15 5,017 (250,976)
Interest and financing income 15,932 6,683
Interest and financing costs 6 (52,655) (70,290)
Surplus for the year 259,390 208,155
Other comprehensive income
Remeasurement of net defined benefit plan 18 105,000 278,000
Restriction on pension asset recognition 18 (111,000) -
Total comprehensive income for the year 253,390 486,155
FINANCE &
ECONOMIC
2024 2023 2022 2021
GROVE 23/24
KPI’S
DFC
TARGET
Voids Loss (£)
11,786 15,817 30,441 8,531 - -
Void Loss %
0.96% 1.38% 2.71% 1.8% <1% <4%
% of rent collection due
99.36% 98.25% 97.37% 99.00% - 98%
Current Arrears (£)
55,744.29 33,954.60 45,036.00 48,722.18 - -
Current Arrears as a % of rent due
4.56% 2.98% 4.01% 4.45% <5% 5%
Figure 2. Internal Benchmarking Performance - Operational Performance
20 21
VALUE FOR MONEY
STATEMENT
Grove Community Housing Association
(GCHA) is committed to our mission of
providing quality homes and services
and delivering excellent value for
money to our tenants and the wider
community. We achieve this by:
In 2024 we have had a total of 12 allocations a slight
increase from 11 the previous year. We are pleased
that our void loss for this period reduced by over £4k
despite the increased turnover. This reduction is a
result of more eective communication links with our
contractors ensuring that works were carried out as
eciently as possible and we are continuing to review
our approach with the aim of reducing this further.
Unfortunately, we have seen our arrears percentage
increase by 1.58% percent over the last 12 months.
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis as well as an increase
in the number of tenants migrating onto Universal
Credit has attributed to this. We continue to review
arrears cases weekly in line with our rent collection
policy and procedures and utilise our relationship
with North Belfast Advice Partnership. Over the last
financial year, the North Belfast Advice Partnership
dealt with 846 queries supporting 419 individuals in
the local community. 75% of the queries were benefit
related and the service helped secure £1,094,225 for
these individuals during this dicult period.
Eective Procurement and
Tenant Engagement
•
Leveraging the HA5 procurement group to
achieve eective procurement and secure
favourable terms for our maintenance contracts.
•
Actively seeking tenant feedback through our
tenant satisfaction surveys and tenants voice
group to ensure our services meet their needs and
expectations. (See Figure 3)
•
Investing in our stock through maintenance and
upgrades to improve energy eciency and reduce
operating costs.
•
Oering aordable rent to support our tenants’
financial well-being. (See Figure 1 for Average
Weekly Rent Sector Benchmarking)
Following completion of the tenant satisfaction
survey a detailed action plan has been developed
with several actions focused towards improving key
business areas including repairs, response times and
overall communication.
Regulatory Compliance and Social Value
•
Maintaining our Grade 1 rating from the Department
for Communities, demonstrating our commitment to
regulatory compliance. Our most recent regulatory
judgement found that GCHA has articulated and
delivered a comprehensive and strategic approach
to achieving value for money in meeting the
organisation’s objectives and have demonstrated
that we manage our resources eectively to ensure
that financial viability is maintained in the short,
medium and longer term. Additionally, that there
is robust good governance arrangements in place
and demonstrable evidence of a range of tenant
engagement and property standards.
•
Embracing our values of approachability, service-
focused, honesty & integrity, accountability, and
compassion in all our interactions.
•
Delivering social value through our investment
community engagement fund, supporting
initiatives like the Rooftop football club and
Midland’s boxing club.
•
Organising and attending tenant participation
events such as our community clean-ups, the
Belfast Mela and seasonal events to foster a sense
of inclusive community. Over the last 12 months we
also provided opportunities for our tenant voice
group members to share in learning and good
practice, attending their first tenant conference by
‘Supporting Communities’.
Future Goals
•
Setting VFM-related targets to drive improvements
across our key performance indicators.
•
Seeking to deliver cash savings through
operational eciencies and cost reductions.
•
Improving our benchmarking measuring against
the global sector scorecards to maintain a leading
position in the industry.
•
Seek funding application to further support our
tenants to maximise the long-term value of our
properties and enhance the quality of life for our tenants.
By focusing on these areas, Grove Community
Housing is committed to providing exceptional value
for money to our tenants and contributing positively to
the communities we serve.
OPERATING MARGIN
(Operating Surplus /
Turnover)
GEARING
(Borrowing/total assetless
current liabilities)
AVERAGE
BORROWING
PER UNIT
AVERAGE RENT
PER WEEK £
2024
Grove 20.88% 7.08% £4,266 88.24
Sector PENDING PENDING PENDING PENDING
2023
Grove 21.65% 7.70% £4,785 82.65
Sector 19.55% 30.45% £25,200 91.66
2022
Grove 25.08% 10.77% £6,737 79.44
Sector 20.80% 32.55% £25,858 88.63
2021
Grove 41.71% 13.66% £8,523 77.39
Sector 23.01% 32.51% £25,199 87.26
Figure 1. Benchmarking Against NIFHA’s Global Sector Accounts
* Figures taken from NIFHA 2023 Sector Global Accounts
Key Performance Indicators
and Continuous Improvement
•
Benchmarking our performance
against the NIFHA sector global
accounts and internally to identify
areas for improvement (see figure 1)
•
Continuously reviewing our services
and suppliers to ensure eciency
and cost-eectiveness.
•
Investing in technology to streamline
processes and enhance service
delivery.
•
Working eciently to maximise
resources and minimise costs.
•
The Operating Margin % of 20.88% in 2024 has remained consistent when compared to the previous
year of 21.65% reflecting strong operational control. It is also comparable with the Operating Margin %
of NIFHA Global Accounts of 19.55% in 2023 (2024 results still to be published).
•
Gearing % of 7.08% in 2024 remains low and has fell slightly when compared to the previous year
of 7.70% as loans are being repaid. It is also significantly less than the Gearing % of NIFHA Global
Accounts of 30.45% in 2023 (2024 results still to be published) indicating less financial risk and
capacity to take on debt in the future.
RENT
PROVIDES VFM
71%
VERY OR FAIRLY
SATISFIED
OVERALL
STANDARD OF
THEIR HOME
71%
VERY OR FAIRLY
SATISFIED
SERVICES
PROVIDED
BY GROVE
75%
VERY OR FAIRLY
SATISFIED
RECOMMEND GROVE
AS A LANDLORD TO
FAMILY OR FRIENDS
82%
VERY OR FAIRLY
SATISFIED
Figure 3. Current tenant satisfaction Levels
22
BOARD OF
MANAGEMENT
& ADVISORS
The Finance Sub-Committee:
STABILITY DURING
ECONOMIC
TURBULENCE
Board of Management
Mr Brian Dunn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Chair)
Mr Vivian Chestnutt
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Vice Chair)
Mr Jack Peel
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Treasurer)
Mr Erskine Holmes OBE
Mr Robin Arbuthnot
Ms Sally Smyth
Mr Ciaran McGivern
Mr Mike Wilkins
Mr John Cochrane
Mr Diarmaid Ward
Ms Fauzia Tasnim
Mr Jim Chapman
. . . . . (Vice Chair, left Aug 2024)
Eamonn Hunt
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (left 1st May 2024)
Chief Executive & Company Secretary
Ms Agnes Crawford
Registered Oce
171 York Road, Belfast BT15 3HB
Registered Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IP000173
NI Charity No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NIC104573
Department for Communities
Registration No. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NIC104573
Solicitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edwards & Co
Internal Auditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TIAA Ltd
External Auditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUMER NI
Accountants . . . . . . . . . . Connon Associates Ltd.
Bankers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ulster Bank
HR & OD Advisors . . . . . . . . . . Distinctive People
22 23
As Grove Community Housing continues to
navigate the complex landscape of the cost-
of-living crisis and economic uncertainty,
the Finance Sub-Committee remains an
invaluable asset. This dedicated group
of board members plays a pivotal role in
ensuring the financial sustainability of our
organisation, protecting the interests of our
tenants and safeguarding our future.
During these challenging times, the
Finance Sub-Committee has been
instrumental in:
•
Managing financial risks: By closely
monitoring trends and anticipating potential
economic shocks, the Sub-Committee has
taken proactive measures to mitigate risks
and safeguard our financial position.
•
Optimising resource allocation: Through
careful analysis of our financial performance,
the Sub-Committee has identified areas where
resources can be reallocated to maximize
eciency and support our core mission.
•
Advocating for tenants’ interests: The
Sub-Committee has worked to ensure that
our tenants are not unduly burdened by the
rising cost of living. By advocating for fair rent
increases and providing support services, we
have strived to maintain a high quality of life
for our communities.
•
Building relationships with key
stakeholders: The Sub-Committee has kept
abreast of sector financial issues in attending
the NIFHA Finance conference and through
it made contacts and fostered relationships
with potential lenders, and investors, ensuring
that we as we return to new build provision
that we will have access to the necessary
resources to meet our financial borrowing
requirements and deliver on our lenders
requirements and objectives.
Overall Board Eectiveness: A
Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Each of our Committees is made up of a range of
experience and talent. They play an integral role
in our overall board structure, which is dedicated
to eective governance and continuous
improvement. To ensure that our board members
are equipped to meet the challenges of the
current economic climate and wider sector and
infrastructure challenges, we have implemented a
robust annual appraisal process.
This process involves a comprehensive
evaluation of each board member’s
performance, including their contributions to
strategic planning, financial oversight, risk
management, and governance. By identifying
areas for development and providing targeted
support, we can enhance the eectiveness of
our board and strengthen our organisation’s
capacity to deliver on our mission.
The Finance Sub-Committee has proven to be
a cornerstone of Grove Community Housing’s
resilience during these turbulent times.
By providing sound financial stewardship,
advocating for residents’ interests, and fostering
strong relationships with key stakeholders, each
Committee has played a vital role in ensuring our
organisation’s long-term sustainability.
Grove Community
HOUSING ASSOCIATION
Contact Details
Registered Oce
171 York Road,
Belfast,
BT15 3HB
Telephone
(028) 9077 3330
Out of Hours Repairs Line
0800 7313 081
E-mail
info@groveha.org.uk
Website
www.groveha.org.uk
A Note of Thanks …
Firstly, to our tenants, a warm thank you for your
engagement with us in our work, taking time to
provide feedback and your patience as we continually
strive to grow, re-shape and improve our services to
you and the homes that we provide now and plan
to deliver into the future. We remain committed to
constructively working together to shape and co-
create how we do things and maintain meeting our
obligations to a range of stakeholders and regulators.
We give thanks and our heartfelt appreciation to our
small but dedicated sta team, our selfless voluntary
Board members, our hardworking maintenance
contractors, and our committed and expert service
providers and knowledgeable sector colleagues and
regulators. Your unwavering commitment and resilience
to our organisations overall aim in providing great
homes and services to our tenants and wider community,
during challenging times, is truly commendable.
As we publish in Autumn 2024 we hope to conclude the
year with a range of exciting new initiatives alongside
continuing to appeal to Government bodies and our
elected representatives for adequate funding for
new homes and the infrastructure to deliver them.
Grove Community
HOUSING ASSOCIATION
The Power for Creating
a Better Future is
Contained in the
Present Moment :
You Create a Good
Future by Creating
a Good Present.
Eckhart Tolle