TENANTS and residents in New Parks are celebrating a revamped community space that has become the base for a new neighbourhood group.
The group, called We Are the Burns Flats, is putting on social activities and providing drop-in support for residents of the flats in Aikman Avenue in Leicester. It has been set up with support from Leicester City Council.
Jo Randall, a director of local community interest company the New Parks Team Hub, has been instrumental in setting up the new group. She said: “It’s been great to have a safe space for the community to come and talk about their concerns and get some help. Residents feel that their voice is being heard, and we are putting on events that bring people together.
“We hold afternoon teas for residents, we’re planning a Halloween trail for families, and we have regular visits from the council housing officers so that people can come along if they’ve got any problems. It is really helping us to bring people together and to be proud of where we live.”
Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, deputy city mayor for housing, economy and neighbourhoods, said: “We’ve been working closely with tenants in New Parks to set up the community rooms at the Burns Flats. We have refurbished the rooms at Crayburn House for local people to use.
“It’s fantastic that the group has started to provide drop-in services for the local community. There’s an after-school club, a housing surgery, and residents are volunteering to litter-pick in the area.
“I’d like to thank Jo, who has been instrumental in getting this off the ground, and everyone from the community who has been involved in setting this up - including the ward councillors, who have been working closely with the group.”
The city council, police and local people are also working together to focus on improving cleanliness in the flats and to tackle any anti-social behaviour.
The revamped community rooms were officially opened at a recent event, with local people, ward councillors, council staff and the police attending.
The community group is on Facebook – search for We Are the Burns Flats.