Keeping people upbeat 

Helping our residents to manage their well-being has been hugely important. Our Communities team continues to hold on-line meetings with their local groups, looking to the future with plans for new playgrounds and celebratory events.

And a further £50,000 has been set aside from our communities funding for families who need a little further support.

The feedback from our residents has been phenomenal – and we've spoken to and connected with people from all over our regions, hearing over and again that they really appreciate what we're trying to do.

We're there for our residents

Alarming figures recently released by the National Domestic Abuse helpline showed a 49% increase in calls in the first three weeks of lockdown, with domestic violence deaths reported to be double the average rate during that period.

In the regions where we work we have, thankfully, not seen a sharp spike in calls or reports of violence or abuse. Nonetheless, we want to ensure we're doing all we can to help and protect residents and employees if they feel they may be in danger or don't feel safe.

That's why we're working closely with our charity partners The YouTrust and new partner, Womankind. Our ASB, Housing and Communities teams have accessed funding to make sure that victims and survivors of abuse trapped at home during the Covid-19 crisis can access direct support from experienced domestic abuse support workers on a one-to-one basis.

This can be done by phoning through to our contact centre on 0300 5000 926 – where trained professionals are ready to direct a call to Womankind. Directing calls in this way means that anyone who's struggling could potentially use a call to us as a 'cover' – under the pretext that they're asking about rent payments or accessing benefits. The referral service is available 24/7.

Bond bonus

It is also important that we offer reassurance to all our stakeholders that we remain a strong and viable business during these uncertain times.

We went out to investors recently to raise more money for our plans for future development over the coming years, providing more quality, affordable homes, within strong and sustainable communities.

The response from the market was incredibly positive.

We managed to secure £125m at an interest rate below 2%, which is the lowest that any housing association has ever achieved for a 20+ year repayment.

This is great news for Sovereign and our residents, and this confidence from investors really confirms Sovereign's standing and financial strength and means that we are ready to hit the ground running as soon as normal business operations resume.

It's good news for everyone involved with Sovereign.

Open for business

More good news: our Sales team's finished the 2019/20 financial year with 648 Shared Ownership sales. It's Sovereign's biggest ever result and one of the largest Shared Ownership programmes in the country. 

And even during Covid-19, social distancing and lockdown, lots of sales are being prepped for when things get 'back to normal'.

In April we had over 1,200 enquiries, 40 new sales and 14 legal completions.

Our Development teams are in regular contact with homebuilders, employers' agents, surveyors and so on: we're ready to help the country get building again when the time's right.

It's not quite business as usual for the Sales team, but it's still very much an open shop, with plenty of interested customers being guided through their home-buying journey.

Shared Ownership will still be a viable opportunity for so many aspiring homeowners, and we have a huge part to play in making sure that our customers can realise their dream of getting their own place.

Measuring the impact of Covid-19 on the sector

Sovereign has joined HACT, the housing sector innovations agency, and  a number of other organisations in endorsing a set of nine impact measurements that the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment is asking social housing organisations to collect during the Covid-19 crisis. 

HACT have identified the nine measures that will help to evidence the impact the social housing sector has made during the Covid-19 crisis.

The measures have been developed by the Centre for Excellence in Community Investment, working in partnership with a coalition of social housing organisations across the UK.

It is hoped that the measures will also demonstrate the invaluable work of community investment teams to internal colleagues and Board members and show how the sector stayed strong during the crisis.

Full information can be found at https://hact.org.uk/news/measuring-impact-we've-made

Sovereign in the news Isle of Wight County Press – Big breakfast to shepherd's pie
Charity Pan Together is providing a special meal delivery service for isolated residents living in Pan, Pan Meadows and Barton on the Isle of Wight thanks to grant of £5,000 from Sovereign's Coronavirus Fund.
 
UK Fundraising – Regional funding available for Covid-19 connected community activities.
Sovereign have launched a £50,000 Pay it Forward crowdfunding scheme. Groups involved in providing vital services to the vulnerable, offering hardship support, or providing digital services to support wellbeing are encouraged to apply.
 
Inside Housing – Associations part of Bank of England's bond scheme
We are one of 14 housing providers are eligible for the Bank of England's scheme, part of the wider Covid Corporate Financing Facility.
 
Newbury Weekly News – Emergency appeal tops £260k
A staggering £260,000 has now been raised by the Greenham Trust's Coronavirus Emergency Appeal with the funds  going towards helping local organisations and vulnerable people.
 
Recent releases:

There's light at the end of the 'Yellow Brick Road' -  Sovereign has provided £2,500 from Pay it Forward funding to help support local charity partner, Yellow Brick Road Projects, based in Basingstoke.

Residents sing together supporting their communities – One Sovereign resident has turned his talent into a weekly sing-along with his neighbours as they show their support for the NHS and other key workers.

Please keep in touch

We hope you found this useful and please do keep in touch if you have any questions or want to know more.

We will continue to keep you updated later this month with the news from Sovereign.

For more information please visit our website