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inc. launches YouTube channel Exciting news for inc. our social incubator. We’ve launched our first YouTube channel where we’ll feature videos from entrepreneurs talking about their experiences of building a successful business, tips on how to make it and what it means to change the world. We’d love your support, so please take a look, and hit the subscribe button. Our social incubator inc. is part of the Aster Foundation. It works with those who want to tackle the root cause of poverty in creative and innovative ways. The businesses on the cohort will align to one of our priority areas: mental wellness and social connectivity, financial inclusion, employment, as well as sustainability and the green agenda. During the 10-month programme, our inc. entrepreneurs deliver impact pilots across our local communities.
New energy-efficient affordable homes for Buckland Newton residents A number of Buckland Newtonresidents are enjoying 2024 from the comfort of their new affordable home thanks to Wimborne based housing association, East Boro Housing Trust (EBHT), part of the Aster Group. Located in Brookfields Meadow, the four new affordable homes comprising two, two-bedroom and two, three-bedroom semi-detached houses, provide much needed new accommodation in the village. Fitted with air source heat pumps to generate heating and hot water, the residents will also benefit from better energy efficiency while lowering their carbon footprint.
Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week For National Apprenticeship Week 2024, Aster Group has been celebrating and recognising the opportunity apprenticeships and the Apprenticeship Levy have across its business. From creating roles for new recruits, enabling colleagues to change career direction and funding a range of qualifications, the impact of apprenticeships and the Levy is hailed as a huge success across the Group. Since the Levy’s introduction in 2017, Aster has already supported over 300 colleagues either by employing new apprentices into the business or upskilling its current team via the Levy funding. Commenting on the impact apprenticeships and the Levy have across Aster, Jess Scull, Apprenticeship Partner said: “Having been privileged to support our apprenticeship schemes for a number of years, we now have leaders and future leaders who either joined us or developed their skills and qualifications through our apprenticeship schemes. This demonstrates this investment provides career opportunities and can help tackle the skills gaps across the housing sector.” Aster’s 2023 cohort of apprentices includes Devizes-based Georgia Walker and Trowbridge-based Holly Peacock who both started their careers with the Group in the company’s contact centre. A complete shift in career direction sees Georgia now training as an apprentice gas engineer and Holly is on a surveying apprentice career path.
Volunteers makeover Parish Hall A team of volunteers has helped with a makeover of the Parish Hall in Woodborough. Four members of Aster’s trade team including a carpenter, electrician, decorator, kitchen fitter and plumber volunteered their time and spent a week modernising the hall. They refreshed the paint in the main hall and installed new units and counter tops in the kitchen. The Parish Hall will now be reopened, with local groups and classes able to benefit from the new facilities. Plans to modernise the Parish Hall first began when its Committee reached out to the social housing provider, asking if they could spare any old worktops or units. But Aster went one step further and installed a range of brand-new equipment at the hall for free. Peter Maclaine from the Parish Hall Committee said: “We are all so pleased at the result, and it is far better than we had hoped for. We are now confident that the community will want to use a facility that has been transformed from a rather tired set up into one that we can be proud of. This has absolutely reinvigorated the room and we are all so grateful.”
Grace House wins award We’re proud to announce that Grace House, our flagship 170-home development in North London recently won the Inside Housing Award for the Best Supported Housing Development – urban. It was also Highly Commended in the Best Retirement Scheme category at the Housebuilder Awards. A great achievement for all involved.
Our Aspiring Leaders Graduate Congratulations to our brilliant 2023 Aspiring Leaders cohort have completed their first step towards leadership, and graduated from our 12-month programme. As part of The Aster Offer and our commitment to leadership development, the programme gives colleagues the opportunity to work on real business projects and experience what it’s like to lead, plan, motivate, give feedback and celebrate results. "Couldn’t recommend this programme enough. It has given me all the tools and the confidence to improve on my leadership skills. During the programme you network with so many different colleagues of all levels which has been really interesting. You will 100% be pushed out of your comfort zone, but you put your new skills and knowledge to the test, which in turn helps build your confidence. It has been a really positive experience throughout and I’m excited for what the future holds. " Shannon, Resource and Scheduling Planner Our 2024 cohort are now ready to start their journey on the programme. Over the next year, they will explore a range of topics including understanding and living The Aster Way as a leader, leadership styles, creating psychological safety, public speaking, coaching, Restorative Practice, and challenging conversations.
We’ve signed up to the HouseProud pledge As part of The Aster Offer and Customer Services Modernisation programme, we’re committed to making our colleague and customer experience more inclusive. To help us do this, we're proud to announce we’ve signed up to the HouseProud Pledge. The HouseProud Pledge is a scheme that social housing providers (housing associations, local authorities and arms-length management organisations (ALMOs)) can sign up to, to demonstrate their commitment to LGBTQ+ resident equality and support. We’ll be working with our customer service teams and our LGBTQ+ Colleague Network to help inform next steps in achieving the first level of accreditation.
Duncan jumps 15,000 feet Duncan Mosses, Assistant Mechanical Manager has raised over £1,000 in a charity skydive to help raise money for the Aster Foundation. Duncan has seen first-hand the effects of the cost-of-living crisis in and around his local communities and wanted to help. He did it by jumping an incredible 15,000 feet. He said of his experience: “I really wanted to support the Foundation which can make a real difference in the communities I work in. With donations from friends, family and contractors involved with Aster, plus match funding from the Group, I was able to raise more than I hoped for. “It is one of the best things I have ever done, despite having to cancel a couple of times due to COVID and would highly recommend it. I’m already booking myself on another jump to raise money for my son’s local school.” Claire Ryan, Aster Foundation Assistant Director, Income Generation, Engagement and Fundraising, said: “Duncan has been fantastic, and his fundraising will help us in our work to combat poverty. With so many people struggling with the cost of living and increasing bills, the demand for our help is high. We’re reliant on brilliant people like him to enable us to do our work and we’d love to hear from anybody else who would like to skydive and fundraise for us.” About the Aster Foundation The Aster Foundation is working to enable the better lives of one million people by 2030 through combatting the biggest causes and effects of poverty. They do this through
Independent Living Team fundraise for good causes Our Independent Living Service support customers living in our independent and extra care schemes to live independently and stay in their communities. The Wiltshire and Hampshire teams recently helped customers to host a Macmillan Coffee Mornings within the communal areas of our schemes, raising over £1,500 for the charity. In Crammer Court Extra Care Scheme in Devizes, Wilts, customers recently held a Christmas Bazaar selling items made by them. They raised £350 which, has been donated to the Opportunity Group, a local pre-school for children with disabilities. Staff cooked and served lunch on the day and got involved to make the event a success.
We have phoned over 3,000 customers living in our Independent Living Schemes to offer support and help during the Coronavirus pandemic. Sarah Durrans, regional director at Aster, said: “Our teams have been working so hard to make sure our customers don’t feel alone during this challenging time and to make sure they have everything they need”. For older or more vulnerable customers who would like more regular contact, the Group’s Aster Foundation befriending programme, Aster Connect is matching employee volunteers to customers for a weekly call. With many having no family or friends to support them, these calls are often the only contact many will have, and it’s hoped that the calls go some way to help alleviate the isolation they may be experiencing at this time. The programme has over 50 employees volunteering their time to chat and check on their new friends.
