Tenants set to hit the high notes after funding win » Housing » 24dash.com

Tenants living in a sheltered housing scheme run by Black Country Housing Group (BCHG) have been given more than £8,000 to improve their lives – and a karaoke machine is high on their hit-list.

BCHG helped residents living in Apsley House in Cradley Heath to submit a successful bid to the Awards for All scheme to improve the facilities in the communal lounge of the sheltered housing scheme.

Armed with £8,404, members of the newly formed residents committee at the Wellington Street site are busy planning how best to spend the money.

They have already earmarked a karaoke machine and a computer to allow the older people to surf the worldwide web, as well as an outdoor barbecue for the summer months.

Extra seating will also be brought in as well as new cutlery and other essentials.

Resident Don Hobbs, treasurer of the Apsley House Residents Welfare Group, said the lounge was the focal meeting point for the residents living there and offered them an opportunity to socialise with their neighbours.

The 76-year-old, who has lived at Apsley House for 12 months with wife Shirley, said: “We hold entertainment in there once a month and it has been so popular that we needed more seating, so we have decided to use some of the money to buy more chairs.

“We’re all looking forward to enjoying the karaoke machine.”

Elemay Parkes, Director of Community Regeneration at BCHG, said: “We were only too happy to help the residents committee at Apsley House apply for this award and we are delighted that they’ve won. The funding will improve the quality of life of residents even further.”

Apsley House consists of 33 self-contained one and two bedroom apartments set in pleasant landscaped gardens with car parking facilities.

Awards for All England is supported by the Arts Council England, the Big Lottery Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England.

Grants are awarded from £300 to £10,000 for people to take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities, as well as projects that promote education, the environment and health in the community.