Partnership cooking up a storm
01 Jan 2009
Merlin Housing Society and partner Rok today installed their 500th kitchen as part of the housing association’s £70 million Major Works programme to upgrade former council homes.
And the recipient of the kitchen – Mrs Barbara Bell of Staple Hill – couldn’t have been happier!
Mrs Bell said ‘I’m delighted with my new kitchen, it has changed my life. I appreciate the hard work that has gone into it and really enjoyed having Rok here while they undertook the work’.
Staff from Rok and Merlin presented Mrs Bell with a big bunch of flowers in recognition of this impressive achievement.
Rok is one of two contractors who – along with Merlin’s own Merlin Works department – are undertaking a five year major programme of planned repairs and improvements to Merlin Housing Society’s 8000 homes across South Gloucestershire.
Merlin’s Head of Property Services Mark Haines said: “The partnership goes from strength to strength. Before the end of March next year, we will have installed more than 2,000 new kitchens, 1,200 new bathrooms and 500 new heating systems into our residents’ homes.
“It’s all about improving things for our residents and keeping the promises that were made to them at transfer.”
Rok’s Planned Maintenance Team Leader Adrian Marshman commented “We are enjoying working with Merlin and their residents in the South Gloucestershire area. We are delighted at reaching this important milestone in our partnership with Merlin. We’ve genuinely felt welcome in the communities in which we have been working to date and look forward to this continuing as we progress the partnership”.