New trustee spends spends some time getting to know association’s residents

New trustee spends spends some time getting to know association’s residents

The newest addition to the board of trustees at a Hull-based housing association, has been busy spending time getting to know some of its 1,200 residents.

Tom Hogan dropped into Pickering and Ferens Homes’ Barrington Avenue Pop-In, off Cottingham Road, west Hull – where residents at that particular housing scheme congregate regularly for social events – to chat to some of the residents at their weekly fish and chip dinner and bingo session.

Residents were eager to meet the new trustee, with Ivy and George Pashby, who recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary at the Pop-In centre, happy to share their experience of living in a Pickering and Ferens Homes property.

“We’ve lived here 13 years and the people are lovely,” Mrs Pashby told him. “The residents here are so friendly and we all help each other, we’re like brothers and sisters.

“We love coming down to the Pop-In as well, we had a party here for our anniversary and we’re celebrating my husband’s birthday here as he will be 98. It’s a great place for a party and we like an excuse to get everyone together.”

Following his visit to the Pop-In at Barrington Avenue, Mr Hogan said: “Pickering and Ferens Homes is a well established housing association, which has been well set-up, runs effectively and plays a big role in the city.

“Having worked in Hull for 14 years, joining the board has been an opportunity for me to get involved with housing issues on a voluntary basis and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Mr Hogan joins the board of the association with a background in housing and social services, from his previous positions as a former director of these two departments at Hull City Council.

Now self-employed and working as a housing consultant from his home in Cottingham, he hopes his previous experience will allow him to contribute a wealth of knowledge to Pickering and Ferens Homes.

Roger Elliot, director of Pickering and Ferens Homes, said: “Tom is a welcome addition to the team at the association and we’re proud to have him onboard.

“His work in housing and social care makes him the perfect candidate for Pickering and Ferens Homes and I’m sure he will have a lot to contribute.”