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Homeless service, Willow Walk, turned my life around

Kevin Scanlon at Willow Walk in Cambridge

Father-of-two Kevin Scanlon, 51, from Ely, served his country in the Army and ended up homeless. But Willow Walk helped him get his life back on track… and he even ended up managing the scheme to help other homeless people rebuild their lives. He tells his story….   “I was born in London and grew

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Employability Day: How we help people learn new skills and gain employment

Stephen Hewitt, Riverside’s Employment & Training Officer in Carlisle, provides support to Riverside tenants who want to learn new skills and gain employment. He went the extra mile for one customer, Becky, who needed support to successfully get the job she wanted that’s suited to her needs. The 21-year-old has Asperger syndrome. Stephen explains how

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Our apprentices fly the nautical flag for Riverside and Evolve!

Evolve apprentices Luke Keough, Connor Marshall and Josh Demir took to the seas sailed the SS Duke of Pembroke for the Apprentice Ship Cup tournament.

Three Evolve apprentices took to the seas last month to take part in the annual Apprentice Ship Cup tournament. Luke Keough, Connor Marshall and Josh Demir were among a hundred apprentices representing organisations across the UK. They spent a week aboard one of four tall ships, learning new skills and working as a team. Luke

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Pop-up 1950s and 60s rooms bring memories flooding back and help people with dementia

Riverside residents and sisters Rita Connelly and Betty Hughes in the rem pod at Windsor Court, Bootle

A pop-up 1950s kitchen and 60s-inspired living room are taking Merseyside pensioners back to the good old days… and helping people with dementia. The nostalgic ‘reminiscence pods’, which include everyday items to touch and smell, even feature a vintage-style television set with newsreels from a bygone era. The pods are being used by housing association

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Volunteers’ Week: ‘The benefits of giving your time are truly priceless’

Riverside staff volunteers and students from De Montfort University clean up a neighbourhood in Leicester

It’s Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June 2017), celebrating the amazing contribution volunteers make to society. In the last year, Riverside staff have dedicated hundreds of hours’ volunteering time to communities around the country. Lizzie Whitmore, our Volunteer Service Manager for London, looks at why volunteering makes such a difference – and how you could get involved…

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Cambridge homeless services’ innovative work to help rebuild lives

The Victoria Project and The Springs in Cambridge are run by housing association Riverside and provide accommodation and support to homeless adults

Housing and support services in Cambridge have been praised for helping to transform the lives of homeless people….by using psychology and gardening. The Victoria Project and The Springs, based on Victoria Road, are run by housing association Riverside and provide accommodation and support to homeless adults. They also run an innovative gardening project for residents

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Apprentices take up permanent residence at Riverside Home Ownership

RHO Apprentices David and Shaun

Two apprentices have secured full time employment with Riverside Home Ownership (RHO), shortly after completing their placements on the Riverside apprenticeship programme. David Briscombe and Shaun Minton first joined us in January 2016 to develop a wide range of skills in the specialist leasehold and home ownership division. After a year of practical work and

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Armed forces leader praises new homes and support for Teesside veterans

Hardwick House in Teesside

A new housing scheme to help ex-servicemen and women in Teesside adjust to civilian life has been given the seal of approval from a retired Army commander. Lieutenant General Robin Brims has praised £3.6 million Hardwick House in Teesside, describing it as “outstanding”. The new complex provides 20 modern apartments for ex-service personnel, plus a

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There’s no place like home for 95-year-old Florence

Florence Black standing outside her Riverside home

Her parents were the first to move in when it was built 101 years ago. She was born there, married and lived with her husband there, then raised a family of her own in the same Wavertree terrace. And at the grand age of 95, gran-of-two Florence Black is still happily living in the house

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