On Saturday 9 January 2010 the Stonebridge Older Persons’ Forum (SOPF) held its combined Christmas and New Year’s party at The Hillside Hub.

Despite the freezing weather there was an excellent turnout of residents along with the Mayor of Brent, Jim O’Sullivan and Brent MP Dawn Butler.

Ann Butler, Chair of the SOPF, paid special tribute to Mike Cantor from The City Bridge Trust who was instrumental in helping the SOPF gain charitable status.

The SOPF awarded him with a special plaque in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the group.

Hillside Housing Trust MD, Chinyere Ugwu, commended the SOPF for its hard work in the community: “You’re an exemplary group not just in Stonebridge, but in Brent. Gaining charitable status is a great achievement; now that you’re firmly established as an independent group you will be able to expand your influence and go from strength to strength.”

Everyone enjoyed a delicious meal and plenty of entertainment which included an inspirational rendition of ‘Oh, Holy Night’ by SOPF member, Jean Smith, and a sing-along with entertainers Mike Mirandi and Jonathan Stevens.

The local vicar, the Rev Ron Herbert, opened with a New Year’s prayer and the day’s music was courtesy of Robert Quaye, Deputy Chair of the Hillside Housing Trust.

“I would like to wish everyone a healthy and happy 2010,” said Ann, “We ‘Golden Oldies’ know how to let our hair down and shake a leg or two; we’re spreading a bit of happiness around the community: feel it and pass it on!”

Last week Hillside Housing Trust was host to a delegation of Board Members from Toronto Community Housing, the largest social housing provider in Canada and the second largest in North America, to share lessons about the remarkable regeneration of the Stonebridge Estate.

Toronto Community Housing is undertaking a major regeneration project, Regent Park, in the heart of the city of Toronto.

Liz Root, Project Director, Regent Park Revitalization, said there were substantial similarities with Stonebridge in terms of the goals and scale of the re-development project they are undertaking.

“Apart from the ‘bricks & mortar’ side, we are interested in understanding the success, challenges and lessons learned in Stonebridge’s regeneration,” she explained.

Canadian delegation visits Stonebridge
Stonebridge Estate was the first neighbourhood renewal project in London they visited and were very impressed, undertaking a tour of the estate even though they were jetlagged.

Hillside Housing Trust’s MD, Chinyere Ugwu, said: “We are always happy to receive visitors to Stonebridge and proud to share with them the lessons of the 14-year regeneration of the estate.

“Stonebridge is clearly seen - by people locally and from abroad – as an example of successful revitalisation from an area where people previously didn’t want to live to what it is today – a community to be proud of.

“Visitors are amazed at both the physical and social regeneration achievements that have resulted in a phenomenal transformation that has hugely improved the quality of life for residents.”