Community Gateway Signs Harry's Pledge
From providing homes with specialist care and support, to offering care services to people who want to live independently at home, the social housing sector is committed to caring for our communities. Community Gateway Association (CGA), Preston’s largest social housing landlord is the latest of these to sign up to Harry’s Pledge.
Launched during National Carers Week, which runs from Monday 8 June until Sunday 14 June, Harry’s Pledge focuses on four areas where housing organisations can support those who need care and those who provide it. These are:
- Being supportive employers to people that have caring responsibilities
- Making offices and community spaces as accessible as possible
- Building more fully-accessible homes
- Further professionalising and promoting care as a career, and lobbying for changes in pay and rewards for carers.
Rob Wakefield, CGA Chief Executive said:
"Carers are the unsung heroes of our society. We are delighted to be one of the first to sign this pledge and demonstrate our commitment to support those in caring roles. As well as providing an understanding, flexible and accessible working environment for Community Gateway colleagues, we are also pleased that we have received an abundance of applications from people wanting to move into The Courtyards in Ingol. This will be Preston’s first extra-care facility, providing a unique and much sought-after type of housing for local people over 55 who need that extra helping hand."
Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, the national body for social housing providers, added:
"Everyday paid and unpaid carers across the country do an incredible job supporting people with physical and mental health needs. Whether they've continued to go to work during lockdown or helped loved ones at home, the vital role of carers has become even more apparent during the current crisis.
Through our support for Harry’s Pledge, we want to show our commitment to carers. We know housing associations are doing so much to deliver on these four pledges already, and it's brilliant to be able to make a renewed and public commitment to this work on behalf of the sector."
To find out more, visit harrys-pledge.org.uk or to read more about CGA’s The Courtyards and how to apply for an apartment, visit https://www.communitygateway.co.uk/thecourtyards