Countryside Communities Fund pledges £17,000 for South Oxhey charities

Countryside, the UK’s leading mixed-tenure developer, has donated £17,000 from the Countryside £1m communities fund to local initiatives in South Oxhey, the site of its South Oxhey Central regeneration scheme, in partnership with Home Group and Three Rivers District Council.

£10,000 has been donated to the South Oxhey Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), which aims to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives, offering advice on a wide range of issues including debt, employment issues, divorce & separation, state benefits, consumer queries and housing problems. 

Countryside is also supporting ASCEND Charity UK with £5,000 of funding. Founded and based on the South Oxhey estate, ASCEND has been tackling unemployment, social deprivation and learning disabilities in the local community for over 23 years.

Both charities are key in supporting people in the local area that have been affected by crime, anti-social behaviour and deprivation. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant increase in demand for their services, while limiting their ability to provide these. These funds will increase the remote working capabilities of the charities, enabling them to continue their support of those in need in the community.

Lastly, Countryside has also pledged £2,000 to the ‘Baby Bank’, a new initiative organised by the South Oxhey food bank, based at the South Oxhey Baptist Church, which will provide necessities such as nappies and baby formula etc to families in need in the area.

The Countryside Communities Fund has been set up to support local charities and groups, food banks and others providing essential local services in locations where Countryside operates across the country. Since launching the fund in April, it has contributed over £500,000. 

South Oxhey Central is a c.£218m regeneration scheme being delivered by Countryside and Home Group. When complete, South Oxhey Central will consist of a total of 659 new homes and in excess of 55,000 sq ft of commercial space, set across two acres of landscaped public spaces. 188 new homes have been delivered to date at South Oxhey Central, comprising 96 homes for social rent and 21 homes for shared ownership, with 71 private homes.

Daniel King, Managing Director, Partnerships West London and Thames Valley, Countryside, said: “The challenges posed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic have made life more difficult for many local people and charities, and so we’re proud to support these organisations through the Countryside Communities Fund. Our ethos stems from the fact that we build sustainable communities and that goes beyond simply building new homes. Ensuring we are providing local organisations with some means to continue their vital work is equally important as part of our mission.

Sara Bedford, Leader of Three Rivers District Council, added: “I am delighted that Countryside is continuing to support the South Oxhey community. Three Rivers is working with a number of partners, both charitable and commercial, to ensure that our more vulnerable residents are supported during the pandemic emergency. Whilst on the surface Three Rivers may appear an affluent area, there are many residents who need support.”