Lancashire housing organisation to celebrate 30 years of business this month

This month marks 30 years since one of the first transfers of council homes in the UK and the formation of one of Lancashire's best-known housing organisations, Progress Housing Group.

In 1994, South Ribble Borough Council tenants voted to transfer 3,500 homes to the newly formed New Progress Housing Association. A significant milestone for the borough that helped to shape thriving communities and deliver high-quality, safe and secure homes where people feel proud of and enjoy a good quality of life.

Today, Progress Housing Group, which ranks in the top 27% of UK housing providers, manages nearly 12,000 properties across the UK. In addition to its 5,000 homes for affordable rent, the housing group provides 4,000 homes across the UK through its supported living subsidiary, RWP, for people with a learning disability, autistic people, and those with mental health conditions, along with keyworker accommodation and over 1,213 homes for people aged 55 and over.

Progress Housing Group also provides an award-winning telecare emergency personal alarm service, Progress Lifeline, that enables over 65,000 people across Lancashire and parts of the UK to live safely and independently in their homes.

In 2015, the social housing provider joined with Lancashire-based charity Key Unlocking Futures, and together, they support over 1500 individuals and families each year who are facing crisis. Providing support services, homelessness schemes and refuges for women and children who need to escape domestic abuse.

Over the course of the next 12 months, Progress Housing Group will celebrate its 30-year legacy through several initiatives, including supporting tenant, community, and charitable events, releasing short films telling the story of tenants, customers, communities and colleagues and their relationship with the housing group and memories from its 30-year timeline.

Jacqui De-Rose, Group Chief Executive of Progress Housing Group, said: "We're so proud of how far we have come in 30 years and the key role the organisation has played in providing high-quality, affordable homes and working with partner agencies to create sustainable and positive communities. We have made a difference for so many people.

"The hard work of our employees has enabled us to fulfil all the promises we made to tenants at the time of the stock transfer in 1994, and we have continued to build on this to create places where people are proud to live and work. Putting people at the heart of what we do has always been, and will continue to be, our priority and our purpose. We do this because we believe everyone has the right to a decent home and to live their best life."

Progress Housing Group will continue its commitment to building more affordable homes through the launch of its development and environmental sustainability strategies. Work on its flagship extra care scheme, a first for the housing provider based in Lancaster, is also due to be completed next year, providing 92 affordable homes for people aged 55 with care needs.