Peabody recently highlighted its community regeneration work at a showcase event in City hall. Held in London’s Living Room, with panoramic views over the city, residents, associates and staff gathered to celebrate past, present and future work.
It was also an occasion to acknowledge the work of Maura Santos (below), who came to Peabody in 1997 and was founder of the community services directorate.
Maura Santos with Peabody CEO, Steve Howlett
Thanks to her work and initiatives, tens of thousands of Londoners have improved their lives through access to training, specialist housing, activities for older people as well as a focus on health and well-being and more.
Steve Howlett, Peabody’s CEO said: "At the time this [approach] was revolutionary. There simply wasn’t an awareness of the lead role housing associations could play in community regeneration. Didn’t they just provide homes? Today that question has been definitively answered."
CEO Steve Howlett talks about Peabody's vision for community regeneration
To reflect Peabody’s commitment to assign up to five per cent of all new job vacancies to apprenticeships, some outstanding apprentices were presented with awards on the day: Jermaine Jones, Sabrina Campbell (below), Jack White and Vanessa Konan-ahouttou.
Apprentice Sabrina picks up an award
Entertainment was provided by the Sundial Singers, a choir from the neighbourhood learning centre in Tower Hamlets.
The Sundial Singers
There were also Bollywood dancers, who sought participation from an enthusiastic audience.
Showing how it's done: a Bollywood dancer
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The cockney sparrow projectResidents consultation sessions
