Welsh Housing Awards 2024
Read all the shortlisted entries into this award category, community-focussed contractor, at the Welsh Housing Awards (WHA) 2024 and find out who won the award on the night.
This award recognises the contribution that contractors can make towards the local community and economy.
Winning project name
#buildSHED @ Big Shed
Winning organisation
Willis Construction Limited
Partner organisation
RHA Wales
Statement of support
Willis Construction are collaborating with RHA Wales to deliver the ‘Big Shed’ regeneration project in Tonypandy.
The project
‘Big Shed’ is a flagship development of 51 new affordable homes and 11,000 sqft of commercial space. It sees the largest investment in the town for decades, ensuring Tonypandy will see a greener and brighter tomorrow.
Community led procurement
RHA sought a contractor dedicated to the town, which was reflected in their procurement process. RHA staff, tenants and community members questioned bidders on their commitment to engaging with, and creating opportunities for local people and future generations. Willis demonstrated a clear commitment to leave a genuine legacy in the area.
Tonypandy – past, present, future
Upon appointment, Willis immediately fostered a strong relationship with RHA’s team, together developing a comprehensive social value strategy. To commence the project, we worked with Ysgol Nantgwyn photography students undertaking a meaningful hoarding project depicting the town’s past, present and future, symbolising the deep association between the project and the local community.
Local employment and careers
A core priority is creating local employment opportunities. Willis and RHA established a clear employment program that focuses on maximising job opportunities for tenants and residents of Tonypandy and the surrounding areas. Five key project team members, including the contracts manager and site manager, live within a few miles of the site. This local presence helps foster closer ties with the community and ensures the project remains deeply connected to the town’s needs.
We’ve attended an RCTBC Jobs Fair, resulting in the appointment of a Ukrainian refugee now living in the borough. To date, we have employed a local gatesperson and labourer, with more opportunities and apprenticeships to come as the build progresses.
Working with DWP/ RCT Care2Work, we’ve developed ‘Mentoring Circles’ – a five week employability initiative held at buildSHED. Continued work with Ysgol Nantgwyn has led to attendance at their careers event and site visits/work experience opportunities.
Legacy project – #buildSHED
It’s important to us to wholeheartedly integrate ourselves during the build and beyond, which is why we created ‘#buildSHED’, a truly collaborative legacy project which builds on the success of RHA’s ‘LittleSHED’. We have transformed previously disused units next to site into a vibrant engagement and learning hub. This space will be handed back to RHA for the community once the project is completed, providing a lasting resource for the town.
A community event held in November 2023 launched the development project. Since then, #buildSHED has gone from strength to strength providing a wide range of support initiatives. We undertake regular open days at the hub for the community to see project updates and career opportunities.
The hub is used to celebrate the heritage of Tonypandy, offering the opportunity to learn new skills, connect with each other, and engage in activities centred on:
- Construction and STEM
- Environment and sustainability
- Careers and self-development.
Creating #buildSHED, we prioritised sustainability, using recycled materials and building an outdoor viewing platform where residents can watch the construction progress. The platform incorporates a green space where food is grown in planters, further enhancing its role as a community resource for LittleSHED.
Willis has become an active member of Tonypandy’s Chamber of Trade, attending their monthly meetings and getting involved in their events, with many initiatives for the town in the pipeline. After the popularity of their Christmas event, we held our own pallet tree craft sessions at #buildSHED and donated them into the community.
Mental health and wellbeing are also major components of the project. In partnership with RHA, we hosted an employee event ‘Ask Twice’ to raise awareness of mental health issues among workers. We have also partnered with local groups such as Men’s Sheds, offering free use of #buildSHED for their meetings. A notable partnership is with charity Mother’s Matter, who focus on supporting parents experiencing baby loss, peri- and postnatal challenges. Willis provides maintenance support for their facility and sponsors their annual ‘Ball of Hope’.
We work with St Joseph’s and St Gabriel’s RC and Alaw Primary Schools. We have been delighted to welcome them to #buildSHED. They loved seeing the live construction from our outdoor viewing platform, learning about construction, the importance of health and safety on site, and careers in the industry. At one visit, children had a brainstorming session to look into improving the outdoor space improvements we can support by making recycled pallet equipment at #buildSHED.
Willis and RHA are partnering with Cardiff City FC Community Foundation. They will be utilising #buildSHED as a space to deliver programmes, including their Racism Kicks initiative as part of our Black History Month activities.
Through developing partnerships with local schools, charities, and community groups at #buildSHED, Willis is ensuring that the legacy of the ‘Big Shed’ project will continue to benefit Tonypandy for generations to come. The involvement of local students highlights our commitment to inspiring the next generation and equipping them with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed. By focusing on sustainability and long-term social value, we are creating a lasting impact on Tonypandy’s future.
Simone Devinett | head of communities, RHA Wales
“Willis work hard to give local people a voice, to gather feedback and respond to what they are telling them. They have willingly participated in community initiatives, supported educational opportunities and are active supporters of our chamber of trade. Willis truly go above and beyond, and the company’s passion for people and place is clear. I look forward to seeing what we can continue to achieve together.”
Rhianydd Jenkins | director of development, RHA Wales
“Willis are proactive and genuinely care about the communities they building in, always going the extra mile to engage with community members and listen to their feedback. Their social value team are forward thinking, coming up with new ways to engage future generations and attract talent to the construction industry. The teams have built a strong relationship which ultimately means we deliver much more than bricks and mortar.”
Outcomes and achievements
In less than 12 months since contract award, Big Shed and community legacy project #buildSHED has achieved the following;
- Seven local employment opportunities
- Two apprenticeships
- £8,000 contribution in cultural, sporting and charity activities
- Six community newsletters
- Four community open days
- Four school visits
- Three Chamber of Trade events
- 200+ visitors to buildSHED
- Excellent feedback on community questionnaires
- Outdoor greenspace and viewing platform
- Three staff wellbeing events
This is just the beginning. We are excited for the future of the town, and seeing further fruition of the legacy we are creating within the Tonypandy community.
Shortlisted entries
Lovell - A new community at The Mill
Application entry
- Project name: A new community at The Mill
- Lead organisation: Lovell
- Partner organisations: Tirion Homes, Cadwyn HA, Principality Building Society and Welsh government
Statement of support
Lovell made a long-term commitment to the communities surrounding the Mill, as well as to the community we created there. Since commencing site in 2016, we have invested 1,178 hours of Lovell staff time and a direct financial commitment of £100,000 to actively support this community, along with wider in-kind resources, materials and support alongside other non-monetary contributions.
We have adopted asset-based community development (ABCD) as our guiding methodology. ABCD is a strengths-based approach that focuses on identifying and utilising the resources and assets that already exist within a community. We have helped empower the local community to take ownership of their development and make use of their existing resources and skills to create positive change in their group and community.
This approach stands in contrast to traditional community development models, which often focus on addressing deficits and needs. We have assisted the community groups and enterprises by holding workshops to identify their needs and providing proactive support in developing business plans for sustainability.
Some examples include:
Herbert Thompson Primary School
We actively assisted the school in establishing its Parent-Teacher Friends Association (PTFA) and facilitating the transition of its charity structure into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). This strategic move aims to empower the school with a robust organisational framework, enhancing its capacity to serve the community effectively. Additionally, our commitment involved mentoring the PTFA Trustees with the help of Lovell community development coordinator’s expertise, providing valuable guidance to strengthen community ties and provide future sustainability to support children and their families. As part of this collaborative effort, we engaged in a transformative project aimed at converting old Victorian toilets into a versatile space for adult learning and a laundrette, catering to the wider community’s needs. We also provided support and expertise for the construction of safe and hygienic prefabricated classroom. This classroom serves as a crucial space for the newly formed adult learning group, ensuring an opportunity for education and skill development. In our ongoing collaboration with the school, our commitment extended to helping develop initiatives that promote sustainability and wellbeing. We have played a crucial role in informing the school about the opportunity provided by Keep Wales Tidy for food package support. Furthermore, we provided valuable support by guiding and assisting the school with the application process.
Grow Well Project at Lansdowne Surgery
Acknowledging the links between green infrastructure and mental and physical health and wellbeing, we have been a long-term supporter of this initiative. Grow Well is a partnership set up in 2016 by Grow Cardiff, a grassroots charity that helps people create and sustain shared gardens across the city, and the South West Cardiff cluster. The project aims to use therapeutic community gardening as a tool to support patients’ health and wellbeing. We arranged for a pergola to be installed offering patients and volunteers a place to rest while they attend Grow Well project sessions. In 2019, we undertook a significant community enhancement initiative by laying a pathway leading to the garden, specifically designed to accommodate wheelchair users. This project exemplifies our commitment to creating inclusive and accessible spaces within the community
Riley Jones
Riley is a nine year-old boy suffering from a rare form of polio who lives at The Mill. Lovell, with support of our supply chain partners on site, adapted Riley’s home to meet his special needs. These modifications included the construction of a driveway for safe and easy access, the transformation of a traditional bathroom into a wet room, and the removal of uneven surfaces in the garden, therefore, creating a safe and accessible space for Riley to enjoy with his family. The bathroom adaptation, complete with flooring and mobility support, empowers Riley to use the space independently.
Outcomes and achievements
Over two decades ago, the closure of The Mill paper factory resulted in the loss of 460 local jobs, leaving a void in the community. Since 2016, The Mill development has not only revitalised the area but has also been a key driver of economic growth. The former site has now become a source of significant employment opportunities with over 1,000 jobs created through it. Additionally, our collaboration with the Prince’s Trust, particularly the ‘Get into Construction’ course, has been one of our most successful initiatives. We worked with 16 local unemployed young adults who were given the opportunity to improve their employability prospects by attending a three week programme at The Mill. Offering interview/CV writing skills, and construction-specific skills by sampling the various trades wanted at The Mill. These young adults were able to gain a health and safety qualification and a Construction Skills Certification Scheme card. At completion, one trainee went on to gain a trade apprenticeship with Lovell and three others joined our supply chain partners. This initiative not only addresses local unemployment but also contributes to the broader goal of skill development and community upliftment.
Welsh Veterans Partnership
The Mill is the fourth community housing project that the Welsh Veterans Partnership has used to provide to those leaving the armed forces with a high-quality home. There are currently 19 veterans and their families living at The Mill which provides a safe community and a new affordable home for them to live in. The veterans are also being provided with wellbeing, mental health and transitional support from the partnership.
Most recently two Fijian veterans, who have served in the Welsh family of regiments have moved into The Mill. We have been able to support the partnership by providing fencing for an allotment run by the partnership to address security concerns. The donation of fencing has not only improved the physical security of the area but also greatly benefited the wellbeing of veterans, volunteers, and their families who use the allotment. It has helped ease their concerns about theft, vandalism, and trespass. In addition, we supplied wood that has been skilfully turned into seating, raised beds, tables and planters.
