News Archive

A charity which has been helping young people in a County Durham town for more than 40 years is expanding its services to include younger children after it was awarded a cash grant from a local housing association.

The Chester-le-Street Youth Project currently provides a range of leisure, sport and arts opportunities to youngsters in the town aged between 13 and 19.

A North East housing association has become the first in the region to sign up to an innovative new scheme, designed to help tenants save money towards their rent.

Cestria Community Housing has joined forces with payment card provider allpay to take part in a pilot project, through which tenants using allpay Mobile’s new SIM card will receive money back towards their rent account each time they top up their mobile phone.

As a new mum to lively triplets and with her armed forces husband serving abroad in Afghanistan, moving into a new home could have been a stressful experience for Claire Nelson.

Thankfully her new landlord, Chester-le-Street-based Cestria Community Housing, was on hand to provide Claire with the support she needed, including helping her access funding to carpet her new home.

Well done to Esther, Peter, Arshia and Craig who participated in the Oxfam Trailtrekker 62 mile walk in 30 hours event this weekend supported by Lisa, Christine, Suzanne and Paul in the Yorkshire Dales.

A County Durham housing association reached a major milestone this week after officially unveiling its first new build development in the village of Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street.

Kevan Jones MP for North Durham joined staff and tenants from Cestria Community Housing to plant a time capsule to mark the official opening of the scheme, which includes 22 two bedroom bungalows.

Cestria has commissioned BMG Research to conduct a survey among tenants from June to July 2013. All residents will receive a survey form to fill in. If you take part in the survey you could win one of three cash prizes of £100 each.

The Area Action Partnership (AAP) e-bulletin is designed to help keep you informed of the ongoing work within the AAP and beyond. This edition includes information on new board members, Chester-le-Live and public art project in Chester-le-Street. Click here to read the e-bulletin

As part of a project, there has been a re-configuration of resources within the housing teams. From 13th May there will no longer be a General Housing Team and a Supported Housing Team.

Instead there will be two teams, one team will cover the central area (Chester-le-Street and Pelton Fell) and the other team will cover all the outlying villages.

Chester-le-Street residents are being given the chance to have their say on a piece of public art in the town.

A consultation is taking place to gather views on a mural project on the Go North East wall on the A167 next to the Picktree roundabout.

A employability course offering unemployed participants qualifications and a work placements will launch in Chester-le-Street next month.

The ‘Back in the Game’ programme, run by the Foundation of Light, starts on 14^th May with participants getting SAFC match tickets upon completion of the programme.

A County Durham housing association has reached a major milestone this week with the completion of its first new build development.

The 22 bungalows have been constructed for Chester-le-Street-based landlord Cestria Community Housing and are the first new affordable homes to be built by the association, providing much needed homes for the area.

Safety was the lesson of the day when a construction manager visited a County Durham school to talk about the dangers of building sites to pupils – including his own daughter.

Barry Metters works for regeneration and housing company Keepmoat, which is currently carrying out roofing work to homes near Ouston Infant School, in Chester-le-Street.

This is Cestria's second Annual Community Project Fund which has been funded from efficiency savings made by staff at Cestria during the last financial year. One of Cestria's values is 'Efficiency', which involves seeking Value for Money in delivering our services.

A new partnership between Healthy Horizons and a community centre has been forged to try and encourage the community to get fit.

We aim to get things right first time but where we don’t, we encourage you to raise this with us so that we can investigate properly and resolve the issues you raise.

We have recently reviewed our complaints and compliments procedures and the introduction of a suggestion scheme for customers and we will be implementing changes in May 2013 to improve and streamline the current processes. Through our simple-to-follow complaints procedure we can usually settle most concerns through this process.

The ‘bedroom tax’ will fail to solve overcrowding and could even boost the benefit bill, not cut it, says a report out from the National Housing Federation.

A County Durham housing association has been recognised for its commitment to promoting equality and diversity within the workplace.

Cestria Community Housing has been successfully upgraded to The Equality Standard ‘Gold’ Award following a re-assessment by assessors, becoming the first housing association to achieve the top rating.　

The Spring issue of the Cestria Courier featuring Welfare Reform, Delivering our Promises, Tenant Training, information on Bogus Callers and much more is now available.

Four members of staff from a County Durham-based housing association have set themselves a challenge by walking 100km in 30 hours.

The staff from Chester-le-Street social landlord, Cestria Community Housing will participate in the Oxfam Trailtrekker 2013 challenge on 1^st & 2^nd June in Yorkshire to raise money for the charity.

Why not give yourself a chance to win the 'Big Break' from your bills that you deserve in 2013? Cestria is joining a campaign run by Bacs, the not-for-profit organisation behind Direct Debit, encouraging people to switch to Direct Debit - and someone will win £12,000, enough to cover regular bills for an entire year!

A Chester-le-Street charity, set up to help prevent suicide and to support those affected by it, has been given a cash boost thanks to local landlord Cestria Community Housing.

A team of 4 with a support crew is taking part in the Oxfam Trailtrekker, 1st-2nd June in Yorkshire. The team, 'Blister Busters' will be walking 100km (62 miles) in 30 hours - it will be very, very demanding not for the faint-hearted!

Equality North East is an independent, not-for-profit company that works throughout the north-east with the overriding aim of 'leading the way to a fairer future for all by celebrating the value of Equality and Diversity through innovative training, support and networking opportunities'.

Find out more about Equality North East by calling into the Cestria Hub between 18th-22nd February 2013.

Durham County Council are carrying out a public consultation with a proposal to change the age range of Ouston Junior School from 7-11 to 4-11 from 1 Jan 2013 to create a Primary School and to close Ouston Infant School from 31 December 2013.

The partnership work between Cestria Community Housing and SAFC Foundation of Light featured on Match of the Day on Sunday 3rd February. If you would like to watch this please click here

£5,000 is available for groups of young people to apply to develop their ideas into projects which they can design, plan and deliver themselves. (Maximum grant £500 per application)

Do you want to help us improve our performance and the services we provide for everyone?

.....then Cestria Community Housing's Tenant Scrutiny Committee Needs You!

From April 2013, health services will soon be managed in a new way with the introduction of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). These groups of GPs will be responsible for designing local health services in County Durham and Darlington.

February is National Heart Month and on Friday 1st February 2013 staff at Cestria will 'Rock up in Red' to help raise money to fight heart disease.

The 'View your rent account' system on our website is currently unavailable. We will let you know when this system is available again.

Are you aged between 16-18 years old and not at college or in work?

Improve your chances of getting work or to progress into education by attending this FREE 15 week 'Get Back on Track!' course. The first course starts 28th January 2013.

Two North East housing associations have joined forces to provide a first class health and safety service to its staff and tenants.

Through the partnership, homes and communities organisation, livin, based in Spennymoor will provide health and safety services to Cestria Community Housing, in Chester-le-Street.

Do you know someone who has recently been discharged from hospital in County Durham? Would they benefit from extra support at home or in the community?

The winter period is always a very busy period for the Building Services Team at Cestria. As temperatures fall and winter takes hold, additional repairs sometimes become necessary for our busy trade staff to carry out. Click here to view the Repairs and preparing for Winter leaflet.

31 people took part in the Save Xmas campaign last year to save regularly for 9 out of 10 months for Christmas 2012. Over 20 people successfully saved, and along with getting access to their savings, and a low interest loan required, they also got £20 Love2Shop voucher!

Do you want...qualifications that have meaning and value? opportunities to gain employment? to be treated liked an individual?

If the answer to these questions is 'YES', Back in the Game is the programme for you!

The Prince's Trust Team Programme is for young people aged 16-25 who are unemployed. It's free and will not affect your Jobseeker's Allowance. The Prince's Trust will fund your bus fare, lunch and up to £250 cash on completion.

Cestria Community Housing is currently working towards the Customer Service Excellence accreditation.

Help give mental health service users and carers more say in the review and improvement of local healthcare services.

A fledgling County Durham judo club has been given a cash grant from a local housing association to help it cope with a massive increase in demand following the Olympics.

Ouston Judo Club saw its membership jump from just six youngsters before London 2012, to 21 during August when the Games were held. In September a further eight young people from the village came forward wanting to join.

A local housing association is urging people to support families in need this Christmas by donating non-perishable food to a County Durham charity.

Durham Food Bank helps people all year round by providing donations of essential food items. And at Christmas they provide extra festive treats such as mince pies and Christmas pudding to help people across the county.

A host of North East companies and community groups have benefitted from a variety of special Christmas donations thanks to a local contractor.

Housing and regeneration specialist, Keepmoat has launched its 12 deeds of Christmas initiative, which aims to help local communities by making donations for worthy causes.

Staff from a County Durham housing association had double cause for celebration after their organisation was recognised for its efforts to invest in its employees.

Following an assessment, Cestria Community Housing was not only awarded Investors in People (IiP) accreditation but also achieved silver status at their first assessment.

We wish all of customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

If you have any emergency repairs during this period please call 0800 587 0001 for assistance.

Chester-le-Street social landlord, Cestria Community Housing has recognised and celebrated the kind-hearted and selfless acts carried out by tenants in its annual neighbourhood awards.

Tenants and nominees were invited to this year’s awards, which were held at Durham County Cricket Club, with a total of five awards up for grabs.

With many parts of the country having already experienced the first snowfall of the year, volunteers are being sought for a North East community project designed to support vulnerable people this winter.

The Snow Angels scheme is a joint initiative, launched last year by Durham Constabulary and County Durham housing association Cestria Community Housing.

The winter issue of the Cestria Courier featuring Neighbourhood Awards Winners, Events at the Hub, Welfare Reform, Rechargeable Repairs and much more is now available to read.

This years tenants calendar features "Chester-le-Street" past with a theme of "In Time Gone By" and will be circulated with the Winter Edition of the Cestria Courier Newsletter.

What is this consultation about?

Durham County Council investigations have concluded that between 2007 and 2011, thermal expansion took place, resulting in the movement of the briquettes. A digger clearing snow from the market place in 2011 struck a corner of the structure, causing a localised weak spot and some of the briquettes fell from the structure.

Durham County Council and NHS have created a joint personal plan to help you stay healthy and warm in the winter.

Buy an extra gift this year to help the young, vulnerable children of the North East.

livin Housing Association based in Spennymoor is the lead partner for County Durham in a new innovative project called MonKey. As part of this project new job opportunities have been created.

A newsletter produced for the tenants of a County Durham housing association has been named the best in the region at a prestigious awards ceremony.

Cestria Community Housing’s Cestria Courier magazine won gold in the External Publications category at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ North East PRide Awards.

The Area Action Partnership (AAP) e-bulletin is designed to help keep you informed of the ongoing work within the AAP and beyond. This edition includes information on the Chairman's Medal Awards, Health Action Group, Chester-le-Live and Mobile Cinema. Click here to read the e-bulletin

A County Durham housing association has been recognised for its efforts to ensure equality and diversity is at the heart of its work.

Cestria Community Housing was named the winner of the ‘Practising Excellence in the Housing Sector’ category of the 2012 North East Equality Awards.

The Area Action Partnership are looking to recruit two Public Representatives to the Chester-le-Street & District AAP Board. Successful candidates would serve up to 4 years as a Public Representative.

A group of youngsters from Chester-le-Street in County Durham turned from pupils to teachers yesterday afternoon after training local people on how to use social media.

Five pupils from the Hermitage School gave a lesson to tenants from Cestria Community Housing on how to use websites such as Twitter and Facebook.

Do you know someone who deserves a medal?

The Chairman's Medal is the highest honour given by Durham County Council and is presented to individuals for voluntary effort and outstanding charitable organisations throughout County Durham, to recognise significant achievement and outstanding effort in all walks of life.

How Energy Savvy are you? Put your answers where your mouth is and be in with a chance of winning.........

Do you know someone young or old that through their kindness is making a difference to an individual or the community as a whole? Or do you know of a community group or club that has worked to improve the lives of their local community?

You are probably aware that the TV switchover on the mainland UK is now complete.　 What you may not be aware of is that the Help Scheme can still help eligible people in the Tyne Tees TV Region until 26^th October 2012.

Our Annual Stakeholder Event took place on Monday 24th September and was held at Beamish Hall.

This year’s Annual Report to Tenants called ‘Celebrating Cestria- our journey so far...2011/12’ is being issued to all of our tenants with the Autumn Cestria Courier.

Cestria will be celebrating Customer Services Week, to recognise the importance of customer service and to honour the people who support customers each day.

There are some properties that fall under the responsibility of Cestria with boiler flues which cannot be inspected because they are hidden within ceiling voids or where flues have been boxed in.

If you suspect that you have this type of flue then please read on for more information so you know what to do.

This month's deal is a Candy washing machine for £199.99

More than £11,000 has been donated to community groups in Chester-le-Street by a local housing association, with gardening projects, disabled groups and sporting initiatives all benefitting.

The funding was awarded by Cestria Community Housing following a drive by the association to make efficiency savings within the business.

Staff at a North East housing association are ditching their normal office attire for the day and turning up to work in whatever outfits they like in a bid to raise money for a local charity.

Employees at Cestria Community Housing, in Chester-le-Street, will donate £1 to take part in a ‘dress down day’ tomorrow (Friday 21/9), with all proceeds donated to Space for Peace.

Cestria Community Housing member of staff Rebecca Gimby ran the Great North Run on Sunday 16th September to raise money for the Foundation of Light. Click on find out more below to read her story of the eventful, painful but rewarding day.