‘Meeting and exceeding its core values’ - Annual Review Shows C&C’s Progress Amid Pandemic

C&C has published its 20/21 annual review, showcasing how the organisation both adapted to challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and progressed in its housing and care offering.

The pandemic response naturally dominated the whole of the 2020/21 financial year, and the review demonstrates the many ways in which residents at C&C’s sheltered housing and general needs accommodation, along with our four care homes, were supported.

And in spite of Covid-19, the organisation also improved existing properties and developed new affordable housing for the benefit of over-55s in London. It has continued to make progress on its digital strategy, providing residents with increased technological solutions to help them remain engaged and supported.

Key highlights of the report include:

• Making major progress on construction of the redeveloped Dora House, a 170 apartment building in St John’s Wood, London. Work on the development is four weeks ahead of schedule, and 90% of apartments will be available as affordable housing when the building reopens in late 2022.
• Launching a new report, “Isolation and loneliness among over-55s during Covid-19”, following in-depth interviews with 250 C&C housing residents. The outcomes provided residents with practical advice and guidance to manage feelings, and led to new partnerships being created for the benefit of our residents.
• Enabling bespoke connectivity and internet access for shielding housing residents while also distributing over 144 free tablets to help residents keep in touch. We also rolled out virtual video-conferencing across our care homes to enable calls with loved ones.
• Completing 100% of fire risk assessments and periodic gas safety inspections, despite the challenges in doing so caused by Covid-19.
• Receiving and supporting over 35,000 contacts made via phone and online to our Service Hub during the year.

Since the start of the new financial year, C&C has also announced its intention to merge with Aster Group, which would create a combined group offering 34,500 homes for the benefit of approximately 100,000 residents. The proposed merger is subject to final business case approval later this year.

Harriet Bowes-Lyon, President of C&C, said: “With C&C celebrating its 95^th anniversary this year, this annual review demonstrates just how much the organisation both continues to meet and exceed its core values – especially in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has set challenge after challenge to rise to.”

Julia Ashley, Chief Executive of C&C, said: “There’s so much to be proud of as we reflect on the past year. Through a combination of outstanding team work, putting resident safety first, and utilising technology to full effect, C&C has shown agility and continued to run seamlessly. Indeed, we have progressed with new housing solutions, such as our redevelopment of Dora House in St John’s Wood, in order to provide health and happiness to over-55s for generations to come.”

The full Resident Annual Review 2020/21 is now available to view below. As part of our environmental commitment and encouraging residents to engage more with us digitally, the Resident Annual Review is only available in digital format.