Last week marked one year since the UK was plunged into its first national lockdown, and as an organisation, Ongo has had to make many changes and adjust the way it works.
Since that time, Ongo has held virtual meetings with tenants, built 182 homes and started 68 new ones, delivered thousands of food parcels, made further safe-and-well calls, changed the way it offers support, launched virtual repairs, and more.
Here are some of the achievements that Ongo has made over the last 12 months:
- They have carried out 37,779 safe and well calls to their most vulnerable tenants
- Delivered 14,457 food parcels to those most in need
- Started a huge new project in Westcliff to make it safer, after receiving over half a million pounds from the Police and Crime Commissioner
- Interviewed and registered an astounding 1,273 applicants for work over the past 12 months
- Recruited 10 apprentices, placed 302 temporary workers into employment and 17 people into permanent higher level roles and mentored 112 young people
- Taken 86,213 telephone calls and 29,010 digital contacts totalling to 115,223 contacts
- Moved contacts onto digital platforms contacts, resulting in a 17% increase over the year
- Handled 2,677 cases involving anti-social behaviour and crime and managed to stop the majority of them being subjected to court proceedings, and have worked with the Police in over 10 separate operations
- Dealt with cases where tenants have been targeted for cuckooing by organised criminal gangs or by street workers and worked with partner agencies to target those responsible for setting deliberate fires and to try ensure the safety of the areas targeted
- Supported their Homeless Team into helping six people from the streets into our properties
Read more about Ongo:
- Ongo’s Viking Centre continues to support locals
- Ongo’s Sparc team helps tenant realise her business dream
- Ongo updates progress on three-year strategy
- Ongo shortlisted in national equality, diversity, and inclusion awards
Ongo has also recently created a roadmap out of lockdown, in line with the one set out by the government, to make the new rules being introduced as easy to follow as possible for tenants.
This includes offices reopening, approach to repairs, face-to-face appointments, communal lounge changes, safety checks, meetings of up to six people and more, community events, and more.
Read next: Keepmoat Homes pledges new homes, jobs, and apprenticeships in Knowsley
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