Sovereign residents have now been moving into new homes in East Wichel over the last few months, helping the new community to take shape. These new affordable homes have been taking the pressure of local housing waiting lists and providing much needed affordable family housing in Swindon.
Sovereign has also running various community activities in East Wichel over the last few months to help residents to get to know each other.A great example of this was a large scale community event held in mid September. This was the first chance for Sovereign and other East Wichel residents to get to know each other.
The community event saw everyone getting involved, from the children enjoying the ever popular beat-the-goalie, face painting and tug-of-war, to the adults, who enjoyed a BBQ and a chance to meet all the community partners who are working in area (Seethelight, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Active Swindon, Swindon Borough Council Sustainable Transport and Waste Services team).
The new homes at East Wichel are a mix of flats and comfortable two and three-bedroom homes, which have proved to be very popular with the new residents. Sarah Watts, one of the new Sovereign residents, said, “My new home is really lovely. It’s a great design and I’m getting used to living on three floors and being in a brand new home.”
Her neighbour Lee Sadler, a fellow Sovereign resident, noted, “I’ve enjoyed being in East Wichel for a few months now. Everyone at Sovereign has been really helpful and my children have made lots of new friends already. My neighbours have made me feel really at home already and my house has lots of space for the children to play. They’ve already started their new schools so it’s an exciting time!”
Terry Black, Neighbourhood Investment Coordinator for Sovereign Housing Association, who has been working closely with building a new community at East Wichel, noted, “We are really pleased to see residents enjoying the East Wichel homes and also getting to know each other. It is an exciting time with a new community taking shape and Sovereign carry on offering special support to new residents to help them settle in.”
