Higgins Partnerships and Brent Council have signed a charter with Jason Roberts Foundation to mark the formation of a partnership to work collaboratively in the Stonebridge community.
Higgins is committed to working with the local community around all of its projects and the creation of this partnership will enable them to provide a programme of support for those living in the Stonebridge area through volunteering, workshops, training and education and environmental projects.
Established in 2007 by former professional footballer Jason Roberts, the Foundation has been working in Brent for over 10 years, and in recent years it has broadened its work to provide a more holistic programme of support, including mentoring, life skills, education and training projects within its wider sports activities. It has worked with young people at risk of offending, those excluded from school or struggling in the school curriculum, and young people with physical and learning difficulties.
Amy Ross, Head of Social Value at Higgins Partnerships commented: “We are delighted to form this partnership with Jason Roberts Foundation and Brent Council which will allow us to provide an extensive programme of community engagement and opportunities which will empower the local community around our Hillside and Milton Avenue projects.
“We have already started engaging with local children and recently arranged a site visit for two groups of young people who are completing a project on the regeneration of the area. We look forward to working closely with The Foundation to develop further projects.”
Higgins and Brent Council will be looking at a range of projects including improving local facilities and community spaces, volunteering schemes, mentoring schemes, employment workshops and career fairs and tournaments and sports days with local schools.
Brent Council awarded Higgins the £22m contract for the redevelopment of the Hillside and Milton Avenue sites as part of the redevelopment of Stonebridge. The two sites form part of the masterplan to sensitively redevelop within the heart of Stonebridge, with the aim of strengthening and improving community amenities and to enrich the local environment.
Cllr Eleanor Southwood, Lead Member for Housing & Welfare Reform said: “The Jason Roberts Foundation does incredible work in Stonebridge, and I’m looking forward to seeing the opportunities these projects will create for young people in the area.”
Otis Roberts, CEO of Jason Roberts Foundation added: “JRF are delighted to partner with Higgins and Brent Council on this project in the heart of Stonebridge which aligns with our vision of reaching, building, and driving communities forward. We look forward to working closely with both organisations on some exciting new projects which will be delivered in an area that is close to our hearts and supports our ethos of ‘community first’.”
Higgins will design and build 73 mixed-tenure new homes and one retail unit with new public open space linking the two sites. The Hillside site will consist of 51 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, across two blocks, up to seven storeys in height with a roof terrace on both blocks, while the Milton Avenue site will feature a terrace of 22 four-bedroom, three-storey townhouses.
The Hillside site will also have a ground level under croft car park with 22 spaces and a landscaped podium on the first floor level which links the two blocks.
The new public open space will feature hard and soft landscaping with a new playground and outdoor gym included and a series of bridges over the existing canal feeder that runs through the sites.
Header image shows Otis Roberts, CEO of Jason Roberts Foundation with Cllr Eleanor Southwood and Neil Carter of Higgins Partnerships
