Yearly Archives: 2007

Renaisi consultants were asked to participate in a photo-shoot on 26 July 2007 to celebrate the 5 year countdown to 2012.

Lindsay Tripp and Yogesh Patel joined 205 people involved in delivering Olympic and Paralympic projects from each of the 5 host boroughs to form a giant number 5 at the Olympic site. Despite being dressed in short sleeved t-shirts and having to endure battling wind and rain, everyone was in high spirits.

They were cheered along by former Olympic medallist and Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, Sebastian Coe. More information on the 5 year countdown can be found at www.london2012.com

Renaisi has welcomed Chandni Patel as a new Graduate Consultant. Chandni has begun work as part of the Programmes and Project Management unit, where she has been working on the Leaside Regeneration SRB6 Evaluation. She has also been working as part of the Marketing and PR department.

Before joining the team at Renaisi Chandni completed a BA (Hons) degree in Architectural Studies at the University of Nottingham. On the 3^rd September 2007 she will complete her MSc in Development and Planning at University College London.

On joining Renaisi, Chandni said: “Regeneration has the potential to change the lives of those in need of change. I’m inspired by its holistic approach to create a better environment for all. Renaisi is an all-rounded company which deals with all areas of regeneration at a local level.”

Zoe Collins has joined the regeneration consultancy Renaisi as a Graduate Consultant. She has begun work as part of the Programmes and Project Management unit, where she has been working on the Leaside Regeneration SRB6 Evaluation. She is also working in the Employment and Enterprise unit, on the Hackney New Deal employment scheme.

Zoe gained a BA(Hons) degree in Geography from the London School of Economics before working as a Neighbourhood Officer at Pathmeads Housing Association. She is currently studying for an MSc in Housing and Regeneration, also at the London School of Economics.

On joining Renaisi, Zoe said: “Renaisi challenges current regeneration issues with innovation and fosters positive working relationships in the community to achieve great success in its programmes. Regeneration positively contributes to communities, improving the quality of life for urban environment, creating places which are accessible and sustainable.”

The Renaisi Alumni Programme is up and running! Since the launch late last year, we have recruited an impressive list of alumni members and are set to hold the first of, what is hoped will be, our quarterly ‘social’ event on Thursday 11^th October – venue to be confirmed.

The Alumni programme was set up to re-connect old friends and colleagues in the regeneration field.

For more information about how to join please contact Jenni Daniel on j.daniel@renaisi.com or telephone 020 7033 2600

Renaisi welcomes Simon Dilly to its Invest In Hackney Programme as Inward Investment Coordinator. His role will include developing a framework for inward investment in Hackney, supporting business relocation and expansion in Hackney, and implementing business retention activities.

Simon recently completed a BA Hons degree in Geography with Chinese Studies, from Nottingham University, in addition to putting in many hours working as a volunteer for charitable organisations.

On joining Renaisi, Simon said: ‘The breadth of work that Renaisi does and its innovative and professional approach are very appealing. Working in Hackney and the surrounding boroughs is great too. Regeneration has the potential to positively impact hundreds of thousands of people. It is an area where intelligent planning and innovation can really produce results. I want to gain expertise in sustainable development practice having already accumulated a lot of theoretical knowledge from my Geography degree.’

Matthew Lucas has joined regeneration consultancy Renaisi as a Graduate Consultant, working within the Programmes and Project Business Unit.

Prior to Renaisi, Matthew completed a Masters in Leadership for Sustainable Development from Forum for the Future and Middlesex University. He is also a graduate of Bradford University, where he gained a BA Hons in Development and Peace Studies.

On joining Renaisi, Matthew said ‘I have a strong interest in community development issues that affect London…with its energy and its diversity I think London is one of the most exciting places to practice and study regeneration. Renaisi focuses its regeneration activities on improving the lives of people in some of the most deprived of London wards whilst also emphasizing community involvement in development plans.’

South Islington New Deal for Communities Partnership EC1 New Deal has received a GOOD partnership rating score in the 2006 NDC Performance Assessment. The score was at the high end of the ‘good’ band rating and, as confirmed by Government Office for London, ‘reflects the huge amount of work the Partnership and the EC1 staff team have undertaken over the last 12-18 months.

The NDC Performance Assessment, which was refined to focus solely on delivery of outcomes and plausibility of NDC’s programmes this year, was welcomed by Matthew Humphreys, Chair of the EC1 New Deal Partnership. He said:

“This rating is a real testament to the dedication, experience and persistence of board members, EC1 New Deal staff and local delivery agency, Renaisi, who work tirelessly every year to deliver targeted, sustainable interventions for the benefit of the local EC1 New Deal community”.

“Much has been accomplished…but we are now looking forward to the next 3-4 years which will see a further continuation of our work to reduce unemployment, provide more opportunities, improve the health of our community and make EC1 a safer and more attractive place to live, work or visit”.

Renaisi has recently been commissioned to evaluate the Leaside ‘Communities in Business’ SRB6 programme.

The core themes of the 7-year SRB6 programme, which began in 2001, were: putting communities in business; developing high quality neighbourhood quarters; re-connecting communities to each other; and, attracting investment and development into target areas.

The evaluation process will involve both qualitative and quantitative work to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the SRB6 programme. Assessment will include baseline analysis and output review, project case studies, value for money, delivery, and, the programme’s sustainability beyond the end of its 7 year lifetime.

Community involvement will also be assessed, considering levels of inclusivity, influence, communication and capacity.

The qualitative evaluation process will also include stakeholder focus groups made up of local beneficiaries, local councillors, local businesses and community group representatives. Renaisi will also undertake in-depth case studies of some of the major programme successes, such as the Crossways estate, Chrisp Street Idea Store and forthcoming Langdon Park DLR development.

The final report will be presented to the Leaside Regeneration board of trustees in early July 2007.

Rabbi Pinter, Vice Chair of the Woodberry Down and Stamford Hill Single Regeneration Budget (SRB6), yesterday (Monday 24 April) bid a fond farewell to the seven year regeneration initiative at a celebratory event at the West Reservoir Centre. The well-attended event was designed to thank project providers, Partnership Board members, and key stakeholders for all their hard work and effort that went in to making the regeneration scheme a success.

Rabbi Pinter said: “We’ve done something that no-one thought possible when the SRB was first set up, and that’s demonstrate that it is possible for an outside agency (the SRB Partnership and Renaisi) to work closely and productively with our Community on a basis of mutual respect and understanding. The SRB has supported many organisations both large and small in the Community, and literally hundreds of people have benefited directly or indirectly through SRB funding. I would like to thank the people who have given their time voluntarily as Board members, Hackney Council, and Renaisi who managed the Programme in particular. But I also wish to stress that the regeneration needs to continue and it’s important that the understanding and trust that the SRB has helped to foster is taken forward by the Council and by Hackney Homes in the coming years.”

Rabbi Pinter also took the opportunity to highlight the concerns of many in the Community over the housing regeneration of Woodberry Down: “Over the next fifteen years there will be around 4,500 new homes built in the area, and it’s important that ways are found for the Charedi Community to access some of these homes.”

Representatives from Team Hackney, the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), were present at the event to explain how the Borough’s new funding streams work and how the Borough’s priorities relate to the Orthodox Jewish Community. Kevin Sugrue, a Team Hackney representative, stressed Team Hackney’s aim to improve all statutory services and emphasised Team Hackney’s desire to engage with the Orthodox Jewish Community.

The event was also the launch of the Manor House Development Trust, the body set up to be the successor to the SRB6 Partnership. Melanie Aust, the Interim Chief Executive of the Trust, talked about the Trust’s priorities and how crucial it was for the Orthodox Jewish Community to play a full part in the Trust. The Trust is holding a series of events in the Community, to explain its role and gain a greater understanding of how best it can work with the Community. The next of these events is to be held at Interlink’s offices 26th April between 10-12noon.