Ardenglen Housing Association’s money tips benefit Castlemilk locals.

More than £500,000 has found its way back into the hands of Castlemilk residents over the past year, all thanks to the successful money advice project pioneered by Ardenglen Housing Association. The remarkable achievement was celebrated at the Association’s Annual General Meeting, where members were briefed on the project’s impactful results.

In collaboration with Money Matters Govan, Ardenglen’s money advice project has proven to be so effective that the association has now established an internal team dedicated to assisting tenants in claiming their entitled benefits. On average, the project has successfully delivered almost £4000 per person who sought help from the team.

Expressing his gratitude, Ardenglen Housing Association’s chief executive, David Byfield, commended the team for their outstanding work in the past year, especially highlighting the significant impact of the Money Advice Service. At a time when the cost of living crisis is mounting, returning such a substantial sum back to the community truly enhances the quality of life for the individuals aided by the project.

Ardenglen manages approximately 1000 houses in the south of Glasgow. Apart from fulfilling its role as a housing provider, the AGM also shed light on the array of community-based initiatives undertaken by Ardenglen in the area. These include weekly Community Lunch and Breakfast clubs, as well as the creation of a new Community Growing Space at Castlemilk Community Centre aimed at providing fresh produce for the local residents.

The association’s repairs performance was notably highlighted at the meeting, surpassing the Scottish average across both emergency and planned repairs. Additionally, twenty-four medical adaptations were approved at a total cost exceeding £63,000 within the year, reflecting Ardenglen’s commitment to facilitating tenants’ prolonged stay in their homes and lessening the strain on broader care support services.

Detailing the financial standing of Ardenglen, accounts showed a turnover increase from £4,820,532 to £5,194,465, resulting in a surplus of £739,928. Mr. Byfield emphasised the importance of robust finances in ensuring the association’s sustainability, and that it allows for ongoing planned investment programmes to provide the high-quality homes that tenants rightfully deserve.

Looking towards the future, Ardenglen also revealed plans to introduce a new customer portal in the coming year, aimed at enhancing communication and services for their tenants.