Following the heat-health alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency last week, teams across our landlord services have been working tirelessly to keep our most vulnerable as safe and as comfortable as possible.

Last week and during the weekend colleagues have worked together a range of practical actions to support, they include:

• Visiting all 37 Torus specialist supported living schemes, including Sheltered Schemes (over 55s), Supported Living Schemes, Extra Care and Hostels.
• Delivered information to all supported scheme residents to provide advise on any available support and top tips to stay comfortable.
• Where air conditioning was already installed, we have double-checked they’re working well.
• For other schemes, we have delivered 36 air-conditioning units placing them where all residents can go to get cool and comfortable.
• For customers with mobility challenges we have delivered around 200 individual domestic air-conditioning to their apartments – this will keep people as cool as possible.
• Delivered 4,000+ bottles of water to communal areas, to keep customers hydrated.
• In addition, teams from Torus Foundation and Housing (Support Network), have been providing support and activities for residents in some locations.

Torus Foundations, Health and Wellbeing Officer for Warrington nipped to the local supermarket for supplies and treated the residents in his schemes to paddling pools. Residents, who struggle with their mobility, enjoyed an afternoon ‘pool party’, coming together to dip their feet, keep cool and enjoy some music, and as you can see it was thoroughly appreciated.

Torus Chief Operating Officer, Cath Murray-Howard, praised the actions of the Housing, Assets and Torus Foundation Teams, saying:

“I am so proud of my colleagues in our Facilities Team for this herculean effort, who along with Support Network, Housing and Torus Foundation colleagues have done everything they can to keep our most vulnerable customers as safe and as comfortable as possible.”

Torus Director of Housing, Paul Warburton, added:

“At Torus we are keen to be proactive and not reactive. As a responsible landlord, Torus has a duty of care to ensure the safety of our customers, but the actions of our colleagues have gone above and beyond what is required. The effort, time and care for our customers they have shown over the past week has been extraordinary, and I am sure I speak for the whole of Torus, when I say how proud we are.”

The teams will be on hand to provide on-going support and ensure the equipment continues to work efficiently over the period of extreme hot weather.