Eddy's Good News: How LATCH are transforming communities and new breakwaters in Staten Island

Virgin Radio

22 Sep 2023, 09:03

Every day during his show on Virgin Radio, Eddy Temple-Morris brings you Good News stories from around the world, to help inject a bit of positivity into your day!

Be sure to listen each day between 10am and 1pm (Monday - Friday) to hear Eddy's Good News stories (amongst the finest music of course), but if you miss any of them you can catch up on the transcripts of Eddy's most recent stories below:

Friday 22nd September 2023

There's something inspiring happening in Leeds where a housing association is transforming derelict buildings into energy efficient homes and renting them at affordable prices to people who might otherwise be struggling.

In Leeds, it’s estimated that a family becomes homeless every seven hours, and yet, there are over 4,000 properties that lie derelict. This pioneering community benefit society is finding a solution that could be replicated across the country. It’s called Latch, Leeds Action To Create Homes. They buy the derelict homes for a comparative song, then use a team of unemployed construction trainees to renovate them, and in doing so get on-the-job training to help them find work in the industry. Then they’re rented at fair prices to tenants, who are typically homeless or living in difficult circumstances who each get access to a dedicated support worker to help them get back on their feet. And this has nothing to do with the NHS.

The workers might join them for a run, or teach them breathwork, something that’s helped Rosie Straw, no end. “I’ve struggled with my mental health for years and I’ve reached out for help so many times,” she explains. “I’ve been to doctors, spoken to mental health charities, I’ve done absolutely everything. But, hand on heart, the most support I’ve ever had is through my housing support workers.”

Now they're opening the charity to ordinary people who want to invest in something really positive. A share offer that returns 5% they say, and helps people make a positive new start.

Via: ethex.org

Inspiring architectural news from Staten Island where a new breakwater has been built that makes room for nature in the most brilliant way.

Say hello to Kate Orff, from the firm Scape, who look at architecture in a very modern way and who designed what she calls Living Breakwaters, which maximise the potential habitat for marine life: “Architecture must recognize its ecological and social responsibilities (says Kate). Living Breakwaters does exactly that. As such, this relatively low-cost, low-tech response provides a seminal example of how to design not against but with nature in adapting to the changes that lie ahead.” It’s already won an award and the citation read that it’s an “ingenious mix of natural and carefully modelled artificial elements that mimic naturally occurring reef formations in order to support marine life”. The gaps between these interesting ribbed shapes will fill with mussels and other bivalves to make the structure stronger and even better at protecting New Yorkers from severe weather. They even feature shapes that make tidal rock pools, they’ve thought of everything. Have a look for yourself, it’s such a great idea!

Via: goodnewsnetwork.org