By Marcus Canning, Director, Mount Green

This month marks one year since Mount Green joined forces with Stonewater, officially becoming part of the Stonewater Group along with Greenoak Housing Association.

Mergers in the housing sector can sometimes be met with scepticism, particularly when smaller housing associations integrate with larger ones. Concerns often centre around the loss of localised service and the potential for residents to feel like just another number. However, our experience over the past year tells a different story – one of enhanced services, strengthened communities and tangible improvements for our residents.

Rather than losing our identity, Mount Green has been able to build on its local knowledge and close resident relationships, while benefiting from the additional resources, expertise and economies of scale that come from being part of a larger group. The team here have not only maintained our resident-focused approach, but, in many cases, have significantly improved services, showing that when small, community-driven organisations collaborate with well-resourced partners, the results can be hugely positive.

Delivering real benefits for residents

The partnership has allowed Mount Green to make significant strides in enhancing residents’ homes and communities. Access to improved funding streams, such as our already successful community improvement fund, which was doubled in size by Stonewater, has enabled us to act directly on resident feedback and deliver very specific improvements.

These have included new outdoor storage to help keep shared spaces tidy and clutter-free, railings to improve safety in communal gardens, ensuring young children have a secure place to play, extra bin storage and external lighting, landscaping projects, and a greenhouse for residents who wanted to grow their own plants and vegetables, bringing further benefits of socialisation and a sense of community.

Being able to deliver these seemingly small additions and improvements have provided real, visible changes that have had an immediate and positive impact on residents’ daily lives.

Beyond physical improvements, the partnership has also created new opportunities for residents to access financial and wellbeing support. Through the Longleigh Foundation, a charitable fund set up by Stonewater, our team has been able to provide crucial aid to residents facing unexpected challenges.

One resident received financial assistance to help recover from a devastating flood, while another, dealing with complex mental health needs, was able to furnish their home with essential items, creating a more stable and supportive living environment. Being able to apply for these grants provides a lifeline that has helped residents regain independence and security.

Access to Stonewater’s specialist damp and mould team has also helped to improve our ability to tackle these issues effectively and prevent them from becoming long-term problems.

Additionally, thanks to the partnership with Greenoak Housing Association, we’ve significantly enhanced our repairs and maintenance service, forming our own inhouse direct labour organisation (DLO). This means we can respond to repairs more quickly and efficiently, ensuring residents receive the high-quality service they expect and deserve.

The DLO will now be extended to more homes across Surrey and Sussex, as Mount Green takes over the management of Stonewater’s properties in our local areas – allowing more residents to benefit from localised services and community partnerships.

A model for collaboration in the sector

I’m proud of what the team has achieved in our first year as part of the Stonewater Group, but we’re far from done. There’s so much more to look forward to as we continue to grow and enhance services.

As a relatively small housing provider, we’re excited about our ambitious target to increase our homes from 1,600 to 5,000, leveraging Stonewater’s resources and expertise.

We’re also launching a new resident portal, designed to give residents easier, more streamlined access to services and support. Improved communication channels, including expanded phone lines, will further improve the way we interact with residents and respond to their needs.

The past year has demonstrated that mergers don’t have to mean a loss of identity or diluted service. Instead, when approached in the right way, they can offer the best of both worlds – maintaining, and building on, local knowledge and resident relationships while gaining the infrastructure and expertise needed to drive meaningful change.

As we celebrate this milestone, I’m incredibly proud of what’s been achieved by Mount Green’s team so far, and I’m excited about the journey ahead. This partnership is proof that small, community-focused organisations and larger, better-resourced ones can work together to deliver real, lasting benefits for residents.