As our Cornwall House Draw supporting Blood Cancer UK comes to an end, we’ve been reflecting on how we can better serve the communities where our houses are based and we’re excited to announce that in addition to the fully-furnished house we’re giving away in Cornwall to one lucky winner, we’ve also made a £25,000 donation to the Cornwall Rural Housing Association.
This donation to the CRHA means Martha Grayston, 21, who lives in Bodmin with her partner Jack and their four-and-a-half-year-old son, Kierran, can boost her role as business administrator with the organisation from part time to full time. Martha’s role is central to CRHA – she is a direct contact for tenants looking to report repairs and maintenance, liaising with contractors and overseeing jobs through to completion. From September, she will also be working in housing management.
Chief Executive of CRHA David Bolton said: “Martha has only been with CRHA for about four months - yet has made a huge impression on the whole team. This donation means we can secure her role at full-time hours for the next two years. As a people focused business, our people are absolutely at the heart of our organisation. Being able to invest in local talent such as Martha is so important for our future growth in supporting people to find an affordable home in Cornwall.”
Cornwall Rural Housing Association (CRHA) is a leading provider of good quality affordable rural housing across Cornwall and on the Isles of Scilly. CRHA provides a mix of affordable and social rental homes as well as providing shared ownership opportunities, making a real difference to nearly a thousand local people in our rural communities.
Martha said: “It’s an amazing opportunity. I never thought I’d work in this sort of role. I’ve enjoyed the part time role, but I’m really looking forward to more responsibility. We are buying a house and this is great timing as we get ready to set up our home for our family.”
Scott Mann, MP for North Cornwall said: “I have had the pleasure of seeing Cornwall Rural Housing Association’s work, and there is no greater pleasure than helping a local family get the keys to a local rural affordable home. When I heard Omaze were doing a house draw in North Cornwall I felt that a local collaboration with Cornwall Rural Housing was a natural fit for a charitable donation. Omaze has been brilliant and generous and this is exactly the kind of collaboration we need more of in Cornwall to deliver the much needed homes that the Duchy needs.”
Our very own James Oakes, Chief International Officer at Omaze said: “We explored the potential for Omaze to help out with a local cause and with Scott Mann’s invaluable on the ground insight, immediately zeroed in on the CRHA and the work they do. We are delighted to be supporting the next stage in Martha’s career and the positive impact her permanent role will have at the CRHA and on local people in the area.”
There’s still time to enter the Cornwall House Draw for your chance to win a £3,000,000 house with panoramic views of the Camel Estuary and support the groundbreaking research of Blood Cancer UK. So, what are you waiting for? Do something omazing!
