Throughout this period we experienced a very challenging few months, coping with a reduced workforce due to high colleague absences due to Coronavirus or through isolation, along with managing a backlog of over 1600 repairs that were in our system throughout the lockdown periods. Naturally, we also experienced difficulty from time to time in accessing customers’ homes to do repairs too. Our partner organisations and contractors also experienced their own issues due to the pandemic, in particular their supply chain and ability to locate parts, which then impacted on our ability to resolve some issues customers may have experienced. It is fair to say this has been the most challenging time I have experienced in my career. As we now move to a more normal way of life, we are focused on managing and maintaining our homes and delivering services to the standards that both you and I expect, as I understand that you all have been impacted heavily throughout this difficult time. It’s in this context that I am really proud to say we have spent £7m investing in improving customer homes, with improvement works continuing at a pace.

As lockdown lifted over the summer, I did get the opportunity to get out with colleagues to meet customers and hear first-hand what it felt like to be a Great Places customer. I also visited some of the community organisations which provided life-changing support and services to our customers affected by the pandemic, and was humbled by their stories.