Isle tenants mark royal birthday

Groups of Ongo Homes tenants have been given £250 each so they can mark the Queens landmark birthday with community events to get as many local people involved as possible.

Residents in Barton are holding a street party on Fairfield Drive on Sunday June 12. There’s going to be a barbecue, a bouncy castle, face painting, stalls and the emergency services will also be attending. It’s taking place between noon until 4pm.

Residents on Lodge Moor are holding a party including children’s party games on Saturday June 11 and Tesco has donated some food for people to enjoy.

On Sunday June 12 residents in Crowle are having a tea party and the children will be creating bunting with pictures of the Queen and using it to decorate the gardens.

The Queensway Community Group is going to create ‘Elizabeth Gardens’ with the help of Ongo caretakers. The garden will include a seating area and planters full of flowers. Market Hill, Scunthorpe will also be hosting a vintage tea party.

Sheltered scheme residents are also getting involved. There will be a barbecue at Wold Court, Wrawby and at Ancholme Gardens, Brigg there’s going be a buffet for all residents to attend and enjoy the celebrations.

Fran Rhodes, estate co-ordinator in Barton, said: “Residents in Barton really wanted to get involved in the Queen’s birthday celebrations, so tenants from the Caistor Road Estate have organised a large street party for the town to enjoy.

“Organised by local people, this event is about bringing communities together so they can mark the royal birthday, but also to create better relationships between residents which will benefit the community as a whole.”

Tim Mills, chair of The Queensway Community Group, said: “We wanted to set up a gardening club, so ‘Elizabeth Gardens’ will mark the start of that. It’s something everyone who lives in the flats can get involved in; you can’t beat a spot of gardening. We have a lot of older residents here and doing a bit of gardening helps to get people talking and can combat loneliness.”

Karen Cowan, head of customer and support services said: “Our residents’ associations and community groups work hard to create a sense of community where they live and try to make a difference in their local areas.

“The cash they have received from North Lincolnshire Council to help organise the royal celebrations has been a real boost to them and they are putting it to good use.

“Ongo staff are getting involved to support the groups with the events and our caretakers are going to help create the gardens at Queensway fulfilling our promise to put everything we do back into local communities.”