Wave from your window scheme for sheltered housing tenants to be rolled out after success in Spalding

A new initiative called Wave From Your Window aims to help those living in sheltered housing have a socially distanced catch-up.

South Holland District Council’s housing team came up with the idea as a way to communicate with housing tenants during the pandemic.

In the sessions, a council housing officer will walk slowly along the length of the estate on a pre-arranged day and time. Tenants are encouraged to wave at them from their front window or door if they have anything they’d like to discuss, so the officer knows to stop and talk to them from a safe distance.

The new scheme has been successfully trialled at sites in Spalding and Holbeach, and the team are now looking to extend the trial and implement it across all sites in the district if it continues to be successful.

Councillor Christine Lawton, portfolio holder for housing and health, said: “It is so important to maintain contact with our tenants, especially those who are more vulnerable, during these difficult times.

“I am thrilled that this has taken off and seems to be so popular with our residents, and am confident that this simple but effective means of communications will provide a vital lifeline to many of them. I look forward to hearing how well it is received elsewhere in the district and want to thank the team for their hard work making it a reality.”