The Guardian: Haami in Queen’s Park
When Haami became a property guardian in 2021, she began volunteering as a tech lead at Code Your Future, a non-profit organisation supporting refugees and those on low incomes to jump start their careers in technology. She has since been directing her voluntary efforts towards the Royal Free Hospital, where she has been assisting with admin duties with the palliative care team as they are inundated with with patients.
Haami says: “Becoming a Dot Dot Dot guardian was an easy decision to make. Having privately rented in the past, I was fed up with strict regulations on decorating my space along with lengthy contracts. The chance to pick up a paintbrush combined with my volunteering experience and the warmth I felt from Dot Dot Dot upon viewing the place, I jumped at the opportunity to move into my own property guardian flat.
I feel incredibly lucky to be living in an area of London that I love, experiencing opportunities through my volunteering that would otherwise have passed me by and to have the ability to pursue my goals. I know being a property guardian is temporary but it’s a fantastic stepping stone while I plan my next move.”
The Charity: Bliss
While training to become a midwife, Jessica often helped to deliver premature babies. This was when she first became aware of Bliss, which stocked baby clothes at the hospital where she worked. But it was only when she started looking at volunteering opportunities as a property guardian that she started volunteering for the organisation.
“When I became a Dot Dot Dot guardian, I saw Bliss listed on their volunteering resources for new guardians. I was inspired. I had forgotten about the amazing work Bliss does, and I knew straight away that I wanted to volunteer for them.
I loved being a midwife, but I realised over time that the job just didn’t suit me. Volunteering for Bliss has been such an amazing way to honour midwifery and stay connected to my past work.”
The Building: Uxbridge
In 2019, Shepherds Bush Housing Group (SBHG) completed the purchase of a two-storey residential property in Uxbridge, west London. This move was part of a redevelopment plan by the Group which aimed to provide more affordable homes to local residents in the London Borough of Hillingdon.
Following the purchase, SBHG grew increasingly concerned about the security of the building. Its location in a quiet industrial estate on the edge of the town had already encouraged one serious security breach as pre-existing residents vacated the self-contained units. And if left empty and unsecured it was likely to become victim to further ASB, squatting, and undesirable activities.
Placing Dot Dot Dot guardians in the properties since May 2019 has ensured that maintenance issues and undesirable activities are significantly reduced, and those that do occur are handled swiftly and efficiently. Our continued management of the building has also given SBHG the freedom to redirect energy and resources towards more useful activities. Less concerned with costly security measures and financial liabilities, the Group can spend more time on making the right decisions for the future of the site.
