Staff at a Cambridgeshire housing association have marked its 90^th birthday with a 90 mile bike ride around the county.

On Saturday 10 June, six staff from CHS Group settled into their saddles to visit 12 of its service users and residents celebrating their own 90^th birthdays this year. Beginning the ride in Histon the team peddled around the region, passing through Ely, Haverhill and Melbourn and before finishing the celebratory route back at CHS’s headquarters, Endurance House in Histon.

The organised ride is part of a business-wide initiative to mark the special anniversary. Each area of the organisation is celebrating the occasion with an initiative focusing on the number of years it’s been active. Employees in the housing services department will be visiting 90 customers they have limited contact with. The advice and learning team has pledged to get 90 people into work or training by the end of 2017 and staff at Vera James House care home will be making their own recipe book. Staff working for Cambridge and Counties Developments are planting 90 trees during 2017 and will launching a piece of public art at its Waterbeach development made of stone, the anniversary symbol for 90.

Nigel Howlett, chief executive at CHS Group, said: “Our 90^th anniversary has given us the opportunity to collectively reflect on the past and look to the future. We’re proud to have supported the Cambridge community with the delivery of high-quality homes and services for 90 years and will continue to evolve and adapt to meet the needs of our customers and service users. It’s a fantastic opportunity for our team to come together with those we serve to celebrate our success and build foundations for the future.”

The 90th initiatives are being undertaken by all areas of the business and encompass a diverse range of activities. Employees in the housing services department are embarking on a challenge that embodies the CHS spirit by visiting 90 customers who they have limited contact with on a day-to-day basis. This supports residents and provides them with allocated time where they can discuss any issues they might be experiencing. The CHS advice and learning team has set themselves the challenge of getting 90 people into work or training by the end of the year. The team supports and benefits those living in Cambridgeshire by providing information, advice and guidance on education, training and employment matters.

Throughout this anniversary year more initiatives will be carried out by employees, incorporating ideas that enhance the community spirit and have an influence on all service areas, enabling service users to experience this special time in the CHS Group’s history.