For the past 25 years, Calico has been working hard to provide quality services that make a real difference to people’s lives. Since 2000, we’ve grown from a housing association into an innovative group of businesses and charities – and every step we’ve made has helped us become who we are today… and we’re so proud of how far we’ve come.
Here are some of our key milestones…
2000 - New millennium, new beginnings
Months earlier, Calico was formed after being set up to accept 5,000 homes from Burnley Council. In March, the transfer of properties is complete, marking the start of Calico- formerly known as Burnley and Padiham Community Housing (BPCH).
2004 - We got our name as we know it!
We got the name you all know today after we re-branded ourselves as Calico Homes and moved into Centenary Court.
2007 - Introducing Calico Enterprise
Calico Enterprise formed to deliver floating support, Calico interiors (painting and decorating in properties), Constructing the Future (jobs and training scheme designed to create roles in supplier chain through apprenticeships).
2008 - Hirst Gardens is our first
Work started our first ever new build scheme called Hirst Gardens, completing the project in Feb 2008.
2008 - Centenary Court gets a face lift!
Our had office on Centenary Way was refurbed for the very first time… Back then, the office looked pretty different. In fact, downstairs was still a pub! (Regulars will remember it as The Litten Tree).
2009 - Educating Burnley
Calico Academy was launched to train tenants in ‘customer scrutiny skills’, giving people the skills necessary to provide constructive feedback to the business so that we can improve our services for everyone.
Our customers are at the heart of what we do and we’re very proud that we were able to give them a voice!
2009 - Furniture Matters to us
Furniture Matters was launched to provide quality, second hand furniture to low-income households. Since then, we have helped countless families, businesses and charities to furnish their homes and offices. Providing comfort and style for over 15 years!
2011 - Warm welcome to Safenet
Safenet joined us, bringing domestic abuse support services based in Burnley, Lancaster, Bury, Preston, Chorley, Leyland and Wyre to the Calico Group.
2011 - Our properties get some TLC
Facelifting starts on thousands of Calico properties to give our customers’ homes a little TLC. Updates included jobs like external wall insulation to keep them a little warmer.
2012 - Embracing multi-cultural day
Our first ever multicultural day was held – which has since evolved into This Is Me! We have always celebrated diversity in the workplace and love to shine a light on the positive impact it has on the company and everyone who works here.
2012 - Ring Stones join us
Ring Stones was formed and has been constructing commercial and residential properties throughout the Northwest ever since – from Dovestone Gardens to Kinross Street and beyond! As a values-led construction company, the wellbeing of the community is at the heart of everything they do.
2012 - Moving beyond Burnley
Our first new scheme outside of Burnley was born – Cobden Mill in Sabden, which brought 127 new homes to the village. Just another step towards providing high-quality, affordable homes to people of the local community!
2013 - Becoming a family
Acorn Recovery Projects and Whitworth Care (now known as Syncora Care) joined… and with all these new editions, it seemed like the perfect time to set up The Calico Group as a parent company.
2014 - Anthony becomes Chief Exec
Anthony Duerden makes his way back to Calico, firstly as Director of Customer Services, before taking the role of Chief Exec of the Group.
2014 - Persevering with new developments
We’re continuing to build our portfolio of new developments, with work starting on Perseverance Mill. It’s completed two years later in 2018.
2015 – Alright, AftaThought
Liverpool based AftaThought join us, bringing another element of creativity to the growing group. For over 30 years, they have been creating bespoke drama-based training sessions for the workplace, using actors and skilled facilitators to deliver sessions that are impactful and memorable.
2016 – Delphi Medical join us
Leading independent provider of drug and alcohol treatment services, Delphi Medical, officially became part of The Calico Group to work closely with Acorn Recovery Projects.
2016 - Helping charities, One Brick at a Time...
Calico’s charity offering expands out of the UK, with a team heading over to Uganda to build schools alongside One Brick at a Time.
2016 - A big Winn for Burnley
Perseverance Mill project is completed and the block of flats named after Winn McGeorge (one of the founders of Calico Homes) along with late husband.
2016 - Bank Parade opens its doors
Acorn brings their rehabilitation services to Burnley, opening their live-in rehab accommodation on Bank Parade near the town centre – hence the name!
PS… Did you now, it used to be student accommodation?
2017 – Calico does Strictly
Everyone gets their glammed up to take on the first Calico Come Dancing at Blackpool’s iconic Tower Ballroom.
2017 - Expanding Horizons in Blackpool
The Group reached new areas, winning the contract to manage Horizon in Blackpool. Horizon delivers alcohol, drugs and sexual health support for all Blackpool residents from two locations – Winstone House on Church Street and The Lighthouse on Dickson Road.
2017 - Taking pride in our Group
Following the success of our internal This is Me LGBTQ+ group, over 30 colleagues from across the Group attended our very first pride event!
2017 - Burnley's first recovery refuge
At Jane’s Place, Residents are supported to recover from both domestic abuse and additional issues, such as use of drugs and alcohol. Jane’s Place provides both domestic abuse focused recovery group work and bespoke group work programmes to motivate residents towards recovery.
It was named after Blackpool 26-year-old nurse Jane Clough, who was murdered by her partner outside Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
2018 - Here comes the summer
We hosted our first One Calico Summer event. Activities and events to get colleagues together and engaging in the work the Group was doing… There was even a silent disco.
2018 - All new at Barley View
Barley View, Syncora Care’s first purpose-built accommodation opens, bringing residential and specialist dementia care to Whitworth.
2018 - The Gateway to more recovery services
We opened our complex needs homelessness scheme in Burnley (at the top of Westgate to be precise). The scheme provides support and accommodation that not only puts a roof over peoples’ heads, but also works with them to understand the underlying cause of homelessness and prevent them in a trauma-informed way. Gateway services have since expanded to cover lots of people across the north west, including floating support, young person’s Pathfinder scheme and resettlement team for refugees.
2018 - Project SEARCH Burnley welcomes first students
Delivered in partnership with Burnley College and Lancashire County Council, DFN Project Search supports young people with learning disabilities through a work placement within The Calico Group (we’re their host employer).
Through our supported internships, young people gain the skills needed to maximise their potential and find paid employment in the future.
2020 - Pandemic brings Burnley Together
Due to the covid response, businesses across Burnley got together to support people struggling locally – it became known as Burnley Together!
2021 - We're continuing to Thrive
Located on the ground floor of Centenary Court, we launched our new face-to-face Youth Hub, Thrive. The service gives unemployed young people the tailored support they need to find employment. Thrive utilises a partnership between Jobcentre Plus and Burnley Council to support 16-24-year-olds across the borough.
2022 - Under the Roof of the Sky
Badkamra released powerful documentary around homelessness in Manchester. Under the Roof of the Sky premiered in June 2022, featuring honest and thought-provoking accounts from those who have experienced life on the city streets.
The documentary film went on to win “Best documentary” at the London independent film awards.
2022 - Sparking recovery in Blackburn with Darwen
We launched a partnership to help people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction called Spark.
Spark is Blackburn with Darwen’s trusted substance misuse service, providing confidential support of BwD Council, supporting people on their journey to a positive future.
2023 - Things are great now we're Down Town
Burnley Together’s community store at the heart of Burnley Town Centre, ‘Down Town’, opened its doors!
It became Burnley’s second Community Grocery Store which helps bridge the gap between food banks and supermarkets and provided a space for community activities – it even has a cafe.
..The Duchess of York has even come to visit.
Want to hear what our colleagues have to say?
We’ve asked colleagues from around the Group to tell us about their favourite moments and milestones, so we can reflect on the amazing work everyone has contributed to over the last quarter of a century.
