Connections Autumn 2014 East edition

your quarterly magazine from family mosaic

eat your way to

better health

eat well on a budget 4 chefs in the making 5 boot camp gourmets 6

autumn 2014

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editorial we can...

news round-up

healthy choices

get due credit

Eating well isn’t always easy.

I’m lucky that I now earn a good wage so my family has choices about what we eat, although our choices aren't always the healthiest!

As the child of Irish immigrants who arrived in England with nothing, I haven’t always had that choice. Dad got a job at the Ford car factory in Dagenham as a fork-lift driver. Mum was a nurse.

There were hard times, especially when Ford’s was on strike and Dad didn’t get paid, but my parents made sure I never went without.

They were great parents and, when I think of Family Mosaic’s tenants, I imagine you being a lot like my parents and their friends – working hard for the good of your family.

But I think times are harder now.

We come under much greater pressure from the food industry to choose the foods that will make them the most profit rather than the foods that are best for us.

Sophisticated marketing campaigns influence the food we buy and our high streets are filled

inside this issue 4, 5

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10

special feature

finding work

home moves

Eating well on a budget: our tips

helping hand

go wests!

Mike thought he'd never find work again

The Swanns and the Wests found their homes were a perfect match for a swap

Keep healthy on meals that taste great but won't cost the earth

fancy food professional touch Learning to cook could even lead to a career.

Looking good for Shaun!

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regional news

New ways to qualify for this prestigious award for young people

6, 7 credits: EDITORIAL portrait by paul SANDERS

Youth Boot Camp rise to 'Masterchef' challenge

Local round-up of news from down your way

11 your services

Brendan Sarsfield Chief Executive

if you've got Green fingers we can Clear The Way to the perfect job Ever thought about becoming a gardener? Clear the Way is training Family Mosaic residents for free and we're offering a paid work placement when you finish the course. We'll also cover your travel expenses.

repairs updates

young people

Duke of edinburgh award activities

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New leaseholder queries line Dedicated helpline starts

East: Ms R Franklin, N15 Essex: Mrs M Errser, SS12 North/west: Mr J Bell, N8 South: Mr and Mrs Clarke, SE6

Every adult in the UK has a credit score. The higher your score, the less companies charge you for some services. The reason is simple: your credit score tells them that you are good at paying your bills and paying back your loans.

In the UK, credit scores are worked out by various agencies, one of which is called Experian.

But there is one simple problem – the agencies track how well home buyers pay back their mortgage (the loan used to buy a property) but they do not keep tabs on rent payments to housing associations.

That means most housing association tenants have a very thin credit file. Experian doesn't have enough data to judge how responsible you are with money.

That's all about to change.

Experian and Big Issue Invest have a new scheme – The Rental

Exchange. Under this scheme, by agreeing to let us share your rent record with Experian, your credit score will start to go up.

Among the many plus points: ●● you'll find it easier to get a bank account, credit card or loan and will be charged less interest ●● you'll pay less for many services ●● you'll have an online ID card and proof of your address.

What do you need to do?

Nothing at all unless you want to opt out, in which case tell us.

Otherwise we will share your rent history with Experian who will use it to give you a more accurate credit score. Look out for a letter giving more information about this with your rent statement. If you still have questions, call Viv Davies on q020 7089 1150 or email Vivian.davies@familymosaic.co.uk

A credit score is...?

A credit score is a personal history of your spending and borrowing. Details of the big transactions you make go to a credit reference agency like Experian, which uses them to calculate your credit score.

Because rent payments are not counted, most tenants have a low credit score. This makes it hard, or even impossible, to get a mobile phone contract, open a bank account, take out a loan or insurance, switch power suppliers or get a credit card.

Those who manage to do so are usually charged more for these services or are asked to pay a higher rate of interest on loans and credit cards than people with a good credit score.

Join us and….Be Heard so you think politics don't affect you?

We want to increase your voice and representation in politics. Earlier this year we launched our Be Heard campaign. You can now visit our website www.FM-BeHeard.co.uk or you can see what we're up to on social media @BeHeard_FM

New service launched and new London contractors

latest Rent draw winners The following tenants have won £250 each following our quarterly prize draw of tenants who keep their rent account in credit.

with fried chicken shops.

That does make it harder for us to make healthy choices, and to persuade our families to do likewise.

The jobs market is also less secure. With so many bills going up faster than income, I am sure many of you are looking to make savings.

So I hope this edition of Connections helps you to find ways to eat more healthily, and in ways that you can all afford.

Paying rent because you can't afford a mortgage could mean you're being charged more for loans, power bills, mobile phones, credit cards and more. We're about to call time on this double standard, getting a better deal for those of you who always pay your rent on time

Our next course starts on 18 September. To find out if places are still available or ask about future courses, call Joe Thomas on q07930 874 957 or email joe.thomas@ familymosaic.co.uk

We’re also busy planning an exciting event for 27 October for those of you aged 16-25. The day will include an information session at the Houses of Parliament, lunch, talks about the different ways that you can Be Heard, and more.

If you’d like to come along, find out more or become a Be Heard ambassador call Charlotte Sexton on q020 7089 1140 or email charlotte.sexton@familymosaic.co.uk

Aged 16 to 25?

27 October half-term Join us for a day at the Houses of parliament

All Be Heard ambassadors will get a campaign goodie bag and a £25 iTunes voucher

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special feature healthy eating

professional touch

eat well on a budget A healthy, balanced diet will make you more likely to feel good and a lot less likely to suffer health problems. But isn't that easier said than done?

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Low income, busy lifestyle, lots of mouths to feed... all these can make healthy eating seem like a luxury. Over the years we’ve run a lot of healthy eating and cooking projects. You can read about some of the latest on other pages in this issue. But where do you start?

Healthy eating doesn’t mean living on raw, grated vegetables.

And while sugar rightly gets bad press, most dieticians agree that the odd piece of cake or chocolate is fine if your diet is otherwise balanced. We also need some fat for energy and to process nutrients like vitamin C. The key to a healthy diet is everything in moderation.

Check the labels Most pre-packaged foods have a nutrition label on the side or back, including energy content. Remember that red equals bad for you, green is good.

Simple ways to spend less Plan meals ahead Plan your meals one week ahead - write shopping lists and stick to them. You’ll find you're a lot less likely to waste food.

Cook from scratch Takeaways are tempting if you’re tired but a lot are very high in fat, calories and salt. A typical takeaway doner kebab has twice the amount of fat and salt you should eat in any one day. Sauces push up the calorie content even higher. Why not instead try grilling lean meat at home, and serving it in a wholemeal pitta with a salad or thinly sliced vegetables.

Cut down on sugary drinks Coke, orange squash and other fizzy drinks and all the ‘sports’ drinks are packed with sugar.

They'll push up your calorie intake and shopping bill and damage your health. Fruit juice also has a lot of sugar. Try drinking smaller amounts of juice or mixing it with water.

Cook a whole chicken An average chicken-shop meal (chips, chicken and a drink) has a whopping 70% of your daily calories, over half your daily salt and half your daily fat. Why not roast a whole chicken instead.

Leave what you don't eat to cool then chill or freeze it and use to make other meals. Roasting is also healthier than deep fat frying, and using one chicken to make lots of meals will save you money.

Eat less fish and meat They are expensive ways to get protein. A lot of red meat is high in fat and processed meat is linked to lots of serious health problems, including heart and bowel disease.

Challenge yourself to eat at least one vegetarian meal a week. You’ll learn new recipes and save money.

Try also using cheaper fish or cuts of meat, like mackerel or beef shins.

Your freezer is your friend If you have a freezer, frozen fruit and veg are as good for you as fresh but keep for much longer.

Try to always have some frozen peas or spinach in the freezer. Freezers are also great for keeping leftovers or cooking in bulk. Make a large amount of a favourite dish, leave to cool then freeze in portion-sized containers for ready meals for when you don’t fancy cooking.

Eat more pulses Peas, beans and lentils are among the cheapest foods you can buy.

Dried or tinned, they keep for ages.

Pulses are low in calories and fat, but they are packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals and count towards your 5 A DAY. Use instead of meat, such as a chilli con carne with kidney beans or use chickpeas instead of chicken for your curry.

youth academy course opens doors

A career as a professional chef beckons for Brook House tenant Shaun, whose talents came to light through a recent cooking and healthy eating course.

Cooking from scratch

The course, run by our Youth Academy, taught young tenants to cook three-course dinners from scratch. More amazingly they're all now happily eating vegetables!

The course rounded off with a trip to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s restaurant 15 to see what it takes to be a professional chef. That was where Shaun was talent-spotted by 15's highly rated chef Jimmy.

The restaurant is well known for training and mentoring young people who have had a challenging start in life, much like our Brook House tenants.

Floury: making pasta at 15

inspring recipes

Young people from our latest Youth Boot Camp (above) recently took on a very tricky challenge, asked to create Masterchef-standard dishes on a very tight budget. Find out how well they performed on page 8.

Shaun is now shadowing Jimmy as his apprentice and, after he completes his training, the restaurant has promised it will help him find a paid position.

But Shaun isn't the only one to gain from the cooking and healthy eating course. All of the Brook House cooking team learned a new skill that took them a step closer to their Duke of Edinburgh Award.

They also did circuit training and local voluntary work and, with just one outward bound expedition to go, will all soon qualify for bronze.

Frying start: Sean, Sam and Shaun

5 Read more about ways for young people to qualify for the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award through our Youth Academy on page nine of this issue of Connections

Cooks: young tenants with support staff, youth worker Fraser and 15 chef Jimmy

If you have free use of the internet, there are lots of websites and blogs offering recipes for delicious, healthy ‘budget’ meals.

A favourite of ours is A Girl Called Jack, written by a young single mother who started her blog while she was unemployed and struggling to cook tasty, nutritious food for her young son. http://agirlcalledjack.com Why not also check out Change4Life's meal mixer, Love Food Hate Waste, The Skint Foodie, Frugal Queen and The Resourceful Cook.

For great tasting, healthy recipes that won't bust the bank, go to www.familymosaicconnections.co.uk

local news

from East London

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I just wanted the kids off the couch and out doing healthier activities

Community Champion Michelle Donelly

lichen court raises the roof for another good cause

couch potato ban!

Hackney Community Champion Michelle Donnelly called us to tell of her concerns about the lack of activities for young people in her area.

Michelle said she wanted to start a free community group ‘run by kids’ and encouraging ‘fitness and healthy eating’.

Lichen Court residents have been wearing their party hats again, for the third time raising money for a good cause – this time epilepsy.

Strawberry fields

Backed by the Community Champions team Michelle now runs keep fit and cooking/ healthy eating classes every Wednesdays after school at Morningside community hall.

‘I love hearing what vegetables the kids don’t like then finding ways of cooking to change their mind, like putting beetroot in a cake!’ Michelle said.

Tenant Jackie organised the strawberry tea, motivated by her concern that epilepsy, which her grandson has, gets less attention than other medical conditions.

Jackie was delighted by the day’s success. ‘We managed to raise £750,’ Jackie said. ‘The weather was great and everybody had fun, all in aid of a worthwhile cause. I was amazed at the outcome.’

Over 100 Lichen Court tenants turned out for the fun day. Thanks to all of you who pitched in. All the money raised has gone to the Epilepsy Society.

If you have a good idea for your community, call Tobi Wilson, q07852 259 629 or email tobi.wilson@familymosaic.co.uk

home grown’s Best Possibly the best way to eat healthily is to grow your own vegetables. Growing them then dining on them together is a regular event for the gardening group at Marsh Hill, a mental health hub in Hackney Over the past three years the group of six regulars (rising to 10 in good weather!) has grown cabbages, beans and pumpkins. They recently made lunch with their own freshly harvested potatoes, chickpeas, chives, tomatoes and carrots.

The garden also has lots of fruit trees and bushes and this year they gave up a bumper crop of apples and gooseberries.

Most of the group don't cook much at home and usually eat a lot of meat but this year they have dined on vegetable stir fries, soups and curries, apple and rhubarb crumble, and gooseberry jam.

Last year they even raised enough to pay for a meal out at Hackney City Farm by selling their own home-made tomato chutney.

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Fresh from the garden: members of the Marsh Hill gardening group, sitting down to a home-grown feast of potatoes mashed with chives, and green beans, broadbeans, carrots, borlotti beans and chickpeas

meeting to munch the new friends who do lunch

Skill up to get online!

Our Get Connected project is now running accredited computer training courses for beginners and improvers, and some of you are turning into experts.

Tenant Carl Reddicks was the first to sign up to our digital skills course for improvers. In just three weeks he’d learnt enough to pass the European Computer ‘Driving Licence (ECDL), including Microsoft Word and Excel. Well done Carl.

Both courses run for nine weeks, with two sessions a week. Basic skills are taught to beginners - using a computer and the internet – to qualify for Digital Skills.

Improvers develop their skills to the more advanced level needed for most types of workplace, to qualify for the ‘driving licence’ (ECDL).

Everyone learns at different paces so we’re offering more informal learning as well, including one-toone sessions and computer clubs run by our volunteers.

Courses are running across London. If you are interested in attending or volunteering for a course or want to find out more, please call Lorraine Anderson on q07931 581 467 or lorraine. anderson@familymosaic.co.uk

Ready to serve: Lichen Courtiers

Delighted: happy grandma Jackie

Find out more: contact project coordinator Natasha Bested on q020 3544 9464 or email Natasha. bested@familymosaic.co.uk

A group of you from Hackney have been enjoying Friends who do lunch, a three-week healthy eating course for the over-50s, organised

by Natasha, who works with a chef and a dietitian.

It has been great for making new friends, they say, but they’ve also learned new ways to cook great tasting, healthy food on a budget.

Marcella has high cholesterol so wanted ways to prepare the sort of food she should eat. A big surprise for her was finding that oil, mustard and vinegar make a ‘tasty dressing’.

Patricia told us she had tried avocado for the first time and learnt new ways to use vegetables, like putting peppers in salads.

The course is being funded by the Big Lottery Activate programme.

To try your hand at two of the dishes – chuck-in salad and Vietnamese spring rolls with a soy ginger dipping sauce – go to www.familymosaicconnections.co.uk

young people

finding work helping hand gets mike Back to Work 8

After being out of work for many years, former Heathside & Lethbridge resident Mike thought he’d never manage to find another job. then something changed ‘Early in 2012 I was a househusband,' writes Mike. 'I’d been out of the workforce for 15 years, and considered myself pretty much unemployable. I was 54, had no recent work record and no employer references.

Long-term exposure

Mike’s health was poor, damaged by constant exposure over the years to traffic fumes from the road near his Lewisham Council flat.

‘The Heathside estate sits in a hollow just beside the A2 so the air quality is very poor,’ Mike says.

‘Like many of the adults there, and over half of the children, I suffered from acute asthma.’

We have for the past few years been working with the council to regenerate the estate, turning Heathside and Lethbridge into Parkside. And that, says Mike, was his turning point.

‘Family Mosaic’s employment team stepped into the picture and, just 2.5 years on, my life couldn't be more improved.’

Patricia Evans from the team had invited tenants to meet her one-toone to talk through their training and employment prospects.

‘I didn’t hold out much hope,’ says Mike. ‘But Patricia was very positive from the start. It soon had

a beneficial effect on me and I started job-seeking. Soon I was on courses at Family Mosaic’s head office to improve my CV, interview technique and interpersonal skills.

‘I had a couple of job interviews, which were a great learning experience, and I was offered a part-time post but wasn’t able to take it up at the time.’

After completing a voluntary placement Patricia found for him in our finance team, Mike says: ‘I was pleasantly surprised at how I began to feel like a working person again.’

Shortly after, Patricia invited Mike to an interview for a temporary post as bedroom tax project officer with Family Mosaic. ‘I’m pleased to say the position was soon extended from four to 16 months and a year later I was made a full-time employee.’

Patricia’s support, he says, was crucial. ‘She offered it all the way along, indeed right up to the present,’ Mike says. ‘I don’t know if she’s aware how very grateful I am for everything she’s done.’

Mike's also pretty pleased with the new family home. ‘I’m now in a new development in Brockley, which is truly wonderful. I can say with 100% confidence, not just for myself but my whole family as well, Family Mosaic transformed my life!'

❝ I can say with 100% confidence, not just for myself but

my whole family as well, Family Mosaic transformed my life!

youth boot campers try their hand at cordon bleu Tenants on our summer Youth Boot Camp in Brixton split into four teams for a Masterchef-inspired cooking competition to produce the best healthy, low cost dish.

Connections editor Charlotte Sexton, who helped judge their entries, said: 'I was really impressed by their enthusiasm and attention to detail. It was hard to judge but the panel settled for a summery mix of low fat grilled salmon served with salad and a berry smoothie.

‘I hope all those who took part will be inspired to try the dishes at home. Who knows, maybe in a couple of years we’ll be watching one of them on the real Masterchef!’

This was our first Youth Boot Camp with another landlord – Community Trust Housing. Eighteen tenants from both housing associations turned up twice a week for two weeks to work on their fitness, nutrition, money management and confidence.

Helping you go for gold 9

Bronzed: with proof of their new DofE award are (from left) Shaun, Raymond, Tara and Joy with youth worker Fraser

Hundreds of our young tenants are notching up points for their Duke of Edinburgh Award, and finding that getting a widely respected qualification is a lot more fun than you'd think The Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Awards are a great way to improve your skills and knowledge, while doing things you genuinely enjoy.

Check out the list on the right of projects already planned.

Get recognition

Win: Paisley Chileshe from group three plates up the salmon dish that won the judges' vote

Family Mosaic is a licensed DofE Award organisation and we run a diverse programme of activities for young people who want to work towards this much-prized award.

There are activities to suit all tastes, from sports to film-making, dance and costume design. You can take part in a project near your home or you can work on your own.

And our Youth Academy will help you every step of the way.

A group of our Brook House tenants, pictured above, have become accomplished cooks for their DofE award, and Shaun (left) is even planning a professional career as a chef (see page 5).

Whether you go for bronze, silver or gold, we'll support you and we can help with costs.

You will have to cover set areas, including learning a new skill, physical activity and volunteering.

You'll round off with an expedition, that we'll also help you plan.

For more information on the Youth Academy or the activities listed here, call Kirsty Young on q07958 115 040 or email youth. academy@familymosaic.co.uk

current activities Film making: 17 September start. Learn to make films then make your own, on issues affecting young people, as part of our Be Heard campaign Youth health champions: starts 7 October. Learn about promoting good health and volunteer for our health and wellbeing project Dance and costume making: starts 12 October Football sessions from 6-7pm in Tottenham (on Mondays), Hackney (on Tuesdays), Kennington (on Thursdays).

home moves

register or find out more about...

house exchange

www.houseexchange.org.uk

A tale of two families

your services

It's not poisonous, it won't hurt you, but it's a problem for us Is Japanese knotweed, pictured left, growing near your home or in your garden? If so, we'd like to know.

Japanese Knotweed was brought to the UK by Victorian botanists in the 19th century. Gardeners thought it pretty and valued it as a fastgrowing screen to block ugly views.

But it rapidly proved a problem for householders. Knotweed spreads quickly and, left unchecked, it can grow through cracks in concrete and asphalt, so it can do some damage to walls and drains.

Knotweed normally grows from March to October. The stems are a bit like bamboo, with purple flecks.

We have specialist contractors to treat knotweed. If you spot it growing in your garden, email estateservices@family mosaic.co.uk or callq 020 7089 1311. If you're not sure that the plant you've seen really is knotweed, email a photo to info@jkws.co.uk

If your home no longer suits you and renting privately or buying isn’t an option, why not swap? It worked for the Swanns and Wests It's independence for the kids and peace and quiet and our own space for mum and dad

‘My three-bedroom house was getting too much for me and, with Tracey having a heart condition, I decided to look for something smaller,’ she said.

A friend of a friend put Tracey in touch with the Wests, who shared a two-bedroom house nearby with their son, 8, and daughter, 17.

Hungry for a house move?

Look out for someone to swap with at our September mutual exchange event for south Londoners renting a home that's too big or too small.

You'll be able to register for House Exchange, a new swapping scheme we've joined that offers lots of swaps for those of you wanting

to move to a more suitably sized home.

This is the first of a series of events we're planning, with more in London in October and November.

Keep an eye on our website for details or register your interest in this event now at transferconsultation@familymosaic.co.uk

At a get-together, both families agreed to a mutual exchange.

‘Family Mosaic couldn’t have been more helpful. They made it so simple,’ Yvonne said.

Hannah Priest answered Yvonne’s first call to our customer care line to ask about the home swap. ‘She explained everything and started the exchange rolling,' she said.

Of Mike Lane, who handled the entire exchange, she noted: ‘He was very considerate and caring, right through to the removals. I was totally delighted.'

Mrs Frances West added: ‘We had been very happy where we were but the children really needed their own rooms as they got older.'

‘Now they have a whole floor to themselves. It’s independence for the kids and peace and quiet and our own space for mum and dad.'

just dial ✆ 0300 123 3456 » then press 2 open 8am-8pm ● mondays to fridays open saturday mornings ● 9am-1pm

Garden intruder

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Coming home to Mitcham after a brief hospital stay was all it took to persuade retired caterer Yvonne Swann that it was time to move.

She wasn't happy at the prospect of facing all the stairs in the threestorey house she shared with daughter-in-law Tracey – and they weren’t ideal for Tracey either.

calling the customer care line...

repairs in good hands We have signed up building and repairs contractors Mulalley to carry out improvements and repairs to our north London homes. Mulalley has a good reputation and has proved reliable on other contracts with us.

A new contractor is handling repairs to communal areas in London.

They began working for us in mid-July and are already doing a great job of clearing the backlog and keeping up with new jobs reported daily.

Handy to have around Since we started the Handy Service team back in 2012, customer satisfaction scores have regularly topped 100%.

Chart toppers

Since April 2014 the team has completed over 3,000 jobs in and around your homes, including a whopping 7,158 repairs.

The service has been such a success that we have now extended it to cover homes in both north and south London.

One satisfied resident told us: 'The Handy Service is a brilliant way of helping residents. It's a fantastic, fast, clean, warm and friendly service. Job completed to a perfect standard. Very pleased!'

new team to tackle trickier repairs issues Our customer care team has set up a new investigations team.

Its job is to look into any repairs queries that a customer care line repairs officer cannot resolve.

The team member looking into your query will make sure you get regular updates until the matter is properly sorted out.

Did you know? ●●

●● ●●

●● ●●

Between April and August we ordered 12,429 repairs (day to day, gas heating, specialist and those done by the handy service) complaints about repairs are down 50% on last year When a tenant leaves a property we get it repaired and fit for a new tenant in an average 10 days, beating the 14-day target A new five-year electrical testing programme is progressing well We have already checked for safety 99.5% of gas appliances installed by us in your homes.

Wouldn't you like to live in A greener, cleaner neighbourhood?

To ask our estate services contract team to visit your area email them at: Estate.Services@ familymosaic.co.uk

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Staying in touch Head office

Tenant enquiries

Leasehold enquiries

Care and support

Albion House, 20 Queen Elizabeth St, SE1 2RJ q020 7089 1000 www.familymosaic.co.uk

Call q0300 123 3456 then press option 2.

Lines open 8am 8pm on weekdays, 9am to 1pm on Saturdays h CustomerCareLine @familymosaic.co.uk

From 1 October onwards, call q0845 600 5850 h CCLHomeOwnership @familymosaic.co.uk

London q020 7089 1000 Essex q01268 498 500

Essex office Pembroke House, Northlands Pavement, Pitsea SS13 3DU q01268 498 500

Employment team q020 7089 1345

leaseholder queries line Leaseholders with queries will from 1 October be able to call a new team specialising in leasehold matters.

We have trained the team in residential block and estate management so they will be able to answer queries on these matters and communal repairs.

Contact the leasehold team on q0845 600 5850 or email CCLHomeOwnership @familymosaic.co.uk Tenants should carry on calling the CCL on q0300 123 3456.

The change follows analysis of your feedback on our customer services. We hope it improves our service and we welcome any further suggestions you have.

your annual report for 2014 This year we're aiming to save money and help the planet by putting the annual report for Family Mosaic tenants on our website instead of posting a copy out to each of you.

Read it online or download a pdf at familymosaic.co.uk If you would prefer to have a printed copy posted to you, please contact Joanna Birch on 020 7089 1046.

Report repairs q0300 123 3456, then press option 1. Report repairs to us online at www.familymosaic.co.uk

Welfare rights officers north west London q020 7089 1323 south/east London q020 7089 1187 Hackney/Essex: q01268 498 563

Stoptober: the 28-day smoke-free challenge Stoptober is Public Health England's new 28-day stop smoking challenge, offering help to smokers across the country to quit the habit for good.

The challenge comes after new research which finds that, if you can stop smoking for 28 days, you have a five times higher chance of quitting for good.

You can find out more about Stoptober online and can order posters, leaflets and stickers for free from the campaign website at www.smokefree.nhs.uk/Stoptober

Did you know? ●● Smoking is still the

biggest cause of premature death in England, killing 80,000 people a year ●● One in two long-term smokers will die prematurely, from a smoking-related disease

does family mosaic need to improve its communication?

MESSAGE FROM THE INDEPENDENT RESIDENT SCRUTINY PANEL We are continuing our review of how Family Mosaic communicates with residents. We are now looking at how the Incomes Team communicate.

Our work will include letters, emails and telephone communication from the Incomes Team. We will also be looking at Family Mosaic’s website.

If you have any feedback, examples of communication or experience you would like us to be aware of, please email us at fmirsp@outlook. com or write to The Independent Resident Scrutiny Panel, c/o Family Mosaic, Albion House, 20 Queen Elizabeth Street, London SE1 2RJ. Resident views should be heard and we want to bring them to Family Mosaic’s attention, your input will help us to do that. We hope to hear from you soon.

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