Annual Review to Tenants 2012 HOUSING ASSOCIATION
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ANNUAL REVIEW TO TENANTS 2012
Welcome to the annual review of Old Oak Housing Association Chair’s report Councillor Wesley Harcourt The annual review offers Old Oak board the opportunity to reflect back on the past year. This year, as well as looking back, the board has been looking forward. We took time out to reflect on the achievements and lessons of the last 12 years and decide how best to focus the energies of staff and the board over the next three years, so that those receiving services from Old Oak receive maximum/real benefits.
We also want to continue to make improvements to your homes so that you feel proud to live in them. To do this we plan to reduce costs and make savings so that more money can be used to make your home a better place. We plan to make savings without affecting the quality of service; for example by reducing the time between letting properties, rent loss is avoided and money saved can be reinvested into Old Oak homes. What matters to you, the residents of Old Oak community, is key to the future direction of Old Oak governance. We understand that a quality repairs maintenance service is one of these important issues. Sometimes we don’t meet the level of quality we would like to see, so we will always want to listen so we can understand and learn how to make things better. We hope that you will all be part of the journey to make Old Oak community even stronger.
With the successful refurbishment and modernisation of Old Oak homes almost complete, it is time to place a stronger focus on improving the lives of the Old Oak residents and community. We want to build on the current success of the community and children’s centre as a popular hub for providing information and activities to all members of our diverse community.
Chair – Cllr Wesley Harcourt
Putting you at the heart of everything we do
Each year, we publish a review of what’s happened over the past year and like most years it’s been busy and eventful. We’ve worked hard to make sure that you value the services we deliver and that they reflect your needs. We’ve listened to you and this is what we have done…
Tenant Involvement and empowerment:
We spoke to some of you about welfare and how to deal with benefit changes that might affect you. Our Friendship Club, for those aged over 50, organised day trips and visits. We provide a work placement opportunity for one of you, who then went on into full time paid work.
Tenancy:
With the help of new IT software, we have a better monitoring system to record cases such as anti-social behaviour and domestic violence.
Our Old Oak Centre continues to be the hub of involvement and activity for many of you, where we refer you to employment and welfare advice and offer services for children. You helped us review our children’s services at the Old Oak Centre, as parents completed surveys, which will ensure continual improvements.
Links have been made with the local authority to provide more support to those wanting to enter sheltered accommodation. Old Oak board agreed the introduction of five year fixed term tenancies.
Neighbourhood and community:
A youth forum has been established to increase the range of activities for young people.
Our new ‘Neighbourhood Agreement’ now sets out your concerns and priorities for improvement, sent to all residents. Three new CCTV security cameras have been installed on the estate, in partnership with local authority’s and the Safer Neighbourhood Team.
Value for money:
Our new grounds maintenance contract has produced £10K of annual savings, and cost has been apportioned to all residents living at Old Oak, for fairness.
did you know? We’ve received £300k in funding for the centre which has meant more services for you as well as more sharing of resources with our partners Governance & financial viability:
We have carried out a recruitment programme to look for new tenant board members.
Home:
Our repairs contractor has set up a local office, increasing efficiencies in the service they provide.
Our Old Oak’s management structure has been reviewed and we’ve established future challenges.
We managed to make sure three properties were filled after tenants vacated the very next day, so there was no rental loss and this money could be reinvested back into our homes. We identified two properties that were illegally being occupied and made sure they were available for tenants that needed them. Data has is being gathered for properties that need new kitchens and bathrooms in the coming years.
did you know? Three homes have been modernised to provide more space suitable for families
A new three year ‘Health & Wealth Strategy’ is in place to promote healthy living and future prospects for residents.
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ANNUAL REVIEW TO TENANTS 2012
You said We would like more activities for older people
we have Worked with the Old Oak Friendship club to organise day trips and events
You said You wanted another stay and play session at the centre
we have We have added another session in the morning
You said You would like to get your information about our services at times to suit you
we have Developed our own website so information can be accessed 24 hours a day
Real Life Sandra and her family live at Old Oak. Her husband works part time and she is a stay at home Mum, on a low income. Back in 2010, Sandra started to visit the Old Oak Centre to try and increase prospects for herself and her family. Over the last couple of years, Sandra’s children attended sessions such as ‘Stay and Play’ and ballet at the centre, while she enjoyed the cookery class, first aid training and our ‘Triple PW’ parenting programme. Now that her children are older, Sandra is interested in returning to work to gain some financial independence and save some money to study. She has joined our WISHES programme were we discovered that Sandra has completed three years of further education, studying teaching in Brazil. With the help from our ‘Work Club’ Sandra has updated her CV and has been applying for jobs. She has secured five interviews and been offered three separate cleaning jobs, as well as looking to help out as a volunteer at the centre and return to studying
STAFF
BOARD
David Leach
Director
Cllr Wesley Harcourt
(Chair) LBHF 1998
Carla Martin
Neighbourhood Services Manager
Abdul Jammohammed FM
2002
Jackie Feeney
Community & Children’s Centre Manager
Alan Engele
Tenant
2007
Juliette Walcott
Neighbourhood Manager
Cllr Elaine Chumnery
LBHF
2009
Sarah Byron Moore Neighbourhood Manager
Brendan Sarsfield
FM
2010
Elizabeth Carlin
Admin Support Officer
Mark Highton
LBHF
2010
Lola Aroun
Admin Support Officer
Tony Hennessy
LBHF
2010
Claire Duffy
Family Outreach Worker
John Schofield
FM
2012
Myrtle Nixon
Children’s Centre Teacher
Kathleen Francois
Tenant
2010
Kasia Kwiatecka
Early Years Worker
John Schofield
FM
2012
Rebecca Willett
Senior Family Support Outreach Worker
Eleanor Harrington Centre Administrator Joseph Gandaa
Play worker
Lydia Gandaa
Art Tutor
Narendra Valand
Adults IT Tutor
Alan Smith
Young People IT Tutor
Vacant
Community Involvement Officer
Old Oak Old Oak House 43-45 Erconwald St London W12 0BP Tel: 020 8743 5486 Fax: 020 8740 3899
Part of the Family Mosaic Group