Inspired Living – Autumn 2015

InspiredLiving

Autumn 2015

THE MAGAZINE FOR OLDHAM PFI RESIDENTS

ENJOYING INDEPENDENT LIVING H

WIN! f orth o ÂŁ40 w treet s high ers h vouc

KEEPING WARM THIS WINTER Tips and advice for keeping you, your home, and your purse well this winter.

ow adapted hous ing has supported the Ah med family through their ch allenges with a severe muscula r disease.

CREATING A CLEAN, GREEN OLDHAM How to make your local neighbourhood a cleaner and greener place.

How to get in touch with us...

CALL Great Places or Wates, dial 0300 123 2003 A full range of services are available between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, with an extra out-of-hours repairs service provided by Wates, which can be contacted on the same number.

PRESS 1 – for Wates Living Space who can help you with repairs, refurbishment and new-build enquiries

PRESS 2 – for Great Places Housing Group who can help you with housing management and information on sales units

EMAIL: the Great Places team at oldhampfi@greatplaces.org.uk and Wates at infooldhampfi@wates.co.uk

IN PERSON: you can also drop in to see us at the Great Places office – 119 Union Street,

Oldham, OL1 1TE. The office is staffed and is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

You can also drop in and say hello at the Crossley Centre, 323 Denton Lane, Chadderton, OL9 9GA, 0161 652 1419 and The Primrose Bank Centre, Magnolia Gardens, Primrose Bank, 0161 624 7202.

The team are available to visit you in your home. Please don’t hesitate to ask for an appointment when it’s convenient for you.

We’re online!

Visit www.greatplaces.org.uk and

search for Oldham PFI Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OldhamPFI www.facebook.com/CrossleyCent re www.facebook.com/PrimroseCen tre Follow us on Twitter @CrossleyCentre @Primrose_C entre

Write to Inspired Living at: Communications Great Places Housing Group Southern Gate 729 Princess Road Manchester M20 2LT

Email:

communications@greatplaces.org.uk

Access for all

If you’re visually impaired let us know if you need a magnifying sheet. An audio version of Inspired Living is also available.

If you need this magazine in a different language, please also let us know.

Editor: Kirsty Hogarth (kirsty.hogarth@greatplaces.org.uk) Designer: Simon Crossley (simon.crossley@greatplaces.org.uk)

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Welcome to Welcome to the autumn issue of Inspired Living.

It’s been a very busy period since the previous edition and it’s been great to be involved in a number of projects that are really starting to make our neighbourhoods great places to live.

One such example is the alleyways project taking place in Crossley, that will be extended to all areas, with newly created alleyways being turned into useable, safe and secure spaces for residents to use. Twenty people attended the first consultation session and the ideas shared were

InspiredLiving! excellent examples of how Inspired Living readers can celebrate that they love where they live. Read more on page 5.

This edition also has a focus on protecting your belongings (page 18). It’s vital for us all to make sure that when accidents happen (and they inevitably do!), that our prized belongings are protected – we have included some information around contents insurance that I would strongly recommend everyone has in place, given my experience of water damaging my phone and iPad recently!

And with summer now drawing to a close (I don’t remember it being here too long!) we have some useful tips on how to keep your home warm and as efficient as possible (page 12–13).

Ryan Smith Oldham PFI manager

WHAT’S INSIDE? Features 7 What’s on at your Community Centre: A full list events at the Crossley and Primrose Bank Community Centres 8–9 What’s on in Oldham this Autumn: A run down of some of the best things to do around Oldham this Autumn 10–11 Creating great homes for all: How adapted housing has supported the Ahmed family

12-13

Creating a clean green Oldham page

18 Contents insurance: Understanding how to protect your home and belongings

Keeping warm this winter pages

14 Crossley Towers access: Step-by-step guide to entry door system at Crossley Towers

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19 Fire safety: We announce the winners of our recent fire safety poster competition

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News from the borough pages

pages

Neighbourhood news

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Neighbourhood NEWS A SPOONFUL OF SUMMER FUN! Over 300 Oldham kids lapped up a delicious brekkie followed by games and activities as part of the summer Breakfast Club held at Crossley and Primrose Bank Community Centres this August.

Activities included arts and crafts, sports games, planting veggies and flowers, litter picks, and cupcake baking and decorating. The club was run by Great Places with the support of Oldham Play Action Group, Trussell Trust, Madhlo, Greenfingers, and Lifelong Learning.

The breakfast club proved a real hit with over 300 kids from across Oldham

OLDHAM COMMUNITY CELEBRATES NEW SPORTS ALLIANCE The Oldham community came together to celebrate the launch of the Coppice Sporting Alliance –­ a new local volunteer-led group, supported

by Oldham Council and Great Places, that offers sports and fitness activities for people of all ages in and around the Coppice area.

The event included market stalls, fair ground rides, an assault course, cycling, football and cricket skills training and a cycle trek around the streets of Oldham. Over £100 was raised to support Coppice Sporting Alliance and The Primrose Community Centre.

The fun day w ­ hich was organised by Oldham Council, Great Places, The Primrose Community Centre and Coppice Sporting Alliance w ­ as attended by over 600 residents including the Deputy Mayor, Derek Hessernan and Deputy Mayoress, Di Hessernan.

If you’d like to get involved in volunteering for Coppice Sporting Alliance or would like to know more about the sports and fitness activities on offer, contact councillor Javid Iqbal on javid.iqbal@oldham.gov.uk or 07969 021 632.

NEW RESIDENT GROUPS We’re in the process setting up two new resident groups for Primrose Bank and Keswick Avenue.

If you’re interested in joining in and helping to shape your neighbourhood please contact sheila.bishop@ greatplaces.org.uk or call 07736 693 126.

Oldham Deputy Mayor, Derek Hessernan and Deputy Mayoress, Di Hessernan join in the fun day celebrations

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The cycling team gets into gear for their tour of Oldham

Walkabouts and Forums

Walkabouts and residents’ forums are held every month to provide you with the opportunity to find out what’s going on in your local neighbourhood and to have your say about how we can make your home and your community a great place to live. No need to sign up, please just turn up!

WALKABOUTS

FORUMS

5 October – 5:30pm 2 November – 10am 7 December – 10am

Primrose Bank — Mondays (meet at Primrose Community Centre) 5 October – 6:30pm 2 November – 5:30pm 7 December – 5:30pm

Fitton Hill — Tuesdays (meet in front of the park at Fitton Hill)

Fitton Hill — Tuesdays (meet at Fitton Hill Community Centre)

13 October – 5:30pm 10 November – 10am 15 December – 10am

13 October – 6:30pm 10 November – 5:30pm 15 December – 5:30pm

Dew Way — Wednesdays (meet at Hilda Street flats) 21 October – 5:30pm 18 November – 10am 16 December – 10am

Dew Way — Wednesdays (meet at the Millennium Centre)

Crossley — Thursdays (meet at Crossley Community Centre)

Crossley — Thursdays (meet at Stockfield Mount)

Primrose Bank — Mondays (meet at Primrose Community Centre)

21 October – 6:30pm 18 November – 5:30pm 16 December – 5:30pm

22 October – 10am 19 November – 10am (meet at Tower Gates) 17 December – 10am

1 October – 6pm 22 October – 6pm 26 November – 6pm 17 December – 6pm

ALLEYWAYS UPDATE Following a consultation held at the Crossley Community Centre in August 2015 as well as a creative design competition held with local children, our alleyways are to get a makeover to transform them into useable communal spaces.

You told us you’d like clean, safe, useable community spaces and that’s what we’re doing – with the handson help of residents and the Crossley Residents’ Group. Funding is available to support the project, with one such pot being the Green Dividend Fund which is managed by Oldham Council.

The project has already kicked off with the alleyway on Glenby Way – residents who have access to a further 20 alleyways across our Crossley

neighbourhoods will be asked for their views and ideas over the coming year.

The alleyways in Primrose Bank will also be revamped as part of the project with initial discussions with residents pencilled in for October 2015.

We’d like your ideas in order to make this project a real success in your neighbourhood. If you’d like to get involved in any way, please contact Amjad Khan on 0161 484 3208 / amjad.khan@greatplaces.org.uk or Sheila Bishop on 0300 123 2003 / sheila.bishop@greatplaces.org.uk.

HIGHWAYS UPDATE The highways work in and around Primrose Bank is nearing completion. Chamber Road and Lee Street has now been resurfaced and new speed humps have been installed for traffic calming measures.

The footpath at front of Ashton Road has also been tarmacked and Primose Walk will be done soon. Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this work.

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WIN!

COMMUNITY COOK-OFF

Shopp in vouche g rs to be won

For a chance to win a £10 shopping voucher, send your favourite recipe to FREEPOST, RLSCHLLJ-EZRZ, Inspired Living, Great Places Housing Group, 729 Princess Road, Manchester, M20 2LT.

We invited Inspired Living readers to write in and share their favourite recipe. Here’s a recipe from Crossley resident Dorothy Sweatman for a delicious jam and coconut tart that she makes for the lucky caretakers and maintenance team!

Jam and Coconut Tarts (makes approx. 18 tarts) Ingredients

For pastry 175g of plain flour, plus a little for dusting Pinch of salt 75g of butter, plus a little for greasing 25g of caster sugar 1 egg yolk

For filling 6 tsp of strawberry or raspberry jam 150g butter 150g caster sugar 3 eggs, beaten 150g desiccated coconut 1 tbs of plain flour

Method 1. Preheat oven 180c/ Fan 60c / Gas 4 and grease your bun tins.

2. To make the pastry, put the flour and salt into a large bowl. Rub in the butter until mixture looks like breadcrumbs, stir in the sugar then make a well in the centre. Mix the egg yolk and some cold water and add a little at a time until you have a firm dough.

3. Turn dough onto a floured board and kneed lightly for one minute then roll dough until it is about 2mm thick. Use a cutter to cut out circles in the dough and pop each circle into the bun tin ready for filling.

Spoon a teaspoon of jam into the centre of each circle and set aside.

COMMUNITY CAREERS DAY

4. To make the filling, cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Gradually mix in the beaten egg (if mixture looks as though it might curdle, add 1 spoon of flour). Mix coconut and flour together and then fold this into the mixture. If the filling is stiff, add a drop of water.

5. Spoon the mixture into the dough circles on top of the jam. Do not overfill as filling needs room to rise. Bake in the oven.

6. When tarts are ready, leave to cool in tins for 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack and leave to cool completely.

The employment and business set-up advice sessions recently held at the Crossley and Primrose Bank Community Centres proved a hit with Great Places’ residents.

Run as part of Oldham Housing Investment Partnership work and in collaboration with Great Places, Job Centre Plus, Get Oldham Working, Blue Orchid and local training providers, the events offered the opportunity to talk through innovative business ideas and receive employment support.

Four attendees were referred on to the free business start up organisation, Blue Orchid, to help their business ideas to blossom. Many thanks to those residents who volunteered to help make the events a great success.

If you’d like help with a business idea or careers advice contact the CAT team 0300 123 2003.

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MROS RI

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CENTRES THEYOUR COMMUNITY ENTRE WHAT’S ON

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C MONDAY Spinners Mews Cooking Club 5:30pm–7:30pm Free

WEDNESDAY Zumba Gold 4:30pm–5:30pm £3

FRIDAY Pop-up Café 12pm–2pm Free

Zumba Fitness 6:45pm–7:45pm £3

Time Out (5–13 years) 4:30pm–6:30pm 50p

THURSDAY Housing Surgery with Amjad 10am–12pm Free

TUESDAY Be Fit Class (15+ years) 7:30pm–8:30pm £4

Work Club (training and job advice) 10am–12pm Free

Time Out (5–13 years) 4:30pm–6:30pm 50p

Arm Chair Exercise 1pm–2pm £2

MROS RI

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MONDAY Oldham College math courses 9am–5pm (crèche provided 9:15am–12pm) Free

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SSLE RO

ENTRE

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TUESDAY English for speakers of other languages 10am–3pm Free Work club (training and job advice) 1pm–2pm Free Football Fitness (ages 14+ years) (Oldham West Football Academy) 7pm–9pm Free

SATURDAY Table Tennis 6pm–8pm Free

SUNDAY Table Tennis 6pm–8pm Free

WEDNESDAY English for speakers of other languages 12:30pm–3pm Free Oldham College English courses 9am–5pm (crèche provided 9:15am–12pm) Free THURSDAY English for speakers of other languages 12:30pm–3pm Free SATURDAY Maths and English tuition for young people – 11am – 1pm.

Fee applies on attendance, for more info please call 07749 885 651.

New activities are being added to both the community centre schedules on an on-going basis – pop into your local centre to find out what’s new or email crossleycentre@gmail.com or primrosecentre@gmail.com.

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WHAT’S ON IN OLDHAM – AUTUMN 2015 Our run down of some of the best cheap and cheerful things to do around Oldham this Autumn for both kids and adults.

SUPER SATURDAYS

MAGGIE AND THE SONG OF THE SEA

Craft activities, painting, drawing and creative fun for children aged 4–10 years.

Maggie’s best friend is her Granddad and together they have amazing adventures, all set to Maggie’s beautiful music. When her granddad dies suddenly, Maggie’s music disappears and she must learn to adapt to a different kind of world. Suitable for ages 7+.

When: 3 October and 7 November, 12pm–4pm Where: Gallery Oldham, Greaves Street, Oldham Further info: Free entry. www.galleryoldham.org.uk

WOOLYKNIT – BEGINNERS CROCHET CLASS Learn crochet stitches, how to edge garments and a granny square!

When: 4 October Where: Wollyknit Shop, Unit 5, Warth Mill Huddersfield Road, Diggle, OL3 5PJ Further info: £18. Call 01457 877984 or visit the Woolyknit shop to book.

FAMILY HISTORY TALK – LANCASHIRE TEXTILE INDUSTRY Ian retired in November 2010 as Head of Lancashire County Museum Service, which has three textile mill sites which are designated as being of both national and international importance. In his talk he hopes to give a flavour of the once vast scale of the Lancashire textile industry and how a little of it is being preserved for future generations to wonder at.

When: 10 October, 2pm–4pm Where: Gallery Oldham, Greaves Street, Oldham, OL1 1AL Further info: Free for members (donations welcome) or £2.50 for non members. www.galleryoldham.org. uk or call 0161 770 4653.

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When: 10 October, 11am and 2pm Where: Oldham Library, Greaves Street, OL1 1AL Further info: Library member £3.16, non member £4.10. Visit oldhamlibraries.eventbrite.com or call The Coliseum Box Office on 0161 624 2829.

SADDLEWORTH FOOD & DRINKS FESTIVAL Indoor and outdoor activities so it is a weatherproof festival! There’ll be live music, a bouncy castle, kids entertainment.

When: 10–11 October, 11am–4pm Where: Uppermill Civic Hall Lee Street, Uppermill OL3 6AE Further info: Free entry. www.creativenetwork-saddleworth.co.uk

ROALD DAHL’S BFG TV actor, Anthony Pedley, performs his unique one man version of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book. Suitable for ages 5+.

When: 23 October, 10:30am and 1pm, 24 October, 11am and 2pm Where: Oldham Library, Greaves Street, OL1 1AL Further info: Library member £3.16, non member £4.10. oldhamlibraries.eventbrite.com or call The Coliseum Box Office on 0161 624 2829.

OLDHAM’S BIG BANG THEORY

SPOOKY SATURDAY Come along to the High Street, join the mad science professors from Slime Time, make monster masks and chilling arts and crafts and get close to revolting reptiles. Plus, frightening face painting and spinetingling storytelling in Tommyfield Market Hall.

When: 24 October, 11am–4pm Where: Oldham High Street Further info: Free entry. Call 0161 770 4516.

The family fun starts at 5pm with street entertainers, traditional bonfire grub, fun fair rides and more. Oldham Edge will come alive with a fantastic firework display set to music at 7pm.

There’s free parking in all council town centre car parks from 3pm. To find one visit www.oldham. gov.uk/carparking. Open to all ages.

When: 5 November, 5pm–8pm Where: Oldham Edge Further info: Free entry. www.oldham.gov.uk or call 0161 770 3000.

THE BOX OF TRICKS An award-winning play, The Box Of Tricks, explores the intense relationship between two brothers.

The play uncovers the secrets that lie at the heart of the brother’s fraught relationship.

When: 28 October, 7pm–9pm Where: Oldham Library, Greaves Street, OL1 1AL Further info: Library member £3.16, non member £4.10. oldhamlibraries.eventbrite.com or call The Coliseum Box Office on 0161 624 2829.

CHRISTMAS FAIR AT DR KERSHAW’S

SADDLEWORTH WINTER HANDMADE FESTIVAL Stalls filled with handmade, local gifts, crafts and food. Plus, demonstrations and face painting!

When: 8 November, 11am–4pm Where: Uppermill Civic Hall, Lee Street, Uppermill OL3 6AE Further info: Free entry. www.creativenetworksaddleworth.co.uk

Lots of entertainment and stalls including DJ, raffle, tombola, crafts, jewellery, children’s toys, cafe and much more.

When: 1 November, 12pm–4pm Where: Turf Lane, Royton, OL2 6EU Further info: Adults £1, children go free. www. drkershawshospice.org.uk or call 0161 624 9984.

Most events listed do not require prior booking but we always recommend getting in touch with the relevant organiser in advance to make sure that there hasn’t been any changes to the event details.

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CREATING GREAT HOMES FOR ALL

Inspired Living finds out how adapted housing has supported the Ahmed family through their challenge with a severe muscular disease.

Sarfraz Ahmed is a truly inspirational man. After being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of 21, which has gradually weakened his muscles leaving him reliant on a wheelchair and with minimal bodily movement, he’s had to swap his love of cricket, badminton and football to learn a new way of life.

Despite the daily challenges that his hereditary condition brings – such as not being able to go to the bathroom or feed himself without the aid of his wife – Sarfraz sees himself as a blessed man and is hugely grateful for the love and support of his large family, wife Musarat and, more recently, his three-month old son Ayaan.

Sarfraz is one of twelve siblings, of which five of them have been diagnosed with the hereditary condition that progressively ‘eats away’ at the muscles. Once an active man who used to jump at the opportunity to try out a new sport, he found that after several years of living

with the condition that his movement and strength had been significantly limited, leading him to fall regularly.

Sarfraz said: “Each time I fell I used to get up and dust myself down. I was determined to keep moving as much as I could.

“However, after a severe fall five years ago whilst trying to walk downstairs, I realised I couldn’t take the risk of moving about too much and found myself stuck in my bedroom at my parents’ Oldham home.”

Although he was grateful for the support of his family, his parents’ home wasn’t wheelchair-friendly and was cramped, with nine adults living in the six-bedroom property.

After many years of saving, Sarfraz had enough money behind him to purchase his own furniture and registered with the Link Centre for a specially adapted property where he could live more comfortably with his wife.

Sarfraz Ahmed with his wife, Musarat, and their little bundle of joy, Ayaan.

Cover stars!

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“As soon as I saw the house my face lit up. I new it was the home for us.”

The home is fitted with handrails, a downstairs bedroom, and a large wheelchair-friendly wetroom. The back garden has also been levelled out so that Sarfraz can easily get out of the house in his wheelchair for fresh air.

“My wife has been amazingly great in helping me day and night, it has been incredibly hard for her – especially when she was heavily pregnant with Ayaan.

“But we’re now very content in our new home and my wife and son bring me joy everyday. I’d like to thank my wife and everyone who has helped me along the way.”

“

As soon as I saw the house my face lit up. I new it was the home for us.

“

With the help of occupational therapist Stephanie Peden and Great Places neighbourhood officer Mary Lofthouse, Safraz secured one of Oldham Council’s newly built adapted homes in Westwood, which are being managed by Great Places.

Sarfraz in his specially adapted wet room. One of the ways his new home has made life a little easier.

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KEEP WARM AND WELL THIS WINTER As energy bills rise, do you feel nervous about turning up the thermostat at home? Well take comfort with our tips and advice for keeping you, your home, and your purse well this winter.

WHAT’S A HEALTHY TEMPERATURE? The World Health Organisation advises that you should heat your home to between 180C and 210C. Make sure you wear enough clothes to stay warm. It's a good idea to keep your bedroom at this temperature all night.

18–21

You can also use a hot water bottle or electric blanket (but not both at the same time) to keep warm while you're in bed.

GREEN GADGETS TO KEEP YOUR BILLS DOWN THIS WINTER Internal draught excluder – draught proofing your internal and external doors can really help keep the heat in. You can make a simple draught excluder using bits of spare material.

Timer switch – handy for charging mobile phones at night or even to set the timer on a lamp to come on/off during the night as a safety measure. You can set the timer to automatically turn your appliance on or off at a certain time and therefore save energy.

Radflek radiator panels – stop the heat escaping from your radiator and reflect back it back into the room. They’re easy to fit and can be purchased from DIY stores and online.

Energy saving light bulbs – can use up to 75% less energy than traditional bulbs and last up to ten times longer – what’s not to love!

SPREAD THE WARMTH Check on older or less able neighbours or relatives to make sure that they're safe and well.

Make sure they're warm enough, especially at night, and have stocks of food and medicines so they don't need to go out during very cold weather.

There is support for residents across Oldham from the Warm Homes Oldham team – if you know any friends/family or neighbours who struggle with keeping warm at home then get in touch and the team can see how they can help – 0800 019 1084.

They may be able to help with heating upgrades, energy switching, fuel debt and even benefits checks.’

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CONDENSATION Condensation can become a real problem during the winter months and can lead to black mold on your walls and furniture, which can be damaging for your health.

Keep bathroom doors shut when in use and use extractor fans when taking a shower or cooking.

It’s also important to air out your home, even during winter, by opening the windows slightly for a short while.

SWITCH ‘N’ SAVE Great Places works in partnership with a company called Billscutter which offers a price comparison service for gas and electric for all Great Places residents.

£29k

Great Places helped Chelcie Spencer-Race of Petworth Road, Chadderton switch and save on her utility bills.

We can help you save too – the average saving is around £126 per year.

resident savings achieved on their energy bills

233

tenants have switched supplier so far in 2015

£126

average amount saved per resident through switch ‘n’ save

Billscutter makes it easy to switch and save and for those Great Places residents that contacted the service 72% decided it was worth their while.

We have also saved residents thousands of pounds off their water bills!

If you would like a review of your gas, electric or water costs to see if there is anything you can save, contact our specialist adviser Mark Buckley on 07929 651 346 or email fit@greatplaces.org.uk for an independent, no obligation review of your bills.

PREVENTING FROZEN PIPES Most modern boilers have a frost protection thermostat which turns on automatically if the temperature drops to a level that will cause your pipes to freeze. Check that this is working properly. As added protection, it's a good idea to open your loft trap door and any sink cupboards on cold days, to let in heat.

In very cold weather, you'll need to leave your heating on a low setting (or set it to come on a couple of times a day), especially if you're going on holiday for longer than a day or two.

Make sure to re-washer any dripping taps; if they freeze, they'll block your pipes.

And make sure you know where your home's stopcock is, should you need to turn your water off in an emergency.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR SOLAR HEATING SYSTEM If your home is a new build then you’ll have solar panels fitted onto your roof, which heat your water supply through solar energy from the sunlight.

The panels work best during the summer months when the sunlight is at its peak. However, they do still work in the winter too.

The hot water cylinders are ultra-efficient at storing hot water and can do so for a number of days.

Because of this, the water that is heated through the solar energy during the day can be used at any time throughout the day or night.

If you have any queries about your solar panel system please contact Wates on 0300 123 2003.

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STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO THE ENTRY DOOR SYSTEM AT CROSSLEY TOWERS Residents in the towers are able to view who is at the front communal door when their flat number is buzzed.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how the system works and also how to set it up on resident TVs.

SET UP

USE (RESIDENT)

Firstly, the resident needs to ensure their TV is connected to the domestic system (ie.

Freeview) and not the satellite system ie. Virgin or Sky.

The system will become active when the button on the intercom for your property has been pressed (this is either at the gate or at the block entrance keypad).

Once connected, the resident needs to run a re-tune on the TV, this will ensure any new channels are programmed into the TV. To undertake this the menu/settings of the TV will need to be accessed.

Once the button is pressed and your intercom starts buzzing, change the channel on your TV to the Vision Channel (using the channel number from earlier).

Click on the section for set up, then re-tune/new channels.

Allow this to run – this may take a few minutes to complete.

Once completed, a new channel will be added ‘VisionTV’, this is the channel that will be used for the door entry view (please take a note of this channel number).

This will allow you to view who is either at the gate or at the block entrance.

This will time out and won’t become active until the intercom is pressed again.

For assistance with tuning into Vision TV or if you suspect your system may need a repair please contact Great Places’ Customer Access team on 0300 123 2003.

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Peggy Cooke cleaning up fields with Great Places staff

CREATING A CLEAN GREEN OLDHAM Would you like your neighbourhood to be a greener place?

Would you like the opportunity to apply for funding up to £5,000?

The Green Dividend Fund is a one-off fund to support community action to make places right across the borough greener through gardening and/or landscaping.

Who can apply?

Provided by Oldham Council, the funding is for Oldham residents, community groups and third-sector organisations based or working in Oldham Borough.

Examples of projects that the Green Dividend Fund supports:

Alleyways

Green roofs & walls

Allotments

Parks & playing fields

Pavements & walkways

Community gardens

Your project may not fit into one of the above categories, but as long as it is about getting people together to create and enjoy green spaces in places that will be maintained over time then you can apply for funding.

If you are not successful the first time round, you may reapply again when the next round of applications open.

How much is awarded?

You can apply for between £500–£5,000, depending on the needs of your project. The application form will ask you to explain how this money will be spent and this will then be reviewed by a panel.

How do I apply?

To apply, you’ll need to complete a Green Dividend Fund application form – visit www.oldham.gov.uk/love or call 0161 633 6222.

Great Places can assist you with your application – please contact Daniel Mountford on 0791 761 7327 or daniel.mountford@greatplaces.org.uk.

The last closing date for 2015 applications is 12pm on 30 October 2015. Applications will reopen next year and the first application closing date in 2016 will be 12pm on 26 February 2016.

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NEWS from the wider borough

Artist’s impression of Oldham Leisure Centre opening later this year

ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET, SPLASH! Have you checked out the new swimming and fitness facilities at Royton Leisure Centre?

Located on Park St in Royton, the new £8 million facility, which opened in September 2015, features a six-lane 25-metre swimming pool, separate learner pool, 80-station fitness gym, two exercise/dance studios and a 60-space car park.

Also set to open later this year is the new £15 million Oldham Leisure Centre, which will boast an eight-lane 25-metre pool of county-level competition standard.

Additional poolside facilities will include a separate learner pool, sauna, steam room and wet changing village. Other sports and fitness activities will be equally catered for with an eight-court sports hall, 80-station fitness gym, spinning and exercise studios and more.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR OLDHAM’S DEMENTIA AWARENESS WORK Oldham’s pioneering work to raise awareness of dementia has been praised nationally. NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens visited the borough to see first-hand how more than 2,500 local people living with dementia, and their carers, are being supported.

with the condition is predicted to rise by two thirds by 2030.

You may already know someone with dementia or someone whose life is affected by dementia in another way. It is vital to spread the word so that people can be aware that support is available.

Mr Stevens praised the Oldham Dementia Action Alliance, which includes more than 30 local organisations and businesses as well as Oldham Council, NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group and the Alzheimer’s Society.

For more information speak to your GP or visit www.oldham.gov.uk/dementia and www.dementiauk.org.

Members of Oldham Dementia Action Alliance have joined forces to promote greater understanding of the condition, let people know about the services available within the borough and highlight how living a healthy lifestyle can help to prevent dementia.

One in three residents over 65 will develop dementia – a physical disease of the brain caused by conditions such as Alzheimer’s or mini-strokes. The number of people living

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HAVE YOUR SAY! Join in the Oldham Council meeting from home on Wednesday 4 November at 6pm.

The meeting will be streamed live on the council’s website at www.oldham.gov.uk from 6pm and will be live on Oldham Community Radio (99.7fm).

The meeting will start with a 20 minute open council session, in which members of the public can put questions (which must be submitted before 5pm on the day of the meeting).

Submit a question to: localdemocracy@oldham.gov.uk or visit www.facebook.com/loveoldham or Tweet your question to @OldhamCouncil.

Cutting the ribbon for the opening of the new Our House store: (L-R) Gary Thomas (store manager), Carolyn Wilkins (Oldham Council Chief Executive), Councillor Jim McMahon, (Oldham Council Leader) and retail operations director Sue Strother.

OUR HOUSE PROMISES FAIR DEAL ON LIFE’S ESSENTIALS Recently opened in Oldham town centre, Our House is a new high-street payment store with a difference. It’s run on a not-for-profit basis, which means lower prices and a fairer deal for people who need to buy household essentials on credit.

Based at Tommyfield Market, the store offers a great range of new household furniture, appliances and electrical items, from all the top brands at up to 50 per cent less than prices at other high street rent-to-own stores. There are no late fees, no hidden charges or unnecessary extra costs, no expensive service packages and insurance is truly optional.

The organisation behind Our House is FRC Group, a social enterprise that reinvests all profits back into the business.

Our House is all about creating a community where people can obtain good quality, affordable furniture without turning to expensive and exploitative sources of credit, such as payday loan providers, more expensive high street rent-to-own stores, and even loan sharks, in order to buy household goods.

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HAVE YOU GOT YOUR HOME CONTENTS COVERED? Sadly, there has been a number of incidents where a resident has lost the contents of their home, whether due to a fire or a burglary, and they didn’t have home contents insurance to cover them.

Don’t take the risk of this happening to you.

Understanding contents insurance From £1.64 per week you can have your belongings covered with the Great Places tenant home contents insurance scheme

£35k

amount paid out by Great Places’ contents insurance scheme in the last year

£0

we offer zero excess on the Great Places’ contents insurance scheme

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claims received over the last year

• Levels of cover Some schemes only cover items that remain in your home, such as kitchen appliances and furniture. However, we recommend taking out cover to insure portable goods such as jewellery, mobile phones and laptops, if you own such items.

• Valuing your goods When applying for contents insurance you will be asked to declare the estimated value of your goods as well the type of security you have fitted on your home – be honest as inaccuracies could lead to your insurance being void should you need to make a claim.

• How will my goods be replaced if I need to make a claim?

Some schemes offer new for old should you need to make a claim – so they will replace an old TV with a new TV. Other schemes only provide you with cover for the value of your goods according to the age of the item when the claim is made.

• Add-ons If you would like full accidental damage cover, personal belongings cover (for portable items taken away from home) and wheelchair/mobility scooter/ hearing aids cover then you’ll usually have to request this as an add-on to your basic policy. Check with your insurance provider.

• Excess This is the amount you have to pay out to the insurance company in the event of a claim – some policies, such as the Great Places scheme, offer zero excess.

For further information about Great Places’ contents insurance scheme please contact our Customer Access Team on 0300 123 2003.

HOW FIRE SAFE IS YOUR HOME? Inspired Living readers Hilma Safeer and Rupna Begum have got creative with fire safety and put together two great posters raising awareness of how you can keep fire safe at home.

Congratulations to them both – their fire safety posters will be featured in Great Places reception areas and they’ve also won an iPod shuffle each.

BOOK YOUR HOME FIRE SAFETY ASSESSMENT Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has teamed up with Great Places and several other housing associations, which have properties in Oldham, to help improve fire safety in local homes.

As part of the partnership, Great Places staff will be provided with life-saving first aid training. Residents can book in for a free home safety assessment in order to make sure that your home is properly equipped and fire safe.

To arrange a free fire safety visit, contact your local neighbourhood manager, call 0300 123 2003, or email oldhampfi@greatplaces.org.uk.

Rupna’s brilliant poster gives detailed tips of keeping safe around the house.

Hilma’s fanatiastic drawings really bring fire safety tips to life.

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Competition time £30 in vouchers to be won!

Word Search!

Complete the word search and spot the Send your entries by post to: Name: Date: difference, cut them out and post them to us, FREEPOST, RLSC-HLLJ-EZRZ, Inspired Living, Find and circle each of the words from the list below. Words may app along with your full name and address, to be Great Places Housing Group, Southern Gate, entered into a prize draw to to win a £10 shopping forwards or backwards, horizontally, vertically or diagonally in the grid 729 Princess Road, Manchester M20 2LT. voucher. Three winners will be selected in total.

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Deadline closes 1 November 2015.

Remember you don’t need a stamp!

Wordsearch

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CHILLY HARVEST AUTUMN ACORN

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Words to find are: LEAVES BONFIRE HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN

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COLOURS FROST ORANGE RAKE

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CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST ISSUE’S WINNERS:

D A R B R E A U T

Wordsearch - Paula Jamieson, Chadderton, Pauline Horton, Chadderton, Mohammad Usma, Oldham Spot the difference - Katrina Williams, Oldham Angela Salt, Oldham, Delena Knowles, Oldham

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SPOT THE DIFFERENCE 1

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PUMPKIN HALLOWEEN AUTUMN BONFIRE COLOURS HARVEST O RAKE LEAVES ACORN FROST CHILLY

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There are five difference – can you find them? Circle any differences you find on picture number 2.