My Great Place - Summer 2016

Summer 2016

The magazine for Great Places Housing Group residents

Funding up for grabs Find out what we can do for you and your community Save with your smartphone The best free apps that could save you £££!

Brexit: what now?

What the referendum result means for your home

Back to school!

Oldham resident Mike on overcoming adversity and getting back to the books

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Get in touch

Phone us between 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday:

Email us:

cat@greatplaces.org.uk

0300 123 1966 (local rate) Select option 1 for repairs

Or email us about a repair at:

Text us on:

repairs@greatplaces.org.uk

07797 870 734

Office addresses Blackburn office

Barnfield House (Suite 4 and 5) Groundfloor, Accrington Road Blackburn BB1 3NY Open Monday, 9.30am-5pm & Thursday 9:30am-12:30pm Appointment only at all other times.

Cheshire office

106 Longridge, Knutsford, WA16 8PD Opening hours: Monday only, 9.30am to 4.30pm

Fylde office

336 Talbot Road, Blackpool, FY1 3QU Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Great Places head office

Southern Gate, 729 Princess Road, Manchester M20 2LT Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Oldham office

119 Union Street, Oldham OL1 1TE Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Salford office

4th Floor, St James’s House, Pendleton Way, Salford M6 5FW Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Sheffield office

The Quadrant, 99 Parkway Avenue, Sheffield SS9 4WG Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Kids’ Competition If you have any questions or comments specifically about My Great Place, contact: Communications Great Places Southern Gate 729 Princess Road Manchester M20 2LT

Email:

Margaret Plaice is our little fishy friend – and she's hiding somewhere in these magazine. Can you find her? If you can, just email or write and let us know exactly where she is (make sure you put the page number) at the address on the left, making sure you put your address and phone number on the entry. The winning entry will get their hands on a cute little iPod, so get searching!

Entrants must be 16 or under and Great Places residents.

Entries must be received by 1 October 2016.

communications@greatplaces.org.uk Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/GreatPlacesHousing Tweet us @MyGreatPlace

Access for all

We’ve already sent a magnifying sheet to our visually impaired residents. Let us know if you need one. An audio version of My Great Place is also available.

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Cover star: Oldham resident Mike Patra

Welcome to

YOUR MAGAZINE! Welcome to the summer edition of My Great Place – and my first issue as editor!

A common theme running through this issue seems to be 'bouncing back'! From our cover star, Mike Patra, whose resilience in the face of adversity is inspiring, to residents in Greater Manchester who came together to utilise the Shared Spaces Funding to improve their quality of life.

As the weather gets warmer, we've all been making the most of the outdoors. You can read about how the Great Places team hit the streets of Manchester to raise money for mental health charity, Mind (page 8) and how residents across our communities have been getting active – from acrobats in Blackpool to football stars in the making in Longsight (pages 4–5).

We also have information on how you could save money on your energy bills (see page 14) and even a short poem by one of our residents (page 17)!

I hope you enjoy this issue and that you're having a great summer!

Adele

Adele Wilkinson, editor

Pssst...

The plastic our magazines are wrapped in is fully recyclable. Keep it eco-friendly and throw away responsibly!

What’s inside?

Shared Spaces Funding

7

Unite and stop hate

8-9 9 10-11

News in:team: How you can give feedback to us Newsboard

12-13

Cover story: Mike Patra

14

My Green Place

15

My Money

16-17

Grapevine

18-19

How we're doing

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Competition time

You may have noticed that a printed rent statement hasn't been included with this issue of My Great Place. Due to the way the printing process works, we were aware that many statements included in My Great Place were already out of date by the time they reached you.

To tackle this problem, we are going digital! Your quarterly statements are available online, meaning that you can access them at any time and they will always be up-to-date. Simply visit www.greatplaces.org.uk, click on 'residents' and register using the 19 digit number on your rent payment card. Please note, your annual statements will still be posted out to you in Spring 2017.

For any help on viewing your rent statement, contact us (see page 2 for details).

Neighbourhood news

Cover star Mike Patra

Grapevine pages

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Important information about your rent statement

pages

Neigbourhood news

pages

4-5

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12-13

14-15

News neighbourhood

What’s going on where you live...

Graduation is out of this world!

Congratulations to this year's class of year six students at Manor Park Primary School, who graduated with style thanks to the My World project.

The goal of My World is to introduce pupils to the world of work while developing their life skills and aspirations for the future. This year the students chatted to a pilot at Manchester Airport, construction workers developing a local dual carriageway, and staff from Tatton Park who gave the children a tour of the grounds and a chance to meet the animals at the site’s working farm!

Ethan Evans BCA receiving his award with Dame Mary Perkins

A prestigious honour for Ethan Salford resident Ethan Evans recently became the youngest recipient of the prestigious British Citizen Award for the extraordinary work he does for charity.

Fourteen-year-old Ethan was nominated by his grandfather and in June travelled down to Westminster to claim his award. Congratulations Ethan!

This year's class of My World graduate in style with Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs

Wybourn wiz kids!

Congratulations to a team of pupils from Wybourn Community Primary School who scooped the title of Best Product Design as part of the Bizkids Enterprise Project.

Through Bizkids, students create and run a business to raise money for a local charity. The project aims to teach the children a varity of business skills, as well as the benefits and importance of giving back to the community.

Aldingham Walk residents with the Recent Park Studios stunt men at the opening of their brand new outdoor play area

Acrobatic opening in Aldingham

Organisations come together to advertise employment opportunities at Wybourn, Sheffield

The residents at Aldingham Walk, Blackpool got an acrobatic surprise at the opening of the community's new play area.

Summer job fair a success

Two stunt men from Regent Park Studios bounced onto the street performing gymnastic feats to celebrate the launch of the new outdoor exercise area.

The first Great Places Summer Jobs Fair at Wybourn took place this summer, with over 100 vacancies advertised by a range of employers, from the NHS and the army to voluntary organisations and children's centres.

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With almost 50 Wybourn residents attending, and plenty of positive feedback received, we look forward to planning more events like this one in the future.

A royal affair!

Residents across Blackburn, Salford and Knutsford celebrated the Queen’s 90th birthday in style in June. A host of traditional street parties took place across our communities, bringing neighbours together for tea, cake and activities for the whole family.

Longsight football club with volunteers from RBS

Back of the net!

Many thanks to staff at the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) who have been raising funds for a local football club in Northmoor, Longsight. The football sessions, which provide a fun and free activity for local kids over the school holidays, were originally set up and run by Greater Manchester Police and Great Places, lead by Great Places Community Warden Stephen O’Toole.

Stephen now works for RBS but his passion for the community clearly remains, as he managed to raise a whopping £264.50 for the club!

Blackburn resident, Jack Titterington celebrating the Queen's birthday The slow90th cooker tasting session and prize draw was a big winner with residents (pictured: Bowland House resident Joyce Powell).

Michael's getting on his bike for charity!

Michael Neary from Bowland House, Blackburn has been busy raising funds for VOICE (Vision of Employment, Collaboration and Empowerment) – a Blackburn based organisation that supports individuals who are experiencing homelessness, addiction, mental health issues, family problems, bereavements and financially challenges.

Michael is completing a 127.25 mile bike ride on July 15 from Liverpool to Leeds to raise funds for this great cause – good luck Michael!

Our entrepreneurs with their certificates after completing the self-employment workshop

Supporting self-employment

Hajara Bibi and Kudsia Ashfaque, who are running interactive language lessons in Burnley for other Great Places residents

Great Places ran a two-day workshop in April, aimed at residents across our communities who are interested in starting their own businesses.

Language lessons in Burnley

The course delivered information on the essential skills needed to set up and successfully run a business to eight customers who had previously said that they would be interested in 'going it alone'.

Burnley residents have been able to improve their language skills through weekly English lessons at the Chai Centre.

Great Places residents Hajara Bibi and Kudsia Ashfaque volunteer as tutors for the course, and encourage hands-on learning through activities such as cooking and group walks.

Business ideas ranged from holistic therapies and crafts to soft furnishings, nail technicians and online retail, and all attendees are now receiving continued support to help them persue their goals.

If you or a member of your household is interested in learning to speak English in Burnley please contact Louise Ramsay on 01254 588 758 or at louise.ramsay@greatplaces.org.uk.

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Peace of mind for Manchester residents The Residents’ Fund and Shared Spaces Fund provide a pot of money to help the people, places and projects in your community to shine.

Brideoak Court in Manchester has undergone a transformation that has changed the lives of its residents.

Following instances of antisocial behaviour on the street outside the development, as well as on the residents' carpark, Brideoak tenants decided to take action.

Before

Following an application through the Shared Spaces Fund, Great Places installed a fence around the development with fob entry to increase security and to give the garden a community feel. A collapsable bollard was also fitted to prevent unpermitted cars entering the carpark.

These low-cost, low-maintenance changes will make a huge change to the lives of the Brideoak residents. Their home is now much cleaner and safer, and our more green-fingered tenants can garden together without worrying that their hard work will be ruined by littering.

After

We're glad that they now feel happy and secure in their home.

Whether you’d like to set up a social or sports club, gain a qualification to boost your career, or improve a shared space for you and your neighbours – Great Places can help. See the information boxes below for details on how to apply. All our applications are reviewed and scored by a panel of Great Places customers – find out more about getting involved with the panel on page 9.

Great Places Residents’ Fund update!

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Resident Fund applications assessed by the panel

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Resident Fund applications approved

£19k Total funds given out

We’ve got £25,000 to award for projects that help:

Great Places Shared Spaces Fund update!

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Shared Spaces Fund applications received

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Shared Spaces Fund applications approved

£102k Total funds given out

We’ve got £125,000 to award for projects that help:

• To support employment • To build sustainable neighbourhoods • To promote health and wellbeing

• To increase safety and security of shared spaces • To improve the appearance and usability of shared spaces

You can apply via any of the following ways:

To put forward an idea or suggestion for Shared Spaces funding, please call us on 0300 123 1966 or email maria.morris@greatplaces.org.uk.

• • •

Calling us on 0300 123 1966 Emailing maria.morris@greatplaces.org.uk Visiting www.greatplaces.org.uk and searching for ‘Great Places Residents’ Fund’. Closes 30 September and 31 December.

Shared Spaces funding: Closes 31 December.

Unite and stop hate With a potential rise in hate crimes being reported in the media we’d like to remind tenants of our zero tolerance policy on hate and harassment and how to respond.

What is hate crime?

If someone commits a criminal offence against you or your home that is motivated by a person’s hate or prejudice because of your: • Race, colour, ethnicity, nationality or national origin • Religion • Gender or gender identity (includes transphobia) • Sexual orientation • Disability

What should you do if it happens to you or someone you know?

Don’t retaliate: you could risk violence or make the situation worse. By reporting it, you may be able to prevent these crimes from happening to someone else.

Asking for help and reporting incidents We know that sometimes this is the hardest part but the sooner you ask us for help and report an incident, the better. We promise to take all reports seriously.

Being a victim of this kind of crime can be a particularly frightening experience as you have been victimised because of who you are, or who, or what, your attacker thinks you are.

You can report any incident in confidence – you do not have to tell us who you are but if you can tell us the names of all the people involved, it may help us tackle the behavior. Unite and don’t let hate win.

It can take many forms including:

To report anti social behaviour or community safety concern please email cat@greatplaces.org.uk or call 0300 123 1966 (and press option 4). The option 4 ASB line is open 24 hours including bank holidays and weekends.

• Physical assault • Damage to property or offensive graffiti • Arson • Verbal threats or abusive gestures • Offensive letters/leaflets/posters • Abusive or obscene phone calls • Abusive language • Intimidating groups/gangs

Please only press option 4 if you are contacting us about an ASB matter.

For more information about community safety visit: www.greatplaces.org.uk and search for ‘community safety’.

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News Matt’s message Summer is certainly in full swing in our communities – lots of great events over the last couple of months and more planned for the weeks ahead. Take a look at our community news on pages 4–5 for more.

Your success doesn't end there though.

Thanks to a group of dedicated customers, Great Places picked up the 'Excellence in Annual Reports Award' at the regional Tpas awards. We couldn't have done it without your help, and not only are we looking for volunteers to help develop this years award, we are also looking at how we engage customers in the future. Find out more below or on page 9.

One of the biggest events of the Great Places calendar is our annual Community Stars Awards. Over 170 residents attended this year’s event, which was held in April at the Gorton Monastery in Manchester.

There were 10 awards up for grabs to recognise those unsung heroes of our communities across the north west and Yorkshire. Events like this aim to celebrate the achievements of our customers who are passionate about the people and places within their community.

Unfortunately, it’s not always positive news stories coming out of our communities.

After the result of the EU referendum, there have been reports in the media of hate related incidents being on the rise across the UK. We were sad to hear a couple of stories from our own communities and in one case we had to move a customer. We have a zero tolerance policy on hate crime. If you find yourself a victim of hate crime or witness an incident please report it to us so we can help put a

stop to it. For more details on reporting a hate crime issue, please see page 7.

In addition, we have regrettably heard more stories since our last issue of customers being affected by house fires. Accidents do happen, but there are steps we can all take to stay as safe as possible. See page 11 for more information on protecting your home and loved ones from fire during the warmer months so you can enjoy the weather risk free.

I hope you have a lovely summer – let’s hope we get at least a couple more weeks of blissful weather!

We’re thrilled to announce that Great Places were voted the winner of the ‘Excellence in Annual Reports Award’ for the Northern Region in the 2016 Tpas Awards, and went on to compete in the national awards in July. Our customer annual report was created with help from our residents - find out how you can get involved in this year's report on page 9.

Great Places residents and staff came together in April to celebrate the unsung heroes of our communities at our annual Community Stars Awards. The event is an opportunity for us to thank those inspirational residents who show compassion, selflessness or courage on a daily basis. Congratulations to all our nominees and winners!

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Great Places? There's an app for that!

The brand new Great Places app is coming soon and will allow residents to make payments, request repairs, amend personal details and access your account all from your phone or tablet. It will be available to download for all iOS, Android, and Windows devices from September 2016 for all Great Places residents.

We'll be keeping you posted with further updates on our website, so keep your eyes peeled!

Lending a hand at Lark Hill On a sunny Saturday morning in May, members of our Repairs and Asset Management (RAM) Team took part in a project to revive Lark Hill Primary School in Salford. A skip full of eight cubic metres of waste was removed from site, providing space for the school’s wildlife habitat area, and the sensory garden’s gazebo was repaired.

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Wendy Hughes from Lark Hill primary school said: "We are so grateful to you all. We can now ask the ranger programme to give a start date for the wildlife habitat area to be worked on with our year six children."

Great Places go for gold!

The adrenaline was pumping on the morning of 22 May as ten employees from across Great Places lined up on the Portland Street starting line for the 2016 Great Manchester 10k Run. The brave runners pounded the city streets in aid of mental health charity Mind and raised a whopping £3292.98!

Let's work together!

Following the award-winning success of last year's customer annual report (see page 8), we're looking for residents to help us keep our title with this year's publication! Our goal is to make sure our customer annual report reflects the issues that really matter to our customers and we want to offer you opportunities to get involved every step of the way – from suggesting topics you would to see covered, to influencing the style and design of the report.

However, the report is just one way you can influence our decisions, and we are currently reviewing how we can engage with customers in the future. We would love to hear your thoughts! If you would like to find out more about getting involved please contact Maria Morris on 0161 447 5076 or email maria.morris@greatplaces.org.uk.

Help our communities to flourish!

Great Places Residents’ Fund and Shared Spaces Fund provide a pot of money to help support individual customers to achieve a specific goal and to help both new and longstanding community projects to grow.

By taking part in the Great Places Funding Panel you’ll play an important role in deciding which customer and community applications are approved to receive funding from Great Places.

£

Funding Panel members are provided with training so that they can review and score applications from the comfort of their own home – either online or by post.

If you would like to find out more about getting involved please contact Maria Morris on 0161 447 5076 or email maria.morris@greatplaces.org.uk.

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NEWS BOARD Holiday Kitchen is back!

The Holiday Kitchen Project – run by Great Places across Manchester, Oldham, Sheffield, Salford, and Blackpool – is back after the success of last year's sessions.

The club enables families to learn and play together, and encourages kids to stay active and eat well over the summer. Activities include sports, drama and crafts, as well as growing and cooking with their own fruit and veg. A nutritious breakfast and lunch is also provided to all. For more information about sessions near you, contact Karen Burns on 07786 110 723.

Fancy a change?

Did you know that our tenants are able to swap houses with any other tenant around the UK? It’s called Mutual Exchange and it allows any housing association or council tenant to swap homes with each other so long as both parties are eligible and agree.

The way that you can do this has recently changed.

A company called House Exchange now provide the service (it was previously known as Homeswapper).

If you would like to exchange your house, flat, bungalow or maisonette, you need to have an assured or secure tenancy. Tenants with assured shorthold tenancies are unfortunately ineligible.

If you’re eligible to take part in the scheme, you can open an account with House Exchange.

For more information about the new service, visit www.houseexchange.co.uk.

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Cost saving apps mySupermarket – This app ensures that you always pay the lowest price available on your weekly shop. You can create shopping lists and analyse which supermarket is currently offering the best deal, or even scan the product barcode in store to find out if you could get a better price elsewhere.

Spendee – Spendee helps you monitor your expenses, stick to budgets, and see exactly where your money is going. By adding budgets and entering your transactions as you go, Spendee can notify you when you’re about to reach your spending limit. Information is presented in easy-to-understand graphics to make it clear where your money is going, and where savings can be made.

ATM Hunter – ATM Hunter uses location services to find all of the cashpoints in your area, and can even tell you which ones charge and which don’t, saving you money when you need cash fast.

Big Oven – This app provides thousands of recipe ideas to help you use up those last few things in the fridge. This prevents waste and allows you to make delicious meals, even with leftovers!

Get outdoors and enjoy the sun!

There are plenty of free events happening across the North to keep you and your family entertained this summer.

Oldham

Free buses for Knutsford students!

From September 2016, we will be working together with South Cheshire College and Cheshire Chambers of Commerce to offer free bus journeys for students travelling from Knutsford to the college.

This is to make it easier for local school leavers who want to continue on to further education but might struggle to cover the cost of transport.

For more information, contact South Cheshire College on 01270 654 654.

What: Hack the Library coding event When: Every fourth Saturday of the month, 10am-4pm Where: Oldham Library Cost: Free More information: www.hackoldham.com Blackpool

What: Illuminations bike ride When: 30 August Where: Blackpool promenade Cost: Free More information: 01253 478 222 Blackburn

What: Hoghton Tower Farmers' Market When: 21 August Where: Hoghton Tower Cost: £1 per car, 50p for pedestrians More information: 01772 695 290

Salford

What: Irlam and Cadishead Community Festival When: 29 August Where: Prince's Park, Irlam Cost: Free More information: 07986 627 7225 Greater Manchester

What: Manchester Pride When: 27 August Where: Manchester city centre Cost: Free More information: www.bigweekend. manchesterpride.com Sheffield

What: Sheffield fitness festival When: 21 August Where: Millhouses Park Cost: Free More information: 0114 262 0313

Staying fire safe this summer Sadly, there have been a number of fire-related incidents within Great Places properties recently.

Here are some tips to help you stay fire safe: Never smoke in bed – Flammable fabrics can be a serious hazard so it is important never to light up in bed, particularly when drowsy, after drinking or after taking prescription drugs. When putting out cigarettes, make sure they are definitely no longer burning and if possible, dispose of them outside to avoid accidental fires.

Don't leave your barbecue unattended – Always be extra cautious while cooking on a barbecue. It's easy to get distracted while cooking for friends and family, particularly if you're drinking, but concentrate on the job in hand and never leave the barbecue unattended. Make sure it's in an open space away from plants, fences or other hazards and keep a hose pipe or bucket of water nearby just in case.

Fit a smoke alarm – Smoke alarms can save lives in the event of a fire. All of our homes are fitted with smoke alarms so make sure you check the batteries regularly, and contact us if you have any problems with your alarm.

Get a free fire safety check – Contact your local fire service to request a free home fire safety check.

Someone can visit your home to check your smoke alarms and give you tailored advice to keep your home and family as safe as possible.

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“It's like writing a book – I can write the second chapter now.”

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My Great Place meets with Oldham customer, Mike Patra.

A life-changing diagnosis that kick-started a new career “When I was at school, boys didn’t do social work. Boys did engineering – girls did social work. It just wasn’t the done thing.” Following social convention, Oldham resident Mike Patra began a successful career in electrical engineering. But after 25 years in the industry, at 45-yearsold he was hit with the shocking news that he had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Due to the physical demands of engineering, his career came to a halt. However, not one to let obstacles defeat him, Mike saw this as an opportunity to try something new. Shortly after he received his diagnosis he attended University Campus Oldham to study an undergraduate degree in health and community studies, where he achieved a first. Once graduated, he was in no doubt that a career in social work was on the cards.

He applied to the University of Salford to study an MA, which would allow him to qualify as a social worker, but upon being accepted Mike realised that he couldn't fund the course entirely by himself. He reached out to Great Places Housing Group to apply for funding through the Residents' Fund.

"I've got it, I'll get used to it, and I'll live with it."

“I wouldn’t have been able to do what I’m doing if Great Places hadn’t contributed to my tuition. I’ve had all the support I need since I applied and the process was very quick and smooth.”

Mike's condition can impact his studying. There are days where getting out of bed is a struggle, and the way that

MS affects his memory can make exams and essay-writing difficult. But through support from the university, along with sheer determination, he is determined to finish.

"It's like being thrown off the Big One every morning – you have no idea what's coming. You can go to bed and feel absolutely great, and then wake up in the morning and you can't move. But it is what it is – I've got it, I'll get used to it, and I'll live with it."

Mike is now reaching the end of his first year, and finishing up his placement with the Stroke Association.

"I go out and see people who have suffered a stroke – assess their needs, see if there's anywhere that help or support could be provided, signpost them to other services and act as a listening ear. It's a big life change and it's hard coming to terms with that, but I've got an awareness of what they're going through.

"People say 'I understand' but if you haven't been there yourself you can't understand. When I say it, it's not a token gesture and I think people appreciate that. We can help and support each other."

Engineering and social work are poles apart, but Mike feels this new path suits him perfectly. He admits that if he had tried social work before his diagnosis, he may not have had the awareness or the people skills to see it through.

But now he can't imagine doing anything else.

"My life's changed. Potentially, there's no going back. But regardless of the MS, I'm still going to want to do this. It's like writing a book – I can write the second chapter now."

If you’d like help or advice about training and career opportunities, then Great Places can help. Please contact our Customer Access Team (see page 2 for contact details).

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my

green place

Advice, tips and ideas on staying green and saving money!

Check, switch, save!

Many people are overpaying when it comes to their energy tariff, and are unaware that shopping around and switching suppliers may be able to save them hundred of pounds per year, particularly if you have been with your current supplier for more than two years.

However, we understand that the process is complicated, which is why Great Places are holding a series of events over the next few months to examine your current energy bills and discuss how we can help you save money.

We will also be offering everyone who attends a chance to have their electric blankets and Christmas tree lights PAT tested to ensure they are safe to use in the run up to winter. If they fail, we will swap them free of charge for newer, safer models!

We will also have lots of other freebies to help you keep safe and warm in winter.

Events have currently be confirmed at the following locations:

Getting out and about in Blackburn and Accrington Do you live in the Church, Accrington or Mill Hill areas?

Staff will be in your area during the last two weeks in September. We will be offering you advice on how to save money by switching energy suppliers, providing home energy checks and providing advice on the Warm Homes Discount. See you then!

• Sheffield – Communal Gardens, Birklands Avenue 26 August from 11am–2.30pm • Sheffield – Athelstan Primary School 29 July from 1pm–3.30pm • Knutsford – Welcome Cafe 31 October from 2.30pm–4.30pm • Longsight – Northmoor Community Cafe 27 October from 2pm–4pm

Top energy saving tips for summer 1) Turn off unnecessary lights – lights not only contribute to a significant portion of your energy bill, but they also heat up your home. Take advantage of the longer evenings and embrace natural light.

2) Take a break from your tumble dryer – if we are lucky enough to get some rain-free days over the summer period, why not switch off the tumble dryer and dry your clothes outside? Tumble dryers eat up electricity so switch it off where you can and save yourself some money!

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3) Eat right – ovens and stoves crank up the temperature in your kitchen. There are ways to reduce this, such as using the glass panel on your oven to check on your food rather than opening the door or by putting lids on your pots and pans.

4) Go outside! – getting out of your home and therefore using fewer appliances can save you a fortune. If the weather's nice, try a family bike ride or check out what free events are available near you. See page 11 for more information.

my money

Our Financial Inclusion team work hard to help residents save money.

Last year, they helped put £1.5m back into your pockets!

How will Brexit affect you?

The result of the recent EU referendum and the many political changes that have occured since the UK voted 'leave' have made many people cautious about the future of their finances.

Despite all the emotive press coverage, what we can be sure of is that nothing will be changing quickly. The UK may not officially exit the EU for another two years, and

The benefit cap: what you need to know The government has put a limit on the amount of money that people can receive in benefits. The new rules mean that a family will get a maximum of £384 per week and a single person £257 per week.

therefore it is impossible to say how the result will impact the property market and the wider economy.

However, we do know that at present the result does not pose an immediate risk to Great Places or our customers.

As always, we will keep you updated on any changes which may affect your finances.

Importa nt UC informa tion for Lancas and Mo ter recamb e r esident If you are of workin s g age and which m

h eans you have to m ave a change of cir a cumstanc k go throug e a new c es h a new s laim for b ystem call e ed Univer nefits, you sal Credit Service. : Full This mea ns that yo All working age benefits are included, uw and you w ill have to ill have to go onlin and if your rent is paid by housing benefit e to apply m of at the for benefi Job Centr anage your claim o that amount will also be included. If all the ts e n the inte from the or over th r Job Centr n e e benefits you get takes you over the cap, p t h in o s n te e a . e, howev er you wil Help will be availa d then your housing benefit will be reduced. ble l need to compute r to set u If there is a reduction in your housing benefit p an onlin be able to use a e account.

Great Places will contact you to offer you a If you nee range of ways to pay your rent. d to apply for Unive give us a rsa call on 03 00 123 19 l Credit, If you're going to lose money through this new 6 6 to get some adv system, there are solutions available. In the short ice. term you can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP). This is a government scheme to help people cope with the changes in the way housing benefit is paid. This is only a short term fix, but can give you some breathing space to make the changes you need to make. will now

Great Places also have dedicated teams available who can offer you the right advice and support for getting into work or assessing your finances to help you become smarter with your spending. See below for more details.

Need help? For help with understanding the benefit cap or Universal Credit and how to budget for these changes – please contact us on 0300 123 1966 or email fit@greatplaces.org.uk.

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GRAPEVINE

Elderly services news

Double celebration for The Willows residents It’s been a bumper year for Brian and Margaret Ridyard! Not only did the couple celebrate their emerald wedding anniversary on 4 February this year, they have scooped the Great Places Community Stars Good Neighbour Award.

Margaret and Brian have lived at The Willows in Preesall for six years. Throughout this time they have been supportive neighbours and friends, have organised community events, and time and time again have proved themselves to be a reliable and devoted couple who always take time to think of others.

Congratulations Margaret and Brian!

Brian and Margaret Ridyard with their Great Places Community Stars award!

Bouncing back after the Boxing Day floods The Boxing Day floods were a terrifying experience for everyone whose home was affected, but none more so than Irene Atkins.

Irene’s home in Salford fell victim to the raging waters and she was advised by her insurance company to look for a new, temporary place to live.

Her daughter started looking for a new place where Irene could live until her home had been repaired but none of them were the right fit – until she went to see John Atkinson Court in Salford. It quickly became clear that it was just the right kind of place for her.

The scheme had a vacant flat that Irene could move into, which she did almost straightaway.

This was of course just six months ago, and Irene is now getting ready to move back home after repairs to make it suitable for her to live there were completed.

Irene Atkins, ready to move back into her own home!

“Everyone has been very friendly at John Atkinson Court. It has been a very nice place to live at such an upsetting time,” said Irene.

We’re glad to have been there in your moment of need, Irene!

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www.greatplaces.org.uk

GRAPEVINE Read all about it!

Great Places residents are a talented bunch – and these two gentlemen are no exception!

Alan’s book 'My Life and Other Misadventures' is available to buy now through Amazon and iTunes.

Alan Rick has recently completed and published his autobiography, which spans his entire life, from his upbringing during the war through to his later life in Salford.

Malcom Galloway has also been busy putting pen to paper, and has drafted a humourous poem about his life at Openshaw Court – from the colourful characters he has met to the go-getting staff! You can have a read below. We definitely agree that it is the 'great people that give Great Places their sense of clout!'

Openshaw Court manager Katrina Shilvock has given it a read and said: “I was touched, moved and humoured by Alan's writing. It gives an excellent insight into how life was back then, and I am full of admiration for Alan!"

book, a copy of his h it w k ic R n Ala ventures' Other Misad d n a fe Li y 'M

What's in a name ?

by M.W. Ravensto ck Pendleb ury To Salford people sound different lot or the w Like bea uty's to a m from Swinton hen you listen, B n ear as But mak ottom, it ing no ti me for e is to an eye, ach oth er's seen Droppin it get fo ga rgotten.

Paying a itchs in just suc h a way ttention , to Polishes the jewe kith and kin's lin go. lled way Round h th ere's as good as ey say, anywhe re else y Retired m ou'll get ajors, la to go. dy publi Husband cans an ed hous ds ewives p Lowly ho utting m cribes, nesty its a own rew To timeard asc trons to shame. honoure ribes, d peop le beyon d all bla Kind sta me. ff that sh oot straig Cut like h mo t fr And trea onbeams throu om the hip, t serious gh red-t ly c ap That hon est too th omplaints of lip es dark. , ey duly hark.

Brick wa lls a And as is nd tiled roofs d eter ele said don m Gun-me 't amou nt to no ents, tal grey wt. va But grea t people ns give Great P lac give Gre at Place es stylish sense , s their se nse of c 17 lout.

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HOW WE’RE DOING Customer care

What we’ve learnt from recent complaints

We strive to provide you with the best possible services and customer care; however, we understand that sometimes we get things wrong. When things go wrong we really want you to let us know so that we can not only put things right but also learn from your experience and ensure the same situation doesn’t occur again.

• We will review the grit bins in our designated older person’s accommodation, focusing specifically on those schemes which have bungalows or cottage flats around a communal courtyard or carpark, to ensure gritting can take place in the most efficient way possible. Any changes will be communicated effectively to customers, using more than just the scheme notice board.

• We will review our witness statement template and procedure to ensure data protection compliance.

• Wilson Energy will report to Great Places on a monthly basis regarding all customer issues that have been raised with them. This will allow us to actively monitor the outcome and ensure standards of customer care are of a high standard.

• We have updated the information held by Orbis (our out of hours repairs service) to include the tenure status, contractors' responsibilities, and defects liability end dates for all addresses at Park Hill. We will review the information held by Orbis in respect of the Park Hill scheme on regular basis.

• Gas compliance procedures for new developments have been reviewed and implemented.

• Great Places are leasing a new vehicle fleet and all these vehicles will all be fitted with trackers which will make confirming operatives location at any given time more robust.

• We are undergoing reviews to improve delivery arrangements for replacement kitchen units.

• When damp works are completed the tenant will be left a leaflet letting them know when they are able to decorate, taking into account the drying times.

Making a complaint You can inform us by any method (telephone, email, in person or by post – see page 2 for contact details).

One of our frontline staff will initially try to resolve your issue. We call this ‘nipping in the bud’ (NIP) and staff have five working days to identify the best possible course of action to put things right.

If you are not satisfied with how we propose to put things right you have the option of requesting your issue is looked at in more detail by one of our service managers. They will then investigate your issue, discuss why you are unhappy with our initial offer to put things right and provide you with a final, formal offer to put things right. We call this process ‘right first time’ (RFT).

We aim to resolve your complaint within 15 working days.

If you are still unhappy with our response you have the option of referring your complaint for independent resolution. This independent resolution could be any of the following: • A local councillor • An MP • The Housing Ombudsman

Number of NIP complaints May 16

37 April 16

May 16

June 16

34

36 18

Compliments

www.greatplaces.org.uk

50 April 16

30

Number of RFT complaints

May 16

June 16

44

40

June 16

35

April 16

34

You can contact us with a compliment or complaint by phone, email or text - please see page 2 for contact details.

Overall performance Great Places sets itself a number of key goals, which are important to ensure that it continues to build great homes and great communities, supported by great people.

Overall satisfaction with Great Places’ services

Satisfaction with repairs service

(2015/16 = 88.3%)

(2015/16 = 91.2%)

87.1%

92.3%

ÂŁ Amount of rent collected

99.7%

(2015/16 = 100.1%)

Average days to re-let empty property

19.4 days

(2015/16 = 23.9 days)

Rent not collected due to empty properties

0.5%

(2015/16 = 0.5%)

Satisfaction with the quality of your home

84.1%

(2015/16 = 81.4%) 19 19

Competition time Complete the word search, spot the difference and survey questions, cut them out and post them to us, along with your full name and address, to be entered into a prize draw to win a £20 shopping voucher. Six Name: with your entry.

Date: winners will be selected. Make sure you include your survey questions

Word Search!

V

Find and circle each of the words from the list below. Words may appear

Send your entries by post to: FREEPOST, RLSC-HLLJ-EZRZ, My Great Place, Morris, horizontally, vertically or Maria diagonally, but forwards only.

Great Places Housing Group, Southern Gate, 729 Princess Road, Manchester, M20 2LT

All entries must be in by 1 October 2016. Remember, you don’t need a stamp!

Wordsearch SUNGLASSES GARDEN AUGUST SUMMER TRAVEL

B

X

S

E

I

A

P W

S G T

I

C E

L

O

L

L

R

I

C B

Words to find are: FLOWERS SUNSHINE BARBECUE HOLIDAY ICELOLLY

Z

K N N N B U S U E

Y U

BLOOM BEACH

A

S N B

L

R E G I

S

Y

Y U B

R A

E O Y N M E

A R B

E C U E M A

H U U G C V O R Q A O E C L

E

E

A C E M R H

U S

A

F

L

M O G N L

Congratulations to last issue’s winners: Wordsearch: Andrea Hover – Eccles Ms J Sweeney – Salford, Chris Hargreaves – Stoke-on-Trent

E

S

D

T W

Spot the difference: Jennifer Worsley – Bolton, Joanne Crump – Sheffield Jahangir Alam – Longsight

B A

I

O W E R S

S H S G A R D E N T

I

S U

T

E

S

T

L

O O M A

L

N E

B M

I

I

A

B M F W Y

S O F

N

C R R V D

I

E

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE There are five differences – can you spot them? Circle the five differences on photo two.

1

flowers

2

sunshine

barbecue

holiday icelolly sunglasses travel bloom beach

garden

august

summer

Copyright ©2016 WorksheetWorks.com

Please circle your answer to the following questions and send them along with your competition entry in order to be entered into the prize draw.

How often do you use the Great Places website (www.greatplaces.org.uk)? Once a day / Once a week / Once a month / Occasionally / Never What is most important to you when you visit the website? It looks nice / I can find the info need / I can do things for myself (e.g. pay my rent or order a repair) / Other (please state) ____________________________________________ Would you be interested in helping to design the new Great Places website? Yes / No Name:...................................................................................................................................................................................

Address:...............................................................................................................................................................................

Telephone/Mobile: ...............................................................Email:....................................................................................

20 www.greatplaces.org.uk