Barrhead Housing - Summer 24 newsletter

Welcome to the summer edition of

I’m thrilled to unveil our latest gem: the 2030 strategy ‘Build homes, grow communities, delight customers.’ We’ve poured heart and soul into crafting this vision, gathering input from every corner—from our team and board to valued customers and stakeholders. Through surveys, conversations, and feedback, we have listened intently to what matters most to you.

Together, we’ve embarked on a journey of innovation, drawing inspiration from best practices nationally and internationally, as well as insights from diverse industries. The result? A roadmap that propels Barrhead Housing into an exhilarating future.  Dive into the details on pages 6 & 7.

But that’s not all. This newsletter is packed with something for everyone. We have exciting updates on new services for our customers, insights from our trusted contractors, an opportunity to meet a talented member of our team and updates on what’s going on in your community. There’s plenty to engage and inspire.

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the read.

Let us know what you think about our newsletter and any suggestions for future editions at enquiries@barrheadha.org.

Have a great summer,

Summer 2024

In this edition:

• Meet Barrhead Housing’s Dynamic Equalities Team Pg4

• Newton Avenue – The Final Design Unveiled Pg16

• 2023-24 Community Investment: Biggest Wins Pg16

Good News Corner

Meet Shannon McKenna: Our Bright New Talent

Shannon has been part of our team since September 2023. Shannon was seeking a change, having worked in childcare for ten years. Shannon did not have experience working in the housing sector. However, she applied for a position in our finance department and turned out to be the perfect fit for our team.

Over the past eight months, we’ve been getting to know Shannon. We found out that she’s a skilled photographer. Shannon shared with us that she studied photography after her third child was born. It was a passion of hers, and she wanted to do something for herself.

Shannon’s talent has given Barrhead Housing the opportunity to have its own photographer. It also enables her to use her creativity and photography skills. Shannon has already started capturing images of staff, contractors, tenants, and our properties.

When we asked Shannon for a quote about her experience at Barrhead Housing so far, here’s what she said:

It’s rare for people to love both their job and the people they work with. But I’ve never had such comfort at work until I joined Barrhead Housing. I’m excited to take more photos in the coming months. I aim to show the hard work, love, and dedication of our staff, community, and customers through my photos.

Success StoryOvercoming Adversity

Despite facing hurdles in securing adult disability benefits due to health challenges, one of our tenants sought help from our welfare rights service.

Through our dedicated efforts, we submitted a compelling redetermination to Scottish Security Scotland, backed by strong medical evidence, resulting in a positive outcome for our tenant.

The tenant received enhanced rates for mobility and daily living. This secured a backdate of over £12,000 and an award for the next five years. Thrilled with the result, our tenant now feels financially secure and empowered to move forward with their life.

Reach out to our Welfare Rights Officer, Vivien Betteridge, for expert advice and representation, ensuring your best chance of success.

Congratulations

Karen, our Corporate Services Officer just levelled up her skills with a Level 4 Certificate in Housing, accredited by the prestigious Chartered Institute of Housing.

Let’s give Karen a round of applause for her dedication to excellence!

Barrhead News and Updates

Revamped and Ready: Unveiling Our New Website.

After five months of redesign and development, our new website is LIVE!

Teaming up with Third Sector Lab, we’ve crafted a platform that’s not just easy to use, but intuitive and accessible. Designed with YOU in mind, we’ve tailored every feature to meet your needs, ensuring high accessibility standards for all.

We continue to look at ways of enhancing services for our customers. Stay tuned as we roll out more online functions in the coming months, like reporting repairs and checking rent balances. Your feedback matters, so hit that blue ‘Website feedback’ button and let us know what you think.

Welcome to the future of housing options.

Say goodbye to long waits and confusing forms. Meet Vox, your friendly neighbourhood chatbot, ready to guide you through your housing journey 24/7. With Vox by your side, finding the perfect home is just a conversation away. Get ready to experience housing applications made easy, anytime, anywhere. Vox will be available to help you on our updated website shortly.

Barrhead News and Updates

Exciting News Alert!

This powerhouse team meets regularly to strategize and ignite change! They’re laser-focused on infusing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion into our culture.

Their mission? To eliminate discrimination, champion equal opportunities, and cultivate a culture where everyone feels valued and secure.

The Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Team dives deep into discussions covering race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and religion.

But wait, there’s more! We want to hear YOUR insights!

How can we amplify inclusivity and make you feel even more valued as a Barrhead Housing customer?

Don’t be shy—reach out to us via phone, email, or in person! You can find contact details and locations at the end of this newsletter. Let’s spark change together!

Did you know Barrhead Housing boasts an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Team?

Barrhead News and Updates

Performance Update: Keeping You in the Loop

Every year we provide an annual report to the Scottish Housing Regulator telling them how well we performed as a landlord. While we work to finalise this information, we are thrilled to share improvements in reactive repairs completion rates and faster turnaround times for routine repairs. We also secured over £326k for tenants through welfare services, making a significant difference to many of our customers.

We are dedicated to keeping rent arrears low, because high levels of rent arrears make it more difficult for us to

provide quality services and invest in your home. Last year, we visited 72% of customers in their homes. This summer, we are aiming to connect with even more customers so we can get to know you and help you feel safe and supported in your home.

We understand how much you value investment in your home. In the last financial year, we spent £1.5m delivering over 287 improvements that included new kitchens, windows and boilers.

Your safety and satisfaction are our top priorities. 86%

72% customers received a visit £326k welfare funding secured for tenants

£1.5m investment in homes

6½ days average time to complete routine repairs reactive repairs completed right first time

2030

Build homes, grow communities, delight customers 2030 Strategy

We recently published a bold new strategy for 2030. It comes from hundreds of talks with tenants, local communities, and others and it’s based on the things that people told us are most important to them.

Tenants told us how important repairs and maintenance is to them. In response to this, we reorganised our repairs service and we now focus on working with local, skilled providers.

In the years up to 2030, we have set aside £7.5 million to improve tenants’ homes. That’s an average of £7,600 per home. These improvements will make your homes better, safer, and add technology to keep them warm.

The strategy also shows how we will enhance customer services, with plans to set up a 24/7 online service.

We plan to increase our stock to over 1,300 homes by 2030, most of which will be social rented. There will also be mid-market properties which are for people who cannot find affordable private rentals but do not qualify for social housing. This often includes people looking for their first home and key workers. We will reach our ambitious new homes target with a combination of building new homes and buying existing ones.

We will continue to work in partnership to support and develop local activities and services within communities. These efforts aim to improve wellbeing. They also aim to boost quality of life and job and training opportunities.

John Hamilton, Barrhead Housing’s chairperson, said: “We want our customers’ experiences with us to be the best of their lives. A home is the foundation of a good life. One of our most important jobs is to provide

Build homes, grow communities, delight customers

Strategy 2030

new homes to help address the housing crisis. We love to champion our communities and so many people are in real need at the moment through homelessness and struggles with the cost of living. We will deliver the strategy through partnerships with East Renfrewshire Council, the police, the health service, voluntary groups, and local people.”

Councillor Danny Devlin is the Convenor of Housing and Environment. He said, “East Renfrewshire Council welcomes Barrhead Housing ‘s support. They help meet local housing needs. We will work closely with them to make this strategy a reality.”

Read the strategy ‘Build homes, grow communities, delight customers’ on our website. Barrhead Housing 2030 Strategy - Barrhead Housing (barrheadha.org)

*The new homes target is subject to funding, site availability and consultation.

WHAT WILL BARRHEAD HOUSING’S NEW STRATEGY MEAN FOR YOU AS A TENANT?

You will be able to report a repair, pay your rent, make a complaint, or give us a compliment any time day or night.

Your home will have a plan for upgrades to make it modern and comfortable.

We will use technology to help us notice signs that things are wrong in your home. We will fix small problems before they become big.

When you need it, we will be here with financial advice, fuel advice, help to link up to others, and check-in services.

You will have a choice of activities in your local area to join for free including classes, programmes, and events.

You will have the chance to volunteer, get training and access job opportunities.

And should your home no longer meet your needs, or if a family member needs a home, we will have more homes to offer.

Supporting You

Let’s

Talk Rent Payments

As the summer sun shines, we understand the added strain on household budgets. From providing daily lunches for the kids during school breaks to unexpected wardrobe upgrades, we know it can be tough.

Keeping up with rent payments is crucial to avoid falling behind and facing further challenges down the road. By staying on top of your rent account, you’re not just ensuring a roof over your head, you’re enabling us to provide quality repairs, upgrades, and essential services to enhance your living experience.

If you find yourself facing rent arrears, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to offer personalised support and guidance to help you regain financial stability and stay in your home. A short chat with us could put you in touch with expert advice on managing finances, welfare, and fuel costs, helping you make the most of your money.

Introducing “Be Well Barrhead” with RAMH

We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Recovery Across Mental Health (RAMH) to launch Be Well Barrhead, a specialised mental health support service.

The service aims to provide early intervention and tailored support for Barrhead Housing tenants aged 16 and over who are struggling with mental health issues, to help prevent tenancy breakdown and enhance their quality of life.

We’re committed to building this service over the summer and extending support to those in need. If you or someone you know could benefit from this initiative, reach out to your local customer services officer for guidance on how to get started.

Let’s prioritise mental wellbeing together.

Supporting You

Alertacall - Connectivity & Support at Sheltered Housing

We’re thrilled to announce improvements aimed at reducing isolation and enhancing connectivity at our sheltered housing complex! These improvements will support our residents to live independently and interact with services on their own schedules.

Teaming up with Alertacall, we are introducing ‘Ok Each Day’, a portable touchscreen device that integrates seamlessly with existing community alarm systems. This innovative solution not only facilitates property maintenance but also combats loneliness and digital exclusion.

With ‘Ok Each Day’, residents can easily contact us for service requests and daily check-ins, ensuring their wellbeing without the need for a call from our team. Plus, there’s no additional cost for this service.

Assets Update New Contractor Announcement

Introducing Valley Group Ltd, our dynamic new reactive repairs contractor.

Established in 2014, Valley Group has rapidly expanded its services, now offering high quality electrical and plumbing work, maintenance, refurbishment, and energy upgrades for homes and businesses across Scotland.

With a strong foothold in East Renfrewshire, they’re committed to hiring locally and partnering with employability agencies to empower the community.

Valley Group also champions youth empowerment, frequently collaborating with Barrhead High School to provide opportunities for local talent.

We are thrilled to have Valley Group on board, sharing our commitment to delivering a customer-focused experience.

Valley Group aims for nothing less than reliable and efficient service - always there when you need them. Whether it’s routine maintenance or emergency repairs, they’ve got you covered, keeping homes safe and cozy all year round.

Left to Right - Robert Clark, Kerry Mackie, Jason Hamilton, Gayle Anderson Barrhead Housing | Summer 2024

Assets Update

Window Transformations

Raising the Bar: Your Home Upgrades Kitchen Replacements

In the past year, we’ve worked wonders, replacing windows in flats at Centenary Court and homes in Saunders Court and surrounding areas. 112 properties and six common closes have already been revamped—talk about progress.

The transformation journey continues as we set our sights on South Park Avenue, North Park Avenue, and Centre Way. With plans to install windows and doors in 104 properties, this is a major investment..

Our goal? To elevate the quality and energy efficiency of your homes to new heights.

We’re transforming your homes with sleek Howdens kitchens, courtesy of our partnership with MCN.

Last year, we invested over £250,000 installing kitchens in 70 properties across the Auchenback area.

And the upgrades don’t stop there! We’re gearing up to replace 83 kitchens in the central area of Barrhead for our 2024-25 programme.

Check out our website and social media for more updates as we continue to enhance your living space.

Continued Investment Plan

We continue to invest in your homes this year. We want to make our tenants happier and more comfortable. We completed £1.6 million of work on 257 properties last year. This year, we will spend £1.2 million to improve 273 properties.

We will continue delivering investment in line with our 30-year plan. Proactive investment like this means we can procure contracts at better value and keep homes from falling into disrepair. You can find out when we plan to improve your property by reviewing the plan on our website.

Assets Update

Stay safe with Barrhead Housing’s annual gas checks

Why do we do it? Because your safety matters. Our annual gas safety checks, carried out by our trusted Gas Safe contractor James Frew, ensure your home is free from carbon monoxide risks and gas leaks that could lead to disasters. With about 40 lives lost each year in the UK due to carbon monoxide poisoning and the threat of explosions from gas leaks, your safety is our priority.

What to expect: James Frew will contact you two months before your check is due to arrange a convenient appointment. On the day, the Gas Safe engineer will conduct the checks in just one hour. Afterwards they will report any issues they find back to us so we can arrange to address them.

Your part: Keep your appointment or reschedule promptly if needed. Make sure to give contractors access to your home and credit your gas pre-payment meter in advance (if you have one) to facilitate the checks. If you fail to let us complete the checks, it could result in us having to force entry to your home so we can fulfil our legal obligations.

Estates Update Biodiversity Blooms!

Our Customer Services Officer, Ashley Burns, recently ventured out on a visit to Southpark Avenue’s park with colleagues from East Renfrewshire Council. Spotting trees encroaching into gardens, she sprung into action, fearing potential property damage.

But fear not! The Council swiftly trimmed the trees to perfection, ensuring safety and aesthetics!

However, trimming down the trees left one property feeling exposed. Quick to act, our assets team allocated funds for a new fence. The tenant was thrilled and sent us a heartwarming text expressing their gratitude.

Our commitment to protecting our feathered friends, who are currently caring for their young, means we’ve temporarily paused work on the other half of the street due to the nesting season.

We’re gearing up for action this autumn when it’s safe to proceed.

Keep it Clean, Keep it Green

Recycling is key to a cleaner environment and preventing overflowing bins. Make sure to use the correct bins to avoid contamination.

Remember, East Renfrewshire Council won’t empty contaminated bins or pick up bin bags left on the ground. Take care to dispose of your rubbish properly to keep vermin at bay.

Spot an issue in your area? Reach out to us. Together, we can keep our community sparkling clean.

For contact details, flip to the end of this newsletter

Thank you for being an eco-hero.

Cutting Season Begins

Our landscaping contractor, John O’Conner, is gearing up to spruce up our sites.

The landscaping contract is out to tender, and once we’ve secured the perfect match, we’ll be sure to reach out to all our fantastic customers.

Encountering any hiccups with our contractor? Reach out to our friendly Customer Hub team for assistance.

Community Investment

Brighter Futures Barrhead

Since June 2023, we have been fighting poverty and inequality in our most disadvantaged communities.

Our strategy? A unified effort led by partners and communities, with Barrhead Housing at the forefront.

Barrhead Housing stands as the primary partner, backing eleven community partners in our collective mission.

Barrhead Housings Lending Library

No computer? No tablet? No internet? No problem.

Introducing our Digital Lending Library, complete with digital devices and mi-fi devices for customers to use.

Need to get connected? Call us and ask for Shay, contact details are at the end of this newsletter.

WE HAVE DELIVERED £4,070,708 IN SOCIAL VALUE

428 INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS AND BENEFICIARIES

Let’s bridge the digital divide together. ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE PROJECT SO FAR

325 PEOPLE HAVE IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE FOLLOWING PARTICIPATION

43 VOLUNTEERS HAVE TAKEN PART

3,555 HOURS OF VOLUNTEERING.

81 EXERCISE CLASSES

48 ARTS & CRAFTS SESSIONS

46 FOOD WASTE COOKING WORKSHOPS

45 DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS

112 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE (INCLUDING TODDLER GROUP, DRAMA AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION)

50 CHILDREN GIVEN BRAND NEW SCHOOL UNIFORMS

43 FOOD SHARE SESSIONS

ISSUING 30 BAGS OF FOOD EACH WEEK

Community Investment

Social Value – real life transformations

Social value is the heartbeat of our impact. Through HACT’s dynamic Social Value Toolkit, we are measuring the real-life transformations our interventions bring to individuals and communities.

The toolkit contains 88 potential outcomes that are backed by concrete financial metrics. We are showcasing the positive ripple effect our work has on wellbeing, health, and even state savings.

It’s not just about what we do. It’s about the lasting difference we make in people’s lives every single day.

Andrew van Doorn, Chief Executive, HACT, stated:

“Social value is so much more than a figure on a page. It is a commitment to create an impact in everything you do, taking it from transactional to transformational and truly delivering on your social purpose and the difference you can make to individuals.”

The incredible impact of our projects in 2023-2024: The actual adjusted social value we generated: £7,252,026 What we actually spent (our project budgets): £296,615

This means, for every £1 we spent on projects, we delivered a whopping £7.25m in value for community.the

Community Investment

Tenancy Sustainment 2023 - 2024 Highlight Reel: Making a Difference Together

SFHA Fuel Support We teamed up with Citizens Advice Bureau ER to provide energy advisers, making 78 referrals and distributing £37,500 to 95 customers, easing fuel debt burdens.

HACT Fuel Vouchers

We secured 52 vouchers and distributed £15,092 to our customers, ensuring warmth and comfort during colder months.

ERC Winter Planning Fund We delivered 20 electric blankets, keeping our community cozy through the chill.

ERC Covid Reserves We spent £20,000 fitting carpets for customers with homelessness experience, providing comfort and dignity.

Tenant Support Fund We empowered 53 households with £18,876 in direct payments, making tough times a little easier.

Back 2 School Bank ER We made 26 referrals for new clothes, uniforms, and supplies, ensuring our children start the school year on the right foot.

“I burst into tears...seeing the payment. It took a lot of pressure off. I’m speechless at the generosity.”

Our valued tenant, moved by our support.

Together, we are not just providing aid. We are making heartfelt impacts that change lives. Thank you for being part of our journey.

Newton Avenue

After diving into survey results and feedback, we’ve teamed up with Scotplay to craft an exciting plan for the play space. Renovations will kick off in June.

But we’re not stopping there. We are taking a holistic approach to Newton Avenue. We will use our community benefit clauses with contractors to enhance other areas like flower beds and growing spaces.

Get ready for a transformed and vibrant community hub.

The winning design, chosen by you, our amazing customers.

Community Investment

Impactful Parents

Impactful Parents is a dynamic 12-week arts-based employability programme. It is funded by East Renfrewshire Council’s No One Left Behind Employability Programme and led by Impact Arts.

• 12 out of 17 participants were Barrhead Housing customers

• 6 participants managed to complete an SQA unit in Communications Level 3

• 2 participants are now in employment

• 6 participants went on to further training

• Social Value Impact: £267,239

“Initially I just hoped this project would help me with my employability and give me some structure. Now, after working with the tutors, it’s given me a different hope for the future for what my employment can look like.”

“I never knew this programme would spark some life in me and allow to see some light at the end of a very broken tunnel.”

“I scored my confidence in creativity at the start 2 out of 10 and now it is 10 out of 10!’’

“This has helped me feel like I have enough skills and experience to apply for the kinds of jobs I want to apply for.’’

Barrhead Housing Information Allocations policy

Over the past year, we have assessed how we allocate homes by engaging with applicants through public consultations. We also spoke with customers, staff, the board, and external stakeholders to understand our priorities as we review our allocations policy. We prepared a draft policy based on these responses. Then we consulted with customers and stakeholders in early 2024. We developed the draft based on the feedback before presenting a final version to our governing board for approval in February.

The new policy focuses on allocating people homes based on their housing need, in particular those who are homeless or at risk. We also want to use our current homes better by giving priority to those seeking to downsize.

Survivors of domestic abuse will receive priority for housing. We have many housing options available to them. If you are a domestic abuse survivor, you are not alone. Contact us confidentially in a way that is safe for you, and we will talk to you about your options.

We also changed our approach to applicants with health conditions. We now provide clearer criteria on how we can help them find other housing options. We have created new applicant categories for those leaving the care system, people discharged from hospital with no home to return to, and those leaving the armed forces and prison.

You can find our new policy on our website and we will soon be publishing a report for our customers. It will cover our new policy and how we conducted the review. If you have any questions about how we allocate homes, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Barrhead Housing | Summer 2024

James, the Artistic Marvel of Barrhead Housing

We stumbled upon our talented customer James’ mind-blowing sketches, and he agreed to showcase his phenomenal talent! Prepare to be wowed!

Got a secret talent or know someone who does? Get in touch with us and we will showcase your talent in our next edition of ‘The Anchor’.

You Said, We Did

You said…

Some customers feel isolated, spending too much time at home alone.

You said...

You don’t want to take part in so many surveys.

Revamped survey frequency and timing, reintroducing prize draws to boost participation. We did…

We are...

Researching befriending and other services to combat loneliness.

You said…

You want to share your views on social media.

Equipped our Customer Hub team with social media training for engaging content and prompt responses. We did...

We are always here to help

Call us: 0141 881 0638

Email: enquiries@barrheadha.org

We believe that everyone deserves to live in a secure, good quality, well-maintained home within communities that are safe, supported and inclusive. Follow us facebook Follow us on Facebook Tweet @BarrheadHousing

Web: www.barrheadha.org

Out of hours repairs: 0800 652 0633

Download the Barrhead Housing App from the Google or Apple Stores.

Phone and email service

Thursday 09:00 – 17:00

Friday 09:00 – 16:00

Office and Drop-In Hours

Monday 9AM – 5PM

Auchenback Resource Centre 10:30AM – 12:30PM

Hilary Smith, Tenancy Readiness Officer

Auchenback Resource Centre 10AM –1PM (First Monday of each month from June 2024)

Sandra Nelson, Customer Services Officer

Tuesday 9AM – 5PM

Wednesday 9AM – 5PM

Barrhead Foundry 1PM – 4PM (First Wednesday each month)

Includeme2club Cowan Park 2PM – 4PM (First Wednesday each month)

Ashley Burns, Customer Services Officer

Sean Fitzharris, Customer Services Officer

Glen Community Hall, Neilston 2:30PM – 4:30PM (First Wednesday each month) Zubeida Yusuf, Customer Services Officer

Digital Drop-In, Sheltered Housing Complex 11:30AM – 12:30PM

Shay Young, Community Investment Officer

Thursday 9AM – 5PM (Phone/ Email)

Friday 9AM – 4PM (Phone/ Email)

Food Share, Dunterlie Resource Centre 11:30AM – 12PM

*Hilary will be available to chat from 9.30am*

Hilary Smith, Tenancy Readiness Officer