news Issue 40 April 2012
Green Charter has arrived!
Read more about your new grounds maintenance service on page 5
Gardening and real life stories Pages 8-9
Help and support with benefits
Your chance to win ÂŁ50 B &Q vouchers!
Pages 6-7
Find out how on page 18
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Welcome to
news
Contents News round-up 4 New gardening team 5
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Active+ Members Save up to 50%*
Active Member (Off Peak) £2.80 £3.85 £7.50 £2.35 £4.80 £4.90 £5.20 £3.15
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conditions
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Welcome to the April edition of New Charter News. Spring is officially here and we’ve been busy launching your new grounds maintenance service, Green Charter. Following your feedback, we’ve brought this service in house to try and improve things for you. See page 5 for more information and please complete our survey on page 18 to tell us how things are going. You could win £50 B & Q vouchers to spend on your home and garden! There’s also been lots going on at our Academy, including an art competition for the community and a forthcoming Apprenticeship event. Read more on pages 14-15.
Money Matters 6-7 Your Great Gardening Stories 8 Your Real Life Stories 9 Natterbox 10-12 Key to your door 13 Academy News 14-15 Making neighbourhoods safer 16-17 Grounds Maintenance Survey win £50 B&Q vouchers! 18 Free advice from Citizens Advice Bureau 19 Our contact details 20
As usual, we’ve got important information for you on money matters and benefits, (pages 6-7), and news on making your communities safer, (pages 16-17). We hope you’re enjoying the spring sunshine and for many of you who like gardening, we hope your gardens are blossoming! Your Communications Team The Customer Communications Group (CCG) helps us to improve this newsletter for you. We’d love more of you to be involved and join the other residents in the group. You may just prefer to give us some feedback on the newsletter. Either way we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Emma Tempan on 0161 331 2470 or email contact@newcharter.co.uk
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News round-up Ladies football team gets ‘incentive’ for new kit A ladies football club is ‘match fit’ after unveiling a new away kit sponsored by New Charter Homes. The Curzon Ashton Ladies Football Club based in Tameside, placed a successful bid for funding for the new strip from New Charter’s ‘Incentive’ Community Chest programme. The project aims to support communities by inviting groups to bid for up Tony Powell and the Curzon Ashton Ladies to £1000 towards local projects. Football Club It has just re-launched and is open to new applications from projects that can demonstrate positive results in one of five areas: health and wellbeing, economic prosperity, safer stronger communities, inclusive society, and environment. It also covers sponsorship of local projects and groups. Do you have a project that could benefit? Request an application form from communitychest@newcharter.co.uk or call 0161 331 2415 for more information. Completed forms should be returned by Monday 30th April 2012 to ‘New Charter Incentive’, Cavendish 249, Cavendish Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7AT. Judging takes place in May.
We’ll be back on your screens soon! Last October we told you that another series of the popular BBC One documentary ‘Neighbourhood Watched’ was being made. Since then, hundreds of hours of filming featuring over 30 of our staff and many of our customers have been collected. We’ll shortly be saying goodbye to the film crew who will then review and edit the stories to include in the six episodes. We expect the new series will be ready to show in late summer. If you’ve been filmed, thank you!
Connect-ing you by phone In June 2011 we set up Connect, a telephone service for you to get in touch with us. The Connect team can help you with many different things from repairs to neighbourhood enquiries and lettings advice. To make sure we handle your calls effectively, we will soon be launching a new customer relationship management system, known as CRM. This new system will help us to record your contact with us so we can see more easily when you have been in touch, who you have spoken to and what about. Very soon, Connect will be formally launched and you will be able to access all our services through a dedicated telephone number. More information coming soon. Connect ensures that we always have someone here to answer your calls and you can be put through to the person you want to speak to. In the future, we hope Connect will be a first point of contact to answer your questions. If you have feedback on any of our telephone services, please contact us on 0161 331 2234 or email contact@newcharter.co.uk
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Green Charter New gardening team springs into action We’re delighted to tell you that we’ve now launched our new grounds maintenance team, Green Charter, to keep public open spaces and communal areas on your estates clean and tidy. Teams have been out and about in their new green vans and uniforms since 1st March so you may have already spotted them working in your neighbourhoods.
weeding as well as hedge and shrub trimming, across all of our estates. Previously this work was carried out by an outside company but after listening to feedback from tenants, we’ve decided to set up our own team.
that we hope to spend on your communities. Green Charter staff will be employed on a seasonal basis with a team of 19 working during the winter and 29 in the summer.
With new vans, better equipment and highly trained staff, we feel that Residents will continue to look we can improve the quality of work after their own individual gardens and visit estates more often. and hedges as part of their tenancy agreements and the council will Green Charter will be responsible It also means savings of around £1.2m remain responsible for parks across for looking after grass cutting and over the next five years – money Tameside.
We need your help Residents have done a great job in helping us to get Green Charter up and running and we’re keen for you to continue to play an important role in the development of this new service. We’re looking for volunteers to become monitors, to check how the Green Charter teams are doing in your area. Want to get involved or keen to know more? Call Les Crowther on 0161 331 2627 or email les.crowther@newcharter.co.uk
A word from our monitors… Gill Travis Central Dukinfield estate “Residents should take pride in their community and I hope that more people will get involved if they see a good job being done.”
Vera Anderton - Assheton House “I asked tenants what they thought of the service so far and what needs to be changed. We had a great response and I think people should get involved in giving their feedback. Tenants need to tell us what they think.”
Amy Welsh (14) designed the winning logo for Green Charter after en tering a competition at the New Charter Academy.
Look out for information on how Green Charter is doing in the next newsletter.
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Money Matters Struggling with debt? We can help.
Changes to Housing Benefit l Do you receive Housing Benefit to help you with your rent? l Do you have someone living with you who is aged 18 or over?
(this includes grown up children, but not your partner)
We can support you to get back in control of your monies. We will help you find the best solutions for you; providing advice on budgeting, creditors, court action and how to maximize your income.
If you said YES to both, this information is very important to you.
We offer the following face-to-face services:
Anyone who lives with you who is aged 18 or over (and is not a joint tenant or lodger and not your partner) is called a non-dependant. A non-dependant could be l l
A parent Another relative who lives with you
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l A grown-up son or daughter l A friend
If you have a non-dependant living in your home, your Housing Benefit is usually reduced by a certain amount each week. This is called a non-dependant deduction. This amount depends on the circumstances of the person living with you, for example if they are working or on benefits. This means your Housing Benefit is reduced, and you have to pay more towards your rent. The idea is that the person living with you should contribute to the rent. From 1st April 2012 these amounts have increased and you should have been contacted by the council to let you know how your Housing Benefit has changed. If you haven’t heard from the council, you can contact them on 0161 342 8355.
Spare Bedrooms and Housing Benefit will you be affected? Can you answer YES to all of these questions?
The changes are going ahead. If you think you may be affected, we’re here to help you. Call 0161 331 2200.
l Do you receive Housing Benefit? l Are you of working age? (16 – 61 yrs old) l Do you have a spare bedroom in your home?
If you can, then it is highly likely that your Housing Benefit will be reduced from April 2013. The Government will only pay Housing Benefit for the number of bedrooms that your family needs and they will not pay the full rent. This has been the subject of a lot of discussion in the press over the last few months. People affected will include: l Single working age people living alone in properties with 2 bedrooms or more (even where a second bedroom is needed due to parental access to children) l Couples living alone in properties with 2 bedrooms or more (even where the second bedroom is needed due to a disability where there is no outside care or for grandchildren) l Families who live in properties with 3 bedrooms or more where children can share a bedroom, (for example, 2 children of the same gender aged under 16, or 2 children aged under 10 regardless of gender). l Families with foster children Many tenants have been active in trying to get the Government to change its mind, and we would again like to say ‘thank you’ for all your efforts.
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Our Debt Advice team can offer you free, independent, confidential and impartial advice, helping you to deal with your debts.
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Checking you are getting the right benefits. Draw up a financial statement with you to see what money you have available, if any, to pay your creditors. Check that you are liable for debts owed. Advise you what to pay first. Negotiate with your creditors. Represent you in the County Court. Give assistance in the Magistrates Court.
Contact us and see how we can help 0161 331 2456 debtadvice@newcharter.co.uk Write to ‘Debt Advice Team’ at our head office address on the back of this newsletter or call into one of our Hubs.
Need help and advice on your housing benefit? Give us a call. Our Welfare Benefits team can give you free, independent and confidential advice on a wide range of benefits and tax credit entitlements. We can help you find out about welfare benefits and tax credits you could be entitled to and help you to claim them. We can also argue your case for you if a decision doesn’t seem right and represent you at an appeal tribunal. To help us give you the right advice, we may need to ask you about: l
Your family circumstances. How much money you have coming in. l If you have any savings or capital. l Any disabilities you or you or your family have. l How you pay for your rent, and if you’re struggling with it. l
Contact us and see how we can help 0161 331 2200 welfare@newcharter.co.uk Write to ‘Welfare Benefit section’ at our head office address on the back of this newsletter or call into one of our Hubs.
These services are exclusive to you as New Charter tenants
It’s easy to pay your rent… Call 0161 331 2224. Our automated payment line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You need your 8 digit payment reference number to pay - find this on your rent card or your rent statement. You can now also check your rent balance online at www.newcharter.co.uk . Register on the website using the ‘MyArea’ net access.
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Your Great Gardening Stories Ashurst Gardens group The Ashurst Gardens group has really ‘bloomed’ over the past few years. Ann, one of the residents on the estate, had been gardening for several years before other residents joined her and formed the committee just two years ago. In their first year 2010, the group entered New Charter’s gardening competition and won ‘Best back garden’ and ‘Best shared garden’.This boosted the residents to enter the North West In Bloom competition, where they received ‘outstanding’ recognition in both 2010 and 2011. The garden has brought a real community feel to the estate and residents gather together all year round, planting and developing their garden. In summer, they enjoy relaxing in their haven and this year, the group are creating a wild flower area.
Here’s some tips from the residents: Plant from pips and seeds where you can - it’s much cheaper than buying ready grown, and plants tend to last longer. Plant peas, potatoes and leeks in March-May.This is a good time to plant them and we use the veg in our cooking. Last year, we planted cabbages from seed; already these are in full bloom and ready for us to cook with. Most vegetables and summer plants, (e.g Nasturtiums) are ready to plant now.
Residents of Forrest and Dixon Road have been busy developing their garden this year.
This will create a new vibrant area to the garden and the residents hope it will encourage more visitors.
Jack first started attending New Charter’s youth group in 2008. At first, he wouldn’t join in. Instead, Jack wanted to ‘hang out’, mess around, and not take anything seriously. As time went on, Jack saw the support the group could offer and put his name forward for events on the estate, including planting days and fundraising events. Jack’s new found respect for the group saw him starting to participate regularly with the residents and contribute to the Royal Horticultural Society In Bloom competition. Jack worked hard and encouraged young people to follow his lead and take pride in their community. Later on, Jack became a mentor for other young people, encouraging and motivating them; showing others that they can achieve better things if they want to make positive changes. Through volunteering at New Charter and training, Jack really grew as a person. Jack now volunteers with many things, from events to sitting on the interview panels at New Charter. He always helps out in his spare time and uses his experiences to educate and support others. With support of New Charter, he developed his CV and gained an apprenticeship. In March, Jack started a work placement at New Charter to support his personal development. Jack is a truly inspiring real-life example, who our young people can so closely relate to and look up to. In February, Jack was shortlisted for ‘Young tenant of the year’ at a prestigious awards event in the housing/tenant worlds. He received a special mention at the event and a ‘Highly Commended’ certificate.
Forrest Road
The group has begun creating a Japanese inspired garden. The residents are also busy starting a sensory pathway, which will include scented flowers in red, white and blue to mark the Queen’s Jubilee.
Jack Hamer
Muddy Buddies win Keep Britain Tidy award! The ‘Muddy Buddies’ (Micklehurst Residents’ Association) recently fought off tough competition to win the prestigious ‘Love Where You Live’ category at the Keep Britain Tidy awards.
Light at the end of the tunnel for Tina A young woman who was taken in by one of our supporting housing schemes after hitting ‘rock bottom’ has turned her life around. 24-year-old Tina Shinton had been struggling to see a way forward. She cut herself off from her family and friends in Shropshire and moved away to be with an abusive partner. The relationship ended and after falling pregnant she was left homeless.
Over the past few years, Muddy Buddies have shown great commitment and inspiration with many projects, such as fun events for families and running computer training and bingo and lunch clubs for older/vulnerable adults. They are developing a wild flower meadow/orchard and they’ve also expanded tool hire facilities and ‘gone mobile’; helping residents on other estates to start gardening. Many young people are also volunteering.
But today, Tina is a different person thanks to the support she got from supported housing. She has given birth to a baby girl, Layla, and has moved back home to be with family. She even has plans to start her own business.
Growing more vegetables together has encouraged more residents to get involved and cook healthily at home. New projects for this year are bee keeping and rearing chickens.
“I found the strength to look forward and I am also looking at starting my own business, something I never thought I would have the courage to do. Now I wake up to my daughter every day and instead of feeling scared or worried, I look at her and think I will make a future for us.
In a letter Tina wrote to thank New Charter, she said: “Staff advised me to keep going and asked me what I wanted to do in the future for me and my baby. “Thinking about a future for my daughter snapped me out of the bad place I was in and I finally trusted my key worker and opened up.
“Thank you to all the workers who helped me to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
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TMT Update LOCAL OFFERS Local Offers are a set of promises we’ve made to you, based upon what you as tenants have told us you want us to improve on. This could be improving an existing service, e.g how we look after the green areas on your estates; or introducing a new service that you need, e.g a social activity/group.
We’ve used a traffic light system to tell you how we’re doing. Here’s what the colours mean: Local Offer – what you told us you’d like
– not started yet – work in progress – going great!
Introduce a ‘handyperson’ service - a reliable The Fix-it scheme is now open to all service for jobs around the house at a tenants. Call 0161 331 2277 or email competitive price. fixit@newcharter.co.uk for more information. Hold events and meetings for residents out on We are running more sessions/events at our estates and in communities, so people can get local hubs - events are listed in the 2012 involved more easily. calendar, the New Charter website and Looking Local. Get residents involved in checking how well the green areas on your estates are being looked after. Their feedback will tell us where we need to improve things for you.
During the winter, our grounds maintenance monitors have been quiet, but we will be doing lots more work now Green Charter has launched (see pg 5 for more information)
Get tenants to help support other tenants’ Residents who have been called as witnesses complaints and issues of antisocial behavior, to in five antisocial behavior court cases have help resolve matters. received help and support from other tenants who have been through similar experiences.
If you’d like to help other residents check how well we’re looking after the green areas on your estates or caretaking, we’d love to hear from you. You are the best people to tell us how these services are for you. You can tell us where we need to make things better for your neighbourhoods. Call The Resident Involvement Team on 0161 331 2400 or email xtrafactor team@ newcharter.co.uk
More Local Offers for 2012. We are now extending our Local Offers for this year. After talking to you about what you’d like to see, the extra promises will be: New Charter will provide a service to have your gas cooker fitted by our qualified tradesmen. Cost will be £60 inc.VAT, materials and labour.
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We’ll be starting by providing this service to new tenants and if it works well, we’ll look at extending it to existing tenants. (All payments would need to paid on the day of fitting and the cooker must be in the property and in suitable working condition). For this service/any queries, call 0161 331 2827 or email steven.hall@newcharter.co.uk l
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The team has recently been looking at the activities which staff in the Resident Involvement team offer to residents. This has included looking at focus groups, training and IT classes and ways tenants can get involved in the business, e.g the Customer Sounding Board, to see how they’re all going. TMT has considered if the activities we run to get you involved are working well, and whether they are what you as residents want and need. They’ve also looked at cost to see if they’re value for money and how things can be improved for you. They’ve interviewed staff, talked to other volunteer groups and looked into costs of events. The team has also looked at how we communicate with tenants to see if we’re doing this the right way.
How we’re doing
Offer a range of decoration options to new Over the last few months, 92% of new tenants tenants opted for a decorating voucher to do work themselves and only 8% chose to have a single room decorated.
Your Tenant Management Team (TMT) looks in detail at our services to see how they could be improved for you. This could involve trying out a service undercover and talking to residents, then reporting their findings to New Charter.
We’ve extended the Fix-It service and are officially opening it to all residents, (see contact details above).
Their project is still ongoing but they’ve already highlighted a few areas where we may need to improve things for you. We’ll update you with more information soon.
Ashton Pioneer Homes asked TMT for help with setting up their own Scrutiny Team. TMT held two presentations and Q&A sessions. Working with other landlords has positive effects on our communities and helps to bring residents together. If you’d like to join this group and get involved in shaping the business and services for you, call 0161 331 2400 or email xtrafactorteam@ newcharter.co.uk. We arrange for TMT to have an informal chat with you and discuss opportunities.’
Forget the Oscars… The event of 2011 was our ‘Stars That Shine’ awards, where residents and staff celebrated the great achievement of our tenants. This year, the awards took inspiration from the Oscars, with categories to match. Winners were nominated by residents and/or staff for the voluntary work they do on their estates.
Cavendish Mill residents.
Winners Leading Male Leading Female Best Supporting Role Best up and coming act Long Term Achievement Contributions to the community Contributions to the environment Outstanding Achievement Best of the Best
Frank Gittens Sarah Gibbons Dave Pinnock Chelsea & Lewis Phillips Elaine Rawlings with Elaine Rawlings New Charter’s Director of Commun ities, Emma Marsh. Cavendish Mill Residents’ Association “I was very pleased and grateful Brushes Estate Management Board to everybody that had nominated me. I was thrilled to bits when I Tenant Management Team Micklehurst Estate Residents’ Association
The guests were treated to carol singing, amazed by a magician and captivated by a gospel choir. They also tucked into a banquet feast.
went up to collect my award, I even filled up!” - Dave Pinnock, Best Supporting Role
We’d like to say a huge congratulations to all the winners; and to all other residents volunteering and getting involved on your estates. You are equally great ‘shining stars’. Who knows, next time it could be you…
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le in coloured text bo Key to Your Door (tit page) (article to use top part of
Forthcoming Events
Use image within text:
April 2012 Tuesday 3 April 9am - 4.30pm
Basic First Aid at New Charter’s head office: Cavendish 249, Cavendish Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7AT
Learn basic life-saving skills- great to have for home and the workplace.
Wednesday 4 April 10am - 12pm and Tuesday 10 April 2pm - 4pm Wednesday 18 April 10am - 12pm
Basic IT skills…continued at New Charter’s head office
Basic introduction to IT – get internet ready and learn new skills to help you with work/employment.
Grow Your Own Veg Learn how to grow your own vegetables and herbs at Micklehurst Greenhouse, Mossley with your fellow tenant gardeners. Youth Base, The Rowans, Micklehurst, Mossley, OL5 9DR
Wednesday 25 April 6pm - 8pm
New Charter Public Meeting at 1 Wellington Parade, Dukinfield
Your chance to talk to New Charter staff from different services, and ask them any questions.
Friday 27 April 9am - 4.30pm
Basic Food Hygiene at New Charter’s head office
Certificate in basic food hygiene – great for employment in catering, or if you’re helping with cooking groups.
This month, we are launching a trial of a new training programme called ‘Key to Your Door’ for new tenants. We want to help new tenants or previous tenants who’ve had an unsuccessful tenancy to make a fresh start. We will provide training and support to new tenants under the age of 25; to make sure that by working together, tenancies with New Charter are long lasting and successful.
tr launching a trial of a new
, we This month The training programme will be in modules. Some of these modules will be compulsory, such asare ‘It’s all about the money’. ts. an ten Customers will also choose a number of voluntary modules such as ‘take pride in your pad’ and ‘who do you want to be’.
previous tena nt to help new tenants or wa e W rt to n From April 2012, we are trialling the ‘Key to Your Door’ scheme for 12 months. If you are under 25 andinilooking topo live ng and sup start. We will provide tra s with N tenan in one of our homes and you haven’t held a tenancy before, or have had an unsuccessful tenancy; you will need tocie take ether, sure that by working tog part in the programme in order to become a New Charter tenant. will be in modules. So The training programme and ‘being a good neigh You will automatically be referred when you apply for a tenancy. ‘managing your money’ after your garden’ an modules such as ‘looking
The programme will also reward new tenants on sign up of tenancy with a starter pack which will include a microwave, Y ‘Key to saucepans, a dinner service and other essential items to give you a helping start. From April 2012, we are trialling the you hav
May 2012 Tuesday 8 May 2pm - 4pm
Impact Assessment Training at New Charter’s head office
Help us to assess events so we know if we’re running the right activities for you, if they’re value for money and if we need to improve them.
Wednesday 16 May 6pm - 8pm
Take Control of Your Money at 7 &13 Hazelhurst Road, Ashton
An awareness session on prioritising spending and being more efficient with your money.
Tuesday 22 May 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Committee Skills Training at New Charter’s head office
Improve your committee skills if you’re part of a residents’ committee.
Wednesday 23 May 6pm - 8pm
Recruitment and Selection Training at New Charter’s head office
Learn how we recruit staff at New Charter. After training, you could help us recruit front line staff.
Monday 11 June 9am - 4.30pm
Basic First Aid Training at New Charter’s head office
Learn basic life-saving skills- great to have for home and the workplace.
Wednesday 13 June 6pm - 8pm
Card Making Master class at New Charter’s head office
Make your own lovely greetings cards- they make great personal gifts!
Thursday 14 June 1.30pm - 3.30pm Tuesday 19 June 9am - 4.30pm
Sheltered Forum Meeting at New Charter’s head office Basic Food Hygiene at New Charter’s head office
Sheltered housing residents meet, chat and discuss issues over lunch. Certificate in basic food hygiene – great for employment in catering, or if you’re helping with cooking groups.
Wednesday 20 June 10am - 12pm
Grow Your Own Veg at Micklehurst Greenhouse, (see above for address)
Learn how to grow your own vegetables and herbs with other tenant gardeners.
June 2012
If you’d like more information or want to come along to any of these events, please contact the Resident Involvement team on 0161 331 2400 or email xtrafactorteam@newcharter.co.uk
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Key to Your Door
hton area and looking to live in the As to take pa you will needplease We are hoping to have our scheme accredited by the Chartered Institute of Housing. more ancy;information ul ten unsuccessfFor contact Shonna Hildersley on 0161 331 2532. tenant. when atically receive referrals ll autom Looking to move house? We wiour Easy ways to view available properties me ram og pr the es to people to refer themselv New Charter tenants looking to move to other areas, or Are you aware that we advertise our available new tenant reward within Tameside, have access to free membership of the The programme will also homes through our website? Homeswapper mutual exchange scheme. saucepans etc! our scheme accredit http://www.newcharter.co.uk/OnlineServices/ This scheme is very effective and easy to use. Over the We are hoping to have ct Shonna Hildersle Find-A-Home/cbl.asp past year, 105 of our tenants have found a new home information please conta
using Homeswapper. With over a quarter of a million members across the UK (including 859 New Charter tenants), there are lots of opportunities to find the home you’re looking for.
Visit www.Homeswapper.co.uk for more details or contact the Relets team at New Charter on 0161 331 2345 or email lettings@newcharter.co.uk. Pinpoint update You may have heard of Pinpoint, which is a Choice Based Lettings scheme that operates across the Manchester area. Lots of different landlords take part in the scheme, including New Charter, making some of their empty homes available to people in the area. We have reviewed our membership of the scheme; looking at the costs, how many people we have been able to help and also at other opportunities for you to swap homes. Following this review, we’ve advised Pinpoint that as of the end of March 2012 we will no longer be part of this scheme. If you would like more information please contact the Relets team on 0161 331 2345.
You can also view properties on our Looking Local pages. Looking Local is a digital service available through your TV set on Sky channel 539 or channel 233 on Virgin TV. It is also available through an app on your smartphone or android phone. From this month, we will no longer be advertising our available homes in the Tameside Advertiser, but don’t worry, you can always call in and see us at one of our Hubs (locations on the back of this newsletter) or call 0161 331 2345.
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New Charter Academy hosts book festival launch
Have you got the ‘A Factor’? New Charter is pleased to announce the 2012 launch of our highly successful Apprenticeship Programme.
Around 150 pupils from five primary schools across Tameside visited the New Charter Academy in February to celebrate the launch of this year’s Manchester Children’s Book Festival. Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy unveiled the programme at an event at the Carol Ann Duffy read ing with the st udents. Academy, before performing a special reading of her work for the children. The book festival runs from 28 June – 8 July 2012 and will see giants of children’s literature descend on Manchester for the North’s largest festival of its kind. Putting in an appearance at the summer festival will be best-selling writers Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials), Cathy Cassidy (Daizy Star series), and Tracy Beaker creator Jacqueline Wilson. Carol Ann Duffy, who hosted the festival on behalf of Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “We are bringing some of the world’s most popular children’s authors to the city to celebrate books and fire our children’s imaginations.
We’ve been running our apprenticeship programme for over 10 years and are proud of the talented people we’ve supported during that time. We’re currently offering full time, three year apprenticeships which are a great opportunity to learn while you earn.You’ll also be given day release to go to college one day a week, to help you study towards an NVQ. This year, we’ve got apprenticeships available in :
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Administration Domestic Gas Engineering Painting & Decorating Plastering
ice event at
A previous Apprent New Charter
All you need to do is drop in between 10am – 3pm at the New Charter Academy, Broadoak Road, Ashton-under-Lyne on Saturday 21 April 2012.
“Books are a vital part of children’s lives, as children need a place where they can dream and fantasise, be Harry Potter, or Tracy Beaker. They need to be able to let their imagination run riot without fear just as much they need to play football.”
We’ll ask you to take our entrance test on the day. There’ll even be an opportunity to ask some of our apprentices (past and present) any questions, and also meet the managers who’d support you in your apprenticeship.
To book tickets for the festival visit www.mcbf.org.uk or call 0843 208 500.
And there’s more…we’ll also be showcasing our services to tenants. There’ll be New Charter staff on hand to offer help and advice with debt and welfare benefits, and supportive ways to help you pay your rent and maintain your tenancy.
Da Vinci with a twist
The work of famous painter Leonardo Da Vinci decorated the walls of the New Charter Academy for a special art exhibition recently.
It’ll also be an opportunity to pick up details of job vacancies, work placement and volunteering opportunities, plus much, much more! Come along and we look forward to seeing you on the day.
The masterpieces were not created by the artist himself but by pupils and residents who took up the challenge to re-make an original as part of a competition.
cation EATorEdu If you have any queries or would like more information, contact the Support Team on 0161 331 email GR2206 humanresources@newcharter.co.uk
The project was set up by the school to run alongside a national Da Vinci exhibition in London as a way of encouraging local people, young and old, to explore world-class art.
GREAT Education News asterpiece.
Barbara with her m
More than 75 entries were received and they were judged in two categories; under 16s and over 16s.
This month, Ridge Hill Primary School has become an Academy, sponsored by New Charter. With the help of New Charter, Head Teacher Deborah Mason will create a great academy ‘where children shine.’
Winner of the over 16s was Barbara Thomas from Ashton, whose piece was a watercolour interpretation of Da Vinci’s Madonna and Child.
So you can learn more about this transition, there’s a consultation document on ouring higher res versions of these- please us (we are await don’t get them website, under the ‘news’ section.
Year nine pupil Tayma Abu-Jabal, won the under 16 prize with her canvas creation of Mona Lisa using acrylic paint.
So far we have consulted with parents and staff and would love to hear your views. hool will become a , Ridge Hill Primary Sc onthBohler: This mLiz Let us know any views by emailing New Charter’s Project Lead, r Debo lizabeth.bohler@newcharter.co.uk Charter, Head Teache
Winners were awarded £50 worth of art equipment and all entrants received a set of paintbrushes, with certificates for highly commended entries.
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Tayma with her winning entry and Paul Jacques, Academy Director.
With the help of New Look out for more news coming soon in the newsletter and on our website social ren shine.' child 'whereand
media pages.
’ve attac out this transition, we ab e or m ow kn u yo So ws’ section. website under the ‘ne 15 3 d staff and sulted with parents an
Making neighbourhoods safer and better places to live As always, we’ve been working hard to reduce anti-social behaviour in our communities and respond to complaints from tenants. Court action is always a last resort, but where individuals continue to cause a nuisance in our neighbourhoods, we will take it further on behalf of our tenants. Here’s a few of the cases that we’ve dealt with recently, with the help of tenants who have gathered important evidence.
Loan sharks are illegal money lenders who give people the chance to borrow money at very high interest rates. They often target people who are already in financial difficulty. People who get involved with loan sharks may never be able to pay repay them, falling further into debt. Watch out for the following warning signs.
Report antisocial behaviour anonymously on 0800 027 0522
family ev Stalybridge – Nuisance
Don’t get caught up with loan sharks!
icted
laints from lead to numerous comp ur vio ha be l cia so tian e whose nuisance and A family from Stalybridg ed. residents has been evict r six adult ntrol the behaviour of he co to led fai e sh er aft er issued against the moth A possession order was lar basis. use or visited on a regu ho e th at ed liv o wh of sons, some d for the , New Char ter requeste ed ict ev be to s wa ily the fam unity. Following the news that ed threats to the comm eg all er aft ea ar e th m fro cour ts to ban the family ctions have been from the area and injun d ve mo re ly te dia me im The family was family from returning. placed to help stop the
A lender who gives you little or no paperwork.
A lender who won’t tell you how much you still owe or what the interest rates are.
A lender who adds random charges to the loan or continues to increase the amount.
A lender who takes items as ‘security’. (These could include passports, bank or benefits cards)
A lender who is intimidating, threatening or violent.
Staff have bee n spreading th e word about the dangers o f loan sharks on your estat es.
The best advice is to avoid loan sharks and if you think you have been in touch with one – report them. Contact 0300 555 2222 Calls will be anonymous - you don’t have to give your name.
New Charter can also offer you help with your finances. Call 0161 331 2456.
Droylsden – Dog owner ends tenancy after avoiding jail A tenant who continued to let his dogs be a nuisance in communal areas near his home narrowly avoided a prison sentence by ending his tenancy. The tenant from Droylsden was taken to court after breaching an injunction which ordered him to remove his two large dogs from the property.
Residents from the Brushes Estate in Stalybridge have volunteered to become part of a local Street Watch scheme.
After being threatened with a prison sentence, the tenant decided to hand in the keys to his property and end his tenancy.
With help from the police, Street Watch is a community run project aimed at reducing crime and tackling issues, where residents like you can play a key role.
Ashton-under- Lyne – Woman banned from
estates faces jail
A woman banned from the Hillgate and Hazelhu rst estates faces jail if she returns to the area.
The 21-year-old was served with a 12-month injun ction order after acting antisocially on the esta tes and around Kinder Avenue. If she fails to improve her behaviour and breaches the order, she will go to prison for at least three months. The resident was issued with the order after failin g to improve her behaviour after earlier warnings from the cour ts. She was arrested in January after a resident spotted her arguing and fighting with an ex-b oyfriend in a street where she was banned. Residents also reported loud music and shouting and screaming betw een her and her ex-partner in the early hours of the morning.
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Street Watch needs you!
The six volunteers from Brushes work alongside the neighbourhood policing team on a range of activities including high-visibility patrols in the Copley and Brushes areas. They have already helped to curb anti-social behaviour and street drinking in the their neighbourhoods while increasing the community’s confidence and encouraging more people to get involved in issues that affect where they live. Street Watch projects are carried out across Tameside but more volunteers are needed. You could help to make a difference by giving just two hours of your time each month. Inspector Bill Calaghan from Greater Manchester Police said: “The police and PCSOs do a great job but we can’t have a uniform on every street corner so I think Street Watch is a fantastic scheme. I would like to see it expand into every ward.” To get involved in a project near you, contact us on 0161 331 2552 or email your details to contact@newcharter.co.uk
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‘Are
we cutting it?’
Get FREE, confidential, impartial and independent advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
As you know, we’ve brought your grounds maintenance service in house and we’re keen to make improvements for you. Your feedback can really help - tell us how you’re finding the grass cutting and grounds maintenance, so we know that we’re focusing on improving the right things for you. (see pg 5 for more information on your new service- Green Charter). 1. How satisfied are you with the Grounds Maintenance service?
Very satisfied Fairly satisfied Fairly dissatisfied Very dissatisfied
Please give reason/s for your answer:
At all offices, just drop in and take a seat in the waiting area. No appointment needed. Sometimes there’s a wait but staff will see you as soon as possible that day.
Complete the survey and you could win £50 B&Q vouchers to spend on your home/garden!
2. Are any of these things a problem on your estate? Weeds on paths/roads
No problem Only a slight problem It’s a problem It’s a big problem
Weeds in planting beds
Trees Condition/maintenance of grass areas
Condition/maintenance of shrub areas
3. Do you think the grounds maintenance service is good value for money?
Yes, it’s good value It’s ok No, it’s not good value
Please give reason/s for your answer:
4. Are the grounds maintenance staff: Yes No Sometimes Helpful? Polite? Do they act on any problems promptly and well? 5. Please give us any suggestions on how the service could be improved for you? (or any further comments)
Please fill in your name and contact details, so we can enter you into our prize draw! Please return your completed survey to our office address on the back of the newsletter (addressed to Les Crowther), or drop into one of our Community Hubs. Thank you for your time, your feedback is so important to us. Name: Tel no. / Email: Address:
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Office Tameside 9 George Street, Ashton-under-Lyne 0161 330 2156
Opening Times Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 09:30 – 12:30 Wednesday 10:00 – 14:00 Friday 09.30 – 15.30* *advice on Welfare Benefits, Debt, Employment, Immigration & Housing. Denton South Outreach Monday 9am – 1pm Haughton Green Health Centre, Wednesday 9 am - 12 noon Tatton Road, Denton Hattersley Neighbourhood Friday 9am - 12noon Support Unit Hattersley Community Centre, Hattersley Road East, Hattersley Newton, Hyde Thursday 9am - 12noon Acresfield, New Charter Community Building, Acresfield Road, Newton, Hyde St. Peter’s People Tuesday 9am - 5 pm 42 Bank Street, Ashton Dukinfield Thursday 9 am - 1 pm 73 King Street, Dukinfield Ridge Hill Children’s Centre Wednesday 9.30 am to 1 pm School Crescent, Ridge Hill, Staybridge, SK15 1EA Hyde Bangladesh Welfare Tuesday 10 am to 1.30 pm Association 19 Chapel Street, Hyde Droylsden Water Adventure Every other Tuesday 1.30 - 5pm Centre The Old Boathouse, Fairfield Locks, Droylsden, M43 6ES Lara Centre Every other Thursday 12.30 - 4pm Somerset Road shops, Droylsden, M43 7PZ
Money saving tips big provider to make Change your fuel ectricity and gas. savings on your el t expect your curren As costs rise don’t u on their cheapest provider to put yo mework, check out tariff - do your ho rgyswitch.org.uk www.myhomeene 46. or call 0800 051 53
Usually there’s a waiting time here, but you will be seen that day.
General advice. Take a seat in Haughton Green Centre waiting area. For residents of Hattersley estate.
For residents of Harbour Farm Estate.
Comfortable waiting area for families with children. Appointment may be possible with an interpreter - please speak to the advisor.
Avoid expe nsive le high street Freecyc g) r e v o c is prices r D eecycle.o for applian r .f k .u w ces. (ww If you need Freegle a new cook ) er, washing or eegle.org machine or fr e v lo .i w other applia nce use the (ww ycle your goods Cashbox c rec redit unio n White and Goods Sc an heme. (Av rather th ailable to anyone wh g o li throwin Tameside). F ves or works in ay. or more in them aw formation visit www.c ashbox.org .uk or call 0161 343 7 621.
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Contact us Main switchboard: Reporting repairs: Lettings enquiries: General tenancy enquiries: Out of hours emergency calls: Anti-social behaviour helpline:
0161 331 2000 0800 027 0828 0161 331 2345 0161 331 2400 0800 027 0828 0800 027 0522
The Communications team at New Charter write your newsletter. You can contact them on 0161 331 2470 or via email at contact@newcharter.co.uk
Emergency Repairs 0800 027 0828 if you need an emergency repair during the following times: l Before 8.00am and after 6pm Monday to Friday l During weekends and Bank Holidays
Head Office New Charter, Cavendish 249, Cavendish Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7AT
Our Home & Community Hubs Our shops open at 9am Monday to Friday (except Tuesdays, when they open at 10.30am). Please note, Denton and Stalybridge shops close daily between 12.30-1.30pm.
2 Henrietta Street, Ashton 9 Albert Street, Denton 12 Clarendon Street, Hyde 63 Grosvenor Street, Stalybridge No two people are the same Recently, many of you will have been asked to complete a ‘Customer Profiling Questionnaire.’ Information about you and your household helps us to understand you as individuals, to ensure our services meet your needs. Many of you have asked us why we want to know about your household income?... This information helps us to identify customers who may need advice and support with their finances. With information on your finances and working status, we can also help customers gain help and benefits which they may not realise they are entitled to. Our aim is to support you where we can and where possible, increase household budgets. If you have any queries, please contact Jenni Lever on 0161 331 2198 or email contact@newcharter.co.uk.