news ISSUE 36 : April 2011
INSIDE: Hi mum! New Charter hits the small screen
Dukinfield tenants celebrate lottery boost
Natterbox – your resident involvement news
Top tips for tidy gardens
And more!
Neighbourhood Watched: New Charter hits the small screen pg 2
Cash Box: Credit union offers huge savings! Pg 6
Gardening Competition: The Barry Engledow Cup plus ÂŁ50 vouchers to be won. pg 13
Welcome... ...to a bumper-packed newsletter! Those of you who’ve been following Neighbourhood Watched on BBC One over the past few weeks will know there’s no shortage of stories to be told! If you didn’t see the series, you can catch a quick update in this newsletter. It’s been a momentous few months. We’ve attempted to outline some of the proposed changes to the benefits system to help you prepare and included some top tips on how joining the Cashbox Credit Union could save you money on buying household items. Also included is fantastic news from Central Residents Action Group (CRAG) who successfully applied for funding to transform their estate, and much more. As always, I’m still on the lookout for your stories and ideas about what to include in the next newsletter, so please send me your suggestions.
And if you’d like to get involved with the Customer Communications Group (CCG) – the group set up to look at the content of this newsletter - then get in contact either by phone on 0161 331 2370, or by email at Editor Bob Clowrey bob.clowrey@newcharter.co.uk I look forward to hearing from you! Bob Clowrey Editor Cavendish 249, Cavendish Street, Ashton, OL6 7AT. (0161) 331 2370
Make Yourself Heard A COMMUNITY organisation is seeking your views on changes to the welfare system. Reassessments for those on incapacity benefits are to begin taking place in spring this year. People who are fit for work will be expected to look for employment or begin claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance and those who are found to have limited capability for work will begin receiving Employment Support Allowance. Pathways Community Interest Company (CIC) wants to find out what support people may need and gather views on the changes. This will be reported to the Work Capability Assessment Independent
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Review for the DWP, local authorities The views we collect could influence future decisions about where support and the NHS. services are required and how As well as these views Pathways budgets are spent to better suit local is also looking to get the views of needs, so it is vital that people make people who work in healthcare and their opinion heard.” carers as to how they feel it will affect their patients. They are also able If you are interested in taking to provide you with some impartial part in this survey, please contact advice about the Employment and the Welfare Reform Team at admin.tameside@pathwayscic.co.uk Support Allowance assessment. providing your contact details and Nathan Green, Support Manager at someone will call you back to arrange Tameside Pathways CIC said: “We how to do this. Alternatively you can want to find out what you think. call directly on 07841 878913.
Neighbourhood Watched Series is a Hit with Viewers FAMILIAR faces from New Filmed during 2010 by independent Charter have appeared on the production company Raw Television, small screen. the series follows staff as they go about their day-to-day work and was Neighbourhood Watched is a series broadcast in March. of four 45-minute programmes showing the work of housing officers Episodes attracted over 2.3m viewers from New Charter Homes and who tuned in to watch neighbourhood Oldham-based Aksa Housing – part and enforcement officers tackle of the New Charter Housing Trust family tensions, noisy neighbours and Group. pets of several varieties, alongside some truly heart-warming stories. New Charter’s Group Chief Executive Ian Munro said: “There’s an overall shortage of accommodation, but no shortage of stories to tell. It’s more important than ever the public understand what good housing providers are doing and what they can add to neighbourhoods.
capture the commitment and dedication of staff working in housing. I hope viewers were kept informed about what we do at New Charter as well as entertained.”
The programme also featured the work of staff from Housing Pendle “The skill and feeling that the and First Choice Homes Oldham. filmmakers invested in the series
Best Companies Sweet 16 is Top 20 Hit for New Charter NEW Charter Housing Trust has been named as one of the best companies to work for in the UK for the third consecutive year and won a special award for training. New Charter was placed 16th in the Sunday Times list of 100 Best Companies to Work For and was also named Best Company for Training and Development. This
double
celebration
follows
news that the company retains its prestigious three star Best Companies accreditation – the highest grade in a Michelin-style rating system for employers, recognising second consecutive year is far beyond an ‘extraordinary’ level of staff our expectations. engagement. “This result confirms what we’ve Group Chief Executive Ian Munro always known – a company is made said “New Charter is one of only a truly great by those who work for handful of companies to have been it. I’m immensely proud of everyone awarded three star status and to at New Charter who has worked so have been placed among the 20 best hard over the past year to help us companies in the UK to work for the achieve this fantastic result.”
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Non-Dependant Benefit Changes Housing Benefits – A Guide THE Government has rolled out the first changes to Housing Benefits that could affect the amount you pay towards your monthly rent. On April 4th, the Government increased the amount it expects non-dependant householders to contribute towards rent. A non-dependant is someone that lives with you who is over the age of 18 and is not a joint tenant, boarder or partner. They might be a grown up son or daughter or other relative, or even a friend. If you live with a non-dependant you will see a reduction in the amount
of Housing Benefit you receive and an increase in the amount you pay towards weekly rent. It is expected that the cost is passed on to the non-dependant, who should increase their weekly contributions to you.
on New Charter’s website www.newcharter.co.uk
A number of simple steps you can take to lessen the impact, such as explaining the changes and making sure the non-dependant contributes Non-dependants who receive Job enough to the weekly rent, are Seekers Allowance, Employment and detailed below. Support Allowance, Pension Credits or student and training allowances If you are having difficulty paying your rent or other bills, please contact will not be affected. us, we may be able to help. We The increase depends on their gross don’t want you to get into rent income from work (before tax arrears, so act now. or national insurance deductions). You should have received a letter You can contact New Charter’s Benefits Team on in the last week showing the Welfare increase amount for various income 0161 331 2200 for further brackets. A copy is also available information.
Some simple things you can do: STEP 1:
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Check how much is deducted from your Housing Benefit for a person living with you (a non- dependant), this will be shown on your last Housing Benefit entitlement letter or ring the Housing Benefit Office and ask.
STEP 2:
Is the deduction correct based on the income of the person(s) who is living with you?
STEP 3:
If not, contact your Housing Benefit office to check the income they are using to decide the level of deduction being made, and if the income they have is not correct, give them proof of the non-dependant’s wages or benefits and other income.
STEP 4:
Explain to the person(s) living with you that they have to contribute more from April 2011 as your Housing Benefit will be reduced.
STEP 5:
Check your weekly budget – you will have to pay more money towards your rent.
STEP 6:
If you have someone in your home that will be 18 in the next 12 months, start to talk to them now to let them know they may have to pay towards your rent.
STEP 7:
There are some situations where there should not be any deduction. For instance if you or your partner are getting Disability Living Allowance due to your care needs or if you are receiving Attendance Allowance. This can be to do with your age, what benefits you receive or the circumstances of the person living with you. This can be complicated so contact us if you would like us to check this.
Monkey Park Group Goes ‘Bananas’ over New Park A PIECE of underused land in Dukinfield is to undergo a stunning transformation after a resident group successfully secured a huge lottery grant.
CRAG member Belinda Jeffery has lived on Central Estate for 17 years. She worked with New Charter and Groundwork organising consultation events with families on the estate, who were overwhelmingly in favour New Charter’s Laura Middleton Central Resident Action Group of giving the area a makeover. joined Belinda and other CRAG (CRAG) has been awarded £50,000 to transform the ‘Monkey Park’ - an But it took three years of hard work members in celebrating the news. area of land at the heart of Central before CRAG finally got the go-ahead She said: “CRAG members have from the Big Lottery’s Community worked extremely hard to secure Estate, Dukinfield. this funding, so getting the green light Spaces Fund. is fantastic news. The park, which currently contains Belinda said: “Hearing that we’d finally picnic benches and a small grassy play area, will be transformed beyond secured the funding was just fantastic. “The Monkey Park is already a lovely recognition when plans to add a I was absolutely buzzing that all the place for families to spend time. sunken slide, dry river bed, boulders hard work of CRAG, New Charter Hopefully this project will give the and Groundwork over the past three park a much wider appeal, especially and stepping stones get underway. years has finally paid off.” as there will be play equipment for young people of all ages. “This is a fantastic example of partnership working between tenants, New Charter and Groundwork and just goes to show what can be achieved when people are committed to transforming their communities for the better.” The project is expected to be completed in summer this year.
PV Panels JANUARY saw the installation of New Charter’s first photovoltaic panels. The panels, which provide solar power to two homes in Hyde, will eventually mean free electricity for tenants in the houses. The installation is the first of its kind for New Charter, but it is hoped that the panels will be a source of green energy to all South facing homes with room for panels on the roof.
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Cash Box Cash Box Offers Huge Savings CONSUMERS could end up out of pocket by taking out expensive high street credit deals, one of the borough’s top personal finance experts has warned. Rent to own retailers like Bright House and Perfect Home offer hire purchase deals with typical interest rates of 29.9% APR. And expensive insurance schemes mean the final cost can often be far higher than the high street value of goods. David Burdis is Financial Inclusion Manager at New Charter, as well as being a Director at Tameside wide Cash Box Credit Union and Chair of Money Information Network Tameside (MiNT), a group of local agencies working together to help people with money problems in Tameside.
He said rent to own retailers, saw a 13.5% rise in profits in the run up to Christmas compared to the same period last year, he added: “People need to be aware that there are cheaper alternatives available like credit unions. Cash Box now offers fridges, freezers and cookers at competitive rates of interest and flexible repayment terms.
people with poor credit ratings who could not get them elsewhere.
“With Cash Box you can buy right away, just like in a shop. There’s no need to start saving first, there are Just like Bright House and Perfect no hidden costs and repayments are Home, no credit check is necessary. flexible. But at 12.7% APR, the interest rates are less than half of those charged “Choosing Cash Box over a high at high street retailers. There is no street shop could save you hundreds need to take out expensive insurance of pounds.” policies either – all of the kitchen goods available from Cash Box are For more information about the supplied by the Co-Op, which means Cash Box credit union, contact they are rated highly on efficiency and 0161 343 7621. come with a full 12 month warranty.
For free, independent advice on David said, “Some rent to own personal finance and budgeting visit retailers offer expensive deals to www.mintameside.org.uk
An Example The following chart gives comparative prices for a Beko CDA539FW Frost Free Fridge Freezer in white (pictured.)
Cash Box
Bright House
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Cash Price
Payment over Payment over Payment over 52 weeks 156 weeks 156 weeks with insurance
£245.99
£5.09 per week
£1.91 per week
Total payment: £264.68
Total payment: £297.96
Not available
£2.79 per week
£4.29 per week
Total payment: £435.24
Total payment: £669.24
£302.34
Not available
Invo t d i ement e s N e v l R HOMES LIMITED
Spring 2011
Your Local offers –they’ve arrived! As you will remember from our last newsletter, the X-tra factor team reformed in January 2011 to continue work on implementing Local Offers at New Charter. These are promises, similar to service standards, where New Charter will strive to reflect your concerns and improve services. The team made 10 proposals for Local Offers based around the service areas of tenant involvement and empowerment. On 19th January the team took these proposals to tenants.The response to the proposals was extremely positive and all were agreed. On 25th January the proposals were taken to the Executive team of New Charter, again the response was positive. Your Local Offers were launched on 1st April 2011 and these are:
Quality of Home and Repairs • To provide a range of decoration options for customers on tenancy sign up. • To provide a two hour appointment slot for new customers. • To deliver a pilot handyperson scheme.
Neighbourhood and Community • To produce quality information to new customers on how to access housing with New Charter Homes, pre-bid and post let. • To ensure that 100% of all new lets meet the lettable standard.
Tenant Involvement and Empowerment • To take the resident involvement service out into our communities. • Utilising skills of existing tenants and staff to translate/interpret for tenants where English isn’t their first/ preferred language. • New Charter to have designated Champions to support customers dealing with ASB and complaints, to complement your tenant advocate service. • To provide feedback to customers following all events within ten working days. • Customers to monitor performance standards in caretaking and grounds maintenance to make recommendations for improvement.
All Local Offers have accompanying detailed guidance, which has been written jointly by the X-tra factor team and staff from the relevant teams. All include substantial monitoring procedures to ensure their completion and effectiveness. Should you like any further information on your Local Offers please contact the Resident Involvement Team.
LOCAL OFFERS
Local Offers Volunteers We Need Your Help
In order for us to fulfil your Local Offers to their full potential we need your help. • Do you speak another language and would enjoy translating for others? • Could you support non English speaking tenants to complete a housing application?
Ge
t Inv olved
• Or interpret at house viewings or sign up appointments? • Do you have an eye for detail & would like to comment on the upkeep of your area? • Does cleanliness inspire you? Would you like to tell us how well we are cleaning your communal areas? • Do you want to get out of the house and meet new people? • Do you want to learn new skills and gain useful experience?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions we would love to hear from you!
Latest News Tenant Management Team New Recruits: New Recruits: TMT welcome Carol Barrow and Arnold Hodgkinson to the team. Carol is from Droylsden and comes to the team with a very impressive academic background. She already volunteers elsewhere. Arnold lives in Dukinfield and has been involved at New Charter for many years attending seminars, meetings and consultations.TMT are delighted to have both on board.
Co-regulatory success for the Tenant Management Team In November 2010 the TSA invited providers who involve tenants in the running of their organisations to come forward and act as Champions for others to learn from and share in a fund to spread good practice and raise standards across the sector. The Tenant Management Team (Scrutiny panel) applied for this fund and we are delighted that they have been successful.
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The TSA received 64 applications for this fund and only 10 were successful. This is a massive achievement for TMT and will put New Charter at the forefront of tenant involvement.
Grounds Maintenance Scrutiny project In the last issue we updated you on the progress of the Grounds Maintenance scrutiny project. Since making 77 recommendations for improvements TMT have been holding regular progress meetings with the Grounds Maintenance team to work on their implementation. This work is proving very positive and TMT, together with the environmental panel, are helping New Charter write the new Grounds Maintenance specification which will come into force on the next contract renewal in 2012. Further information on the report is available on the TMT website www.tenantmanagementteam.org.uk
Responsive Repairs Scrutiny Project The Tenant Management Team have now submitted their responsive repairs scrutiny project to the Group Management Team (GMT). The report made seven recommendations for improvement:
Mrs Jones.. ... our Plumber is on his way!!!
• Utilise the information from the Business Improvement department to improve staffing levels to meet the demands of the repairs centre. • Unless an emergency, a date and time should be offered for all work, where possible. • Operatives should contact tenants on the day of the repair to inform them of arrival time. • Given the comments regarding Damp and Condensation, attempts should be made to educate tenants further on the causes and preventative measures. • Tenants should be given a list of their responsibilities and rechargeable repairs on sign up. This information should also be made available on the website to existing tenants • Target residents who have given their email addresses, to encourage them to report repairs via the NCH website • Look at the viability of introducing an odd job service and analyse if this would be cost effective. The report was well received by GMT. An action plan for implementation is now being prepared and will be shared on the TMT website. www.tenantmanagementteam.org.uk
Current Scrutiny Topic – Rechargeable Repairs TMT has just started its next scrutiny project, which is based on rechargeable repairs. The team will be looking into which repairs are rechargeable, how payments are recovered and the costs of recovering payments. The project will include research with both employees and tenants and is expected to be completed in April 2011.
Recruitment to TMT If you are interested in joining TMT please contact them at: www.tenantmanagementteam.org.uk or via the Resident Involvement Team. The workload is variable dependent on the scrutiny projects ongoing, but the group meet monthly for approximately two hours with additional meetings for scrutiny projects usually on a weekly basis. The benefits of being involved are improving your skills, gaining experience and gaining a sense of achievement by helping to improve services for all residents.
Involvement Opportunities Can you make a difference? • Resident Inspectors Resident inspections are one way you can get involved in the review of service delivery. We are currently recruiting Resident Inspectors to look at different services to find out what works well and what could be done better.
What kinds of things does a Resident Inspector get involved in? The kinds of things that you can do are: • Estate walkabouts. • Inspecting empty homes that need to be relet. • Inspecting the reporting and carrying out of repairs. • Getting feedback from other residents in person or on the phone. • Helping staff who run the services understand what will make a difference to how satisfied tenants are. • Carrying out inspection work for Tenant Management Team scrutiny projects.
What do I need to become a Resident Inspector? • You need to be a New Charter tenant or leaseholder. • You will need to be able to undertake resident inspector and any associated training for which you will be given full support. • Great team working skills and a positive approach. • Show commitment and enthusiasm to projects.
How can I become a resident inspector? We provide training, equipment and expenses to assist inspectors in their role. The next training course will start in May 2011.
• Working Groups The resident involvement team need volunteers to help us revive both the Environmental and Relets working groups.
Environmental working group
The group meet monthly with the Environmental Operations Manager, to discuss issues on grounds maintenance, give feedback on the service, consult on any changes to policy and help improve the service . The team are of major important to gauge resident views and will be working on setting the new specification for grounds maintenance and assisting the monitoring progress of the service. Meetings often include site visits and meeting with residents on estates.
Relets working group
The group meet monthly with the Relets Operational Manager to discuss the lettability standard. The team will be given opportunity to visit empty properties and assess the letting standard, then feedback their views to the Relets section. This monitoring work is vital to help improve standards and resident satisfaction.
Customer Communications group
The group are still meeting on a quarterly basis to discuss literature written by the New Charter for residents. This quarter they have been looking at the newsletter, damp and condensation leaflets and Regeneration documents. If you are interested in joining this group please contact us.
• Resident Involvement Monitoring Panel vacancies! We are currently recruiting volunteers as we have three vacancies on our Resident Involvement Monitoring Panel.The Panel meet on average once a month for 2-3 hours. The objective of the Panel is to monitor, review and make recommendations to improve Resident Involvement throughout the company. The Panel review all monitoring forms from events and activities that involve residents, they decide what works well and if it is value for money. They also review the New Charter Resident Involvement statement and events and activities scheduled in the New Charter calendar. Full training and support is given to Panel members.
s Event & ities t c A iv t h Wa works well?
Resident Involvement Events April, May and June 2011 Dealing with Damp & Condensation
Thursday 7th April 10am - 11.30am
Lunch with Neighbourhood
Tuesday 12nd April 1pm - 2.30pm
Grow your own vegetables
Wednesday 20th April 10am - 12noon
Central Estate office
Cavendish 249
Central Greenhouse, Dukinfield
Customer Communications Group
Wednesday 27th April 11am - 1pm Cavendish 249
Meet your Resident Involvement Team
Wednesday 4th May 10am - 12noon Hyde shop, 12 Clarendon St, Hyde
Information session on recognising damp & condensation, the causes and preventative measures. Neighbourhood Service Review Group - an informal session to meet with the Neighbourhood team to discuss their service area. An opportunity to learn from the tenant experts from Dukinfield & Micklehurst some of the techniques in growing your own vegetables & herbs. This group replaces the Editorial Panel, looking at communication sent out to tenants and in particular the tenants’ newsletter – New Charter News. An informal drop in session to chat with members of your Resident Involvement Team
Impact Assessment training
Monday 9th May 2pm - 3pm Cavendish 249
A training session for residents on completing Impact Assessment forms to illustrate the difference their work on estates has made.
I.T skills for beginners
Tuesday 10th May 10am - 12noon
Basic I.T. skills training session for residents.
Understanding Bank Accounts
Tuesday 17th May 2pm - 4pm
Cavendish 249
Micklehurst Estate Office
Painting & Decorating Techniques
Thursday 19th May 10am - 11.30am
Lunch with Revenues
Tuesday 14th June 1pm - 2.30pm
Grow your own vegetables
Wednesday 15th June 10am - 12noon
Sheltered forum meeting
Globe lane, Dukinfield
Cavendish 249
Central Greenhouse, Dukinfield
Thursday 16th June 1.30pm - 3.30pm
William Ford House, Mottram
An awareness session on opening and using bank accounts. Gain some inspiration and new techniques from our professional decorators to help decorate your property. Revenues Service Review Group – an informal session to meet with the Revenues team to discuss their service area. An opportunity to learn from the tenant experts from Dukinfield some of the techniques in growing your own vegetables & herbs. A regular meeting for residents living in sheltered accommodation to discuss issues affecting them.
Cavendish 249 is on Cavendish Street, Ashton Under Lyne, OL6 7AT Please call the Resident Involvement Team on 0161 331 2400 to advise us if you will be attending.
Action Planning Days From the start of the New Year Resident Involvement Officers and Regeneration Officers have been working with groups to prioritise and develop their actions for the next 12 months. These groups include, Central Residents Action Group, Friends of Crowswood Action Group, Micklehurst Estate Residents Association,Yew Tree Residents Association, WDF Resident Association, Assheton House Resident Association, Audenshaw Resident Association and Ashurst Gardens.
Millbrook Residents Association The group held their 2nd AGM in March and again have a full committee. Over the last 12 month they have been a very active group, organising a estate clean up, fun day, and applying for funding for £50k for a multi use games area on the estate. Watch this space!!
Copley Residents Association With regret, Copley Residents Association dissolved in February 2011 after being together for many years. Resident Involvement Officer, Linda Whyatt started work with the group in 2005 when they were at the height of their community work, starting up a tool hire project, improving the environment and dealing with estate issues. The group made major achievements on the estate and will be missed. Thank you to all members for all your hard work.
TPAS Awards for the North West (Tenant Participation Advisory Service) New Charter recently submitted a number of nominations for the TPAS ‘Tenant of the year’ award and one lucky resident was shortlisted and invited to attend the TPAS event at the Palace Hotel in Manchester. Cath Mellor was shortlisted for the award for supporting her community, being involved in numerous local community groups and setting up and running an over 55’s luncheon club. Being shortlisted was a fantastic achievement for Cath and everyone who works with her is immensely proud and supports her can do attitude. Cath was accompanied to the event by members of the Tenant Management Team and New Charter staff.
am at TMT Te e h t d n lllor a r Awards Cath Me enant of the yea ST the TPA
Audenshaw In Bloom David Pinnock, community member from Audenshaw Community Association, spoke at the ‘Belper In Bloom’ seminar this month about the work done by residents and New Charter on improvements to this area from the In Bloom project. David told attendees why he became involved with his community, he had been assaulted and wanted to improve safety on the estate for the community. Since becoming involved David has worked tirelessly with other committee members on the In Bloom project, from tidying up gardens to painting and replacing broken fences.
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He commented on how doing this work in partnership with the Police and New Charter has made the estate feel safer for residents. An example which can be followed on other areas.
he eaker ar t ock - Sp n in P r a d in vi a m D Bloom’ se ‘Belper in
For further information on any articles in the ‘Resident Involvement Natterbox’ or if you want to volunteer please conact on team on: 0161 3312400 or email TPTeam@newcharter.co.uk. For further information on the interpreter service please contact Sarah Sinclair on 0161 331 2316 or Sarah.sinclair@newcharter.co.uk
HOMES LIMITED Part of the New Charter Housing Trust Group
Cavendish 249, Cavendish Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7AT Tel: 0161 331 2000 Fax: 0161 331 2001 Email: contact@newcharter.co.uk www.newcharter.co.uk
Gardening Competition Top Tips for Tidy Gardens IT’S that time of year again - Any earlier flowering shrubs that Spring is here at last and we’ve have not been pruned will be best left had a fine show of daffodils! until after they have flowered. And now it’s time to sort out the garden. These top tips from New Charter’s green-fingered Assistant Operations Manager Les Crowther will transform your garden just in time to enter the prestigious Barry Engledow Cup. This year there are five categories so there’s bound to be one you can enter. Each category winner will receive vouchers to the value of £50. All winners are then put forward for overall champion and the chance to win a further £50 voucher as well as a fine addition to any gardener’s mantelpiece – The Engledow Cup. If you haven’t had chance over winter, the majority of late flowering shrubs need a good prune.
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Any leaves that have lain over the winter are now best raked up and put on the compost heap. If you leave them on the ground at the moment there is a chance of mould or disease entering fresh pruning cuts.
Take a fork and aerate the lawn especially if the drainage is poor. Walk over the lawn and push the fork into the ground.
Take a springbok rake and remove as Plant any summer flowering bulbs or much thatch as possible. corms. Give the lawn a spring weed and feed, but follow the instruction on the Add or dig in well rotted manure packet. - a task best left until an afternoon if there is any frost about. Remember to start slow. It is better to do an hour a day than to do five Turn over the ground. Any lumps of hours in one go and have aches and soil you leave will be broken down by pains for the following week. the frost, so you don’t have to achieve a seed bed finish in one go. Also remember your hands are going to be soft after the winter, so apply Remove or treat weeds early, as they some barrier cream first. Wash become more difficult to remove the with soap and water when you have older they get. finished and apply a good hand cream.
Garden competition 2011 entry form We invite all tenants to enter this year’s prize competition. Please tick which categories you want to enter Best Shared /Communal Garden Best young gardener under 16 Name
Best individual garden front or rear Best Sheltered Housing Scheme by Residents Best individual plant, shrub, planter, hanging baskets, or window box
Address Phone enquiries to: Les.Crowther@newcharter.co.uk or ring 0161 331 2627 If you’d like to enter online, send your photo and the entry details to Les.Crowther@newcharter.co.uk Alternatively Les Crowther Garden competition, New Charter Housing Trust Group, Cavendish 249, Cavendish Street, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7AT by June 10th 2011.
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Youth Awards Young Heroes Rewarded work of young Big winners included champions was those who transformed neighbourhoods at an awards their for the Tameside in Bloom competition More than 40 young people who and members of the have been involved in New Charter DreamScheme project, Homes’ community initiatives over whose garden won a bronze medal the past year were invited to the at the Royal Horticultural Society’s company’s headquarters at Cavendish annual Tatton show last year. 249, where they were presented with The young community champions certificates and gift tokens. were kept entertained at the ceremony when award winner Brad Bromley took to the stage to wow the crowd with his amazing human beat-box skills. THE hard community celebrated ceremony.
Fellow winners Mossley Town Twinning Drumming Project went on to fill Cavendish 249 with sound as they performed Homage to the Drum – a thunderous rhythmic piece first performed after just three drumming lessons, for dignitaries from Tameside’s twin towns in France and Germany.
All were nominated as community champions by acting as exceptional role models who show unwavering dedication to improving their communities. They took part in environmental cleanup days, fundraising initiatives and other New Charter’s Youth Work Co-ordinator Chris Odell, said: projects.
“New Charter Housing loves nothing more than making a big noise about tenants’ achievements - and that’s just what happened when the drumming project struck up. “To say it was loud would be an understatement! But what better way to celebrate the achievements of these young people for their continual positive work and for being excellent role models in the community.” Executive Director of Neighbourhoods Tony Powell, added: “The sheer amount of nominations for the awards just goes to show how much fantastic work is being done in Tameside by young people. All of the community champions have made an outstanding contribution to improving their local communities I’m proud of each and every one of them.”
Green Dreams Come True YOUNG people from Ridgehill have been working with Groundwork in Tameside to tidy the back garden at the Lakelands Neighbourhood Centre. The young people are working on the Community Space Challenge (CSC) project. The New Charter Youth Team is working in partnership with Groundwork as part of its commitment to the community with the Dreamscheme on the Ridgehill estate. It is hoped that the young people from the CSC project will act as peer mentors in the project and will recruit younger members from the local community to continue their good work on the estate.
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Customer Experience Team Are you Experienced?
launch later this year. Contact our Complaints, compliments Customer Experience Champion and feedback Stephanie Bell on 0161 331 2427, e-mail stephanie.bell@newcharter. We want to improve your experience co.uk if you would like to be of making a complaint, leaving a compliment or giving us feedback. involved. In the last three months we received 77 complaints and in all but one case We run Spotlight sessions with Customer Experience were able to reach agreementCustomer on customers to hear directly about how to resolve it. ways in which you think we can improve services. If you are When we looked into these interested in taking part in these complaints, there were 16 cases sessions please contact our where we felt we could improve our Customer Experience Champion, service. This is why it is important for Emma Tempan on 0161 331 2470, you to feel comfortableWe raising We value your views valueissues your vie e-mail emma.tempan@newcharter. with us so that we know how we can put things right for you. co.uk. Over the next year we will be To help us improve, we will be improving our telephone service to What have you told us? contacting people who have recently Some of the first things we have make it easier for you to contact made a complaint to ask how easy Customer Customer makingExperience sure we you found the process. Equally, been talking to customers about are us. This will include ways to improve our services via return your messages and getting if you would like to tell us about the telephone and the New Charter better at knowing when and why you your experience, please telephone Homes website. As a result of your have contacted us. We will keep you 0161 331 2000 and speak to the feedback we will be developing a in touch with these changes as they Customer Experience Team, or new website, which we hope to happen. email contact@newcharter.co.uk
THE Customer Experience Team is here to listen and find out from you what it feels like to be a New Charter customer so that we can improve the services we offer to you.
We value your vie
Tenant Board Member Elections We value your views
Could you be a Tenant Board Member? THE annual election for Tenant stand as a Tenant Board Member. Board Members is to take place Training and Support is provided. in July. As long as you aren’t prohibited from being a Company Director, Board Members are responsible for have a clear rent account and the governance of New Charter, are not, or have not been subject attending meetings, making key to any action as a result of a decisions, improving services and breach of your tenancy conditions ensuring the financial health of the then you’re able to apply. organisation. Tenant Board Members have a You don’t need any qualifications to say in how your landlord’s homes
are managed and at the same time can learn new skills and meet new people. There will be one position up for election on the Board of New Charter Homes Ltd. Look out for more information at neighbourhood centres or on New Charter’s website during April and May.
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Contact us Address for submissions: Bob Clowrey, New Charter, Cavendish 249 Ashton, OL6 7AT Email:bob.clowrey@newcharter.co.uk www.newcharter.co.uk
English This newsletter is from New Charter and is sent to all tenants to keep them informed of our activities. You can ask a 2000 or if you can tell us which language you speak, we will arrange for an friend or relative to phone us on 0161 331 2131, interpreter.
Farsi 0161 331 2000
Our shops open at 9am on Monday to Friday and are located at: 2 Henrietta Street, Ashton 9 Albert Street, Denton 12 Clarendon Street, Hyde 63 Grosvenor Street, Stalybridge Main switchboard:
0161 331 2000
Reporting repairs:
0800 027 0828
Lettings enquiries:
0161 331 2345
General tenancy enquiries:
0161 331 2400
Out of hours emergency calls:
0800 027 0828
Bengali 0161 331 2000
Gujarati
0161 331 2000
Urdu 0161 331 2000
Automatic Payment Line
It’s Easy!
SINCE December, tenants have been taking advantage of a new way to pay rent. You can now pay by card over the phone 24 hours a day, even when the office is closed by ringing 0161 331 2224.
Zero Tolerance on Drugs Joint Message is Tough
YET another message has clearly been sent out that New Charter and Greater Manchester Police work closely together and operate a zero tolerance policy regarding drug offences. On July, 2010, a warrant was executed at a property on Leech Avenue by Greater Manchester police when 26 cannabis plants were found, along with various items used to cultivate the plants. The tenant’s partner made a full admission and subsequently pleaded guilty to production of a controlled drug. He was recently sentenced to 200 hours community work.
District Judge Osborne stated the tenant was clearly in breach of the tenancy agreement and it is difficult to conclude 26 plants is for personal use. He was satisfied there were ample grounds for a possession order to be made and that it was reasonable to make such an order.
proceedings were instituted in the County Court to take back the property and rid the community of such activity. “Hopefully they will have learnt the lesson that communities will not tolerate such activity.
The offenders were given 28 days to “Close partnership working between vacate their home. Tameside Police Neighbourhood Team, New Charters Enforcement Senior tenancy Enforcement Officer Officers and Group Legal Services Alan Kibble said: “New Charter has again resulted in positive action will not tolerate their properties to make our communities safer places being used for the production supply for our tenants to live.” or sale of drugs and following the criminal court process possession