aksa housing
news
ISSUE 1 : June 2011
INSIDE:
Hi mum! Millions tune in as Aksa hits the small screen
Spring clean for Fitzroy Street residents
Meet our new Mobile Handyperson
Oldham Riots: 10 years on
Win £150 of shopping vouchers!
Local Offers have arrived:
Work from Home:
Services tailored to tenants needs pg 3
Aksa relax rules Pg 4
Whats On: There’s lots going on at Aksa’s office in Oldham town centre pg 7
Welcome... ...to the new aksa housing newsletter! Much has changed here at Aksa since the last newsletter arrived on your doorstep. Head of Operations Steve Hodson has now retired and Aksa has a new man at the helm - Mushtaq Khan, who took up the position of Interim Director in October last year. Mushtaq’s last post was as Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the London Borough of Lambeth, and he brings a wealth of housing and regeneration experience at the very highest level. Previous work as Head of Housing Strategy at Oldham Council means he has a unique understanding of housing issues in the borough and how housing associations can work and respond to community needs. There have also been some changes on the Board of Directors. The adjustments are part of a programme of change agreed by the New Charter Group in 2007 in order to meet the requirements of the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) – the social housing regulator.
The TSA sets out how boards should reflect the communities they serve. It also sets rules on the size of boards and how long directors can serve for. The Aksa board will now Editor Bob Clowrey consist of seven directors who reflect the diversity of Aksa tenants and have the skills to drive Aksa forward. The changes won’t affect the high level of service you’re used to. In fact, the new board is in a better position than ever to make sure tenants remain at the very heart of the organisation. Mushtaq said: “I’d like to thank the former board members for all their hard work which has made that possible. I want to reassure tenants that the new board members and I are dedicated and determined to make the most of this exciting opportunity to maintain and improve Aksa’s position as one of the North West’s leading providers of community housing.”
Neighbourhood Watched Aksa Housing hits the small screen. AKSA staff starred in a popular TV series. Neighbourhood Watched - a series of four 45-minute programmes showing the work of housing officers from across the Northwest attracted an audience of 2.3 million viewers when it was broadcast on BBC One in March.
their work. The programmes also followed the fortunes of First Choice Homes Oldham, New Charter Homes, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Housing Pendle,
Filmed during 2010 by independent production company Raw Television, the series followed Aksa staff as they went about
“It’s more important than ever that the public understand what good housing providers are doing and what they can add to neighbourhoods.
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Aksa’s Director Mushtaq Khan, said: “There’s an overall shortage of accommodation, but no shortage of stories to tell.
“The skill and feeling that the filmmakers invested in the series capture the commitment and dedication of staff working in housing. Some may think television is a risky medium to show our services, but I’m confident viewers were informed as well as entertained.”
Your Local Offers Have Arrived! What is a Local Offer?
Repairs: Mobile Handyperson
Local offers are a new way for housing associations like Aksa A handyperson can now carry out to provide services that are minor repairs and maintenance at tailored to tenants’ needs. Aksa properties. This brand new service was created after tenants said All tenants have now been asked they wanted repairs to be carried out which new services they would like to much quicker. see in the areas of tenant involvement, repairs, and neighbourhood and The handyperson can carry out noncommunity. urgent tasks like dealing with dripping taps and minor leaks or fixing doors The results are now in and three and windows. They can also carry brand-new services, or local offers, out small works in communal areas have been set up. on estates, such as repairs to fencing, clearing fly-tipping or cleaning graffiti. Tenant Involvement: This won’t change the way you report repairs. Tenants’ Forum Aksa has developed a forum to work on behalf of tenants encouraging and supporting greater involvement. This Tenants’ Forum will look at issues facing Aksa residents, making sure your concerns are heard by the board and management team. It will also set and monitor standards of service. If you would like to join the forum, contact Aksa on 0161 620 2992 or take a look at page six for more details.
Neighbourhood and Community: Neighbourhood Champions Staff at Aksa are carrying out more and more estate walkabouts. These will give tenants more opportunity to have a saw about how their estates are run. Tenant forum members will act as Neighbourhood Champions, encouraging their neighbours to get involved and speak up about the issues affecting them. These neighbourhood champions can tell Aksa staff what to look out for on their estate walkabouts and let them know about any issues.
In his shiny orange van, you can’t fail to spot Aksa’s handyperson so if you see him, be sure to wave!
Area Surveyor Dave Scott shows off the distinctive orange handyperson’s van
Fitzroy Street Cleanup RESIDENTS on an Ashton Street now have a spring in their step, following a huge clean-up operation. Tenants got together with Aksa’s Georgina Nolan and Tanuja Patel to tidy their homes outside and in, but the spring clean soon spread to the Tanuja and Georgina with street outside. Fitzroy Street residents
Tenant Participation Officer Tanuja Patel said: “The day was a success, especially as it was perfect weather for a spring clean. It was a great day with all neighbours helping one another clear their gardens. The street looks absolutely lovely now.”
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Like To Work From Home? AKSA is relaxing the rules on working from home. In the past, the Aksa tenancy agreement stopped tenants from working from home.
As long as your work doesn’t disturb your neighbours or affect the property in any way, it is very likely that Aksa will give you permission to home-working.
But in these tough economic times home-working can be a great alternative to conventional work, offering flexible hours, no travel costs and low set-up costs.
In fact, we may even be able to give “home-working means you can earn you advice on how to get started! cash doing things that you are good at and probably know how to do Housing and Support Services already.” Manager Karen Hyland, said: “As a social housing tenant, you probably believe that your tenancy agreement prevents you from working from
That’s why Aksa is re-thinking its policy on working from home.
Working from home ideas might include: Catering/baking Gardening Growing/selling fresh veg/fruit Ironing/laundry Window cleaning Man with a van Making/buying/selling costume jewellery, make-up Hairdressing Beauty therapies These are just a few ideas - you may have even better ones! If you do, pick up the phone and let’s get talking. If you’d like to start working from home, contact Aksa on 0161 620 2992 to explore the idea.
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home. In the past that has been true however Aksa is aware of the pressures facing families and of the varied options that working from home can offer nowadays.
Diary Dates Tenant Surgeries
TALK to Aksa staff about rent, repairs, anti-social behaviour and any other issues affecting you in your area. Bury:
Jinnah Centre Alfred Street Bury. 9.30am to 11am, last Thursday of every month.
Manchester:
Abraham Moss Centre, off Crescent Road, 9.30am to 11am, on the third Thursday of every month.
Ashton-u-Lyne: New children’s centre, Trafalgar Square, West End, 1.30pm to 3pm, on the first Monday in every month. Oldham:
Aksa office, every Wednesday morning 9.30am to 11.30am
Tenant Meetings
DID you know that that Aksa tenants meet regularly to discuss community issues. Tenant meetings are a great way of meeting your neighbours and finding ways to improve your area. Take a look at these meeting dates and contact Aksa on 0161 620 2992 if you’d like to attend. Glodwick: 15th June, 14th September, Coppice: 20th July, 18th October 7th December Coldhurst: 26th July, 29th November Manchester: 20th September, 16th November Hathershaw: 14th June, 20th September, Ashton-u-Lyne: 22nd June, 7th September, 13th December 14th December Werneth: 22nd September, 8th December Bury: 13th September, 30th November Westwood: 19th July, 22nd November
Estate Inspections
HOUSING Officers are inviting tenants to join them on estate inspections. Inspections are a great opportunity to raise concerns about your community, point out graffiti and litter hotspots, and tell Aksa about what you’d like to see improved. All inspections begin at 10.30am. Take a look at the routes below to find out when Aksa staff will be in your area.
June
16th Yasmin, Sherwood and Orchid, Manchester
August
4th Clarkwell, Shipla Close, Oldham
30th Osbourne Street, Ashley Sreet, Ashley Mews, Bury 25th Uxbridge Street, Portland Street, Trafalgar Street, Fitzroy, Cambridge Street, July Hamilton Street, Burlington street, Ashton-u-Lyne 7th Peakdale Avenue, Charminster and Crescent Road, Woodlands, Hardwood Close, Bignor Street, September Beechfield Street, Bankfield Street, Faraday Street, 8th Armitage Close, Heron Street, Little Town, Balmfield Street, Greville Street, Manchester Oldham 14th Allama Iqbal, Jinnah Close, Roundthorn, Salisbury and Cranbrook Street, Oldham 21st Bellevue Terrace, Kirby Close, Brighton Street, Walmersley Street, Southbank Road, Grundy Close, Grundy Lane, Manchester
15th Churchill Street East, Pitt Street, Southhill Street, Greengate Street, Retford St, Landseer Street, Oldham 22nd Charleston Street, Royle close, Manchester (11am)
28th Hexham Close, Osborne Street
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New Tenants’ Forum for Aksa Get Involved! Aksa is to set up a new group to support and encourage tenant involvement.
What will the Tenants’ What are the benefits of Forum do? getting involved?
• Help to shape the way that we
This is a voluntary role, but Aksa will pay expenses and deliver services This group will look at provide support and training. You Help us to draw up methods to neighbourhood and community could gain skills that will help if issues that affect Aksa tenants and make sure that tenants are listened you are looking for employment. to members of the wider community. This is a real opportunity to have a Consider Neighbourhood issues say in how Aksa operates. of concern to the wider community Several Aksa tenants have met with Aksa staff and the Tenant Gain skills and experience How do I get involved? Participation Advisory Service Identify key issues that the to consider how this new Tell us! There is a tear off slip association should focus on tenant led group will work in at the bottom of this page which Review service performance and practice. The tenants decided to you can fill in and return to Aksa. call the new group Aksa Tenants’ work with staff to recommend Or, you can telephone Tanuja Patel Forum and have set up a group to improvements on 0161 331 2615. work together. Help Aksa to improve services
• • • • • •
What if I’m not sure? Get in touch anyway, have a chat about it, there is no commitment. It may be that the Tenants’ Forum is not for you but there are lots of other activities at Aksa that you may be interested in.
DON’T MISS OUT! GET IN TOUCH! FIND OUT MORE!
!
I’m interested in finding out more about the Tenants’ Forum Name: Address:
Phone: E-mail: Return to: Tanuja Patel, Tenant Participation Officer, Aksa Housing, Aksa House, Medita Square, Oldham, OL1 1AN
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What’s on? THERE are lots of exciting every Wednesday. events taking place for Aksa Work Club: Carry out job tenants to attend. searches and get advice on applying for jobs, writing a CV and If you’d like to attend any of the events more from 2pm until 4pm every listed below contact the Support Wednesday at Aksa. Team on 0161 620 2992 to find out when it’s taking place. Everyone is Learn 2 Cook: Find out how to welcome! make tasty healthy recipes at the Pakistani Community Centre on July Advice Drop-In: Get advice 13th from 9am until 1pm on employment, finance, filling in forms and much more at English classes: Learn English the Pakistani Community Centre at Aksa’s offices in Oldham. Basic on Marloborough Street, Oldham classes run from 9.30am until 11.30am every Tuesday from 2pm until 4pm. and advanced classes take place from 12.30 until 2.30pm every Tuesday and Grow and Taste: Learn about Thursday. growing your own vegetables and eating healthily at the ICC Health Basic IT: Aksa staff can help give Centre on Radcliffe Street, Oldham, you the confidence you need to find every Thursday from 1pm until your way around a computer. Basic IT 2.30pm. classes take place every Wednesday morning at Aksa from 9.30am until Save, Search, Switch: Did you 11.30am. know that if you have a water meter, you could have Healthy Heart: Look after your your water bill capped. Find out heart by leading a healthy lifestyle. how and get more money saving These workshops will show you advice at Aksa from 2pm to 4pm how.
n Whats o team t r o p p u s 2992 0 2 6 1 016
What’s Your Credit Rating? Have you ever wondered how banks and other agencies make decisions about credit? Find out by carrying out your own credit rating. Introduction to the Internet: These sessions will give you the knowledge you need to surf the net safely. Cooking on a Budget: Struggling to make ends meet? Why not come along and find out about cooking on a budget. Financial Health Check: Get advice on dealing with debt, benefits entitlement, personal finance and much more. An advisor can also visit your home to complete a financial health check.
Free Open Day EVERYONE is invited to a day opportunity to make new friends, of fun events at Aksa’s office in relax, have fun and learn new Oldham! skills at the same time. Come along to our Open Day to find out what free courses are on offer at Aksa from September this year. Whether you want to learn new skills, make your money go further or lose weight and feel fitter, you’re sure to find the course that’s right for you. All the activities are relaxed and informal, making it a perfect
When? Monday 20th June, 2011 from 10.30am until 2.30pm Where? Aksa Housing Association 2 Medtia Square, Phoenix St Oldham, OL1 1AN
adult and community learning in the UK.
more information phone The open day is held in partnership For with the Workers’ Educational Neelum Mehmood on 0161 331 2614 Association - the leading provider of or Rabina Kausar on 0161 331 3620.
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Oldham Riots 10 years on YOU may have seen Aksa Director Mushtaq Khan on TV, speaking on the anniversary of riots that erupted in Oldham 10 years ago. Mushtaq appeared on Look Northwest and took part in a debate on BBC Radio Manchester. He also introduced a journalist from the Independent newspaper to local residents to hear their side of the story.
Aksa Director Mushtaq Khan
sure the terrible events of 2001 to provide affordable homes never happen again. for the local population at a time when minorities faced So how has Oldham discrimination, Aksa has since changed in the past 10 developed to provide housing years? And what role can for all. An increasing proportion housing organizations play of our tenants are white and Aksa is now moving towards being in helping with changes? a local community organization Here are some of Mushtaq’s with a renewed focus on building thoughts. better communities - not just homes. Oldham is changing for the better. But the changes can best be This means talking to the described as a work in communities we serve, working progress, with a great deal of in close partnership with other work still to do. agencies like Oldham Council to improve neighbourhoods and The town’s steady decline over get people back into work. You almost a century was a cause can read about our plans to bring of many of the tensions that empty homes back into use on page sparked violence on that day. nine and details of workshops to Reversing the decline is not a help tenants find work can be quick-fix but a longer term project. ound on page seven. Tackling unemployment, providing quality housing and creating more It’s an exciting time to be working cohesive communities all have their in Oldham where there’s a real part to play. sense that things are improving and people are working together. Investment is also helping to change the area. The extension of the Metrolink to Oldham opens up job opportunities, allowing people to travel further afield and developments like the new regional science centre are providing better education opportunities.
Many of Aksa’s properties surround the area where the worst of the violence happened and Aksa Housing is at the forefront of the work being carried out to bring communities together and make Originally set up as a housing association
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Opening new opportunities
Is Your Home too big? Downsizing THE cost and upheaval of moving house can prevent families from moving into a smaller property that is more suitable to their needs.
Help can also be offered to families have only one bedroom too many. This support is not financial but Aksa Housing may be able to help you find suitable alternative accommodation much But that’s set to change, thanks to more quickly. a new partnership between Aksa Housing and Oldham Council.
Large properties are often more expensive to keep warm, to light all the different rooms, to carpet all the rooms and so on. Sometimes moving to a smaller property is the sensible thing to do and of course there’s not as much cleaning!
A new Downsizing scheme offers financial assistance and other support to families living in properties that are too big for their needs.
If you are occupying a property too large for your needs, you may be eligible for Aksa to give you some financial assistance or other assistance to move to somewhere smaller.
This scheme generally applies to families who are occupying a property that has two bedrooms in excess of the family’s needs. For example a family may want to move from a four bed property to a two bed property.
For further information please contact Aksa Housing on 0161 620 2992
Empty Homes AKSA Housing needs your help to find empty homes in Oldham that could be brought back into use. We can even help private owners who are unable to bring their empty property up to standard. We will let and manage the property for you and pay you a proportion of the rental income until our investment is recouped. Aksa has recently been named as Oldham Council’s managing agent for empty properties in the borough. This means we can work with the council to invest in refurbishing the empty homes and renting them back out. It is hoped that the scheme will reduce the number of unused homes in the borough and address the overall shortage of housing. To help us, we’d like you to help us identify suitable properties. If there’s an empty property in your area that would benefit from being brought back into use, call Aksa on 0161 620 2992.
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Insurance Low Cost Peace of Mind Great news – Did you know that you may be eligible to join our Home Contents Insurance Scheme? Aksa is offering the opportunity to pay for home contents insurance along with your rent. The scheme offers ‘new for old’ insurance with no excess and special low minimum sums insured for the loss of personal belongings. You also have the option to add low cost accidental cover to the policy for a small increase in your payment. Payment is easy – a small charge is added to your weekly rent – but you must have a clear rent account to join and remain on the scheme. The minimum cover you can obtain is:
Amount of cover
Standard cost per week
Over 60 years of age – minimum cover £6,000
£1.04
£1.30
Under 60 year of age – minimum cover £9,000
£1.55
£1.94
With accidental damage
If you would like more details, or require an application form, please contact Neelum Mehmood at Aksa on 0161 620 2992. Please note conditions apply for acceptance onto the scheme and there are exclusions in the insurance cover which are detailed in the policy booklet. A sample of the policy booklet is available upon request.
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high street vouchers
with aksa
housing
During July 2011 some of our customers may be contacted by a research company to complete a random survey regarding your views on Aska Housing. Simply answer a short telephone questionnaire and you will be entered into our free prize draw to
win £150 worth of high street vouchers.
Vouchers worth £150. All Aksa Housing customers aged 18 and over are invited to enter. To be eligible to win you must have a clear rent account or be keeping a financial agreement with us and not have any action against you for anti-social behaviour. The judge’s decision is final. The winners to be published in our newsletter.
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Phoenix Street OL1 1AN OLDHAM OL1 1AN Emergency repairs:
After 5pm Monday to Wednesday, 4.30pm Thursday and 4pm Fridays, weekends Emergency repairs: please call 0800 027 0828 and Bank Holidays After 5pm Monday to Wednesday, 4.30pm Thursday and 4pm Fridays, weekends and Bank Holidays please call 0800 027 0828
Contact us
English
IF you’d like to include something in Aksa’s next newsletter, contact Editor Bob Clowrey E: Bob.clowrey@newcharter.co.uk T: 0161 331 2370 Or write to Bob Clowrey, New Charter, Cavendish 249 Ashton OL6 7AT Contact us: T: 0161 620 2992 F: 0161 652 2461 E: info@aksahousing.co.uk Write to us: Aksa Housing Association Aksa House, 2 Medtia Square, Phoenix Street Oldham OL1 1AN
English This newsletter is from New Charter and is sent to all tenants to keep them informed of our activities. You can ask a friend or relative to phone us on 0161 331 2131, or if you can tell us which language you speak, we will newsletter arrange for an interpreter. This isCharter fromandAksa is informed sent to allactivities. tenants This newsletter is from New is sent toHousing all tenants toand keep them of our You can ask a friend or relative to phone us on 0161 331 2131, or if you can tell us which language you speak, to keep them informed of our activities. You can ask a friend or relative we will arrange for an interpreter.
Farsi to phone us on 0161 620 2992, or if you can tell us which language you speak, we will arrange for an interpreter. Farsi Aksa Housing
0161 620 2992 Bengali Bengali
0161 620 2992 Gujarati Gujarati
0161 620 2992
Urdu
Urdu
Emergency repairs: After 5pm Monday to Wednesday, 4.30pm Thursday and 4pm Fridays, weekends and Bank Holidays please call 0800 027 0828
0161 620 2992
Find us on Facebook... ...and win £20 AKSA Housing is about to launch a brand new Facebook page. From June 13th you’ll be able to find out about forthcoming events, tell us what your views are and let us know what’s happening in your area. If you or your family have an account, and would like the latest news and
updates – and the chance to win a £20 Asda shopping voucher – log on and search for ‘Aksa Housing’ and ‘like’ our page.
Facebook, look out for events here at Aksa in the future that will give you all the knowledge you need to surf the site safely.
You will automatically be entered If you’d like some training on using into the prize draw. The winner will Facebook please call Aksa on be announced on July 11th. 0161 620 2992 If you’re not sure how to use
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.