ISSUE 21 • APRIL 2014
news & views Let's talk repairs! See page 7
Gedlin g ‘Eye’ o n succe ss!
Cook &E Recip at e
page 5
page 1 9
ng Bloomi s garden 2014
-13 page 12
GREAT Homes GREAT Neighbourhoods GREAT People
Guest editorial
Shirley from Netherfield Welcome to the Spring edition of News and Views - and what a packed edition it is.
It is time to get those green fingers to work for the Blooming Gardens competition. Winners will receive a trophy and national garden centre vouchers. With six different categories, there should be something for everyone – so get digging! (See pages 12-13). We are also reminding you that Universal Credit is coming and what you need to do to be ready. Our Money Wise team is here to help you. You will see the Money Wise advert on page 9, so contact them if you need a helping hand.
Your letters
As always, there are plenty of pictures so you can see what your friends and neighbours have been up to - not to mention Gedling Homes employees. Happy reading and please get in touch if you fancy joining us on the Editorial Panel on 0115 905 1515 or by emailing customerexperience@gedlinghomes.co.uk Remember, we’re GREATer Together!
Save the date! 19th July 2014
GREAT Day Out
Take a look at this nocturnal dinner guest! Pauline from Gedling has been feeding badgers on a nightly basis, and they sometimes visit three at a time!
Contact us
Do you have any unusual garden visitors or pets? We’d love to hear from you. Contact Kat Collins on 0115 905 1515 or email customerexperience@gedlinghomes.co.uk
Email: enquiries@gedlinghomes.co.uk
Or post your pictures to Customer Experience, Gedling Homes, Gedling House, Wood Lane, Gedling, NG4 4AD
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with FREE fun and entertainment for all the family More details to follow soon. To register your interest early contact Sarah Quinn on 0115 905 1515 or email customerexperience@gedlinghomes.co.uk
Tel: 0115 905 1515 Website: www.gedlinghomes.co.uk Twitter:
@Gedling_Homes Facebook: www.facebook.com/ gedlinghomes
Contents Your Community
News Keeping decoration up to scratch
4
Blooming gardens 2014
12-13
Employees have ‘Shield of Support’
4
Misbehaving? We’ve got an eye on you! 14
How the money’s spent
4
Grounds for satisfaction
Gedling ‘Eye’ on success!
5
Charities support our work with families 14
New number for repairs
5
“We need you!”
Breathing new life into old colliery
5
Making empty properties homes again
6
Sheltered
Tell us what you think
6
We’re here when you need support
GH Response
7
14 15
16-17
Street Talk Money
David Price
18
Are you prepared for Universal Credit?
8
Money Wise
9
Recipe
Credit Unions
9
Homemade tuna and vegetable pasties 19
Just Rewards
9
Events Tenant Involvement
Events list
Toni Faulkner gives us an insight into ‘Gedling Eye’
10
GREATer Training
11
Good things are happening in Tenant Involvement!
11
20-21
Fun & Games
22
Our Performance
23
We want to hear from you!
Send us your photos, news, ideas, or feedback on our services and we will print a selection of the responses in the next edition of News & Views. Email us at: customerexperience@gedlinghomes.co.uk or write to Customer Experience, Gedling Homes, Gedling House, Wood Lane, Gedling, Nottingham, NG4 4AD
Find us online at www.gedlinghomes.co.uk
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Keeping decoration up to scratch
Tenants have been asking us what we mean by our cyclical decoration programme.
The programme includes redecoration to all internal communal spaces, maintained on a five year cyclical basis. The programme may be subject to change in exceptional circumstances. Please refer to the pull-out for the planned dates 2014-2018. If you need any further information, please contact the Investment Team on 0115 905 1515.
Employees have ‘Shield of Support’ Customer-facing staff from across all departments are being trained to be better equipped to help vulnerable tenants with the increasing financial and emotional pressures of welfare reform. We are putting front-line employees through the ‘Shield of Support’ training to help them support tenants. Independent research has found that tenants' needs have become more challenging in the last six months. Staff interviewed said tenants faced issues due to ‘welfare reform, more people with financial pressures and increased mental health issues’. A total of 57% also said they had experienced threats of suicide from tenants. Lynn Clayton, Managing Director of Gedling Homes said: “We must be proactive in responding to the needs of tenants and by better equipping our employees, we can offer more support to tenants dealing with the impact of welfare reform.”
How the money’s spent In 2013/14 we have been busy delivering a £5.2m capital improvement programme to benefit your homes.
• Spent £300,000 on the management and removal of asbestos across your homes to ensure they meet current legislation
We have:
• Completed 28 major adaptations to a value of £174,000
• Completed over 1,500 elements of external improvement work including roof, fencing and hard standing replacements • Invested £200,000 in major lift refurbishments to four communal schemes: Walton Court, Bramble Court, Bailey Court and Bulcote House 4
• Completed 209 minor adaptations to a value of £18,000 • Spent £500,000 on major internal improvements including kitchens, bathrooms, heating replacements and major damp works
News Gedling ‘Eye’ on success! The ‘Gedling Eye’, Gedling Homes’ Tenant Scrutiny Panel, is celebrating after scooping the Excellence in Tenant-led Scrutiny award at the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) awards for the central region. The award recognises social landlords whose scrutiny arrangements have led to real improvements to the organisation and their tenants. Gedling Eye members, Toni, Graham, Pat and Colin were presented with their award by
TPAS’s Kate Newbolt at Birmingham’s St John’s Hotel and will go forward to the national finals in July. Steve Ward, Gedling Homes’ Customer Experience Manager said: "This is a thoroughly deserved award which recognises the hard work the panel have already done in a relatively short space of time.” Graham, a member of the panel, said: "It was fabulous! We were really delighted to win, we didn't expect it, but it was really great when they called out Gedling Eye!"
We also saw Sarah Quinn shortlisted for Tenant Involvement Officer of the Year; Alan White for Involved Tenant of the Year and the Independent Complaints Panel for Excellence in Co-Regulation.
NEW NUMBER Breathing new life FOR REPAIRS into old colliery From July the new 24 hour a day number for repairs will be
0115 905 1515 It will be a new single point of contact for all enquiries
The new number is live now. The old number will stop working on July 1st
Work has started on converting the old Gedling Colliery site, which has been untouched since 1991, into a country park for the whole community to enjoy. We have donated £630,000 to the project, with remaining funds coming from Gedling Borough Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). Gedling Country Park is expected to open this autumn and will feature lagoons, cycle trails and hiking routes, a picnic area and children’s playground.
Find us online at www.gedlinghomes.co.uk
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MAKING EMPTY PROPERTIES HOMES AGAIN
EMPTY HOMES PROGRAMME BR
INGING EMPTY HO MES BACK INTO USE
AN EMPTY HOME IS ‘A PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN EMPTY FOR SIX MONTHS OR MORE AND IS NOT USED ON AN OCCASIONAL BASIS, SUCH AS A HOLIDAY HOME’.
Empty Homes can be a blight on the environment and attract anti-social behaviour. They are also a valued resource that could be used to help house a family within the borough. We have secured funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), to bring Empty Homes back into use. As part of the programme, we are able to lease properties for a period of five or seven years.
owner will receive a monthly income while the property is occupied. Working in partnersh ip with
We will undertake any refurbishment works needed to bring the property up to the Gedling Tenants' Standard. The costs will be deducted from the monthly rental income. The property owner will receive a grant from the HCA that is used to pay for part of the works.
We will act as landlord for the period of the lease and the
We may also be in a position to purchase empty properties at a fair market price and bring the property back into use.
For more information please call Gedling Homes on 0115 905 1515 or email enquiries@gedlinghomes.co.uk
Tell us what you think! Throughout April we’ll be giving you the chance to tell us about your experiences of our customer service. We want to hear from you! We have teamed up with the National Institute of Customer Service to conduct a short telephone survey of our customers. This will help us to understand what we are getting right and where we can improve. If you do receive a call, the member of staff you speak to will 6
clearly identify themselves as being from the Connect team at Gedling Homes and will take you through the survey, or arrange a suitable time to call back and speak to you. If you have any questions about the survey or wish to check that the person contacting you is a genuine Gedling Homes employee, please call us on 0115 905 1515. We’ll be only too happy to help.
News GH Response The new service will replace that currently being provided by Mears PLC but the majority of their workforce will transfer to Gedling Homes. The new service will be high quality and based locally. We will offer: • Responsive repairs You may be aware that from July 1st 2014 the repairs service will be changing. We will be bringing the service in-house and delivering the repairs service ourselves.
• Gas servicing and breakdown • Void property maintenance Our aim is to create a service that is just right for our tenants’ needs.
Benefits will include: • Improved performance • Improved efficiency • Providing local job opportunities • Providing local apprentice opportunities Our uniforms and vans will change from 1st July. They will be in Gedling Homes’ orange. The vans will look something like this …..
We now need your help to get it right! This will be your repairs and maintenance service. To tailor it to your needs, we want to know what you expect from it. Please take some time to complete the enclosed questionnaire and send it back to us, free of charge. Your views are important to us. As a thank you, one lucky tenant will receive a £100 shopping voucher. The winner will be picked at random from all the completed questionnaires received by 16th May 2014.
We are looking for tenants to help us design and develop the new repairs service. To find out more and express your interest, please contact Customer Experience on 0115 905 1515.
Find us online at www.gedlinghomes.co.uk
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Are you prepared for Universal Credit? Universal Credit is being introduced by the government. Currently there is no date for when it will be introduced in our region, but it is coming, possibly within the next 12 months. • Universal Credit will only affect tenants of working age • If you are of pension age, this does NOT affect you
What will Universal Credit mean?
• You will be responsible for paying your rent yourself, out of this Universal Credit payment If you don’t already have one, set up a bank account or Credit Union account. Post Office accounts are NOT suitable. Nottingham Credit Unions have bank accounts specifically designed to help you manage your new Universal Credit payments.
FREE Training Take part in training to get you Universal Credit ready. We offer FREE training in:
• It will replace many of your existing benefits into • Managing your money one payment • IT (from beginner level) • It will be paid monthly, in arrears • If you are a couple, living together, it will be paid into only one bank account • If you don’t have a bank account, you will need one, as Universal Credit will only be paid into a bank account
✓ ✗
• … and many others
To book your place on one of our courses call Customer Experience on 0115 905 1515 or email greatertraining@gedlinghomes.co.uk
Tick l ist
the internet I have access to rnet I can use the inte nt redit Union accou C or nt ou c ac I have a bank thly I can budget mon hold expenditure se ou h y m l al at d I have looke
If you have answered any of the above with a cross, Money Wise can help. For more support, contact Money Wise on 0115 905 1515 or email moneywise@gedlinghomes.co.uk
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News
MONEY WISE
Gedling Homes’ Money Wise team provides FREE, CONFIDENTIAL and IMPARTIAL benefit and money advice to all our tenants. We know that it can be difficult to budget, especially if you are on a low income, and we know how easy it is to get into debt. Money Wise provide you with the right information and advice, to reduce debts and better manage your money. Money Wise can: • Provide independent and confidential advice and assistance on a range of money matters • Offer specialist advice if you are struggling to pay your rent and/or other debts
• Talk to lenders on your behalf to organise repayment arrangements
• Making claims for benefits you are entitled to but are not currently receiving
• Provide budgeting advice, money management and debt solutions
• Filling in benefit forms and applications
Money Wise can also explain how the changes to the welfare benefits system will affect you.
You can call in to see a Money Wise Adviser at Gedling Homes Customer Contact Centre, Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, every Wednesday between 9.30am and 12.30pm you don’t need an appointment.
They can look at ways to increase your overall income by: • Benefit and tax credit entitlement checks and calculations
Credit Unions
Credit Unions have a number of accounts to help people manage their money: • Rent Direct Account • Rent Payment Current Account • Budget Account Credit Unions can also offer loans at competitive prices. For more information, please call Nottingham Credit Union on 0115 828 3121, email rents@nottinghamcu.co.uk or visit nottinghamcu.co.uk
• Dealing with benefit letters
You can also call Money Wise, confidentially on 0115 905 1515
Just Rewards This quarter’s Just Rewards winners are Mr & Mrs Day from Arnold. This lucky pair have received £200 in high street vouchers. We ‘draw’ a Just Rewards winner, every 3 months, from those with a clear rent account, maintaining a repayment plan and are not in breach of their tenancy agreement.
Find us online at www.gedlinghomes.co.uk
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Toni Faulkner gives us an insight into ‘Gedling Eye’ We put together recommendations and present our findings to the Board.
Why did you decide to join the Scrutiny Panel ‘Gedling Eye’? I am already an involved tenant and Tenant Inspector so I saw it as an interesting opportunity.
What does being a member involve? We decide what projects we want to do, where we think Gedling Homes can do things better, and we investigate the subject, to see where there are problems, and what can be done to put things right.
How much of your time does it take up? It is a commitment, but what we are doing is important work, so it is worth it. We meet at least once a month, sometimes once a fortnight.
Have you achieved your own personal objectives when joining? I went into this to try and be helpful to people. Our complaints project has already started to make a difference to the way Gedling Homes handles complaints, the outcome is even better than we expected. It gives you a real sense of achievement.
On a personal level, what do you get out of the group?
Award winning tenant group!
I get real job satisfaction, I have made new friends, and got to meet people that I would not have ordinarily met. I enjoy the challenge and it gives me a real sense of self worth.
What training opportunities have you taken part in? The Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) came to all of our first project meetings to train us on the job. We already had skills in the group that we could use but training is available for new members.
What outcome are you most proud of? That we worked on the complaints project from start to finish and presented our recommendations to the Gedling Homes’ Board and they accepted our findings.
Why should someone consider joining the panel? If you have time to give and have the interests of Gedling Homes’ tenants at heart, we want you!
www.gedlinghomes.co.uk/greater-together/what-tenant-involvement 10
Tenant Involvement
WE OFFER FREE TRAINING TO ALL OUR TENANTS AND MEMBERS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLDS
Whatever you fancy doing, there is a course for you and we arrange FREE transport and cover reasonable expenses. Our current courses are:
Realising your potential
• IT • Food Safety CIEH Level 2
• • • •
Gaining Skills
Certificate in Catering • Managing your money • Water saving tips • First aid
• Helping you back to work • Building confidence • Interested in volunteering?
Enjoyment
Cook & Eat Introduction to arts & crafts Dress to impress Watercolour painting
Achieving wellbeing
• Positive changes • Zumba gold • Cooking for life
Tenant Involvement
Equality and Diversity Chairing effective meetings Setting up residents’ groups Introduction to social housing and Gedling Homes • Scrutiny training • • • •
• An introduction to aromatherapy
To find out more and express your interest in taking one of our courses please email greatertraining@gedlinghomes.co.uk or call Customer Experience on 0115 905 1515
Good things are happening in Tenant Involvement! • Just two months into the
GREATer Training Programme, and four IT sessions, Food Safety, Aromatherapy and Positive Change courses have already been arranged.
• Tenant Involvement is working
closely with other colleagues to support the setting up of
residents’ committees in sheltered schemes to plan more social events and develop a sense of community. • In 2013/14 Community Chest
received 63 applications for funding for community projects. We awarded funds to 46 of these.
• We have been shortlisted for
four TPAS Awards and won Excellence in Tenant-Led Scrutiny (see page 5 for more details).
• We are currently developing
further opportunities for both tenants and leaseholders to get involved in our services.
Are you interested in Tenant Involvement? Contact Customer Experience on 0115 905 1515 or email tenantinvolvement@gedlinghomes.co.uk
Find us online at www.gedlinghomes.co.uk11 11
Blgardens ming
2014 Gardening Competition
It’s that time of the year - get those green fingers ready! Whether you have fabulous flowers or grow your own fantastic veg, we are looking to find the most green fingered among you. There are six categories for you to chose from.
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The lucky winners will each receive a trophy and national garden centre vouchers. To enter please complete the form opposite and send to Blooming Gardens, Gedling Homes, Gedling House, Wood Lane, Gedling, Nottingham, NG4 4AD
Entries need to be in by Friday 13th June 2014 and judging will take place the week commencing 30th June 2014. Please note you will need to be available between 9-5pm during this week for your garden to be judged.
Your Community
Application Name:...................................................................... Address:................................................................... .................................................................................
Entries will be judged the week commencing 30th ................................................................................. June 2014. If you have a preference on when you would like the judging of your garden to take place Telephone:............................................................... please state a day and whether you would like the visit to be in the morning or afternoon.
The competition categories Please select the one category you would like to enter: Best garden (back, front or both) Best patio or yard Best individual planter/hanging basket/window box Best communal/sheltered housing scheme garden Best Leaseholder garden Best young gardener under 16
Days Available:............................................................. AM
PM
Return your completed form, by 13th June 2014 to Blooming Gardens, Gedling Homes, Gedling House, Wood Lane, Gedling, NG4 4AD
Blgardens ming
2014 Gardening Competition
Find us online at www.gedlinghomes.co.uk 13
Misbehaving? We’ve got an eye on you! Our Tenancy Enforcement team have recently purchased three cctv cameras to be used to monitor anti-social behaviour. The cameras have already proved successful in Carlton. • A tenant has been caught allowing their dog to cause mess. They have been served with a formal warning. • A tenant has been identified scrawling abusive writing on a neighbour's property. The tenant is subject to ongoing formal action.
Grounds for satisfaction We have renewed our ground maintenance working arrangements with Gedling Borough Council for a further year. Mark Vasey, Tenancy Services Manager said: “This is great news for tenants as satisfaction levels for all our grounds maintenance works remain consistently high. I believe that this is due to Gedling Borough Council supplying us and our tenants with a dedicated team to do all our work.” If any tenant or leaseholder wants to join our garden maintenance scheme for a small weekly charge, please call 0115 905 1515 and ask for Tenancy Services.
Jackie Gill, Tenancy Enforcement Officer said: “These cameras are a major boost for our enforcement work. I know that the vast majority of our tenants are law abiding. They can feel secure in the knowledge that we have this additional tool, to help us catch the small minority of our tenants who are intent on misbehaving.”
Charities support our work with families
Our Family Intervention Project (FIP) Officer has successfully made applications to two charities, The Frank Buttle Trust and the New Appeals Organisation, for funding totalling £600. The money will be used to buy beds, bedding, wardrobes, drawers, carpets and curtains for children's bedrooms. By improving the conditions at home for families, we can help to improve the quality of children's lives. In total this year we have sourced around £2,500 in charitable donations for our families in greatest need. Emma Greenall FIP Officer said: “I hope this demonstrates to tenants that by working with me they will be supported to sustain their tenancies and be given opportunities to amend their behaviour. It also shows that we are able to source funds to support tenants in a number of different ways.”
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Your Community “We need you!” We, along with partners in the Gedling Community Partnership are looking for community volunteers to join Gedling Neighbourhood Resolution Panels.
The purpose of the evening is to explain what becoming a volunteer will involve and to provide further information about the ways this can help resolve conflict.
This is an exciting opportunity for you to help shape the way that anti-social behaviour and low level crime is dealt with across Gedling borough.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please call Tenancy Services on 0115 905 1515.
Neighbourhood Resolution Panels (NRPs) are used to address disputes and disagreements in our neighbourhoods and avoid costly statutory enforcement action being taken. The outcome is that anti-social behaviour and crime is addressed, strengthening neighbourhood sustainability and community cohesion. We will train volunteers to sit on a panel to decide what reparation (community payback) should be placed on the perpetrators to make amends for their actions. We are hosting an Open Evening on May 7th at the Richard Herrod Centre, Foxhill Road, Carlton from 6pm - 8pm for persons interested in becoming a volunteer.
WE NEED
YOU! HAVE YOU EXPERIEN CED ANTI-SOC IA L BEHAVIOU R? HAVE YOU BEEN THE VICTIM OF CRIME? We are
recruiting vo lunteers to si to help us m t on our Nei ake a differen ghbourhood ce in your ne Resolution P Neighbourho ighbourhood. anels, od Resolutio n Pan to resolve co nflict and harm els bring victims and per pet caused by an Interested? ti-social behav rators together Call Gedling io ur and crime. Homes’ Ne on 0115 905 ighbourhoo 1515 or ema d s team il enquiries@ gedlinghom es.co.uk South
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Find us online at www.gedlinghomes.co.uk 15
We’re here when you need support We have secured funding from Nottinghamshire County Council until November 2014, to enable our Support Workers to help sheltered residents across our schemes. The team works with residents who have requested help or have been referred to us by the Sheltered Housing Co-ordinator. The Support Workers complete a support plan with them and agree goals to help them renew their independence. Here you can read about the work of the service and what it means to our residents:
Mr A Mr A was referred to the support service following signs he was not coping independently after his wife was admitted to hospital. Hard of hearing, unable to make or receive calls regarding updates about his wife, were immediate challenges. He had no confidence in unfamiliar surroundings and, coupled with mobility issues, he felt unable to visit his wife as often as he would like. He was given help to get regular updates on his wife’s condition from the hospital and was encouraged to write letters, which he found extremely beneficial as a coping strategy. Alternative hearing aid and telephone equipment has been sought and his confidence in making/receiving telephone calls increased. Unfortunately, Mr A’s wife passed away within a few weeks of returning home but with an existing relationship with a Support Worker, emotional support was provided. Through setting support plan goals, Mr A is now growing in independence and is venturing out of his home. He regularly visits the communal area to play chess with new found friends.
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Miss X Miss X came to Gedling Homes from hospital. She was extremely vulnerable, very withdrawn and often suffered from panic attacks. Having previously been taken advantage of financially by her old neighbours, she had limited trust in people. She would stay in bed until midday and avoided going out or speaking to anyone. After getting to know Miss X, the support service set some short and long term goals. They included joining her local GP surgery and addressing welfare benefit issues, both of which she achieved with support. Long term Miss X aspired to attend an activity in the communal lounge. With encouragement and motivational support she has surpassed this goal. She is now a regular attendee at bingo and breakfast mornings at the scheme.
Sheltered Mr B Mr B moved into sheltered housing following an accident, resulting in a physical disability. He had always led a fairly active life, supported by his partner who passed away several years ago. Mr B has a mental disability and can be very vulnerable. In the past he has been exploited by family and friends and his debts spiralled out of control. Mr B struggles with basic reading and writing and when he was first referred to the Support Workers, had piles of letters in the flat un-opened. Feeling he was unable to cope, Mr B had made a suicide attempt. After assessment by mental health he was not deemed to be at risk. A referral was made to Money Wise and ongoing support was provided. This included help with reading, support and encouragement when feeling low and nutritional advice on healthier eating options and exercise.
Miss T Miss T was referred after being discharged from hospital and respite stay, having been treated for bowel cancer and a fractured hip. Communication was a struggle as Miss T spoke in low murmurs and frequently covered her mouth with her hand as she spoke due to lack of self-confidence. She presented as a very unhappy lady with little stimulation and a history of depression and anxiety. The Support Worker resolved to spend the first few visits really listening to Miss T's needs. A trusting relationship has been established and Miss T has made small steps towards reclaiming some independence. She was encouraged to keep a diary of her likes, dislikes, worries and hopes. Miss T has made significant progress and her Support Worker is now working on increased mobility and confidence, with a long term goal of being able to leave her flat and join in gardening activities.
e the help s u ld u o c r u o b h ig e If you or a friend/n ice, please call 0115 905 1515 rv from our Support se e nc in complete conďŹ de Find us online at www.gedlinghomes.co.uk
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John and Mary Callender speak to David Price, Head of Income Management When did you join Gedling Homes and what does your job entail? I joined Gedling Homes in February 2014 and I oversee Revenues and Money Wise. Where did you work before and what attracted you to apply for the post at Gedling Homes? I worked for 12 years as Income Manager at Framework Housing Association, which dealt with hostels and supportive housing. I applied for the post at Gedling Homes as I am interested in Welfare Reform and preparing people for the changes. What can you offer Gedling Homes and its tenants? I want to prepare people for the changes that Welfare Reform will bring and keep them in their homes by offering help to prevent eviction. What do you find is the most challenging aspect of this job? Keeping up to speed and moving forward on Universal Credit. I don’t want to frighten people unduly, but I want to get the message across to the right people and for them to respond. Do you have a family and have you always lived in Nottingham? I have a son called Luca, who is seven years old. I have lived in Nottingham for 15 years, but I originate from Lichfield. 18
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given and by whom? An old friend once said to me, ‘It is always about Right over Easy’. What is your favourite holiday destination and why? I have to choose Dawlish, because I have wonderful memories of spending family holidays there when I was young and last year I went there again with my son. Outside of work, what are your hobbies and leisure activities? I love running, because you have time to think and mull over any problems you might have. Last year I ran three half marathons, but I hope to run a full marathon this year. How do you relax? Running, of course. A glass of red wine – preferably a good Rioja. I watch a little bit of television, but prefer to catch up with past programmes on box sets. Finally, what three words would you use to describe yourself? Fair, thoughtful and competitive.
Recipe
Cook &Eat
Homemade Tuna and Vegetable Pasties
Ingredients:
Preparation:
A block of frozen puff pastry
• Fry all vegetables in the olive oil until softened, mix lightly with the tuna. Add a pinch of herbs and seasoning.
Olive oil 1 clove of garlic 1 courgette 1 pepper 1 tomato Can of tuna Dried or fresh herbs
• Roll out the defrosted pastry, cut into rectangles and spoon the filling on to one half of the rectangle, fold over and use a fork to squidge the edges together. If you want, you can brush the pastry with beaten egg or milk. • Bake for about 25 minutes in a medium hot oven. They should be puffed up and golden.
Seasoning Egg or milk to brush pastry (optional)
Watch how to make this recipe at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBaFE-X_NfQ Or scan this QR code with your smart phone
Would you like to attend FREE Cook & Eat sessions to learn more recipes? Call Sarah Quinn on 0115 905 1515 or email greatertraining@gedlinghomes.co.uk Find us online at www.gedlinghomes.co.uk 19
Date
Time
Event
Location
17.04.14
10am
Orchard Court Walk & Talk
Orchard Court
17.04.14
10am
Netherfield Estate Inspection
Meet at Britannia Court car park
17.04.14
10am
Carlton Quarterly Inspection
Meet at Foxhill Court car park
23.04.14
11am
Rushcliffe Avenue Walk & Talk
Rushcliffe Avenue
23.04.14
11.30am-1pm
Gedling Drop-In Housing Surgery
The Ark, Wollaton Road
23.04.14
1-3pm
Six week Positive Change course (course concludes 28th May)
St George's Centre, Netherfield
26.04.14
10am-2pm
Loco Centre Open Day
Loco Centre, Netherfield
30.04.14
10.30am
Westmoore Court Walk & Talk
Westmoore Court
30.04.14
1.30pm
Moreland Court Walk & Talk
Moreland Court
01.05.14
9-11am
Newstead Drop-In Housing & Money Wise Surgery
Newstead Centre, Newstead Village
01.05.14
11am-12.30pm
Netherfield Drop-In Housing & Money Wise Surgery
St George's Centre, Netherfield
02.05.14
10.30am
Coronation Walk Walk & Talk
Coronation Walk
06.05.14
10-12noon
Community Chest Panel
Westmoore Court
06.05.14
2pm
Seagrave Court Walk & Talk
Seagrave Court
07.05.14
10.30am
Bramble Court Walk & Talk
Bramble Court
08.05.14
10am
Walton Court Walk & Talk
Walton Court
08.05.14
11am
Princess Close Walkabout
Meet at the garages on Princess Close
09.05.14
10-11.30am
Coppice Road Estate Inspection
Meet crossroads of Coppice, Howbeck & Rolleston
13.05.14
10am
Carlton House Walk & Talk
Carlton House
15.05.14
10.30am
Lendrum Court Walk & Talk
Lendrum Court
17.05.14
10am-1pm
Hanging Basket Workshop
Outside the Co-Op, Netherfield
21.05.14
11.30am-1pm
Gedling Drop-In Housing Surgery
The Ark, Wollaton Road
22.05.14
10am
Netherfield Estate Inspection
Meet at Britannia Court car park
04.06.14
10-12noon
News & Views Editorial Panel
Westmoore Court
04.06.14
10.30-11.30am
Carlton Walkabout
Meet at the Valley Road shops
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Events Date
Time
Event
Location
05.06.14
9-11am
Newstead Drop-In Housing & Money Wise Surgery
Newstead Centre, Newstead Village
05.06.14
11am-12.30pm
Netherfield Drop-In Housing & Money Wise Surgery
St George's Centre, Netherfield
11.06.14
2pm
Calverton Estate Inspection
Meet at Nabarro Court
14.06.14 15.06.14
TBC
Artwork on display at the Arnold Carnival
Arnot Hill Park
17.06.14
2.30pm
Roe Hill Walk & Talk
Roe Hill
18.06.14
11.30am-1pm
Gedling Drop-In Housing Surgery
The Ark, Wollaton Road
18.06.14
6-8pm
General Leaseholder's Forum
Gedling House, Wood Lane, Gedling
19.06.14
10.30am
Nabarro Court Walk & Talk
Nabarro Court
24.06.14
2-3.30pm
Sheltered Housing Forum
Nabarro Court
25.06.14
10am
Foxhill Court Walk & Talk
Foxhill Court
25.06.14
10-12noon
News & Views Editorial Panel
Westmoore Court
26.06.14
10am
Netherfield Estate Inspection
Meet at Britannia Court car park
28.06.14
TBC
Stall at Netherfield Gala
Netherfield Primary School
30.06.14 04.07.14
TBC
Blooming Garden's judging
Across the borough
04.07.14
11am-12.30pm
Netherfield Drop-In Housing & Money Wise Surgery
St George's Centre, Netherfield
05.07.14
1-4pm
AKRA Fun Day
Killisick Children's Centre, Arnold
12.07.14
TBC
Newstead in Bloom Fun Day
Newstead Centre, Newstead Village
17.07.14
9-11am
Newstead Drop-In Housing & Money Wise Surgery
Newstead Centre, Newstead Village
19.07.14
TBC
Gedling Homes GREAT Day Out!
Gedling House, Wood Lane, Gedling
21.07.14
5.30pm
Netherfield Garden Competition, Prize Giving Evening
Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold
24.07.14
10am
Netherfield Estate Inspection
Meet at Britannia Court car park
Find us online at www.gedlinghomes.co.uk 21
Fun & Games WORDSEARCH You can win £25 in vouchers in our “Spring” wordsearch. Words go left, right, up, down, and diagonally. We have already found one for you! Please send your completed wordsearch to us. A winner will be picked from the correct entries on 16th May 2014. Return to: Wordsearch Competition,Gedling Homes, Gedling House,Wood Lane,Gedling, Nottingham NG4 4AD
BABY
CHICK
RABBIT
SPRING
BLOOM
FLOWER
RAIN
SUN
Name:
....................................................................
Telephone: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CoLoUr Me in! Your child / grandchild could win a £25 book token in our “Spring” colouring competition. Please send your completed colouring to us. A winner will be picked on16th May 2014. Return to: Colouring Competition, Gedling Homes, Gedling House, Wood Lane, Gedling, Nottingham NG4 4AD
Name: .....................................................................................................................................................Age:.......................................................... Telephone: ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Address: ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
22
And the winners are… Congratulations to Barbara Peel and Mrs McAdams from Carlton, winners of our winter competitions They have won £25 in shopping vouchers each!
Our performance Satisfaction & Performance Our performance matters at Gedling Homes. We are proud of the service we offer you, our customers, and regularly check that we’re on target. We set goals for each area of the company and here we tell you how we’re doing in the areas which matter most to you.
On target, going well
Our target
Performance areas
Our traffic light system tells you how we are doing.
OK, work in progress
What we achieved
Responsive repairs works undertaken ‘Right First Time’
99%
96.23%
All responsive repairs completed on time
99%
95.24%
Rent collection rate - rolling 12 month period
99%
99.59%
Re-let time - general needs and sheltered properties (excluding low demand)
24 days
25.7 days
Re-let time - general needs and sheltered properties (including low demand)
24 days
47.91 days
Customer satisfaction with responsive repairs
98%
97.6%
Customers satisfied with investment works
96%
93.14%
Customers satisfied with gas servicing
97%
99.46%
Customers reporting a complaint who were satisfied with how we dealt with it
80%
74.4%
Customers reporting an anti-social behaviour who were satisfied with how we dealt with it
80%
85%
Customers satisfied with the condition of property when the property was let
96%
98.95%
Below target, looking to improve
How we are doing
Find us online at www.gedlinghomes.co.uk 23
Contact us By sending us an e-mail: General enquiries: enquiries@gedlinghomes.co.uk Tenant Involvement: tenantinvolvement@ gedlinghomes.co.uk By writing to us at: Gedling Homes, Gedling House, Wood Lane, Gedling, Nottingham. NG4 4AD
In person: Please visit our Customer Contact Centre on the ground floor at: The Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold, Nottingham NG5 6LU. The opening times are 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am to 4.30pm on Friday
@Gedling_Homes www.facebook.com/gedlinghomes
By phone: 24/7 Repairs line 0115 905 1515 Anti Social Behaviour (24 hours) 0808 145 6555 Rent Payments 0161 331 2224 (24 hour automated payment line) For all other enquiries please ring 0115 905 1515 and ask for the team you want to speak to.
This information is available in large print, audio and Braille.
This information is from Gedling Homes. If you can tell us which language you speak, we will arrange for an interpreter. Or you can ask a friend or relative to phone us 0115 905 1515.
Chinese
Gujurati
Kurdish
Urdu
Polish
Resource Housing Reg. No. 2111