GEDLING www.gedlinghomes.co.uk
ISSUE 13 | SPRING 2012
HOMES
TOP FOR INVOLVING TENANTS The tremendous contributions of tenants in the work of Gedling Homes have been recognised with a prestigious national award. We have been presented with the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) accreditation award, which is the highest award tenants and Gedling Homes can receive in relation to involving tenants in the development of services. TPAS commended Gedling Homes for work with tenants to develop and monitor Local Offers (a series of commitments to tenants of service standards) and involving residents in the production of the Gedling Homes annual report. Continued on page 2...
Look inside... Where can you bounce in a castle, climb up a ‘mountain wall’, meet amazing animals and find out about loads of useful things to improve your home and lifestyle? See page 5 for details of the big free summer event.
Great Homes • Great Neighbourhoods • Great People
TOP FOR INVOLVING TENANTS from front page... TPAS Chief Executive Michelle Reid said: “I’d like to commend Gedling Homes on its accreditation and how much the company has achieved in such a short space of time. I’ve visited many housing companies across the country and I was very impressed with the way Gedling Homes works in partnership with tenants to develop its Local Offers.” Gedling Homes will now work with TPAS to share best practice across the country and help other organisations to improve and develop their resident involvement. Gedling Homes provides tenants with a wide range of skills that can be used in other areas as well as in their involvement with us. If you would like more information on how you can get involved with Gedling Homes then why not contact the Customer Experience Team on 0115 905 1515 or via tenantinvolvement@gedlinghomes.co.uk
‘Bin Raider’ show is out of this world!
Local school children were treated to an entertaining show, thanks to the support of Gedling Homes, on the benefits of going ‘green’. The ‘Bin Raider’ show was held at Newstead School based upon the concept of an alien landing on Earth to look at our environmental impact and what we can all do to ‘reduce, re-use and recycle’. The performance delivered a strong message that taking small personal steps can have a big impact in tackling climate change and challenged the children and adults to reflect on what everyone can do to make a difference. The show was rapturously received by the children who all joined in with the actions and songs. Feedback from Gedling Homes’ tenants has often shown that you want us to take a bigger role in schools and the Bin Raider show is evidence of our commitment. We hope that stimulating the children’s interest at a young age will encourage them to become responsible members of the community when it comes to saving energy and recycling. The show links in with the National Curriculum and we will now be rolling out the production to other local schools. If you are a parent or teacher and interested in the Bin Raider descending on your school, please contact the Gedling Homes Customer Experience Team on 0115 905 1515.
DON’T MISS OUT ON YOUR JUST REWARDS!
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Tenants with a clear rent account are eligible for entry into the next Just Rewards prize draw with great gifts up for grabs. The draw is also open to tenants who have reached an acceptable repayment plan and are maintaining that arrangement. Prizes are £200 worth of high street vouchers, gardening work up to the value of £200 or the use of the handyman service for half a day. For all your rent advice, please call the Gedling Homes Revenues Team on 0115 905 1515.
Litter pickers hit the streets Following feedback in a Leaseholder Satisfaction survey, staff from Gedling Homes Tenancy Services took to the streets of Gedling to litter pick two areas that had a problem with discarded rubbish. Jacquie Beacroft, Head of Neighbourhoods, Mark Vasey, Tenancy Services Manager, Jackie Gill, Tenancy Enforcement Officer, and Joanna Watson, Administration Apprentice, volunteered an hour of their time to visit the Princess Close and Rutland Road areas of Gedling for the litter pick. During their visit they collected three bags of litter.
Mark said: “The feedback received from leaseholders about the litter was really useful and getting on the streets for just an hour enabled us to make quite a difference to both areas. We met a few local residents and reassured them that we take these issues very seriously. “We have also contacted our partners at Gedling Borough Council to highlight this issue with them so that together we can work towards making these neighbourhoods a more pleasant place for all to live in.”
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WORKING OUT THE WELFARE CHANGES In the last edition of News and Views, we promised to keep you updated about proposed benefit changes and how they may affect you. The Welfare Reform Bill will see significant changes to benefits, including housing benefit, and those likely to be affected should start planning now.
April 2012: Non-dependant deductions A non-dependant is someone who lives with you on a non-commercial basis. This may be a grown-up son or daughter, relative or friend. If this is the case and you are entitled to housing benefit and/or council tax benefit, you will have your housing benefit reduced. The amount deducted will depend on the non-dependant’s income but the minimum amount will be £12.40 per week, if you are charged rent 48 weeks of the year. The amount will be deducted even if you do not receive this amount from your nondependant. You will have to pay this amount directly to Gedling Homes to avoid rent arrears. There are however, many exceptions to this rule, depending on individual circumstances, and you should always check with the local housing benefit department on 0115 901 3970. You can also check with the Gedling Homes Revenues Team on 0115 905 1515.
April 2012: Tax Credit changes There will be changes to the way tax credits are assessed which will reduce the overall award of tax credit to all claimants, unless you are already receiving a maximum award. Couples with children will have to work collectively at least 24 hours (previously this was 16 hours). There are exceptions to this new rule, which you must check with the tax credit office. There will be no increase to basic elements of tax credits or the additional amount for working 30 hours per week or more. The amount of the child element will not increase as previously announced. Backdating of new claims and certain change of circumstances will reduce from three months to one month. There are other changes that may affect you so always check your award and/or your applications and notices very carefully. If in doubt, contact the tax credit office on 0845 300 3900.
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2012: Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) If you receive this benefit based on your National Insurance contributions any payments will be limited to 12 months if you receive the work-related component. You will be able to move onto income-based if your household is on a low income. This will be backdated, so if you have received contribution based ESA for the last 12 months by April 2012 your payments will stop. If you are transferring from incapacity benefit to ESA (contribution based) the 12 months will begin from the date of transfer. People incapacitated in youth will no longer be able to claim contribution based ESA. The personal tax allowance increases by £630 to £8105.
2013: Bedroom tax/under occupancy Although not due this April, it is essential that if you do have spare bedrooms in your home that you aware of the implications. The proposed rule of under occupancy means that if you are of working age, your housing benefit will be reduced by possibly £11 and £20 per week if your property is deemed to be too large for your household. Gedling Homes will continue to keep you informed as the new legislation is implemented.
A free festival of fun
This year’s Gedling Homes Community Involvement Day takes place on Saturday 14 July and promises to be bigger and better than ever before. In previous years this FREE event for Gedling Homes tenants has seen climbing walls, bouncy castles, arts and crafts and play activities, as well as a range of useful information stalls from our partner agencies such as Gedling Community Voluntary Service, SureStart and Age UK.
There is free food and transport for all, and everyone who attends is entered into a prize draw to win more than £200 worth of prizes.
The Customer Experience Team will be contacting all tenants about this event but why not make a date in your diary for this summer’s event now so that you don’t miss out! 5
Money Matters
Money is unfortunately very tight for a lot of people and the squeeze on our wallets may get tighter still. During these times, necessities can become luxury items and any unexpected expenses can quickly upset budgets. If you are faced with a cash crisis, for example if your washing machine brakes down, what would you do to replace it?
You may feel your only option is a pay day loan but BE AWARE. A pay day loan is an amount of money (usually a few hundred pounds) borrowed over the short term. You may have seen these companies advertised on TV or in magazines and these loans can appear very useful and easy to set up. You can walk into one of their high street shops and walk out with the cash in hand. You can apply online and over the phone but the companies have very high ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE (APR) charges sometimes 4200%!
Always compare APRs when seeking a loan, as this is the best indication of how much the loan will cost you. You should always be informed of the annual percentage rate if not you should ask and use this figure instead of other figures when deciding who to choose.
We would strongly advise you to steer clear of pay day loan lenders wherever possible and seek independent advice as soon as possible.
A survey by Shelter suggests that almost a million people have taken out a ‘pay day loan’ to help pay their rent or mortgage over the last 12 months and almost seven million people use credit to pay their housing costs. If you need to borrow money, why not apply to Nottingham Credit Union? Credit unions are ethical lenders who will look at every loan application on an individual basis. You can join the credit union, which costs £4, and can apply for a loan at the same time. The most they charge in interest is 26.8% APR for loans up to £2000.
To contact the Credit Union, call their free phone number 0800 093 7090.
Gedling Homes have staff who can assist on any money problems, including budgeting and seeking further advice. You can contact the Gedling Homes Revenues Team on 0115 905 1515.
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Continuous Payment Authority Money Matters what you need to know
A Continuous Payment Authority is an agreement with an organisation to take payments for goods and services directly from your bank account, via a debit or credit card number.
These payments are often used by companies for recurring transactions, for example, magazine subscriptions. They are not direct debits or standing orders, but a contract between you and the business, hence the payments are not covered by any bank guarantee scheme. Recently there has been some controversy surrounding the right to cancel these agreements. According to the Financial Services Authority, you have the right to cancel these arrangements and as soon as you have informed your bank that you are withdrawing your permission, the bank must stop paying any such requests. Your bank or credit card issuer cannot insist that you cancel the agreement with the goods or service supplier first and must act on your instructions. Due to some of the issues with these agreements, we would recommend that you try to avoid this kind of payment method and ask for a direct debt option if possible. However, if a continuous payment authority suits your purpose, make sure you are aware of the pitfalls, regularly check amounts debited and keep a note of renewal dates.
Cheque out our Community Chest!
Did you know that Gedling Homes Community Chest has been used to fund projects and initiatives across Gedling Borough over the last few months? Why not consider putting in an application if you know of a local group or organisation who have a project or idea they would like some funding for? Remember there is a limit of £5,000 for any project.
Our latest Community Chest recipients included Arno Vale Junior School to help their before and after school provision and The Maze drop-in centre in Arnold. Pictured here with their cheques are Head Teacher Chris Blount and Chris Lindley from the ‘wrap-around provision’ at the school and Paula Webb at The Maze. The Community Chest has also recently helped fund an automatic watering system for the hanging baskets at Britannia Court and raised flower beds at Seagrave Court. If you would like to apply for Community Chest funding, please contact the Gedling Homes Customer Experience Team on 0115 905 1515.
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Street Talk with Sarah Harris For this newsletter, Sarah Harris, a Tenant Involvement Administrator with Gedling Homes, met tenant Sylvia Sanderson to find out more about her job. What does your job involve? What is the best piece of advice you have been given? I do all the administrative Treat others as you would like tasks for both the Tenant to be treated. Involvement Team and Customer Experience. This What is you greatest involves things like setting up achievement? meetings, taking minutes, Passing my HNC in Business Management while working organising the Community full time. Involvement Day, logging complaints, making sure What are you most transport and refreshments passionate about? are available for tenants who People, getting to know them attend meetings and generally and what makes them tick. I am a very sociable person. providing all the supporting structure for both teams. What is your favourite hobby? How long have you been with I love dancing, mainly modern Gedling Homes? jive, but I also like making my Two years, I started as a temp own jewellery and cards for in the Sheltered Housing gifts because I think the Team, also helping with personal touch means you have given thought to the tenant involvement tasks at person you are giving the gift that time, and when a to. I also love films and eating permanent position came up I out. applied and was successful in being appointed to work in the What is your favourite film? Tenant Involvement Team. The Holiday, a real ‘rom com’ set around Christmas and a woman rediscovering herself What is your employment after a failed relationship. background? In administration, I started What is your idea of work at Holgate School in bliss? Hucknall in Student Services A good film, a glass providing rotas, updating of wine, a bag of registrations and making sure popcorn and the students knew what they generally chilling out should be doing. Before that I - I’m easily pleased. worked for the Nottingham Building Society in Customer What three words would you use to Services within the Savings describe yourself? and Mortgage Redemption Bubbly, caring department. and mad. 8
What is your favourite holiday destination? I love Yorkshire and have spent many happy holidays there. My favourite places are Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby – with lots of great jewellery shops as an added bonus. Where do you see yourself in ten years time? As I am getting married in September, I would love to own a home and have a family by then. Do you have a claim to fame? Well, actually yes! When the smoking ban came into effect in pubs, I was having a drink with some friends where a news team was filming. As the camera panned round I was in the shot and appeared on the news that night. I didn’t get any film offers from it though! How would you like to be remembered? I don’t want this to sound corny but I would like to be remembered as a good friend, a good daughter and a good partner..
Feedback forum Yo u sa id Le as eh olde rs at Pr in ce ss Cl os e as k ed th at we ch ange th e ti m ings of th ei r es tate in sp ec ti on th ro ugh ou t th e ye ar We did We h ave ar ra nge d fo r th e in sp ec ti on to ta k e pl ac e in th e S pr ing fi rs t th ing in th e mor n ing an d fo r th e S ummer in sp ec ti on to st art at 5pm in orde r to en able as m any pe op le as po ss ible to at te n d
Yo u sa id e re view of th e th in ed lv vo in ts Te n an emen t Model as k ed ag an M d oo h ur bo Neigh s to be re worde d fo r se ve ra l se ct io n We did is ts an d amen de d th an n te to ed n te lis We ei r views on h ow th t ec fl re to t en do cum es an d es tate s we m an age te n an ci
Diamonds are forever! Many congratulations to Derek and Cate Foster of Lendrum Court in Burton Joyce who recently celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary with other tenants. Gedling Homes sent the happy couple a bouquet and our very best wishes. 9
Flower power hits Gedling It’s that time of the year – Gedling Homes is once again running our popular gardening competition – so start planning your entries now. Our green-fingered residents and local school children have another chance to demonstrate that they’re top of the garden gang! Decide which category(ies) you want to enter on the form below. Best school garden is included for the second year. We also have a new category and will be looking for the best vegetable garden. Gedling Homes will also nominate gardens picked by our staff on estate inspections. The lucky winners will each receive a trophy and national garden centre vouchers. The competition is being sponsored by our partner organisation, Bullock Construction. To find out more about how to enter, please complete the form and send to the Customer Experience Team, Gedling Homes, Gedling House, Wood Lane, Gedling, Nottingham, NG4 4AD. Entries need to be in by Thursday 31st May. Judging will take place in the first week of July. The competition categories are (please tick): Best back garden Best front garden Best patio or yard Best young gardener under 16 Best individual planter/hanging baskets/window box Best communal garden Best sheltered housing scheme garden Best leaseholder garden Best school garden Best vegetable garden Name Address
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Keep warm and well with Warm Street
Gedling Homes is working in partnership with Gedling Borough Council to promote an energy advice project called ‘Warm Street’. Are you older, vulnerable or disabled and live in Gedling Borough? If so, we can assess your needs and support you in a referral to other agencies to help you with a range of services, such as: • Finding the best energy deal • Getting assistance with benefit advice • Keeping your home warm This service is being delivered through our Supported Housing Team, which is an ideal choice in responding to the specific needs of older and vulnerable people in our community. Supported Housing Manager, Liz Howard-Barber, commented that it is exciting to be working in partnership with Gedling Borough Council to be delivering this service to residents. Please note: This scheme is not restricted to tenants of Gedling Homes. You can find out more by contacting the Gedling Homes Supported Housing Team on 0115 905 1515 or by emailing enquiries@gedlinghomes.co.uk
Garden service is a cut above the rest
Gedling Homes tenants can buy into a useful service if they are unable to maintain their own gardens and hedges. For a small weekly fee, tenants can have their grass cut 15 times a year and their hedge cut twice a year. The work is undertaken by Gedling Borough Council’s Grounds Maintenance team.
A recent survey of tenants who used this service found that 100% of people who responded said they were either very or fairly satisfied with the service received!
Mark Vasey, Tenancy Services Manager, said: “I am delighted that tenants value this service so highly. The satisfaction levels have improved as a result of the Council providing us with a dedicated team to do all our work to ensure the high standards of our tenants are met.” If you are interested in joining this scheme, please contact the Gedling Homes Tenancy Services Team on 0115 905 1515.
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Making amends for vandalism In the last issue of News and Views, we reported that we had handed CCTV evidence to the Police regarding vandalism within Walton Court, Carlton. The footage showed that the son of one of our tenants was responsible for the damage. As a result, we have warned his parents about their responsibilities, the impact on their tenancy of their son’s behaviour and have issued them with a bill for the damage caused. To give something back to the community, the son is now helping Gedling Homes with litter picking and graffiti removal in Netherfield, Carlton and Gedling to benefit us and our tenants. Mark Vasey, Tenancy Services Manager, said: “I hope this sends a clear message that we are not prepared to accept this type of behaviour and that we work very closely with all our partners in combating anti-social behaviour across the borough. The fact that this young man is being tasked with work for us that will benefit our tenants and the wider community will hopefully dissuade him and others from engaging in this type of activity in the future.”
Fly tippers targeted Gedling Homes and Gedling Borough Council are working closely to catch out people who fly tip across the borough. All instances of fly tipping are thoroughly investigated and evidence could lead to prosecutions. Jackie Gill, Tenancy Enforcement Officer, said: “Fly tipping is a blight on all our communities and anything that we can do with our partners to combat this is a positive step. Anyone found guilty of fly tipping faces a fine of up to £1000.” If anyone has genuine difficulty in getting rid of unwanted items, please contact the Gedling Homes Tenancy Services Team on 0115 905 1515 for advice.
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Emma’s success in helping families Our Family Intervention Project Officer, Emma Greenall, works with families who are most at risk of eviction due to persistent anti-social behaviour and she has been very successful in helping families get back on the right track. Her role is to encourage behaviour change in the tenants and their children that she works with for them to sustain their tenancies. Due to the intensive nature of her role, Emma can only work with up to six families at a time. Over the past few months she has been extremely busy, recording a number of successes including: • • • • • • • •
Helping a parent with alcohol issues receive support to sustain their tenancy Supporting a young person into moving into their own Gedling Homes property Supporting five young people in accessing education after they had previously not been attending Helping young people access alternative educational provision Improving school attendance of the children of tenants Supporting families in their parenting skills to reduce the risk of their children being removed from them Preventing families from being evicted from their homes Reducing police involvement with families that she is working with
Emma said: “I hope that tenants see the benefit of being involved with the Family Intervention Project when they are given an opportunity to do so. This can help turn their lives around for their own benefit and that of their children as well as benefiting the wider community. I am extremely proud of the way that the families I have worked with have reacted to the opportunities this programme brings.” 13
Everybody needs good neighbours It’s always nice to be friendly with neighbours and getting to know and understand them is a simple yet highly effective way of resolving potentially difficult situations that may arise from time to time. Where appropriate, we would always encourage tenants to speak to their neighbours when they face any difficulties. Jackie Gill, Tenancy Enforcement Officer, said: “Neighbour disputes often start because people do not speak to or understand each other. We realise that in some circumstances there are very good reasons why people do not speak to each other but so many anti-social behaviour cases could be avoided if people got to know their neighbours a little better.” On Sunday 3 June there’s a great chance for everyone to catch up with their neighbours at the National Big Lunch, an event which acts as a one-day get-together for neighbours and this year marks the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. If you are interested in holding a neighbourhood lunch, please contact the Gedling Homes Customer Experience Team on 0115 905 1515. There’s more information on the National Big Lunch at www.thebiglunch.com
Tenants help shape how estates are managed Tenants and Gedling Homes staff have reviewed and improved the ‘Neighbourhood Management Model’ – a document which informs customers about the work of the Neighbourhood Management Officers in managing the appearance of communities and combating anti-social behaviour. Mark Vasey, Tenancy Services Manager, said: “I would like to thank the tenants that helped us in reviewing this important document - their insights have proved invaluable. One of the main improvements that tenants will see is that Neighbourhood Management Officers will now be free to focus more time on areas that need more attention Neighbourhood Management Model and will look at bringing in additional resources into these areas to benefit the whole community.” The revised Neighbourhood Management Model is live from 1 April and available via our www.gedlinghomes.co.uk website. 14
Great Homes, Great Neighbourhoods, Great People
Time to move home? Did you know that you can look for a move if your current housing is not the right home for you? Tenants can apply for a Housing Transfer through the Homesearch scheme or for an exchange with another tenant through the Homeswapper scheme. If you are thinking of moving home and would like some advice, please call our Neighbourhoods Team on 0115 905 1515 or visit www.home-search.org.uk or www.homeswapper.co.uk
Immediately Available To Let Properties
Do you want to move closer to family or do you want your loved ones closer to you? Do you want peace of mind, comfort, and independence? Would you like the support of a mobile warden and an emergency call system? Do you want the security of living in a sheltered complex?
If so we currently have a number of sheltered properties immediately available to let in Gedling Borough. These include Flats and Studio Apartments in Carlton, Mapperley, Burton Joyce, and Calverton. These properties are within well maintained grounds at quiet locations. Benefits include direct access to local shops, doctors, and other amenities. If you are over 60, or of a similar age and on Disability Living Allowance, or know someone who is, and would like more information, please contact the Relets Team on 0115 9051515. 15
Brighten up your home with a new decorating service In partnership with Johnstones Paints, we have recently developed a new decoration voucher scheme.
Tenants who take on a new property will now be able to choose from a catalogue of paints and associated materials, order in store or over the phone, and arrange for delivery to their home in up to 48 hours. As part of the scheme, it will also be possible to allocate some or all of your allowance to gain the services of a local decorator.
Gedling Homes hopes that this will assist residents who find it difficult to get to DIY stores and to undertake their own decorating.
Great chance to gain career skills Gedling Borough Council and Gedling Homes are looking to recruit a number of apprenticeships in the Parks and Street Cleansing Team which will lead to qualifications up to NVQ Level 2. Funding is available for people aged 16 to 24 and the scheme is targeting residents of the borough. To register your interest and obtain an application form please contact Gedling Borough Council on 0115 901 3926.
Students keen to get involved Gedling Homes has recently hosted two work experience students for a week from Gedling School. Daniel Weaver worked with the Responsive Maintenance Team shadowing the Gedling Caretakers and Property Maintenance Officers while Luke Brown spent one day in each section of Gedling Homes to gain a good understanding of our work. The week was organised in conjunction with all our partnering contractors - Morrison FS, Frank Haslam Milan, Bullock and T and S Heating - which offered work experience placements. Both Daniel and Luke said they enjoyed their visits and we would like to say a big thank you for the way they got involved.
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FHM score a sponsorship goal
Our partner agency Frank Haslam Milan is on the ball after sponsoring the new football strip for an Under 11s team at Arnold Town Football Club. FHM was delighted to provide a new kit for the Under 11 Boys Maroon Team, which plays on Sundays. The regeneration specialist is working in the Gedling borough delivering Decent Homes improvements on behalf of Gedling Homes as part of a £18 million programme of kitchen and bathroom replacements. FHM is committed to supporting the communities where it works and was pleased to sponsor the team’s kit to give ‘budding Beckhams’ a boost. Andy Pritchard, Team Manager, said the young players were delighted with the new strip, their first new kit since the team started playing three years ago. He said: “We were delighted to get a new kit thanks to FHM. The players were ecstatic when I handed it out.” Jason Cannon, from Gedling Homes, said: “Investing in community initiatives is important to us. We were delighted to be able to kick start a new look for the players.”
Have your say News and Views is the newsletter for Gedling Homes tenants and we want to hear exactly that – your news and views. If you’ve got a great recipe, some tips on saving money, know of some great places for cheap days out or if you have any feedback on Gedling Homes services, then just let us know. One top tip we heard this month was from a tenant who contacted their gas and electricity supplier to obtain a smart meter so they could see how much power was being used in their home. So please tell us your stories – we’ll mark the best submitted story each newsletter with a gift of high street shopping vouchers – so get in touch today with the Gedling Homes Customer Experience Team on 0115 905 1515. 17
Fast Track Adaptations Service Goes Live As from the 1st April 2012 Gedling Homes is improving the way we deliver our Adaptations Service. Previously where a resident required a minor adaptation, for example, a grab rail or key safe, they were required to obtain an Occupational Therapist referral prior to the work being undertaken. With effect from the 1st April 2012 residents will simply need to ring our Repairs Hotline on 0300 0300 400 and arrangements will be made to install the aid within your home. A number of staff at Gedling Homes have received training to allow us to reduce the time taken to install minor adaptations within your home. Where a customer requires a major adaptation such as a level access shower or a stair lift, residents will need to call the Adult Social Care and Health Department on 08449 80 80 80 who will provide you with the support in obtaining an Occupational Referral to support your request. We are hopeful the fast track service will show a dramatic improvement in the service and throughout the year we will review customer feedback to see what effect the changes in the service have made.
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Colouring page
Come on Kids! Get your crayons out and colour our Easter bunny. Ask a grown up to send your picture to the Tenant Involvement Team, Easter Colouring competition at Gedling Homes, Gedling House, Wood Lane, Gedling, Nottingham NG4 4AD. The winning entry will receive a £25 Toy R Us voucher. Entries to be returned by Thursday 31st May so get colouring!
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Spring Wordsearch You can win £25 in vouchers in our Spring wordsearch. NARCISSUS LILY SNOWDROP EGG LAMBS
RAINBOW SUNSHINE BUNNY BULBS SPRING
Send completed entries to us and a winner will be picked from the correct entries received by Thursday 31st May Return to: Wordsearch Competition, Gedling Homes, Gedling House, Wood Lane, Gedling, Nottingham NG4 4AD
T H O Z V O I C B T C L B Q L V K D O Z J E H K N A V R D I B X Y L V L N A O N G L Y I L F Z S A X N I X J T B NWG Y K WP M V B H D Z T B U N N Y P A O B X X S R Z V V I K S S N V R S U V N AWG R S U A R F Z D MW L U I M P B Z C U Z D Z WU X Y S N S Y U O L E A V B O MW L N B B B L N G G V WZ N GW X F O V U B G X O I R M S M L U DWH B S G Y P C S X K N A R C I S S U S M T M Y K I N T Y M Z O D K E C B G S B H Y G F B V T BM J B J Y
Name: ................................................................... Address: ................................................................ ............................................................................... ............................................................................... Telephone: ............................................................
Competition winners Miss Ellis
Kira Scott
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Winner for last newsletter’s wordsearch competition.
Winner for last newsletter’s colouring page competition.
How are we performing? We want to let you know how Gedling Homes is performing - the areas in which we are doing well and the areas where we need to improve. The chart is colour coded as follows: Green - We are achieving our target Amber - We are within 5% of our target Red - We are not achieving our target You asked us to measure
We We aim to achieve achieved
Customers satisfied with investment works
97%
97.9%
Customer satisfaction with responsive repairs
97%
96%
Responsive repairs works undertaken Right First Time
93%
95.3%
All responsive repairs completed on time
97%
97.4%
Customers satisfied with gas servicing
97%
97.8%
Rent collection rate – rolling 12 month
99.8%
100.17%
Re-let time - general needs and sheltered properties
25 days
22.7 days
The percentage of complaints replied to in 5 days
100%
83%
Customers reporting a complaint who were satisfied 80% with how we dealt with it
How we are performing
83.3%
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Sheltered scheme ‘walk and talk’ sessions We hold ‘walk and talk’ sessions at all of our sheltered schemes every three months. You can use these sessions to talk to your Neighbourhood Management Officer about any issues. While walking around your scheme, you can show us anything that you may wish to bring to our attention, for example, overgrown trees that are blocking out light from your home. Please come along and meet your Neighbourhood Management Officer and share your thoughts on your home.
Neighbourhood Management Officer Surgeries Our Neighbourhood Management Officers hold monthly surgeries on your estates. You can pop along and meet us and raise any concerns at any of the following venues:
Estate Inspections Our Neighbourhood Management Officers would like you to join them on their estate inspections. These inspections are used to look for issues such as overgrown gardens, graffiti or other issues of concern in your area that you may wish to bring to our attention. Tenants are invited to accompany us on these inspections as it is your opinion that counts. If you need any further information about the inspections, or to discuss the area being walked please contact the relevant Neighbourhood Management Officer for your area on their mobile telephone number below.
Tenant Involvement Our Customer Experience team hold a number of meetings to gather the views of our tenants in many key areas. All tenants are welcome to attend. If you would like more information about how you can get involved please contact a member of the Customer Experience team on 0115 9051515.
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FRI 13TH TUES 17TH WED 18TH
THURS 19TH MON 23RD TUES 24TH WED 25TH THURS 26TH 22
11am - Bramble Court - Karen Wright 11am-12pm - Netherfield St George’s Centre - Richard Quinn 9am-11:30am – Newstead Community Centre - Naomi Davy 10am - 12pm - Investment Customer Experience Forum - Gedling House 10am - Bailey Court - Richard Quinn 10am - Ernehale Court - Malcolm Bullard 2pm - Bourne Mews, Netherfield - Richard Quinn 2pm - 4pm - Sheltered Service Review Group - St Andrews House 10am - Britannia Court - Richard Quinn 10am - Danes Close, Arnold - Naomi Davy 2pm-4pm - Customer Contact Centre, Civic Centre, Arnold - Naomi Davy 11am - 1pm - The Ark, Wollaton Avenue, Gedling - Karen Wright 10am - Orchard Court - Richard Quinn 10am - Church Street - Malcolm Bullard 11am - Walton Court & Crescent - Richard Quinn 10am - 12pm - Service Improvement Panel - St Andrew’s House 2.30pm - 4pm - Repairs Experience Forum - Gedling House 10am - Rushcliffe Avenue - Karen Wright 1pm - Cavendish Road - Karen Wright
MAY THURS 3RD TUES 8TH WED 9TH TUES 15TH WED 16TH THURS 17TH MON 21ST TUES 22ND WED 23RD MON 28TH WED 30TH
11am-12pm - Netherfield St George’s Centre - Richard Quinn 9am-11:30am – Newstead Community Centre - Naomi Davy 1.30pm - 3.30pm - Sheltered Housing Forum - Carlton House 8.15am - Phoenix Estate, Gedling - Karen Wright 10am - Bailey Court - Richard Quinn 11am - Moyra House - Malcolm Bullard 10am - Carlton House - Karen Wright 2pm - Heddington Gardens, Arnold - Richard Quinn 2pm - 4pm - Sheltered Service Review Group - St Andrews House 2pm-4pm - Customer Contact Centre, Civic Centre, Arnold - Naomi Davy 10am - Britannia Court - Richard Quinn 11am - Westmoore Court - Naomi Davy 10am - Walton Court - Richard Quinn 10am - Collyer Road, Calverton - Naomi Davy 2pm - Dunstan Street, Netherfield - Richard Quinn 6pm-8pm -Arnold Area Panel - Arnold Library 10am-12pm - Editorial Panel - St Andrews Panel 10am-12pm - Equality & Diversity Forum - Gedling House 11am - 1pm - The Ark, Wollaton Avenue, Gedling - Karen Wright 10am - St Albans Road, Arnold - Malcolm Bullard 1.30pm - Moreland Court - Karen Wright
JUNE TUES 5TH WED 6TH THURS 7TH MON 11TH TUES 12TH WED 13TH THURS 14TH MON 18TH TUES 19TH WED 20TH FRI 22ND
10am - Bentwell Avenue, Arnold - Malcolm Bullard 10am-12pm -Editorial Panel - St Andrews House 11am-12pm - Netherfield St George’s Centre - Richard Quinn 9am-11:30am – Newstead Community Centre - Naomi Davy 10am - Stonehouse Terrace, Newstead Village - Naomi Davy 2pm - 4pm - Sheltered Service Review Group - St Andrews House 10am - Bailey Court - Richard Quinn 10am - Nabarro Court - Naomi Davy 2pm - Seagrave Court - Malcolm Bullard 2pm - Bourne Mews - Richard Quinn 11am - Hanworth Gardens, Arnold - Naomi Davy 6pm - 8pm Carlton Area Panel - Richard Herrod Centre 2pm-4pm - Customer Contact Centre, Civic Centre, Arnold - Naomi Davy 11am - 1pm - The Ark, Wollaton Avenue, Gedling - Karen Wright 10am - Britannia Court - Richard Quinn 11am - Westmoore Close, Mapperley - Naomi Davy
BLUE - SHELTERED SCHEME WALK & TALK SESSIONS RED - NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGEMENT OFFICER SURGERIES GREEN - ESTATE INSPECTIONS PURPLE - TENANT INVOLVEMENT
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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
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, Nottingham, NG5 6LU The opening times are 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am to 4.30pm on Friday By phone: 24/7 Repairs line 0300 0300 400 Rent Payments 0161 331 2224
Anti Social Behaviour (24 hours) 0808 145 6555 Lifeline Enquiries 0115 905 1515
For all other enquiries please ring 0115 9051515 and ask for the team you want to speak to. 24