NEWS Winter issue: January 2018
New Charter Homes
I
Aksa Homes
I
Gedling Homes
Photo by Elspeth Moore
A journey from Great Lives to the Royal Exchange Theatre stage (p.22)
Great Homes, Great Neighbourhoods, Great People In this Issue: Money Matters
I MASTARPLANS I Summers Quay - Early Bird Offer
Contents
4
3
Welcome
4
Money Matters
5
Money Matters continued
6
#MoveOnline Online Customer Hub
7
#MoveOnline continued / Winter provision
8
Neighbourhood MASTARPLANS
9
Neighbourhood MASTARPLANS continued
10
Keeping your home safe / Home contents insurance
11
Older People’s Day / Efficiency East Midlands 2017 donations
12
Lights! Camera! Action! for our Motiv8 programme.
13
Sussed It
14
Ministerial visit to the North West / Work Clubs
15
Bury community group says no to loan sharks / Get Active
16
Oldham Coliseum partnership extended / Annual gas safety check improvements
17
Summers Quay - Early bird apartment reservations
18
New homes
19
New homes continued
20
Oldham Yaadain Café / Residents’ Awards
21
Threshold Housing First / Community Coordinator wins Gold
22
A journey from Great Lives to the Royal Exchange Theatre
23
Tenant training at New Charter Homes / Hub opening times
24
Contact us
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12 16 21
Welcome from Group Chief Executive, Ian Munro As you may have already heard, we’re well underway with a merger with North West-based housing provider Adactus Housing Group to form ‘Jigsaw Homes Group’, hopefully by April this year. Jigsaw will be one of the country’s largest housing associations with more than 33,000 homes across the North West and East Midlands, creating new and exciting opportunities for tenants and our customers. Once this new organisation is formed, you’ll still be tenants of New Charter Homes,Aksa Homes or Gedling Homes and we’ll still have ways of sending you all the information you need; you’ll just notice our parent company name change from New Charter Group to Jigsaw Group. We were hoping to merge sooner than April but the legal processes are taking longer than expected. So, back to this issue of the newsletter.With the full rollout of Universal Credit just around the corner, we’ve dedicated the Money Matters section to this new benefit and provided a guide to getting prepared for the switch (p4&5) We’ve changed the way we do gas safety checks, so there is some useful info on page (16) about the new procedures.We’ve opened some new work clubs to
help people learn new skills and find new opportunities (p14) as well a Memory Café for dementia sufferers in Oldham (p20). Threshold’s Housing First project has gone from strength to strength, and with Housing First likely to become part of the national strategy for reducing homelessness, we thought we’d provide an update. (p21.) We’ve been busy building new affordable homes across Tameside and Nottingham to try and meet the huge demand for housing (p18&19) and we’ll continue to do so as long as there is a need. Of course it’s you, our existing tenants that make us who we are.We recognised your contribution at our residents’ celebration in December and you can find a list of award winning tenants on p20. We hope you enjoy this edition and over time you may see the format change slightly as we look for ways to improve how we communicate with you. I’d like to finish by wishing you all a Happy New Year and assuring you that once the merger takes place, nothing much will change for you as a tenant, and any changes that do take place will be for the better.
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January 2018
Money Matters AB C
Universal Credit is moving to ‘full’ service in Tameside
from 7th March, followed by Gedling in November What does this mean? If you are of working age and you are claiming Housing Benefit to help with your rent payments, you could be affected. From 7th March, if you have a change in your circumstances that would affect your Housing Benefit
claim, it is very likely that you will trigger a move to Universal Credit. Households with more than two children won’t be affected for the moment. Don’t worry, you will be told if and when this affects you
How does it work? • Universal Credit is paid • monthly in arrears direct to your bank account – this • includes money towards your housing costs • You will have to make payments to your rent account to cover the whole rent charge
You must manage your claim online You must sign up to a claimant commitment programme which requires you to keep an online log of what you are doing to secure employment if you’re out of work
What is Universal Credit? A single monthly payment for working age people who are in or out of work. It replaces: • Housing Benefit • Child Tax Credit • Income Support • Working Tax Credit • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance • Your entitlement could change on a monthly basis if there are changes in your income such as working more or fewer hours You can find out more on the Government’s website at www.gov.uk/universal-credit
What are we doing to help? Introducing SWAT! We know this a big change and we You’ll be seeing the team want to help you manage the move (pictured overleaf) out and about to Universal Credit. over the next few months.
to prepare for making a claim, whilst identifying if any households need added support.
SWAT Our SWAT (Specialist Welfare Advice Team) is here to help. This is a new team we’ve put in place to help you through the process.
At this point, please be mindful that although SWAT will be offering support, the team will NOT be asking for your bank account details.
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SWAT will be contacting all those working age tenants currently claiming Housing Benefit who could soon be invited to claim Universal Credit.They will advise tenants how
What do I need to do to get ready for this change? sure you have an email 1 Make address – your claim depends on it.
sure you have a bank ac2 Make count in YOUR name, for your
Universal Credit to be paid into.
3
You need to prove your identity. This should be photographic ID such as a passport or driving licence.
sure you have got your 4 Make rent details to hand – you will need to tell the DWP what your basic rent is and what your service charges are (not everyone pays a service charge).
will also be asked who 6 You your landlord is – you would
be surprised how many people don’t know the name of their landlord. If you’re unsure, check it out.
sure you know how 7 Make many weeks your rent is due. You will be asked if there are any ‘rent free weeks’ – check with your landlord.
REMEMBER: COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT IS NOT INCLUDED IN UNIVERSAL CREDIT - YOU MUST CONTACT THE COUNCIL TO CLAIM THIS BENEFIT
must answer ‘YES’ to the 5 You question ‘Do you pay rent to
Save cash with The Smarterbuys Store The Smarterbuys Store is supported by New Charter Homes. If you’re looking for new electrical or household goods, don’t be tempted by expensive furniture stores or high interest weekly payment stores.The Smarterbuys Store offers high quality goods at competitive prices. Want to know more? Log on at www.gm.sbstore.org or call 0300 500 0975.
live in your home?’ Even if you have been claiming Housing Benefit.
We have asked tenants who are already claiming Universal Credit what it’s been like for them and this is what they told us: Many people are borrowing money whilst they are waiting for the first payment. You can get an advance payment from DWP if you are struggling. Your Work Coach at the Job Centre will be able to tell you about it.You will have to pay this back, but it could help you avoid arrears and prevent you needing to borrow from a pay-day lender or loan shark. Most people told us they have no savings and they wish they had.Try to save up now even if it’s just £1 a week. The Credit Union may be a good option. Rent arrears are a problem. If you
are paying your rent in arrears already, start to pay a bit extra to get yourself in front - that really will help. If your rent is paid fully through Housing Benefit, starting to pay small amount to your rent account now will help build up a credit on your account and create a buffer. Many claimants struggle to manage their money over the monthly period – start to get a plan together of all your expenses and when they are due to be paid so that you can be ready for making your money last over the month.
SWAT (L-R: is Andy,Amanda, Lindsey, Joanne and Kath) Contact us by email: SWAT@newcharter.co.uk Call us on 0161 331 2000
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January 2018
#MoveOnline Online Customer Hub Since it was launched, more than 3,000 tenants have registered to use the Online Customer Hub. If you haven’t already registered you can at customerhub.newcharter.co.uk. Registering is easy and all you need is your email address, your payment reference number (8 digit payment number starting with a 3 or 4 which you can find on your rent statement) and some personal verification details. We’re constantly developing and improving the Hub so you may notice some changes and more services becoming available throughout the year. We’ve recently introduced a new repairs area with lots of useful information including; some ‘how to’ self-help videos for minor faults such as resetting your boiler and boiler pressure issues, and information about damp and condensation. Our new online repair appointment facility will also be coming later this year, which will enable you to book your own repair appointments online. Remember you can already report your repairs online either through our websites or Online Customer Hub.
Here’s what you have said so far: “I find it extremely informative and it saves me a lot of telephone calling to New Charter.” Mr Hesden, aged 69
“We are new tenants and have only recently moved into our home however, we do use the Online Customer Hub a lot.We like the feature where we can look at our rent account. It helps us keep up-to-date and we are looking forward to the repairs feature that’s coming soon.” Miss Hill, aged 23
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“It’s great, I think the idea is really good. It helps me keep on track of rent payments and I know where I’m up to.” Mr Harrison, aged 59
New ways of contacting you We have also recently implemented a new Customer Contact Centre platform which has introduced some new ways of contacting us.
Web chat You can now contact us online by clicking on the web chat icon either on our website or through our new Online Customer Hub.
Call back (Queue buster) We now have a new call back service during busy periods. If you call and there is a queue, your place in the queue will be saved and you will automatically be called back once an advisor becomes available.
Winter provision
Depending on whether you’re a New Charter Homes, Aksa Homes or Gedling Homes tenant, there will be slightly different provisions in place for the cold weather. New Charter Homes and Aksa Homes have an agreed programme for the clearance of snow and leaves during the winter months. This is to the main entrances and fire exits of our high-rise flats and independent living schemes. We do not clear any other sites during these times, although in extreme circumstances, emergency
procedures will be enforced. Gedling Homes does not have a programme for leaf clearances but there is provision in place to clear snow and ice around communal paths outside the independent living schemes. Gritting will take place if we have a pre-warning of severe cold weather. If increase in temperature is forecast on the same day as any snowfall, gritting will be left to allow for any thaw to take place. Please contact us if you need any clarification.
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January 2018
Neighbourhood
MAST We’re pleased to update you on the progress of your neighbourhood plans, the star-rated MASTARPLANs designed to help improve issues that matter to you like crime, unemployment, health and the general look of your neighbourhood. The plans have been developed based on feedback from tenants and the views of staff and partners who work in your area. Each of our 37 neighbourhoods across Tameside, Bury, Oldham and Manchester has their own plan. The three-year plans measure performance and satisfaction against a set of key themes and a star-rating system of 3, 4 and 5 stars (5 being the best rating) so you can easily see how certain areas in your neighbourhood are performing. There’s still work to do to make further improvements and we’ve recently been contacting residents
January 2018 July 2017
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RPLANS
for their views on how things are feeling for them locally, to see what we need to do to continue to improve the neighbourhoods.
there are a high number of UC claimants, which helps us understand why arrears may be increasing in some areas. Universal Credit rolls out fully in Tameside Teams across Aksa Homes and New on 7th March 2018, which we Charter Homes have been working expect will have an impact on hard to deliver improvements in arrears levels. See pages 4 - 5 for your neighbourhoods in line with more information. the interventions we have designed based on resident feedback and • Helping new tenants performance data. A new rent commitment has been successfully implemented A small taste of the work we have at the point of signing up for a been doing is below! tenancy. The form is designed to make the initial payment set-up Household Money process for new tenants as simple Management as possible, helping to avoid rent arrears accruing at the start of We are constantly looking for new the tenancy. ways to offer support and advice to help Direct Debit is offered as the preferred payment method • Welfare reform to new tenants but this hassle free Universal Credit (UC) has an payment method is impact on a large number of available to all. If you would residents. We are working hard like to discuss your rent account with tenants to try to help them and the best ways to make deal with the issue.The neighbour- payments please call us on hood plans help to identify where 0161 331 2000.
You can also find some handy tips and advice to help manage your household budget and make money go that little bit further by visiting our website. Neighbourhood experience and community insight • Get Active – in partnership with Active Tameside Residents of New Charter and their children will soon be able to benefit from two new projects focused on improving lives of both young and older people within our communities.These 12-week projects will be moving round our neighbourhoods over the coming months, so keep your eyes peeled for more information about getting involved. • Pick it up! We never complete community consultation projects without dog fouling being brought up as having a negative effect on a neighbourhood. Teams have been out spraying the offending piles of muck in an attempt to highlight the problem and shame
the mucky pups leaving their animals’ mess behind. Spread the word, this is NOT OK!!!
get involved in helping us to improve the plans for your neighbourhood.
• Work it! A number of new work clubs have been created to complement those already operating across our neighbourhoods. As well as these, a number of new low cost exercise classes have begun in Stalybridge, Dukinfield, Oldham and Bury! More information about these clubs and classes is available from our Community Development team.
Whether you can give a lot of your time or just a small amount, we’d love to hear from you. Get involved.
Why not help us to make your MASTARPLANS even better? Your feedback is really important and there’s a number of ways you can
If you’re a New Charter Homes tenant you can view your plan here. Aksa Homes tenants can see their plans here. If you’re reading this in print, all the plans can be found on the New Charter Homes and Aksa Homes websites under the ‘Neighbourhoods and Communities’ section. Find your Neighbourhood MASTARPLAN.
visit: www.newcharter.co.uk www.aksahomes.co.uk
Gedling MASTARPLANS Coming soon!
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January July 20172018
Keeping your home safe Electrical safety Electricity is part of our lives. We use it from the moment we wake up and through the day but we can sometimes forget how powerful and dangerous it can be. Here are some do’s and don’ts to help keep you safe.
MAX
MIN
Don’t
Do
Overload sockets
Check your cables and leads to make sure they are not damaged
Use the top of your microwave for extra storage
Check your light fittings are not visibly damaged
Trail cables under carpets or rugs
Switch off electrical items when you are not using them
Take mains powered electrical items into the bathroom
Take great care with DIY
Store combustible materials around your fusebox or electricity meter
We follow the guidance of the Electrical Safety Council to ensure that the electrical wiring to your home is safe.At the start of each tenancy and every five years, we’ll carry out an electrical test at your home to ensure that it is safe. We will write to you to ask you to contact us to make an appointment for the tests. Please contact us as soon as you receive this letter as we will need access to your home.
Please note: • Electricity must be available at the time of your appointment • The work includes visual inspection, testing and carrying out any necessary minor repairs • It will take between 1 to 2 hours depending on size of the property and any required repair works • Please try to ensure access is available to your meter/consumer unit, plug sockets and switches
to enable the quickest and least intrusive operational test. Contact details From time to time we may need to contact you by phone or email. To ensure that you receive updates about electrical testing, gas servicing and other important information, please contact us to let us know if you have changed phone numbers or email addresses recently.
Home contents insurance Crisis insurance • Covers you up to a maximum claims limit of £3000 • Costs just 50p per week (added on to your rent account) • Standard cover (Fire, theft and flood) Our home contents insurance offers: • Will not cover accidental damage • No excess • No excess • Continuous cover • Continuous cover • Easy payments • Easy payments • Standard cover (fire, theft and flood) • Optional cover against accidental To apply, visit www.newcharter damage homes.co.uk/pay-your-rent/ Did you know that New Charter Homes, Gedling Homes and Aksa Homes provide excellent home contents insurance through Aviva to all our tenants and leaseholders?*
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home-contents-insurance where you can download the relevant forms, which you can then return to us. If you have any queries, please contact 0161 331 2221. *You must have a clear rent account to be eligible
Older People’s Day 1st October was National Older People’s Day, a celebration aimed at challenging negative attitudes and outdated stereotypes by focusing achievements and contributions older people make to our society. The Community Development team held events throughout the week both at New Charter and Gedling Homes.At New Charter’s independent living schemes conversations with residents centred around the 1950s and ‘60s, reminiscing about ‘how things used to be.’ At the Gedling Homes independent living scheme Nabarro Court, residents were
treated to an armchair exercise session and a performance from The Gedling Homes singers before trying their hands at jewellery making, art and crafts, planting workshops and garden visits. The session was accompanied by the Healthy Housing service who gave advice to residents about saving on utility bills. These events not only celebrated the contributions that older people make, but also helped tackle the problem of social isolation for some residents. We had some great feedback and will be following up on some of the suggestions from residents around social activities in our schemes across the Group.
Efficiency East Midlands 2017 donations Gedling Homes recently donated £4,000 towards two local charities following savings in the delivery of services to the housing sector through their membership of Efficiency East Midlands. The charities are the CORE Centre in Calverton and the Sharewear clothing scheme based in Arnold. CORE runs activities for all ages and will use the donation to support their twice weekly Job Club which did have Big Lottery support but this has now finished. Sharewear is now based at the Beacon in Arnold where we run our Thursday Work Club. This organisation is run by volunteers and they have provided free good quality clothing to three thousand people referred by local agencies so far this year.The donation will fund a year’s corporate sponsorship, covering things such as their ongoing outreach sessions, schools programme, vehicle maintenance and volunteers’ expenses.
January 2018 11 People Great
Lights! Camera! Action! for our Motiv8 programme.
On a beautiful winter day back in November, our Motiv8 team spent an exciting day filming at Manchester Cathedral for Motiv8’s media campaign with Key 103. Thanks to our clients, Sean,Tracey, Lee, Eric and Maria for sharing their stories. Listen out for them on Key 103 during January and see just how with Motiv8’s support their lives have started to get back on track at the new website www.motiv8mcr.org Motiv8 is a Greater Manchester programme that supports people aged 25 and over that are
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experiencing multiple issues to improve their lives. It provides personalised support to help people overcome barriers and to move towards training, job search and employment opportunities. It has been set up thanks to ÂŁ9.7m of funding from the Big Lottery Fund and European Social Fund (2014-2020) as part of the Building Better Opportunities programme. Over its first year Motiv8 has already received more than 1,800 referrals from people who could benefit from the programme.
New Charter Group is leading the project, with support from other Manchester Athena housing providers at Stockport Homes, ForViva,Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, Bolton at Home and a number of specialist partners such as LGBT Foundation, Shelter and HomeStart. To find out more about Motiv8 and the eligibility criteria for the programme, please visit their website www.motiv8mcr.org or call 0161 331 2048 or email info@manchesterbbo.co.uk. You can also follow them on Twitter @Motiv8GM.
SUSSED
Start Up Support and Social E nterprise Development In Tameside
Have you ever considered starting your own business but need some help? We can help you SUSS IT! Start Up Support and Social Enterprise Development in Tameside (SUSSED IT) is a local partnership between New Charter Homes, Inspire Consult (Dukinfield) Limited and Tameside College. Based in Tameside Centre for Enterprise and aimed at helping people who are looking to set up their own businesses, the partnership provides one-to-one support and advice from the initial business idea right through to marketing and funding. The team at SUSSED IT is available for flexible appointments at New Charter Group, with networking session attended by expert guest speakers. SUSSED IT has been established for the past year, supporting local people to set up and run their own businesses, and has helped them grow from strength to strength through continued support. One such business is Court Enforcement Solutions Ltd, who was shortlisted at last year’s Pride of Tameside Business Awards after being encouraged by the team at SUSSED IT to enter. If you are thinking this year is your year for you and your business but just need help to get on the right track, get in touch with the SUSSED IT team who are more than happy to help.
Telephone: 07718 783248 Email: john.mcglynn@newcharter.co.uk to book an appointment or make an enquiry.
Work clubs
Ministerial visit to the North West In November, Former Housing Minister Alok Sharma MP visited the North West to hold a workshop to hear directly from social housing tenants. The aim of the event was to help Mr Sharma build a clear picture of the immediate issues facing social housing tenants and to identify any common concerns that could inform a national campaign going forward.
A local work club is a great opportunity for you to improve your employment prospects. Call in to improve your IT skills and job seeking activities helping you to secure paid employment.
Dukinfield Work Club Wednesdays 2pm-4pm New Charter Home & Community Hub 1 Wellington Parade, Dukinfield, SK16 4LE
It’s a supportive place to meet other job seekers and friendly staff, with free internet access and support using My Work Search– the UK’s leading job search website.
Hosted by Community Gateway Housing at Preston North End Football Club, the event was attended by tenant representatives from New Charter, along with Minaz Aslam from the Community Development team.
We can help you: • Gain work experience placements locally with qualifications • Complete application forms and create a good CV • Prepare and practice for interviews • Gain free training and qualifications supporting personal development • Access to health and wellbeing advice and support • Gain useful careers advice and signposting • Gain debt and money advice and support signposting
Micklehurst Work Club (NEW!) Thursdays 2pm-4pm Micklehurst Home & Community Hub 32 Mansfield Road, Mossley, OL5 9EH
Discussions on the day centred around issues such as Universal Credit, tenant-landlord engagement and concerns over new developments taking priority over existing homes. Suggestions and ideas were discussed that will hopefully shape a national approach for the future.
New Charter Homes
Ashton Work Club Mondays 9:30-12pm Fridays 1:30pm – 3:30pm Tameside Adult and Community Education (TACE) Stamford Chambers, 68 Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7RX
Universal Jobmatch and My Work search facilities
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Aksa Homes
Aksa Homes Work Club Mondays 12pm-2pm European Institute of Islamic Studies Centre,Werneth House, 79 Manchester Road, Oldham, OL8 4LN Wednesdays 12pm -2pm OBA Millennium Cultural Centre Featherstall Road, North Oldham, OL9 6QB
Gedling Homes
Netherfield Work Club Mondays 2pm-4pm St. George’s Centre, Netherfield, Nottingham, NG4 2NN Arnold Work Club Thursdays 2pm – 4pm The Beacon, Birchfield Road, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 8BY
CV writing
Advice about back-to-work benefits
Bury community group says no to loan sharks The Community Development team carried out a loan shark awareness project with the residents of Bury which helped to promote examples of good lending and bad lending among BME tenants of all ages. Attendees got involved in creating three “vision boards” to illustrate what the most likely reasons would be for borrowing from a loan shark, what would be the possible consequences of borrowing and what measures could be taken to avoid the need of borrowing.
Participants learned that anyone can become a victim of a loan shark and that although these criminals usually appear friendly at first, their behaviour soon changes once monies are owed. Victims are often left in the dark as to how much they owe or the interest they’re being charged on the loan as paperwork is rarely given. They also learned about budgeting and prioritising. The purpose was to highlight the dangers of getting involved with a loan shark, general lending or even a “kamittee” – a kind of informal,
kitty-based lending agreement often used by groups of Pakistani women and not without its own problems - in the hope that the residents can avoid getting into trouble. To report a loan shark call the IMLT on 0300 555 2222 or email reportaloanshark@stoploasharks. gov.uk
10 Weekly FREE or low-cost exercise sessions! DAY
TIME
COST
TYPE
VENUE
Mon
10.00 - 11.00am
Free
Chair-based exercise
Beatrix House, Gorse Hall Road, Dukinfield, SK16 5JU
Mon
1.00 - 2.00pm
£1.00
Fitness session with a taste of Zumba
Audenshaw Home and Community Hub, 38 Rowcon Close, Audenshaw, M34 5AS
Fri
9.30 - 10.30am
Free
Ladies only exercise
European Islamic Centre, 79 Manchester Rd, Oldham, OL8 4LN
Mon
2.00 - 3.00pm
Free
Chair-based exercise
Forrest Road Community Centre, 13 Forrest Road, Denton, M34 7RL
Tues
1.30 - 3.00pm
Free
Chair-based exercise
William Ford House, Mottram, Shore Street, Mottram in Longdendale, SK16 6LE
Tues
5.00 - 5.45pm
£1.00
Zumba
Millbrook Primary School, Bank Road, Stalybridge, SK15 3JX
Wed
12.00 - 1.00pm
£1.00
Keep fit class
Central Home and Community Hub, 1 Wellington Parade, Dukinfield, SK16 4LE
Wed
1.30 - 2.30pm
£2.50
Gentle keep fit session
Windsor House communal lounge, Ashwood Avenue, Denton, M34 2HB
Wed
6.00 - 6.45pm
£1.00
Zumba
Broadoak & Smallshaw Community Centre, Broadoak Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 8RS
Thurs
10.00 - 12.00noon
Free
Walking group
Leaves from Audenshaw Home and Community Hub, 38 Rowcon Close, Audenshaw, M34 5AS
We recommend wearing loose, comfortable clothes, supportive footwear (ideally pumps or trainers) and bringing a bottle of water. Correct as of January 2018. Sessions & prices are subject to change, please contact us to confirm details. Other low-cost classes are available with Be Well Tameside. New Charter Community Development team Call: 0161 3312000 Text: 07860035426 Email: CDTeam@newcharter.co.uk Like us on Facebook / New Charter Community Development Team
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January 2018
Oldham Coliseum Theatre partnership extended The partnership between Oldham Coliseum Theatre and New Charter has received funding allowing it to be extended for a further three years.This is fantastic news at it allows us to expand on the various projects we’ve already implemented and continue to improve health, wellbeing, learning and community cohesion without our communities. Tenants at our Somerset House supported living scheme for adults with learning disabilities continue in
their journey to becoming stars of the stage and are once again putting on their own performance, whilst passing on their skills to a new cohort at St.Anne’s House. A new intake of young “NEETs” (not in education, employment or training) are well into this year’s Teaching Theatre course, which began in September, and they have been learning the “behind the scenes” skills such as lighting, costume, running the box office and stage management.
The Women’s Group is as popular as ever, with women from across the local community getting together regularly to share stories and take part in activities such as cooking, dance, art and exercise. If you would like more information about any of the activities being run by New Charter in partnership with Oldham Coliseum, you can contact communitydevelopment@ newcharter.co.uk to request a copy.
Annual gas safety check improvements By law we are required to undertake a gas safety check and service to your boiler and gas appliances each year.
action, where necessary, can be completed before the current Landlord Gas Safety Record becomes out-of-date.
You may also be aware that in March 2017 we made some slight changes to the way these checks are carried out.We moved from a 12 month to a 10 month cycle, in order to give us more time to contact customers who refuse to give us access. Therefore legal
When your safety check is due you will receive a phone call, if we have your correct number, we will agree an appointment with you followed by a letter informing you of the appointment date. If we do not speak to you we will still issue you an appointment and inform you by
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letter. Where possible, we will also let you know by text nearer to and on the day of our engineer attending. If the appointment does become inconvenient, simply contact us to re-arrange. Please call 0161 331 2000 and choose Option 3 for Gas Service (Don’t forget to contact us if you get a new telephone number or email address)
New homes in development Our new development schemes across the Nottingham and Greater Manchester areas are now well underway, with some either completed or nearing completion. We are on site with around 380 new homes across the group with more in the pipeline to provide some much needed affordable housing across our boroughs. The following is a brief summary of the schemes we are working on:
Developments for New Charter Homes Johnsonbrook Road, Hyde, Greater Manchester Work started on this site in March 2017 to provide 24 homes for affordable rent. We have partnered with Seddon to deliver this scheme and hoping completion will be summer 2018. Pickford Lane, Dukinfield, Greater Manchester This site was also started in March
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2017 and will provide 12 homes for affordable rent and is due to be completed in winter 2017. Hazel Hurst Estate, Ashton – Under – Lyne, Greater Manchester This scheme is made up of 3 sites providing 11 homes in total. This scheme is being built by New Charter Building Company and will be finished in February 2018. Spring Gardens, Hyde, Greater Manchester We are making excellent progress on this site and will provide 30 homes for affordable rent.We are hoping this site will be finished by the end of January. Summers Quay, Stalybridge, Greater Manchester Our first bespoke market rent scheme in Armentieres Square, Stalybridge will be ready for occupation from summer 2018. The development of 67 apartments, consisting of 45 2 bedroom and 22 1 bedroom apartments is being built
by Rowlinson construction. It has secure parking for 53 vehicles and secure cycle storage is also available within the scheme. King Edward’s Court, Gee Cross, Hyde This development of 12 houses and 15 apartments is our first scheme for market sale. Built in partnership with Bardsleys, these homes have attracted a lot of interest with 2 plots being sold already. The homes are due to be completed in May 2018.
Marie Close, Hyde
Bestwood Lodge Drive
The Seasons,West Bridgeford
This site of 5 1 bedroom bungalows for affordable rent will soon be complete, ready for tenants to move into.
This scheme provides a mix of property types from 1 bed flats to 4 bed houses across 8 former garage sites in the area.Tanbry Constructions are now in the final throws of the build works on a number of sites with completion due between early January and the end of March next year.
We are purchasing the first of 26 new 1,2 and 3 bedroom homes from Bellway Homes at their site at Greythorn Drive in West Bridgford. Sixteen of these properties will be sold on a shared ownership basis. If you are interested and would like further details of these properties please contact Haart Estate Agents on 0115 981 6551 or visit www. haart.co.uk Southwell Road, Farnsfield
Developments for Aksa Homes Warth Road, Bury, Greater Manchester This is our first site in the Bury area and will provide 65 homes in total, with a mixture of affordable rent and shared ownership.Work has commenced on site already and is expected to be completed in spring 2018.
Developments in Gedling, Nottingham The first units developed by Gedling Homes will be ready to let in early January. In total 66 new homes are due to complete in Nottinghamshire in the next few months with more in the pipeline.
York Mews (formally Ernehale Court) This redundant sheltered scheme has now be replaced with 18 much needed homes for affordable rent. These twelve 1 bed flats and six 2 bed houses are due to complete end of February. Hawksley Court (formally Byron Street)
Eight 2 and 3 bedroom houses for affordable rent are due to complete next summer. These homes will be the first built for Gedling Homes by Bellway Homes in the Newark and Sherwood area.
Progress has been made by Geda Construction on this block of 21 1 and 2 bedroom flats for affordable rent. We are anticipating these properties will be ready in March 2018, which is several months earlier than originally anticipated.
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January 2018
Oldham Yaadain Café - Aksa Homes opens its new memory café. Aksa Homes’ Community Development team has teamed up with Making Space (Health and Social Care Services) to open up a dementia café at the European Islamic Centre in Oldham called the Oldham Yaadain Café,‘yaadain’ being the Urdu word for ‘memory’. The café has been set up to help people in the area living with dementia. Open every Wednesday from 10am until 12pm, the dementia café will provide acalm, relaxing environment for residents to sit with their carers, loved ones and others from their community and enjoy tea and light refreshments. There are also quizzes, reminiscence activities and exercise sessions to
take part in, which help with memory and physical health whilst tackling the symptoms of isolation and loneliness. As a Group, New Charter runs a number of memory cafés and our research has shown that they are extremely beneficial not only to people with dementia, but their carers and loved ones as well, as they provide an opportunity to learn more about dementia and receive any support they might need.
Address: European Islamic Centre 79 Manchester Road, Oldham, OL8 4LN.
aksa homes Part of the New Char ter Group
If you feel you or your loved ones could benefit, please feel free to come along to one of the sessions.
Residents Celebration – Community Contribution Awards In December we held our annual Residents’ Celebration event, where we recognised that fantastic contribution that our tenants make to their neighbourhoods and communities.The awards were given for a variety of reasons, be it helping to keep neighbourhoods clean and tidy, helping to keep their fellow tenants fit and healthy, volunteer work and improving social cohesion. Here is a list of the individuals and tenant groups that won awards. • Irene Raddings, Chris Lyness and Mavis Morris – for a variety of community work in Mossley • Katy Flanagan, Cathy Singleton -Kelly, Ken Shaw – Luncheon
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club at Millbrook • Maureen Higgins, Jayne Barnes – InBloom project at Hunters Court • Saeeda Kosoir - volunteering at our work clubs • Debbie Evans & Justine Hughes – contribution towards young peoples activities in Broadoak • Theresa Halligan & Doreen Wheatley – Kenyon house lunch club and social activities • Roxanne Gray, Michael Loughman, Barbara Welden, David Smith, Anita Barton, Chris Ballingher – assistance given to a neighbour in need • Doreen & Brian Blackley – volunteering to hold armchair
aerobic sessions at our ILS • Iris King and Stella Watson – contribution to social activities at Kendal house • Perfect plants social enterprise • Jill Kupczak – nominated by her neighbours to get people involved • Second Generation furnishings • Audenshaw walking group • Muddy Buddies • Tenants 4 Tenants • Newton craft group and Cook and eat sessions • Derek & Terrie Smith • Dukinfield Pantry • Audenshaw community association • Big Local Board
Threshold Housing First – from strength to strength In the last issue of the tenants’ newsletter we told you about Threshold’s Housing First project and how it was leading the way in reducing homelessness, specifically amongst vulnerable women in Greater Manchester. Since then an independent evaluation with the University of York has confirmed what we suspected:The project is an outstanding success, with almost unprecedented results.Tenancy sustainability is at 0%, rent arrears are at 0% and for every pound spent on the project, the public purse saves £2.51 in court costs, medical bills, police call outs and a host of other costs involved with
being homeless. The success is due to the consistent and persistent support offered by the Housing First team to its 3women, and the fact that for the first time in their lives they feel they have a voice. One woman said: “There’s not one thing that I’ve asked for help with and they’ve not helped me, there is nothing that they’ve said no to or I can’t do that.They are brilliant”. The success of the pilot has led to Threshold winning a second contract to deliver Housing First services to victims of Domestic Violence in Greater Manchester.
Threshold Community Coordinator wins Gold Communicate Award David McCallion is a Threshold Community Connector at Positive Steps in Oldham and the first person to be awarded Gold by the Communicate project for his outstanding work helping adults with their language and communication skills. He trained to deliver the Communicate programme in November 2016 and since then has helped a number of Threshold’s clients, with extremely positive results. Take Paul for instance, who had suffered a nervous breakdown and depression having lost his job of 20
years when new company owners found out that he had low literacy skills. He was referred to the service by the reverend at his local congressional Church at Greenacres, where David had promoted the programme. Paul’s goal was to read a passage from the bible at Church, so David worked closely with him to improve Paul’s language, literacy and communication skills. 10 weeks later he was able to stand up in front of the congregation and read a passage from Acts – Day of Pentecost, as well as a poem called ‘When You Can Read’ by Bobby Katz and a piece which he had written
himself about his journey. David said:“I am extremely honoured to receive this award on behalf of Threshold and have enjoyed delivering the Communicate programme. By taking the time to listen to the student, and removing all fear, embarrassment and nerves, the experience is great for bother student and practitioner.”
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January 2018
A journey from Great Lives to the
Royal Exchange Theatre stage
Threshold’s Great Lives project has helped Yandass Ndlovu live her dream as a performer
One of Threshold’s customers Yandass Ndlovu made her professional debut as an actor in November in the play Jubilee at The Royal Exchange Theatre. Yandass completed the Skillshare programme part of Threshold’s Great Lives project back in the Summer of 2014 whilst living in temporary supported accommodation. The project was designed to help individuals like Yandass build and develop skills by following a weekly programme of activities and workshops. After completing Great Lives, Yandass took the opportunity to volunteer with the collaborative partnership between New Charter and The Royal Exchange Theatre, and performed in The Everyday Heroes celebration in Ashton-under-Lyne, which some of you may remember.You can watch the video at: www.royalexchange.co.uk/newcharterpartnership Since then we’ve supported her to successfully
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apply to join the Royal Exchange Theatre Young Company Performers and three years later she is living her dream of being a professional actor with a bright future ahead of her. Yandass said:“I’m excited that it is at Royal Exchange, a place that has taught and given me so much. Jubilee is such a boundary pushing and fun play, I am grateful to be involved.” A review of the Jubilee praised Yandass as being “Charisma personified as the body-popping, poetry-spouting Kid acting alongside Toyah Wilcox”. The Community Development team is in the early planning stages of another partnership with the Royal Exchange Theatre to discover talented people in our communities and help them realize their personal aspirations and enable people to reach their potential.
Tenant training at New Charter Homes The following training courses are available for tenants and residents of New Charter Homes throughout the year.
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Basic first aid
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Cook and eat
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Food safety
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Healthy Minds
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Paediatric first aid
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Pet first aid
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Committee skills
If you would like to learn new skills, please contact Minaz Aslam or the Community Development team on 0161 331 2000 to book your FREE place.
Home and Community Hub opening times Ashton and Hyde Hub Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 9.00am to 5.00pm Thursday 9.00am to 4.30pm Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm Denton Hub Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9.00am to 5.00pm
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January 2018
Contact us
Our Hubs www.
0161 331 2000
0161 331 2525
contact@newcharter.co.uk
info@aksahomes.co.uk
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www.aksahomes.co.uk facebook.com/aksahomes
@NewCharterGroup
@AksaHomes
Threshold
0115 905 1515
0161 331 2000
enquires@gedlinghomes.co.uk
NNE
NNE
www.
facebook.com/newcharterhomes
Gedling Homes
www.
Aksa Homes
NNE
NNE
New Charter
contact@thp.org.uk
www.
www.thp.org.uk
www.gedlinghomes.co.uk facebook.com/gedlinghomes
facebook.com/thresholdcustomers
@Gedling_Homes
@threshold76
Head Office: New Charter Group, Cavendish 249, Cavendish Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7AT.