Key News Winter 2015 by ongo

key news Winter 2015

Christmass gift idea & more

Winter Warmers Keep warm this winter

New year, new start Tips to kick start your career

Ongo Homes Coming soon

Ongo Homes

Join the conversation

In the headlines

Winter warmers

Money matters

Your feedback counts

Housing news

Customer engagement extra

Festive highlights

New Year, new start

A word with...

Your Neighbourhood

Real lives

19 Events 21

Reader’s review

Kids corner

Win with us

You’ll now receive Key News twice a year, but we will be sending more frequent Key Newsletters via email; sign up at www.ongo.co.uk

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Contact Centre 01724 279900 Freephone 0800 0326363 Please note that we record all calls for training and research purposes.

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Customer Centre 15-19 Cole Street, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 6QY

We are open

Monday 9.00-5.00 Thursday 10.00-5.00 Tuesday 9.00-5.00 Friday 9.00-4.30 Wednesday 9.00-5.00 Saturday 9.00-12.00

A message from Andy Orrey, Chief Executive Officer

“A

t this time of year, we are all looking forward to a Christmas break and the New Year, wondering what 2016 will bring us. The New Year is often a time when we look to change, whether it be by joining a gym or taking more time out with our families. For us here at North Lincolnshire Homes, we are thinking about a new year and a big change too. As you know, North Lincolnshire Homes is part of a wider group of companies, called Ongo. Ongo does lots of different things, with one aim, to invest in local communities, support tenants and generate money which is put back into providing homes people can afford in communities they want to live. You will have recently received a letter telling you we have decided to change the name of North Lincolnshire Homes to Ongo Homes. This is a big decision for us, and one we thought long and hard about. We think by changing the name it will help us make our housing association more modern, vibrant and appealing to our customers, and will help us continue to attract new partnerships. It will also hopefully help people make the break from still thinking we are part of the council, which we haven’t been for nearly eight years now. So 2016 is an exciting time for us, with lots of new challenges along the way. I hope that you too have a great new year ahead of you. In the meantime, from everyone here, we wish you a peaceful and happy Christmas.”

A message from Janine Garner, Community Voice Chair

“T

his edition of Key News is packed full of useful information, from the changeover to Ongo Homes, to keeping warm in Winter, and even a section on how to Janine kick start your New Year. There’s a section on making your own Christmas gifts and recipes; perfect for the kids to get involved too. Our big news is that Community Voice has been opened to ordinary members and all tenants, and it’s been great to have more feedback and ideas from you; as it’s these ideas that really help to shape our services and publications such as Key News. If you’re interested in getting involved, you can give the Customer Engagement Team a call on 01724 279900. Don’t forget, Community Voice meets on a monthly basis to represent all tenants and to tell North Lincolnshire Homes what we would like to see in our communities. We all have one thing in common – we all care passionately about the places we live. From everyone at Community Voice, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.” ®

In this issue

Ongo Homes The new name for North Lincolnshire Homes

From January, the name of North Lincolnshire Homes is changing to Ongo Homes. Some of the things we have been able to achieve as Ongo include: Crosby Employment

s Ongo, we were able to merge with Crosby Employment so we can provide more jobs and training for tenants. Since joining us in 2014, Crosby Employment helps to support 250 people back into work each year, runs various training sessions, and has established schemes to help lone parents, ex-offenders and Black, Minority and Ethnic communities to gain employment, receive training and expand their opportunities.

Ashbridge Roofing

As Ongo, we were able to buy a local roofing company. This has meant that we have been able to carry out roofing repairs more quickly, and has reduced what we are spending on repairing the roofs of our tenants’ homes by 10% per repair.

Community Investment

As Ongo, we have been able to invest over £500,000 a year into local community schemes which are designed to help people into employment, support local entrepreneurism and help people to live healthier lives.

Apprenticeships

As Ongo, we have been able to recruit 34 apprenticeships, giving young people a head start in their future.

Volunteering

As Ongo, we have been able to set up projects which give people volunteering experience to prepare them for work. Our Choose to Re-use and Handy Van service has so far supported 35 people in voluntary placements; with five of these going on to permanent work.

Partnerships

As Ongo, we have been able to build new partnerships with Lindsey Lodge Hospice and Scunthorpe Hospital which has enabled us to gain new contracts.

Provide more services

As Ongo, we have been able to provide more services including locksmiths, Handy Van and gutter cleaning services.

Andy, our Chief Executive Officer says...

“Ongo Homes is the word on everybody’s lips at the moment. Ongo is already a successful group and our ambition is to grow it further so we can do even more in your communities. People know the name and are getting to know more about what Ongo does. We get more and more companies coming to us, wanting to see what we do and how they might work with us, which is great news, because the more successful Ongo is, the more our local communities will reap the rewards. I give you my personal guarantee that the name change will not alter what we do as your landlord; the company is run by the same people, you’ll speak to the same staff when you call and see the same faces doing your repairs.”

Andy

Join the conversation

We love to hear from you – get in touch with your stories Tenant, Dave Robinson has shared with us some great pictures of Westcliff. Turn to page 17 to find out more about the exciting new plans to regenerate the area.

Editor Emily Meridian House, Normanby Road, Scunthorpe, DN15 8QZ

@ongouk

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Neighbourhood Pride

I would just like to say a very BIG thank you to four great guys who came to Wold Court today to help with the big dig as part of the Neighbourhood Pride events. The caretakers, which included Brian, Phil & Andrew, were superb and all of us thank you. - Keith Riley

Get Onlin

e Week

As part of our drive to help people to get online, we visited five of our sheltered schemes to introduce people to the benefits of getting online, using iPads. Here’s what they had to say: “It’s been lovely and very enjoyable. I’d love to go and buy an iPad tomorrow.” Terry Marriss “I’ve enjoyed the afternoon and I’m pleased I came down. I’d love to have another go.” Madge Bartlett

Send us your pics and we will publish the best.

Gardening Award

Well done to Howsham & Redbourne who were joint winners of the best kept village competition in the area. Williamson Close also got a mention in the village newsletter as always being neat & tidy. As tenants, we always take pride in the area that we live. - Mr & Mrs Cusse

What’s trending on Ongo social channels

Thank you Pete

Tributes go to Pete Woodcock, a wellknown community figure & former Westcliff tenant, who did so much for his local community. Pete recently passed away following a battle with cancer. Award Board

Our Customer Contact Centre has been voted Contact Centre of the Year (under 50 seats) in the Midlands Contact Centre Forum (MCCF) Awards 2015.

Neighbourhood Pride

Sponsored swim

Our congratulations goes to Derrick Cartwright, who completed 32 lengths and raised £5,130 for Scunthorpe Gateway and Scunthorpe Lions.

Dine & Dance

Get Online Week

Children in Need

For the fourth year, we have been recognised by the RSPCA for our approach to responsible pet ownership.

IN THE HEADLINES

Family fun in Barton

News in brief

Ongo staff took part in the Macmillan Coffee Morning; helping to raise £219.36 for the charity. Staff were involved in the baking of cake and dressing down for the day. Cake sales were also held at two of our Sheltered & Retirement Schemes; Lincoln Court and Day Close.

ver the past few months, many families have been involved in some of the activities taking place at the Viking Resource Centre in Barton. From a Holiday Kitchen; a summer programme which saw 10 families learning about more healthy food alternatives, to a Teatime Club, a weekly session offering nourishing food and a chance to catch-up with friends. The initiatives are run by our staff and are specifically aimed at families to promote healthier lifestyles and to help them overcome social isolation. During the Holiday Kitchen programme, families helped to prepare, cook and eat from a healthy menu, visited the local Tesco to learn about food production, and explored the local environment during a nature picnic.

“The programme worked closely with local service providers and thanks must be given to Humberside Fire and Rescue and North Lincolnshire Council’s Active Ageing Team.” The Teatime Club takes place every Thursday at the centre from 4:30pm6pm. These are just the first in a series of activities expected at the centre, and our Caretakers have been working hard to give it a makeover in preparation. Different areas, including a vegetable patch, will be available soon. Any tenants from the Caistor Road area who would like to be involved in any of the activities should pop into the centre.

Fran Rhodes, Estate Co-ordinator said: “The Holiday Kitchen programme is the first of a series of activities for the community which will be run from the Viking Resource Centre, and I’m really pleased at the success we’ve had.

#OlderPeoplesDay

n 1 October, people around the country came together to help celebrate Older People’s Day; a day to raise awareness about the contributions and achievements that older people make in our society. Our Tenancy Support Team took this a step further, and in addition to hosting a fun-filled event at one of our sheltered & retirement schemes, an event especially for staff was held at Ongo HQ. Staff wore special props to help them to understand how difficult it can be for some older people to complete everyday things that we would take for granted, such as making a cup of tea.

Ongo Bear took part in his biggest challenge yet; the Great North Run. He completed the 13.1 miles in three hours and 20 minutes; an admirable time for the seven foot furry mascot, and helped to raise over £200 for local charity Lindsey Lodge Hospice. Mental Capacity guidance has been produced for all Ongo staff. The guidance gives advice on understanding when an individual may not possess the ability to make a decision and explains the procedures we will take. If you require more information about mental capacity, call 01724 279900. In aid of Children in Need, children from the Caistor Road Estate in Barton became superheroes for the afternoon; taking part in activities and helping to raise money for the worthy cause.

Helen Wright, Tenancy Support Manager said: “We have many residential schemes across the region and events such as these help our staff to understand how difficult everyday tasks can sometimes be for older people. “Having an increased awareness of such difficulties will allow us to identify areas where we can provide more help & support, and staff members are always keen to get involved.” You can view a special video created on the day by visiting our Ongo YouTube channel; youtube.com/ongouk Pictured right: staff take part in the Older Peoples Day event.

Winter Warmers

inter is here, and amidst the rosy cheeks, runny noses and icy ears, there’s something really special about coming home, taking off your shoes, and getting curled up on the sofa with a thick blanket. During the cold season, as well as stocking up on the inevitable cold and flu tablets, it’s really important to prepare your home too. Our experts explain the best ways to do this...

Communal areas Our Caretaking Manager, Gary Lewis, explains:

Be prepared Our Repairs Operations Manager, Mick Roberts explains: We believe that the best way to prevent frozen or burst pipes is to be prepared. You can do this by leaving your heating on the lowest setting. Have someone regularly check for problems if you’re going away, and find your stop tap, turn it off, and drain the system. If you find any leaks, have them repaired by giving us a call on 01724 279900.

It’s really important to keep communal areas tidy and free from any obstructions, which is particularly important in Winter when our shoes can be slippery from the wet weather. The Caretaking Team will be delivering some more Neighbourhood Pride events to areas near you during December and the New Year to explain more about what we do and how you can help to keep your communities safe. Keep your eyes peeled for more.

Eat well With loads of tasty treats on offer around the festive season, it’s really easy to over-indulge. Try to eat a balanced diet; that doesn’t mean you can’t have any treats, but think about moderating your portions. Eating well is proven to be linked to feeling good.

Top Tips We’ve got some top tips for looking after you, too.

Get involved Don’t stand on the sidelines, get involved. Whether that’s at work, or in your community, there are often loads of things going on. Give our Customer Engagement Team a call on: 01724 279900 to see what’s happening in your area.

Take exercise A simple walk or cycle can help boost your mood as well as being good for you. Instead of taking the car, ask yourself, is it somewhere you can walk instead?

Money matters Armed with the right information, managing your money and balancing the books can be made loads simpler.

Credit Union Christmas saving

ext Christmas seems a long way off but by planning ahead we can all avoid the financial headache that the festive season can bring. Putting a little money aside each week or month in a safe savings account is a great idea that many people have found works well. Northern Lincolnshire Credit Union (NLCU), our local not-for-profit credit union, has a fantastic offer for a limited period. Anyone opening one of their Christmas Saver accounts for the first time will earn a bonus, matching their first deposit up to £10. What’s more, if they recommend a friend who also opens one, they’ll earn another £5 bonus. Saving with NLCU is completely safe as they are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. To find out more, pop into the Credit Union branch at 162 High Street, Scunthorpe, or visit their website www.hullandeycu.co.uk

Pay for it online

orth Lincolnshire Council is Chat to us encouraging people to get online if you need and use the range of online forms some online for Council Tax and Housing help. Benefits. Accessing information has never been simpler, and you can access the service at: www.northlincs.gov.uk/council-tax-benefits-and-housing/

Ask us about our Money Advice sessions.

Benefit cap

he Government announced in its summer budget that there would be significant changes in the way that Welfare Benefits are currently provided. One of the biggest changes is an increase in the Benefit Cap. This means that more of our tenants won’t be entitled to receive Housing Benefit. There is currently a ruling in place that says if you have children and you receive more than £26,000 per year in benefits, your Housing Benefit will be capped, meaning that you will have to pay your own rent. In our area, very few tenants are affected right now. There is a similar ruling for single people without children which is capped at £18,200 per year. From April 2016, there is going to be a major change in how much you can receive before your Housing Benefit is reduced. The new rate will be £20,000 per year for those with children. The rate for single people hasn’t been announced yet. We know that a lot more of our tenants will have their own rent to pay after the new rate is introduced, and we are working with the Department of Work and Pensions and North Lincolnshire Council to try and determine exactly who will be effected. We will be contacting you individually if we think you are likely to experience a change in the way you have to pay your rent. In the meantime, if you have any concerns about the Cap, or any other issues surrounding your rent, the Income Collection Team is available to provide advice and support. Contact us on 01724 279900.

Thanks for your feedback Your feedback helps us to improve our services.

e measure our performance to make sure that we’re giving you the best possible service, and to highlight areas we might need to improve.

Sometimes, there might be reason to complain, but we try to make sure that every complaint is handled quickly and effectively, and we’ll try to keep you informed along the way too. We’re pleased to say that our latest complaints performance scores have improved.

A new Complaints Challenge Group has been formed. Call us on 01724 279900 for more info.

We asked you... Overall, how satisfied were you with the final outcome of your complaint? 2012/13 - 44.7% said very or fairly 2013/14 - 48.7% said very or fairly 2014/15 - 57.9% said very or fairly

We have improved

Overall, how satisfied were you with the way we handled your complaint? 2012/13 - 52.3% said very or fairly 2013/14 - 51.3% said very or fairly 2014/15 - 61.2% said very or fairly

We have improved

How satisfied were you with the speed your complaint was handled? 2012/13 - 50.6% said very or fairly 2013/14 - 48.7% said very or fairly 2014/15 - 71.1% said very or fairly

We have improved

How satisfied were you with the support you got while your complaint was being dealt with? 2012/13 - 43.8% said very or fairly 2013/14 - 43.5% said very or fairly 2014/15 - 54.5% said very or fairly

We have improved

How satisfied were you that you were kept informed while your complaint was being dealt with? 2012/13 - 44.9% said very or fairly 2013/14 - 42.9% said very or fairly 2014/15 - 65.3% said very or fairly

We have improved

If you’d like to contact us, you can call us on: 01724 279900. To see our full complaints policy, or send us your feedback, visit www.ongo.co.uk 9

Housing news Home Ownership latest

f you are a leaseholder, over the next few months our research team will be contacting you to find out more about you. This is so we can make sure we are delivering our service in the best way possible and communicating with you in the way that you would prefer. We are hoping that this survey will really improve the quality of information we have about our customers. It is really important that we have up to date contact details for all our customers so if you change your contact number, correspondence address, email or anything else please let us know by calling 01724 279900 or emailing homeownership@ongo.co.uk.

Your Leasehold Service charges

ou will by now have received your latest service charge account statement. It is important that you keep on top of your service charge payments and any major works payments. If you are paying by Direct Debit and you think you may be paying too little or too much towards your service charge account balance, please get in touch and we can talk through your account and make sure your payments are correct. If you have a credit balance, you can contact the Home Ownership Team to arrange a refund by calling 01724 279900.

Need to talk finance?

on-payment of service charges is a breach of your lease agreement and could lead to legal action being taken to recover the amount due. It is important that you contact us as soon as possible if you are worried about affording your service charges. Our dedicated Financial Inclusion Team is available to help you make the right financial decisions and assess as to whether you are eligible for any financial support. Give them a call on 01724 279900.

Always ask for I.D. and if necessary an appointment card from company representatives.

Tips from Sgt. James Main

s the darker nights are now here, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really important to keep an eye on your elderly neighbours and relatives. Winter months can be long and lonely in some cases, and it can only take minutes to check on your neighbours and give them a welcoming chat. It can also be a period of time when some elderly people fall victim to bogus callers. You could speak to your neighbours and suggest that you are the contact point for visitors wishing to speak to them. Packs are available from North Lincolnshire Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Safer Neighbourhoods unit or your local Community Policing Team, and a plastic sign is made available to the elderly person to put up at their window to say to call at the address of their nominated neighbour; who then will check the credentials of the visitor and ensure they are who they say they are. This can be done by checking the identity or phoning the respective utility company and checking they have someone in the area. Any official who is genuine will always be happy to do this. As itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s December, please remember to keep presents out of sight if you are not at home, and a light left on.

Customer engagement extra Spooky goings on

ur Neighbourhood Pride events have been a huge success; but they took a frightening turn for Halloween. Taking place at the Viking Resource Centre, Barton, and the South Killingholme Community Centre on St. Deny’s Close, families took part in loads of spooky activities, from pumpkin carving and a find the fly-tipping monster game. The events have been organised by us, the Customer Engagement Team, our Caretakers, Housing Officers and Crosby Employment volunteers; with the aim of bringing the community together to have fun and to learn about the importance of keeping our neighbourhoods clean & tidy. Children were split into different Halloween-themed teams and each took turns to navigate their way around a dark obstacle course; helping to pick-up litter and dispose of it in the correct bins, and finding the fly-tipping culprit.

Celebration

ur annual tenant awards night will take place on 3rd December; where we will be presenting awards to nominees across lots of categories including Group of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. Keep your eyes peeled for details of the winners.

Resident Associations update Here’s what some of the groups have been up to: HALMA (Lodgemoor) The group has extended its area of benefit and following consultation has changed its name. Crowle The group has been working on a garden project in their area involving the Young Offender’s Team. Wold Court The Big Lunch event helped to get everyone together. The group has been successful in securing funding, which will be used to help pay for some games equipment. New groups Interest at an initial meeting with tenants of Ancholme Gardens in Brigg went well, and a further meeting will be arranged to look at the possibility of forming a group. Call us on 01724 279900 to join.

The Resident Involvement Team is now known as the Customer Engagement Team. 11

Festive Highlights C

hristmas gifts for friends and family don’t have to be expensive. Follow our guide to making your own Christmas gifts for others, or even for yourself.

Make a Christmas Tree brooch You will need; • Scrap of green felt • Coloured cotton thread • Safety pin

What you need

Step 2. Step 1. Step 1. Cut two triangles of fabric 5cm on each side

Step 2. Take one of the triangles with right side facing & sew a zigzag with the red cotton (or colour of your choice)

• Sewing needle • Button

Step 3. Step 3. Now take the other triangle with the right side facing & sew the safety pin onto the triangle. Make sure that you sew the non opening side of the pin to the triangle

Step 4. Step 4. Now sew the two triangles together with wrong sides facing (the side with the safety pin and the zigzag of stitches on the outside) & sew up all three sides

Step 5. Step 5. Now sew the button on the top of the triangle

Your Chris tmas tree brooc h is now comp lete 12

hristmas wouldn’t be Christmas without great food. Here’s a recipe that everyone will enjoy: ad ree shor tbre Christmas T You’ll need: sugar ng 100g caster tra for dusti x e + r u o fl 330g plain e or margarin 250g butter ing together us b ru d n a : l d o w Meth the bo a dough redients into g in 3 ll nd roll into a a r r u e th e g 1. Po to ticks lightly ers until it s roll out onto d your fing n a o tw to e dough in 2. Break th aller urface s, getting sm e p a h s r ta s floured s ut out 5 cutters or c 3. Use star ts of ou need 2 se e (y m ti h g h u c o a d e f o nd ball ith the seco w is th o D . 4 pes) size star sha e m a s e th r y star and cook fo t out one tin y u a c tr y ll g a in in k a F 5. s on a b move rger biscuit la e th e en cooked, re c h la w , s e 6. P re g e 0d inutes at 15 12 - 15 m ing tray ut to cool s on the bak it u c is b and put o r e ll ma s, when remaining s r 8 – 10 min 7. Place the fo p m te e m at the sa and cook ol first move and co ize, largest s cooked, re y b p u k c cooled, sta 8. When all enjoy! and then

Send us your selfies Tweet #OngoXmas

#OngoXmas

#OngoXma

#OngoXmas 13

New year, new start

hen January rolls around you make a promise to lose weight, save money or spend more time with family and friends. But what about your home? Whether the New Year brings about moving house, a clear-out or a clean-up, our team of professionals can help.

Moving home?

he team can help you with moving your furniture locally, from a single item of furniture right up to a small house removal. One happy customer said: Everyone dreads moving, but my furniture was handled with great care and the men really listened to what I wanted. It was good to know that the money I paid will be put back into local communities as part of the Ongo promise, and that’s what makes this removal service different to any other. It was great value for money and I’d definitely use it again. Get in touch with the team for a quote by calling: 01724 279900 or visit: www.ongo.co.uk/removals

Having a clear-out? The Choose to Re-use shop on Enderby Road, Scunthorpe, sells preloved furniture, such as sofas, cabinets and dressing tables, and even mirrors and ornaments. They’ll sell on your items at an affordable price, and can collect items free of charge from your home. Please bear in mind that they’re not able to sell electrical items at the moment. If you’ve got something to donate, fill in our online donation form at www. ongo.co.uk, pop in to the shop or give the team a call on: 01724 279900.

Having a clean-up? Cleaning out your gutters is an essential part of looking after your home. As a tenant, we’ll clean your gutters as part of our agreement with you. But did you know? Our Handy Van service also offers a gutter cleaning service to non-tenants too. Tell your friends, family and neighbours to give the team a call on: 01724 279900 for a quote or visit: www.ongo. co.uk/gutter-cleaning

New year, new start Perhaps the New Year brings a new job? Here’s a list of current vacancies from Crosby Employment:

• Call Centre Advisors – Hull

• Welders and Fabricators – Scunthorpe

• Construction Workers with CSCS card - Scunthorpe

• Crèche Workers – Scunthorpe

• Personal Assistants – Scunthorpe

• Community Translators – Scunthorpe

• Experienced Administrators – various locations

• Qualified Social Workers – various locations

You can call the team on 01724 844848 if you think you’re the right person for any of these jobs.

“Support from Crosby was key”

arl West was long-term unemployed and had been actively seeking work for seven years, so when he saw an advert to volunteer with our Grounds Maintenance Team at Enderby Road, he quickly took up the offer. Before starting the work, Karl received Health & Safety training, organised by Crosby Employment. He then received full training for the role and proved to be a valuable team member.

Crosby website

ave you seen the new Crosby Employment website yet? It’s worth checking out for all the latest jobs, as well as training courses, volunteering opportunities and all the other support the team can offer you. The team will, of course, still be on hand to offer support and advice in person and over the phone – but the aim of the website is to offer more flexibility in your job searching and applications. You can go online and apply for jobs at a time that suits you. ongo.co.uk/crosbyemployment

Having completed his placement, Karl returned back to Crosby Employment to meet up with an Employment Coach, where he was helped to update his CV, adding his recent training and relevant experience. The team also helped Karl to apply for jobs, but he chose to extend his voluntary placement with the Grounds Maintenance Team while he continued to be supported to apply for work. Karl says: My placement boosted my self-esteem significantly, and I’ve since been offered a full-time job with a local firm.

There are also new features on the website:

• Apply online

• CV builder

• Sign up to job alert emails

• Send us your CV

• Register for training courses

• Hints & tips when applying for jobs

a word with...

eil Webster, Head of Regeneration, talks about the next big development plans for Ongo, his energy saving tips, and his idols. You’ve worked in regeneration at Ongo for a number of years; what’s been your proudest achievement? It’s got to be the delivery of the five year £170 million home improvement program. If you could look into the future, what would you say is next on the list for regeneration at Ongo? We must strive to keep our homes and buildings up to the high standard they are now and continue to develop more homes. What are the top items to consider when planning for a new development? We need to develop where there are suitable sites and demand for homes and consider how our developments will fit into, and complement, the existing community.

Up close and personal What’s your favourite way to unwind? Travel, walking, cricket & fishing; although catching a fish is a rare event for me! Who would you say is your idol? That’s an easy one; my wife Susan. Favourite artist? Over my adult life I have seen many great singers and bands and continue to do so, but I suppose if I had to choose one it would be Bowie. Are you a do-er or a thinker? Definitely a do-er; most of my thinking comes after the doing.

Having been recently awarded a grant to install energy efficient heating systems in some of our homes, what would you say are your top energy saving tips? I have always been a supporter of energy efficiency improvements and have tried to do as much as I can to attract grants and improve the energy efficiency of our homes by using innovation. The best way of

saving money on fuel bills is to look at changing your fuel supplier regularly for the best rates, and we should all do this on a regular basis. I do it every year and we try to encourage and support all our residents in doing it. What’s your favourite thing about working for Ongo? At Ongo, we get things done and I love that all the staff are empowered to make a difference to people’s lives. It’s a fantastic feeling knowing that you’re fully supported in everything you do. Where do you think your passion for the job came from? My passion is perhaps driven by my own competitive nature. I want to make a difference and get things done successfully. I don’t like failing in anything I set out to do.

Your neighbourhood

Westcliff, Scunthorpe

ogether with North Lincolnshire Council, we’re making real steps towards the regeneration of Westcliff, Scunthorpe.

Works on the Precinct area will start subject to planning approval – which is based on the images pictured. The designs have been created following consultation with you, our tenants, residents, Ongo staff, the Westcliff Regeneration Board, North Lincolnshire Council officers, and other key stakeholders. A planning application for 20 new homes, which will be located off the Plymouth Road area, has also been submitted and is due to be determined soon.

Solar panels

e’re working with a company called Empower Community to install solar panels to as many of our homes as possible. They will help to improve the energy efficiency of your home and help you to save money on your energy bills. There are certain conditions that your home must meet in order to qualify though. Visit www.ongo.co.uk for more information.

Marsden Drive, Scunthorpe

he first six homes in our new development on Marsden Drive have all now been allocated. The six new properties were available to let from August. The final eight homes are now available for letting. There are 14 homes altogether, consisting of 13 two-bedroom and 1 three-bedroom house in total.

We’ve started work at Ermine Grove, in Broughton, building new homes in the area. Because of this investment our appointed contractor, T G Sowerby Developments Ltd, has provided more jobs for local people including an apprentice plasterer, a back-to-work ground worker, and have a young college student working on-site to gain experience too.

Real lives

Have you ever met somebody so inspirational that they leave a lasting impression on you for a long time? eet Walter Law. He’s a tenant of ours and was previously the Managing Director of a fruit trade business. Now, at 84 years old, he’s learning how to ‘do’ digital; connecting with his three granddaughters using Skype, one of which lives in Texas.

Originally from Oakham, Walter now lives in Epworth at one of our Albion Grove properties with his wife Una. His two sons live close by and one of them is helping him with his digital quest; alongside our Ongo Digital Champions. Remembering his childhood, which occurred during one of the most devastating conflicts; World War 2, Walter said: “I had to move to three schools, since the ironworks around them were bombed. I was together with all my friends though, and we didn’t really know about the fighting, everybody did their best to keep it away from us.” Walter went on to attend an Agricultural College in Leicestershire, and then followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather in the fruit trade. He added; “In those days you just accepted it was the job you got, there was never any question of not following the family line.” Walter’s job as Managing Director for the business saw him travel regularly, often to Holland and France to source the items he was going to buy and sell. Walter says: He admits that having the technology to email and search for the items on the internet would “I’m really enjoying learning how have made things a lot easier. to do something new. My advice to anyone in the same position as me His interest in learning all things digital stems is to take the plunge. You might from wanting to keep in touch with his have some obstacles, but granddaughters; Emily, Hannah & Katie, you realise what your aim and learning about his family history. “I have a was and you go lot of information written down, but I’m learning to back to it.” use the internet to search for more” he added. “If I could have given a piece of advice to my childhood self, it would have been to pursue every opportunity. Our Ongo Digital Champions hold free sessions on a weekly basis; designed for beginners. Mondays: Age UK (Scunthorpe), 10:00-12:00 Tuesdays: Alvingham Road Wellbeing Hub (Scunthorpe), 13:30-15:30 Wednesdays: Market Hill & Ashby Link, 10:00-12:00 (Market Hill) & 13:00-15:00 (Ashby) Thursdays: Community Wellbeing Hub (Brigg), 10:00-12:00 Give us a call for more information.

Events

Dine & Dance 2015

ur annual Dine & Dance event made a return to Heslam Park Rugby Club, Scunthorpe, on Monday 9 November, with its biggest turn-out yet. The event included an afternoon of singing and dancing and all 110 attendees thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The free event is aimed at over 55’s residents, with the aim of helping to tackle social isolation. This year, staff really got into the swing of things as they dressed up for the event in different fancy dress costumes. As well as music from across the years, visitors also enjoyed a raffle and a pie & peas lunch. Jean Curtis, of Lincoln Court, Scunthorpe said:

It’s a fantastic event and it’s lovely to meet some new faces who I’ve never met before.

Janice Keys, Cynthia Bywater, John Davies & John Bywater, all of Milton Road, Scunthorpe, visited the event for the second time, and said:

We really enjoy it every year, we love anything like this and it’s great to be involved.

Mr Elson, of Lodge Moor, Scunthorpe said

I love the event, I look forward to it every year.

The event helped to raise £146.00 from the raffle, which will be used towards a Christmas lunch which will be specifically for 35 elderly people who will be alone on Christmas Day.

A big well done A big well done goes to the tenants of Lincoln Court, Scunthorpe who raised £915.60 for their Macmillan Coffee morning event.

Reader’s review... Key News reader Mo Mathieson & her family review ‘Gangsta Granny’, a production based on the best-selling book by TV’s David Walliams.

Mo Math ieson & her family

A Monday night at The Baths Hall... “What a surprise to see so many people out on a Monday night – children, parents and grandparents all enjoying the well-known book by David Walliams; ‘Gangsta Granny’ being brought to life on the stage. After purchasing sweets and taking our seats, the lights went down at 7.00 pm, and the next 2 hours were filled with lots of laughter. “The story is about a boy called Ben, who every Friday night goes to stay with his Granny, who he thinks is old and boring and makes him eat the most disgusting cabbage soup, cabbage pie, cabbage cake, well anything with cabbage really and we all know what side effect that has(!). “That is until one night when he learns a secret about Granny and suddenly he can’t wait for each Friday to come around. He finds that his boring Granny is an international jewel thief and re-lives some of the adventures that she used to get up to. They embark on their own adventure to steal the crown jewels and come up with a cunning plan. The adventure didn’t turn out as planned but it did turn out to be the best night of granny’s life. “As the story went on, the bond between Ben and Granny grows stronger and he enjoys spending every minute he can with her. There is a sad ending and Ben is so glad he took the time to get to know his granny better before she becomes very unwell. There is a strong message that comes through which tells us to spend more time with our elders, and I think that’s something that we can all relate to. “The actor who plays Ben along with all the cast were fantastic as well as the props and lighting – it was a real professional set.

Think you could be our next reviewer? Get in touch with us and tell us what you’d like to review. We’ll pick an entry at random to win a pair of tickets. T’s & C’s can be found on our website.

“It was a great evening, and a big thumbs up from my two children Millie and Charlie. Millie said after the show that she loved reading the book but seeing the show was brilliant and it was very funny. “And guess where they’ll be both be going on Friday night – to their grannys!”

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