Homingin g n i r Spis on its 34th Edition • January 2016
Homing In costs 25p a copy to print
In this issue
way! page 3
Regeneration and renewal page 4-5
What you said about us page 8-9
Get Involved! page 20
Dear Reader Building a hotel with a difference in North Wingfield!
E
very year through our Tenant Satisfaction Survey we ask you to rate the quality of the services we provide. This is our way of making sure we deliver the right services in the right way.
Thanks to everyone who took part in the 2015 survey – which gave us our best result ever. We received an overall satisfaction score of 93% – a great achievement for our staff and all the tenants we work with to make our services the best we can. We have included the main survey results on pages 8/9 including what you said were the most important issues for you.
3
Regeneration and Renewal
4-5
Footpath safety this winter
6
Find out more about Universal Credit
7
What you said about us
Once again we have been out and about working with tenants and local communities in the district. We have been involved in everything from building a hotel with a difference in North Wingfield to working with a local foodbank to deliver healthy eating and cooking workshops. See page 10 Finally, we have included the estate walkabout dates for March and April this year. This is your opportunity to discuss any issues or problems affecting your estate and neighbourhood. You can find these on pages 16/17.
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Contents Dementia Friendly
In the survey you also told us your top priorities are a good repairs and maintenance service, high quality homes and a secure neighbourhood to live in. We will be working hard over the coming year to ensure we continue to deliver on these. This issue also takes a look at the great work we do with local organisations such as schools and colleges to help people learn and develop new skills. As a major employer in North East Derbyshire we are keen to play our part in offering training and careers advice to local people – as well as helping our own staff to fulfil their potential by accessing educational and development opportunities.
8-9
This magazine is available in large Braille and audio CD on request.
We Care We want all of our customers to be able to understand the
information we provide about our services. If you have any difficulty reading or understanding this information please contact us by telephone 01246 217670. You will not be charged for the TALKBACK service. & 01430 457421 (CANTONESE) & 01430 457423 (MANDARIN)
Working with local communities 10-11 Preventing mould and condensation
12
Are you ready for a challenge?
13
Skills and training
14-15
Estate walkabouts
16-17
Useful Contacts
19
Raising money for charity
20
2 Homing in • www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
print,
& 01430 457426 (URDU)
& 01430 457424 (POLISH)
& 01430 457422 (ITALIAN)
& 0800 731 7878 (OTHER LANGUAGES)
& 01430 457425 (PUNJABI)
Getting ready for spring We recently spent the day planting 1000 spring bulbs on Hucklow Avenue in North Wingfield. Children from North Wingfield Primary School planted the daffodils, which will brighten up a patch of unused land. The school worked the sessions into their syllabus, teaching the children about how plants grow. The planting was done in partnership with our contractors Westdale Services, who worked on an external wall insulation project to more than 300 council homes.
Annette Lupton, Head Teacher at the school said: “The children were really excited and thoroughly enjoyed working on these community projects. Especially after receiving their hard hats and vests. Both sets of children came back into school armed with newfound skills and a much better knowledge and understanding of the environment around them.
Children at North Wingfield Primary School plant bulbs in North Wingfield
“Because of this we are now planning to repeat both projects around the school. A big thank you to both Rykneld Homes and Westdale for giving our children these opportunities. We are all looking forward to seeing how the bulbs look in the spring.”
Dementia friendly Rykneld Homes is playing its part in helping to make our district a dementia friendly community. We are helping staff to better understand the condition by offering special information sessions Rykneld Homes is part of the Chesterfield Dementia
Action Alliance and over the past few months we have been delivering Dementia Friends training to our staff. Being able to recognise if a tenant or resident has the condition helps us adjust our services to meet their particular needs. We will be one of the first housing organisations in the
country to deliver this training to all staff. The Dementia Friends initiative is helping to turn communities across England into dementia friendly communities. These are villages, towns and cities where more people understand the condition, there is less fear and avoidance, and people living with it are included and supported to live independently for longer. Staff at Rykneld Homes have learned about the Dementia Friend community
www.rykneldhomes.org.uk • Homing in
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d n a n o i t a r e n e g Re Making your homes warmer Hundreds more of your homes have benefited from work to make them easier to heat and keep warm. We have just completed a six month project to fit external wall insulation to 336 ‘Reema’ style properties at locations throughout the district. The majority of the homes have also received new roofs and many have undergone window replacement and have had new heating systems fitted to ensure tenants fully benefit from their newly insulated homes. In addition, our contractor Westdale has also completed insulation works to 14 owner occupied properties. The private owners have paid for the work themselves but have been
guided through the process with support from Rykneld Homes. The work has been carried out in North Wingfield, Pilsley, Dronfield, Tupton, Holmesfield and Unstone. One of the tenants benefiting from the work is Paul Thurlby who has lived in his Pilsley home since 1979. “The insulation work has been the best thing that has happened to this house since we’ve lived in it,” said Mr Thurlby. “The difference it has made is unbelievable – the house
Homes in North Wingfield have undergone external wall insulation
has never been so warm. It is not as draughty and we don’t have to keep all the doors shut. The warmth seems to spread from room to room and up the stairs – making it very comfortable. “As well as the insulation we have also had a new roof and new windows, so we are ready for what the winter might bring.”
New bungalows in Tupton The Council has worked in partnership with Rykneld Homes and Woodall Homes to develop three new Council bungalows in Tupton. The Council and Rykneld Homes at the official handover of the new bungalows in Tupton
4 Homing in • www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
The bungalows are part of the Roman Rise development and are being let through Choice Move.
renewal New build in Killamarsh and Eckington We are looking forward to completing work this spring on our two new build schemes in Killamarsh and Eckington. The final phase is underway on both sites – where a total of 99
outdated ‘Tarran’ bungalows will be replaced with a mixture of 129 bungalows and family homes. In Eckington 57 properties have been built so far with completion of the site scheduled for March 2016.
In Killamarsh 36 properties have been built with completion of the site scheduled for March 2016.
New homes in Dronfield Rykneld Homes is helping to increase housing provision in Dronfield by transforming the former Area Housing Office site into new homes. Manor Farm is to be restored to create apartments in the historic heart of Dronfield. The apartments will be offered for sale on the open market and are part of the Council’s on-going commitment to increase housing provision in the town. We are seeking an inspirational design for this unique site and are holding an open architectural design competition to find an inventive and innovative winner. Council Leader, Graham Baxter MBE, and Cllr Christine Smith, who represent Dronfield North, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to create something
special in Dronfield. “It is about transforming part of our past and creating something new and relevant to the needs of residents and the town. “We are committed to finding an exciting design for this scheme and look
forward to welcoming ideas that match our aspirations. “Our concept is for a development that improves and enhances the whole site and brings with it more housing and investment for Dronfield.”
www.rykneldhomes.org.uk • Homing in
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Footpath safety In the event of snow and ice this winter we have put together a few handy tips for keeping footpaths and walkways safe. Rykneld Homes will not be able to clear these areas so tenants and residents will need to keep an eye on the weather and take any necessary precautions. You may wish to keep a bag of sand handy for use on steps and footpaths around your homes in icy weather.
If you clear snow and ice yourself, be careful - don’t make the pathways more dangerous by causing them to refreeze. It’s easier to move fresh, loose snow rather than hard snow that has packed together from people walking on it. So if possible, start removing the snow and ice in the morning. Don’t use water to melt the snow, it may refreeze and turn to black ice. You can prevent black ice by spreading some salt on the area you have cleared.
You can use ordinary table or dishwasher salt. If you don’t have enough salt, you can also use sand or ash. When you’re shovelling snow, take care where you put it so it doesn’t block people’s paths or drains.
Finding a home We are making exciting changes to the way people can search for a home in future. Our systems are being upgraded to help make the Choice Based Lettings process a better experience for our customers. Amongst the improvements we are making this year are an online application form and improved adverts to make more information available.
Congratulations! Happy 100th birthday to North East Derbyshire resident Harry Haslam! Mr Haslam, who still lives independently, receives visits from our Independent Living Service. Warden, Will Lander, called in with a box of chocolates from Rykneld Homes to wish Mr Haslam many happy returns. 6 Homing in • www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
Pictured above Mr Haslam (right)
At the start of this year we changed how people access our properties on line. Instead of using the website www.choicemove.org.uk all property requests must now go through the Rykneld Homes website www.rykneldhomes.org.uk For existing applicants their username and password remain the same and it is the same process for placing a property request. Our team of advisors are always available to give you a helping hand should you experience any difficulties. You can email: choicemove@rykneldhomes.org.uk or contact us on 01246 217670. Did you know we now advertise some of our properties on-line through Right Move? It’s worth applicants having a look to see if there is anything suitable.
Universal Credit
I
n this issue, we’ve included some useful information to help you understand who will be affected by the new benefit and how you can prepare for it.
Universal Credit is being introduced gradually. Different people will be moved onto it at different times. You will be notified when Universal Credit will apply to you.
Universal Credit has now gone live in North East Derbyshire and may begin to affect some of our tenants who are on benefits. If you need any help or advice about your welfare benefits, budgeting or debts then we are here to help. We have a specialist Financial Inclusion Team that can offer assistance. For more information contact the team on 01246 217670.
How will Universal Credit affect my rent payments? How can you Universal Credit payments will prepare? be made directly to YOU each month. This means that instead of Housing Benefit being paid directly to us - it will be paid directly to you. You will then be responsible for paying us for your rent.
Eventually, Universal Credit will include people on benefit who are: • single • between the age of 18 and 60 • needing to make a new claim for benefits - you will be expected to claim Universal Credit • not responsible for children or provide care for another person • not paying child maintenance
Get Online - Universal Credit is designed to be claimed online.
Bank Account - You will need to have a bank account / Building Society or Post Office account. You should make enquiries now about setting one up. Prepare a budget - As Universal Credit will be paid to you in one single payment, you will need to plan and manage your budget over a monthly period.
What information will I need to supply to make a claim? • Please contact us to provide proof of rent and landlord details for your claim • National Insurance number, savings, income details and any other benefits you’re getting.
Remember once you’ve made your claim • Inform the rent team • Request a proof of rent for your Universal Credit interview
Aged over 60? • If you are over 60 then you will not be expected to make a Universal Credit claim and will continue to receive Housing Benefit.
For more information on Universal Credit visit the GOV.UK website www.gov.uk/universalcredit www.rykneldhomes.org.uk • Homing in
7
u o b a d i a s u What yo
T
hanks to everyone who filled in our latest Annual Tenant Satisfaction Survey.
We use the survey to find out what you like about our services and also to find out where you think we could be doing things better.
4
In 2015 we were very pleased to receive the highest rating so far for overall satisfaction with the services we provide – the figure was
93%, better than 2014’s
figure of 91%. Your satisfaction rating for our services has continued to improve year on year. However, we are not complacent and will be looking to make changes in those areas where satisfaction rates were lowest. Nigel Barker, Chair of the Board at Rykneld Homes, said: “Tenant feedback on our services is very important to us. We use your responses to make changes that better meet our customer needs.” In the survey you told us your priorities are: • Repairs and maintenance • Overall quality of homes • Your neighbourhood as a place to live. We use your feedback to develop our Neighbourhood Plans to tackle problem issues and work with partner agencies such as the Police to provide support through tenancy and estate management. 8 Homing in • www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
Here’s what you told us:
1 How satisfied
are you with the services provided by Rykneld Homes?
93%
We received a satisfaction rating.
We are pleased the upward trend in satisfaction levels has continued over the past four years.
2 Do you find the Contact Centre staff helpful and friendly? The performance of our Contact Centre staff remains high.
99% satisfaction
You have given them a
rating - the same as last year.
3 How satisfied are
you with the service at our Area Housing Offices? The staff in our Area Housing Offices are trained to offer advice and information about a wide range of the services that we, and our partner organisations, provide. Once again they received a high customer
97%
rating with of you saying you were satisfied with their performance.
4 How satisfied are you that we listen to your views? We regularly ask tenants about the quality of the service they received – whether it’s a repair, using our Choice Move service or regeneration work to their home.
Our satisfaction levels continue to increase with 88% of tenants saying they were satisfied that we listen to and act on their views compared with 86% last year.
88%
9 How satisfied are you
ut us... 5 How satisfied are you
with the arrears support and advice available from us? We know that some of our tenants are having to juggle budgets to ensure they pay their rent on time. When problems arise we have a team of dedicated Financial Inclusion staff who are able to offer support and advice and signpost people to where further help is available. Out of the tenants who have used our Financial Inclusion service,
94% said they were satisfied
2% from last year.
with the service they received – an increase of
that your rent provides value for money?
7 Satisfaction with our Repairs and Maintenance Service We know how much you value a good Repairs and Maintenance Service.
88% satisfaction
This year we received an
rating - a 4% increase on last year.
We pride ourselves on delivering a first class housing This year
93%
of our management customers said service – which they felt the includes carrying out rent they pay repairs and offers value for maintenance, money offering tenancy help and support, working with tenants to improve our services, helping to regenerate older housing and using our expertise to develop new homes.
Further improvements to the service will be introduced over the coming year and we will be involving tenants in discussions about how those changes are made.
8 How satisfied are
you with the overall quality of your home?
6 How satisfied are you that Rykneld Homes works and acts in a professional manner? Customer care is at the heart of our organisation. Over the past year we have offered customer care training to all our staff to equip them with the right information to help our tenants and residents.
96%
of you said we This year worked and acted in a professional manner. We are now looking at how we can increase that figure even further – we want to get it right first time, whenever we can.
This year we completed our £63m Decent Homes programme to bring more than 8,000 homes up to a modern standard. Feedback from tenants has been fantastic with many now enjoying warm, energy efficient homes, with new heating systems, kitchens and bathrooms.
94%
of tenants said This year they were satisfied with the overall quality of their home compared with 90% in 2014.
10 How satisfied are
you with your neighbourhood as a place to live? Staff in our Neighbourhood Services department work with tenants and partner organisations to make our estates safe places where people feel happy and content to live. We hold regular estate walkabouts which identify problems and look at solutions.
95%
This year of tenants said they were satisfied with their neighbourhood as a place to live – this is an increase of year.
4% from last
www.rykneldhomes.org.uk • Homing in 9
a c o l h t i w g n i Work
O
ur Community Involvement Team has been out and about working with local communities over the past few months. Here are just some of the activities they have been doing involving everything from building a bug hotel to planting bulbs.
Gardening in Clay Cross Our Community Improvers lent a helping hand when they created planters and helped spruce up the garden at our sheltered flats scheme in Clay Cross.
Holmewood Food Bank Rykneld Homes Community Involvement Team partnered up with the Living Hope food bank in Holmewood to deliver a second round of ‘Eating Healthy on a Budget’ cooking workshop. Participants who attended the food bank were given the opportunity to come and discover fun ways to make the most of their food parcels. At each workshop participants worked together to prepare and
A big thank you! We said a big thank you to members of our Tenant Involvement Groups by inviting them to a special Christmas lunch. Rykneld Homes values the knowledge and experience our tenants bring to the groups, and is looking to recruit new members this year. If you are interested in joining one of the groups – please see our advert on the back page of this Homing In. 10 Homing in • www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
make tasty healthy meals that they could take home. The recipes made included bacon and mushroom risotto, tortilla wraps, chicken and vegetable pasta and peanut butter cookies. Participants were taught different cooking and preparation techniques and shared tips and tricks with each other. As a reward for completing the course, each participant received a certificate of completion, recipe book and a set of knives to use to continue their cooking at home.
s e i t i n u m m o c al Supporting community centres to thrive We have been supporting several community groups to keep their doors open to the community. Over recent times there has been a decline in the use of community building but with an aging population these buildings are needed now more than ever. Several coffee mornings have been arranged by us, in Apperknowle and Holmgate, with support from the groups to generate interests and raise awareness with the hope that once the planned sessions come to an end, that the groups are able to sustain it themselves. As part of our support we
Kurling Tournament at St Albans Centre in Holmewood.
worked with NEDDC’s Village Games to organise North East Derbyshire's first Kurling Tournament. Groups from all over the district were invited to Holmewood’s St Albans Centre where the tournament was hosted. Over 40 people attended and the winning team was Holmewood's Harriers. We hope to repeat this tournament next year.
Hotel with a difference! Children from North Wingfield Primary School were invited to come to the North Wingfield allotments to help build a hotel with a difference.
An insect hotel creates a habitat for insects, including those that eat pests and pollinate plants and flowers. It also provides food for local birds and supports endangered species, such as solitary bees.
The children really enjoyed themselves learning about insects and how the bug hotel will keep pests away from the allotments’ tasty greens.
The mini project was in partnership with contractors Westdale Services who helped us undertake external wall insulation work to more than 300 council homes across the district this year. To say thank you to tenants and residents for their cooperation during the disruption, Rykneld Homes and Westdale developed projects to benefit the local communities. This included the bug hotel, spring bulb planting and special community fun day.
www.rykneldhomes.org.uk • Homing in 11
n io t a s n e d n o c g in t Preven and mould In this issue of Homing In we’ve included some handy hints on how to prevent condensation and mould in your home.
In colder weather the problems tend to occur more – you might notice water on your windows in a morning. Condensation can also occur in other places such as behind wardrobes and sofas if they are against walls.
Heating your home If possible, try and keep your home at an even temperature in winter – this will prevent condensation from forming. If mould appears you can take steps to get rid of it. Try not to use household bleach as this will not solve the problem and is not recommended by health and safety experts. Instead consider where the mould has formed and whether you could take more preventative steps to stop it happening. Specialist mould treatments are available from DIY stores, which is health and safety registered. These treatments are generally non-toxic, easy to apply and will prevent the mould from coming back. 12 Homing in • www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
Here are a few tips for reducing the problem: • If there is condensation wipe it up before it causes problems like mould • Ventilate your home – open your windows in the bathroom and kitchen. When most of the moisture has gone, close them. • If your windows have trickle vents – use them. • Use extractor fans – let us know if you don’t have one in your bathroom or kitchen. • Shut doors to prevent water vapour from travelling round your home. Mould likes to grow on fabrics so by preventing condensation you
will prevent damage to carpets and furniture. • If you use a tumble dryer – vent it outside • If you have fish tanks, or other water containing tanks, make sure they have properly fitting lids. To find out more about how to prevent mould and condensation you can visit our website at www.rykneldhomes.org.uk and read our special information leaflet. The leaflet is also available at our Area Housing Offices or request one by phoning 01246 217670.
I m p r o y v t e i rs n u m m o C Are you aged 11-19 and ready for a challenge? We are looking for young people to join our group of Community Improvers. You can help improve the communities you live in as well as be involved in the running of our business.
Community Improvers Mountain Bike Ride As a reward for all their hard work in the community this year, Rykneld Homes Community Improvers were rewarded with a Mountain Bike trip to Ladybower reservoir for the day. Led by Derbyshire County Council’s Adventur team the groups ride took them along the River
We want your views... We will ask for your views on issues that affect you and your community. You will be offered the chance to take part in training sessions and take a lead on community projects You can help make decisions on the allocation of funding for community projects. As long as you are aged 11-19 and live in North East
Community Improvers Mountain Bike trip to Ladybower reservoir.
Derbyshire, you can become a Community Improver. The group meets every six weeks at our head office in Wingerworth. If you do not have transport, we can arrange this. We also organise activities in school holidays and after school such as clean ups, gardening, nature projects and team building sessions such as canoeing and ten pin bowling.
To find out more please contact our Community Involvement Team on 01246 217670 or email getinvolved@rykneldhomes.org.uk you can also fill in a form on the Get Involved section of our website at www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
Derwent and up into the moorlands. The ride was challenging but fun and tested everyone's abilities.
Dementia Friends Our Community Improvers were invited to take part in the training being offered to our staff to help them become Dementia Friends. The training helps them to understand more about dementia and how to help people with the condition.
Our Community Improvers became Dementia Friends
www.rykneldhomes.org.uk • Homing in 13
r o f d n a h g A helpin Housing as a career Inspiring young people to consider a rewarding career in housing was the ambition of Rykneld Homes staff at a recent careers fair held at Tupton Hall Secondary School. More than 500 students and parents attended the event to discover the wide range of career paths open to them. The second event of its kind saw 50 employers, training providers, support services, voluntary organisations, colleges and universities involved in the Fair which was open to students from right across the school. Rykneld Homes joined companies such as Barclays, Tesco, Aldi, the NHS, and Lafarge Tarmac as well as colleges and universities from Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds and Birmingham. Careers Fair organiser Mrs Lisa Savino said: “The students had an exciting evening packed full of useful information about their future career choices.” “The feedback from students, parents and staff has all been really positive and the event was a great success. We must say a 14 Homing in • www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
very big thank you to everyone who attended for their inspiring presence.” Hazel James, Rykneld Homes Recruitment and Training Officer, said: “We attracted a large number of students to our stall and hopefully highlighted some of the great reasons young people should consider a career in housing.”
Careers Fair held at Tupton Hall School
Aspiring to learn The opportunity to learn and develop new skills has been offered to students taking part in the Chesterfield Learning Programme. The programme offers a mixture of work and college placements. Rykneld Homes is supporting two students on the programme and our staff will be there to give them skills around customer service, team work and include them in any in-house training so they can gain certificates whilst they are with us.
t n e m p o l e v e d learning and Developing new skills for staff We are keen to help our workforce to learn and develop new skills and recently secured funding through Dearne Valley College to deliver an ILM Business Skills in Construction qualification for almost 40 staff.
Pupils at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School enjoyed lessons with a difference
Lessons with a difference Pupils at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School enjoyed lessons with a difference when Rykneld Homes was invited into the classroom.
The course was offered to our trades operatives and office based staff and included training on understanding customer needs. Lucy Gebbie, Head of Corporate Services at Rykneld Homes, said: “Helping our staff to gain new qualifications not only helps them improve their skills and knowledge but also helps us deliver a better service to our customers.”
We were asked to give a talk to two Yr 2 classes (age 6-7) to support their National Curriculum topic on ‘materials’ and how we use them within construction. Our stores department put together a great variety of materials – including everything from bricks to Pupils at Highfields School worked with Rykneld Homes to make safety helmets and two Rykneld a film about sickness and absenteeism in the workplace. members of staff gave a Following a project to tackle absenteeism within school, students demonstration and answered took part in making a short film, visiting local businesses to find questions. out how this relates to the world of work and how attendance The session was a big hit with the and time keeping is so important. We were asked to take part children and Rykneld Homes is now alongside other businesses such as Sainsbury’s to highlight the looking at how we can increase our impact on businesses. work with local schools in future.
Lights, camera, action!
www.rykneldhomes.org.uk • Homing in 15
s t u o b a k l a Estate W Apperknowle Thursday 7 April at 3pm. Meeting at New Road/High Street junction.
Arkwright Wednesday 9 March at 10am. Meeting at the Arkwright Centre.
Ashover Wednesday 9 March at 10am. Meeting on the corner of Malthouse Lane.
Meeting at entrance to Appian Way bungalows. Florence Rd Area Friday 11 March at 1pm. Meeting at High Hazel Court car park. Central Area Thursday 10 March at 1pm. Meeting at Park Row car park.
11 March at 10:30am. Meeting on the corner of Gledhill Close/School Lane. Hartington/Stonelow Area Thursday 10 March at 11:30am. Meeting on the corner of Hartington Rd/Green Lane.
Dronfield Woodhouse
Coal Aston
Thursday 7 April at 10:30am. Meeting at the Communal Room, Moray Place.
Friday 8 April at 10:30am. Meeting adjacent to 1 Rawlins Court.
Duckmanton
Cutthorpe
Wednesday 9 March at 11am. Meeting at top of Robertson Ave.
Barlow
Thursday 14 April at 4pm. Meeting to the front of 2 Riggotts Way.
Eckington
Friday 11 March at 2pm. Meeting at Springfield/Valley Road junction.
Danesmoor
Brackenfield Tuesday 1 March at 10:40am. Meeting at School/Carr Lane junction.
Calow Monday 7 March at 10am. Meeting at Central Drive car park.
Clay Cross Angel Estate Monday 14 March at 2pm. Meeting outside 1 Queen Street. Clay Lane Monday 14 March at 3:30pm. 16 Homing in • www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
Penncroft Lane/Drive Area Friday 11 March at 1pm. Meeting outside Penncroft Lane flats. Bevan Road Area Friday 15 April at 1pm. Meeting at Bevan/Cemetery Road junction. Pine View/The Square Area Friday 15 April at 2pm. Meeting at end of Beech Way.
Dronfield Snapehill Thursday 10 March at 10:30am. Meeting at the bottom garage site on Marsh Ave. Fletcher Ave/Central Area Friday
Central Thursday 10 March at 10:30am. Meeting at Eckington Area Housing Office. Woodview/Pitt St Thursday 3 March at 10:30am. Meeting outside Eckington Friendship Hall, Berry Ave. Castle Hill Thursday 14 April at 10:30am. Meeting at Castle Hill/Castle Hill Close junction. Birkhill/Fanshaw Estates Wednesday 20 April at 10:30am. Meeting on road outside Birkhill School, Chestnut Ave.
Gosforth Valley Thursday 7 April at 11:30am. Meeting at the parking area adjacent to 1 Sheards Drive.
Grassmoor
Marsh Lane
Broom Drive/Southend Area Thursday 17 March at 11am. Meeting on Mill Lane (Working Men’s Club). Chapman Lane/New St Area Thursday 7 April at 11am. Meeting outside Community Centre, New Street. Shakespeare/Tennyson Way Area Thursday 14 April at 11am. Meeting at Shakespeare Street/Tennyson Way junction.
Wednesday 6 April at 2pm. Meeting at Bramley/Ridge Road junction.
Heath Thursday 10 March at 11am. Meeting at Heath Rd/Heather Ave junction.
Hepthorne Lane Thursday 21 April at 10am. Meeting at Hambleton Ave/Bright St junction.
Holmesfield Friday 11 March at 3:30pm. Meeting at Woodside Ave/Woodside View junction.
Holmewood
Mickley Wednesday 6 April at 11am. Meeting on Mickley Lane garage site car park.
Morton
Wadshelf
Maltby Ave Area Thursday 14 April at 10:30am. Meeting on Maltby Ave. Evershill Lane Area Thursday 14 April at 11am. Meeting on Evershill Lane.
North Wingfield Williamthorpe Rd/Dark Ln Monday 21 March at 10am. Meeting at parking area near Scout hut on Holbrook Ave. Whiteleas Ave/Ashford Ave Thursday 14 April at 10am. Meeting at North Wingfield Resource Centre car park. Alma Rd/Lings Cres Tuesday 15 March at 10am. Meeting at North Wingfield Resource Centre car park.
Pilsley Monday 11 April at 10am. Meeting at the Hallgate Ln/Broom Ave junction.
Holmgate
Renishaw
Wednesday 9 March at 10:30am. Meeting at the Woodthorpe Inn car park.
Wednesday 2 March at 2pm. Meeting at Hague Ln/Carrwood Rd junction.
Holymoorside
Ridgeway
Tuesday 15 March at 2pm. Meeting at Heather Way car park.
Friday 4 March at 10am. Meeting in Ridgeway Craft Centre Car Park.
Hundall
Shirland
Thursday 7 April at 3:30pm. Meeting next to the Miners Arms Public House.
Byron St Area Thursday 14 April at 10am. Meeting at Byron St/Hallfieldgate Lane junction. School Close Area Thursday 14 April at 10:30am. Meeting at School Close/Town End junction. St Leonards Place Area Thursday 14 April at 11am. Meeting at Park Lane/St Leonards Place junction.
Wednesday 9 March at 10:45am. Meeting at Causeway House.
Killamarsh Central Wednesday 2 March at 10:30am. Meeting at Killamarsh Area Housing Office. Sheepcote Estate Thursday 3 March at 10:30am. Meeting at 14 Sheepcote Road. Norwood & Rotherwood Wednesday 6 April at 10:30am. Meeting on Cross Street. Westthorpe & Manor Thursday 7 April at 10:30am. Meeting at 4 Manor Road
Littlemoor Wednesday 9 March at 11:15am. Meeting at Alton Lane.
Unstone Thursday 7 April at 2pm. Meeting at Hardhurst Road/Whittington Lane junction.
Monday 14 March at 10am. Meeting at Heath Road/Searston Avenue junction.
Kelstedge
Meeting at Davenport/Wingfield Road junction.
Stonebroom Wednesday 13 April at 10:30am. Meeting at Birkinstyle Lane/Birkinstyle Ave junction.
Temple Normanton Tuesday 19 April at 10am. Meeting on Elm Street.
Tupton North Area Tuesday 19 April at 10am. Meeting outside 119 Derby Road. Wingfield Road Area Thursday 21 April at 10am.
Wednesday 13 April at 3pm. Meeting in the parking area on School Lane.
Wessington Tuesday 1 March at 10am. Meeting at Hill Crest Ave/Back Lane junction.
Wingerworth Adlington Estate Monday 21 March at 2pm. Meeting on Halcyon Approach Allendale Estate Monday 21 March at 3pm. Meeting outside the Allendale Flats.
Woolley Moor Thursday 10 March at 10am. Meeting at Hawthorne Close.
Neighbourhood Service changes Over the next few months we will be introducing changes to the way we deliver some of our neighbourhood services to you. One of the difference you will notice is a change in job title for some of our staff. Instead of Neighbourhood Support Officers we will have Housing and Support Managers and Housing and Support Officers. They will continue to deliver estate and tenancy management support and work with people who receive an independent living service. In our next edition of Homing In we will give more information about the changes being made and how we will be working with tenants in future.
www.rykneldhomes.org.uk • Homing in 17
Working with You Two Tenants and Residents groups in our area have helped to raise a fantastic amount for charity over the past year.
Motor Neurone Disease Charity at Clay Cross
help, support and sponsorship of the concert night.”
The Danesmoor and Clay Cross Tenants and Residents Association held a charity concert night to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease. This was the final event following a number of fundraising activities held during the year by the Woodthorpe Inn Skittles Team in Clay Cross. A total of 160 people attended the concert and the night raised approximately £565 towards the total amount raised of more than £4,100. Godfrey Kerry, from the group said: “Thanks to everyone who has supported all the fund-raising over the past year and helped to raise such a fantastic amount of money. We would to thank Rykneld for their
The Killamarsh Tenants and Residents Forum raised more than £4,000 for Ashgate Hospice. The money was raised from several fund-raising events including a sponsored walk which was supported by Rykneld Homes staff.
Ashgate Hospice
Pictured above: Killamarsh Tenants and Residents Forum present a cheque to Lynn Jones from Ashgate Hospice
Pictured right: Cheque presentation to the Motor Neurone Disease Association
Working with you We are keen to work with all Tenants and Residents groups in the district and offer our help and support with organising meetings, administration or offering training for committee members.
18 Homing in • www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
We currently have groups in: n Holmgate - Meetings are held at the Community Centre, Holmgate every second Wednesday of the month from 7-9pm. n Renishaw - Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of every month at Renishaw Community Hall from 7-9pm. n Eckington - Meetings are held the first Monday in the month
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at Eckington Civic Centre from 7-9pm. Danesmoor and Clay Cross Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month at the Community of Christ Church, Danesmoor from 7-9pm. Killamarsh - Meeting are held on the second Tuesday of every month at Killamarsh Sports Centre from 2-4pm.
Useful contacts Rykneld Homes Rykneld Homes, Pioneer House, Mill Lane, Wingerworth, Chesterfield S42 6NG.
North East Derbyshire District Council District Council Offices, 2013 Mill Lane, Wingerworth, Chesterfield S42 6NG. Tel: 01246 231111 Or visit our website at: www.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk
Council Tax and Housing Benefits Tel: 01246 217600
Elections and Electoral Registration Tel: 01246 217069, 217068
Environmental Services Tel: 01246 217610 for abandoned vehicles, Burgundy Bin collection, Bulk Collections, Cleansing, Dog Wardens, Fly Tipping, Pest Control, Pollution Control (air, noise, odour), Recycling initiatives, refuse collection and street cleansing.
Food Safety and Hygiene Tel: 01246 217238, 217239
For all services please call us on 01246 217670
Home Ownership (Right to Buy and Leaseholders)
Or visit our website at: www.rykneldhomes.org.uk Or Text us at 07800 002 425
Tel: 01246 217670 Email righttobuy@ rykneldhomes.org.uk Leaseholdmanagement@ rykneldhomes.org.uk
Housing Offices For all Area Housing Offices at Eckington, Killamarsh, Clay Cross, Dronfield and North Wingfield telephone 01246 217670.
Housing Accounts/Rents Tel: 01246 217670
Repairs
Tenancy Support
For repairs contact 01246 217670. Emergency housing repairs (including drainage). Only serious emergencies accepted out of hours. Freephone 08000 121 621. Text repairs4u to 07800 002 425
Tel: 01246 217670 Text: 07971 793 892 by writing to Community Sustainment, Pioneer House, Mill Lane, Wingerworth, Chesterfield S42 6NG or via an Area Housing Office.
Adaptations Tel: 01246 217670 E-mail: adaptations.team@ rykneldhomes.org.uk
Choice Move Tel: 01246 217670 Email: choicemove@ rykneldhomes.org.uk
Community Involvement Team Tel: 01246 217295 Email: get.involved@rykneldhomes.org.uk
Warden Services Tel: 01246 217670
Homelessness Tel: 01246 231111. For emergency out of hours call Derbyshire out of hours duty team 01629 532600. During normal office hours if anyone is in need of emergency housing they should contact 01246 231111. After 5pm the emergency out of hours service kicks in and this is run by Call Derbyshire (managed by Derbyshire County Council). The emergency out of hours number is 01629 532600.
Other services Derbyshire Constabulary For non-emergencies phone 101 www.derbyshire.police.uk Chesterfield Jobcentre Plus Tel: 01246 343100 North East Derbyshire Citizens Advice Bureau Tel: 0300 456 8437
Derbyshire County Council Tel: 08456 058 058 8am - 8pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am - 4pm Saturdays. Email: contact.centre@derbyshire.gov.uk Text: 86555 Fax: 01629 585995 Minicom: 01629 585400 By writing to: Derbyshire County Council, County Hall, Matlock DE4 3AG.
www.rykneldhomes.org.uk • Homing in 19
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Want to have a say in the services we provide? Want to make your voice heard and make positive changes for tenants? Then why not come along to a special volunteering event we are holding at Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium in March?
? g n i r e e t n u l o Thinking of v .30 - 7.30pm 5 , 6 01 2 ch ar M 31 • ld ie Proact Stadium, Chesterf
Volunteering is a fantastic way to try something different. At Rykneld Homes we offer great opportunities to get involved in our work. Why not come along to our special volunteering event in
March and find out how you could help shape the services we provide. At the event you can: • Meet with some of our current tenant volunteers and find out more about their work with us • Enjoy a free buffet and refreshments
• Meet with our staff and learn about the opportunities on offer
So what are you waiting for? Come along and find out how you can make a positive difference to your estate, neighbourhood and local community.
If you are interested in attending our event please contact a member of our Community Involvement Team on 01246 217670 or email getinvolved@rykneldhomes.org.uk For more information visit the Get Involved section on our website at www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
Charity fund raising Staff at Rykneld Homes raised more than £200 by holding a special coffee morning in support of Macmillan Cancer.
The money will be used to support the appeal to build the Chesterfield Royal Macmillan Cancer Centre.
Rykneld Homes Limited is a company limited by guarantee, controlled by North East Derbyshire District Council and registered in England and Wales. Registered number is 05864912. Registered Office is: Pioneer House, Mill Lane, Wingerworth, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S42 6NG. Registered Provider number 4608. Designed by North East Derbyshire District Council 7177