Soha Housing, Hometalk Magazine

Hometalk Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

Frugal Festivities

YOUR VOTE MATTERS

Save Time Go Online!

Page 04

Page 05

Page 09

STAYING SAFE, WARM & WELL...

...whatever the winter throws at us Pages 6-8

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

How we’re doing W

e always set ourselves tough targets, because we know tenants want good services and value for money. The figures below show Soha is on track to deliver a good performance again this year.

The only indicator that appears to be way off target is arrears. We are actually currently on track to meet our target. The figure shown is misleading as a result of the dates on which we receive Direct Debit and Housing Benefit payments.

Performance Indicator

We’re focussing our help on tenants who are finding it difficult to pay their rent. We’re always fair, but also firm, providing advice and practical help for those experiencing difficulties. However, we will take action if tenants don’t do what we ask and we have unfortunately had to evict eight households so far this year.

Overall, Soha remains financially robust and continues to deliver good services. By working with our tenants we intend to continue going from strength to strength.

Richard Peacock, Chief Executive

Performance: 1 April to 30 Sept 2014

Two year target to 31 March 2015

Are we meeting target?

Overall Satisfaction Tenants satisfied with Soha’s service

90%

92%

Nearly

Your Views Tenants satisfied that Soha listens to their views and acts upon them

73%

78%

Nearly

Repairs Emergency repairs completed on time Urgent repairs completed on time Routine repairs completed on time

99.5% 99.4% 97.6%

99.0% 99.0% 99.0%

Yes Yes Nearly

Arrears Arrears for current tenants

4.3%*

1.8%

No

Letting homes Average re-let time for all homes Average re-let time for General Needs homes Average re-let time for Sheltered Homes

3.3 Weeks 2.9 Weeks 4.2 Weeks

2.8 Weeks 2.7 Weeks 3.2 Weeks

Nearly Nearly Nearly

Performance: 1 April 2013 to 30 September 2014

Two year target to 31 March 2015

Are we meeting target?

437

450

Yes

Performance Indicator

New homes New homes built or acquired

* Arrears 1.7% after all outstanding Housing Benefit paid to Soha by local authorities. Although 2 year targets were set on 1 April 2013, after great performance during the first year, Soha’s Board reviewed these targets on 1 April 2014 and decided to make some of them even more challenging. During the next 6 months, everyone at Soha will be working hard to achieve a complete set of smiley faces!

Welcome on board A big Soha welcome to Lucy Weston, our new Board member; Dreena Barnard-Higton and Charlotte Miles, both newly elected to the Tenants’ Forum; and also to Marina Kaplais and Josie Midwinter, our new co-opted Forum members.

02 www.soha.co.uk

YOU SAID, WE DID The Tenant Scrutiny Group said we should repeat our Older People’s Visiting Scheme. We visited almost 130 older people this summer and helped them with advice to make their homes safer and more comfortable, including having adaptations made and using lifeline alarms.

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

Welcome to the new-look Hometalk magazine

In this issue...

P4 Frugal Festivities

We’ve taken feedback from you, our tenants, over the past few months on how you’d like it to look and the type of stories you’d like featured, while also cutting our production and postage costs to give you better value for money. We hope you like it, and would love to hear what you think - let us know.

T

his edition includes top tips on how to stay safe, warm and well this winter (pages 6-8), a guide to having a cost-cutting Christmas (page 4), and, in advance of next year’s general election, why it pays to be registered to vote (page 5). There’s also news from two of our local councils about a new service to help you manage your bills and Benefits online (page 9). Following feedback we’ve received, we’re introducing a new, regular feature called What a difference a day makes, featuring a day in the life of staff, tenants and people who work closely with Soha. Let us know who you’d like to see in this slot for the next edition.

P5 Your vote matters

P6 Stay safe, warm and well this winter

Happy Christmas to all our tenants from everyone here at Soha Housing.

Richard Peacock, Chief Executive

Contact us

P9 Save time – go online

The Editor, Hometalk magazine, Soha Housing, Royal Scot House, 99 Station Road, Didcot OX11 7NN Call 01235 515900 or free from a landline on 0800 014 15 45 Email housing@soha.co.uk Join the conversation on Twitter @SohaHousing Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SohaHousing Sub-editor: Sue Grief of Write Away!

Designed by: Toast Design www.toastdesign.co.uk Print managed by:

Hometalk is also available in large print, audio and electronic formats. If you would like to receive a different version, or unsubscribe from receiving Hometalk altogether, please email lizroberts@soha.co.uk or call us on the telephone number above.

P10 Out and about with Soha P12 DigIt with Damien P14 What a difference a day makes P15 Diary dates

www.soha.co.uk 03

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

YOU SAID, WE DID You wanted repairs appointments to fit around the school run, so we’ve introduced new first call and last call appointment slots.

Frugal Festivities Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Yalda, Yule or Kwanzaa, December can be one of the most expensive months of the year.

H

ere in the UK, the average spend for the festive season is around £500 per household, and over 17 million people plan to pay for it using credit cards or payday loans. With the last Saturday before Christmas only weeks away, we’ve asked around the office for Soha staff’s top tips on how to slash festive costs.

DON’T FORGET YOUR EVERYDAY OUTGOINGS • Set a budget. Decide how much you’re going to spend on each person and stick to it!

• Don’t forget your everyday outgoings. Rent, utilities and other regular bills still need to be paid over the Christmas and New Year period.

• If you’ve got a large family or group of friends to buy for, why not set up a Secret Santa and draw names to determine who buys for whom? That way everyone’s guaranteed a present and the costs don’t mount up.

• Planning a big purchase? Give a beautifully wrapped IOU and hit the January sales for things like TVs or games consoles.

04 www.soha.co.uk

• Have a DIY Christmas with handmade presents and decorations.

Turn old teacups into candles, give home-made truffles in pretty boxes and decorate your tree with gingerbread cookies hung on festive ribbon. Google ‘DIY Christmas’ for hundreds of ideas.

• Save on food and drink by taking up consumer champion Martin Lewis’ Downshift Challenge. In blind taste tests, most people can’t tell the difference between supermarket’s own brand goods or brand name items. Go to moneysavingexpert.com for more of his excellent ideas.

• If you do overstretch your finances, be wary of taking out credit to pay debts off.

Payday loans and store cards can cost a lot more very quickly if you can’t repay in full or on time. Consider extending your overdraft or joining a local credit union instead. Contact the Money Advice Service online at moneyadviceservice.org.uk or call them on 0300 500 5000 if you need help.

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

YOUR VOTE

MATTERS

THE WAY WE ALL REGISTER TO VOTE IS CHAN GING

The way we all register to vote has changed across the UK.

You need to mak e sure that you’ re on the updated register, or you might not be able to vote in future.

For more informati on please go to www.gov.uk/your votematters

T

he new system is called ‘Individual Electoral Registration’ and it started in June. Previously, the ‘head of household’ was responsible for registering everyone living at an address, but now each individual is responsible for their own voter registration.

THE NEW SYSTEM MEANS THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME PEOPLE CAN NOW REGISTER ONLINE The new system means that for the first time people can now register online, which takes less than five minutes. To register, you will need to provide details including your National Insurance number and date of birth. This helps make the electoral register more secure.

Most people who are already registered have been transferred automatically to the new register, but some people will need to reregister. There are also people in the area who are not registered to vote at all and so need to register to have their say in elections. If you haven’t registered previously, you can do so under the new system at www.gov.uk/yourvotematters.

YOUR VOTE MAT TERS MAKE SURE YOU ’RE IN

DID YOU KNOW..?

The electoral register is the first place credit reference agencies check when you apply for credit, so being registered to vote can help you get that new mobile phone or loan.

You must register to vote by law, even if you don’t want to have your say at election time.

If you’re asked to register and don’t do so, your local Electoral Registration Office could fine you £80.

Being on the electoral register doesn’t mean you’re giving away your personal details. You can opt out of the open register – the version that’s available to anyone who wants to buy a copy – by contacting your local Electoral Registration Office.

www.soha.co.uk 05

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

STAYING SAFE, WARM & WELL...

06 www.soha.co.uk

...whatever the winter throws at us With this winter set to be yet another cold and wet one, here are some practical steps that you can take to help keep you warm and healthy throughout the winter months.

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

P

revent pipes from freezing by lagging them with spare towels, scarves or even a woolly hat! If your pipes do freeze up, open the cupboard under the sink (this is usually where the mains water comes in from the road) and apply gentle heat to the whole area to thaw the pipes gradually. You can do this with an electric fan heater or a hair dryer. Remember – you need to apply heat to the general area, so don’t direct the heat straight at the pipe, and don’t leave the heater or dryer unattended or close the cupboard door on them. If water pipes freeze they can burst, so make sure you know where the main stopcock is so you can turn off the water.

Call us immediately if your heating breaks down and we’ll do everything we can to help, including supplying a temporary heater. While you’re waiting for the engineer, ditch the high fashion look and wear as many layers as you can, and if you’re still cold, get under the bedclothes. Hot food and drink will help keep you warm too.

YOU SAID, WE DID We listened to tenants who moved into our new properties and, from 2015, all new properties will be carpeted.

Incorrectly installed, poorly maintained or poorly ventilated cooking and heating appliances which burn carbon-containing fuels can give off carbon monoxide – a poisonous gas which you can’t see, smell or taste but which causes approximately 30 accidental deaths each year. Low levels of carbon monoxide can cause serious harm to your health if breathed in over a long time. If you are a Soha tenant we will carry out an annual gas safety check on all the items we’ve installed and we own. We will also check the safety of any other gas appliances. If you are a Soha home owner, you must arrange your own boiler servicing.

Find a list of Gas Safe engineers in your area from gassaferegister. co.uk or call 0800 408 5500 contact Soha’s gas servicing partner, Wheldons, on 01908 21 11 27 to get a quote.

CALL US IMMEDIATELY IF YOUR HEATING BREAKS DOWN AND WE’LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP Are you eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment (WFP)? If you receive a State Pension or certain Benefits (not Housing Benefit) and were born before July 1952, you should get a WFP automatically. This is different from Cold Weather Payments which are paid for each seven-day period of very cold weather in your area.

We can help you find out if you are eligible for either of these: call our Older Persons’ Team on 01235 515900 - or 0800 0141545 which costs you nothing if you’re calling from a landline.

IN THE DARK? Keep a battery-operated radio, torch and spare batteries handy in case there’s a power cut.

Keep your mobile phone, laptop or tablet fully charged so you can use the battery power if there’s no electricity. Remember that fridge contents – even medication which is normally kept in the fridge – are usually quite safe for several hours if the power is off, as long as you keep the fridge door closed. Ring your pharmacist or doctor or check the instruction leaflet that came with your meds if you are unsure.

www.soha.co.uk 07

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

Thawed or partially thawed food in the freezer may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F/4°C or below. If you’re in any doubt, throw it away just in case.

Here’s a thought: if your home contents are insured with Soha’s economical My Home scheme, you’re also insured against loss or damage to food in the freezer.

EXPECTING A VISITOR ON THESE DARK NIGHTS? If not, open the door only on the chain - or even think twice about opening it at all. An out-of-hours caller from Soha, such as a repair man, will always carry ID and they’ll expect you to ask to see it.

Don’t forget, you can still report anti-social behaviour to Soha at night or during the holidays, but your first port of call should be the police for any aggression (use 101 to report it after the event, or 999 if it’s happening there and then), or your local Council’s Environmental Health department if you’re suffering what feels like excessive noise from neighbours. If you’re scared of a violent situation at home, use the National Domestic Abuse helpline – 0808 2000 247 – which works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

It’s free to call and, importantly, won’t show up on your phone bill.

Testing your smoke alarm regularly is basic safety first.

Even if it’s one that we installed, it’s down to you to check it’s working. Once a week, press the test button till the alarm sounds.

Once a year, change the battery (unless it’s specifically a long-life alarm – see the manufacturer’s instructions); twice a year gently vacuum the smoke alarm to remove dust from the sensors.

Most smoke alarms last only ten years: is it time to change yours?

08 www.soha.co.uk

Before the big freeze hits, get some stocks of salt to keep your pathways safe. Cat litter will do in an emergency too. If you’re on an electricity key meter, keep it topped up just in case it gets too icy to go out. Order repeat prescriptions in plenty of time, particularly if bad weather is forecast, and ask your local pharmacy if it offers a prescription pick-up and delivery service.

KEEP A STOCK OF BASIC FOOD ITEMS IN THE CUPBOARD OR FREEZER

Keep a stock of basic food items in the cupboard or freezer in case it’s too cold to go shopping. You could also do your food shopping online and get it delivered to your door. Not sure how? Get online with Soha by coming to one of our FREE computer training sessions – we even provide laptops and tablets so you don’t need to have your own.

Call Adela on 01235 515900 or 0800 0141545 free from a landline to find out when she’s next in your area.

The Fire Service says that one of the most regular hazards they deal with are decorative candles. Those lovely warm Christmassy scents, left unattended, can soon start a blaze, so be candle aware and, whilst you’re at it, switch off the fairy lights when you’re out of the house and keep paper decorations away from any heat source.

If you’re over 65, pregnant, or have a serious medical condition, speak to your GP about a free ’flu jab. With Christmas around the corner many of us are looking forward to spending time with family and friends; getting vaccinated against ’flu will reduce the risk of you getting ill during this busy time and prevent you passing illness onto others too.

Winter weather and snow can be fun – but not if you’re stuck in your car. The essential bad weather kit for drivers includes boots with some grip, a shovel and a blanket – but do make sure they’re inside the car, and not stuck in the boot! If you’re planning a long trip, take a flask with a hot drink and a bit of chocolate to help you keep warm in case you have to stay put inside your vehicle. And don’t leave home without a fully charged mobile phone and contact numbers to get help or tell people where you are. Tempting as it is to listen to the radio, keep it to a minimum so when you do finally get on your way, you won’t have a flat battery.

Find out if floods are likely to affect you by registering to receive alerts from Floodline Warnings Direct on the Environment Agency website. Check out environmentagency.gov.uk

YOU SAID, WE DID You thought the Annual Report was too expensive. We saved £4,000 on this year’s report and invested the money in community grants through the Wishing Well fund.

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

Save Time Go Online!

You can now view your council tax details, and manage bills and benefits online

YOU SAID, WE DID We’ve introduced email reminders for gas servicing appointments after feedback on the tenant satisfaction form.

R

esidents in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse are being urged to ‘save time and go online’ to manage their bills and benefits.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils’ new online service aims to make it quicker and easier for customers to find information, make council tax payments and manage their benefits.

It is secure and easy to use and means residents can access information about council tax, business rates or housing benefit and get in touch with the council 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at a time and place that suits them.

Cllr David Dodds, Cabinet Member for Finance at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “This new service is the quickest and most secure way of viewing your council tax, making payments, informing us about changes in circumstances.

It also provides a number of other useful facilities that are available at the touch of a button 24/7 such as finding out housing benefits,

information for landlords and business rate details.”

Cllr Matthew Barber, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “I would urge all council tax payers to register for the new system.

All the information you need is in one place, cutting down on the need to save emails or receive bills by post. It also costs us thousands of pounds each year to send out council tax bills, so the more who sign up to the online service the less we have to spend on printing and postage.”

Residents can already apply online for benefits and the new service is part of the councils’ ongoing efforts to provide more services online to make it quicker, easier and more convenient for people to request services, report issues and quickly find information they need.

To register to view your housing benefit and council tax reduction scheme details online please visit www.southoxon.gov.uk/ counciltax or www.whitehorse. gov.uk/counciltax

IT IS SECURE AND EASY TO USE AND MEANS RESIDENTS CAN ACCESS INFORMATION You will be able to see full details of your current benefit entitlement, as well as any previous changes.

You can view information about payments made and payment dates.

Once you have registered, if you sign up for e-billing, each time a new council tax e-bill is ready to be viewed on our website you will be sent a short email alert.

District Council

www.soha.co.uk 09

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

Out & about with Soha

With summer a dim and distant memory now, we wanted to remind you how much fun we had getting out and about and meeting so many of our tenants. Loads of you came to our barbecues, fun days and coach trips, played the treasure hunt game, learned how to play an African drum and had a great time, just look at the photos we took.

We can’t wait for next year!

19 July

Didcot Town Fayre

1 August

Thame Coach Trip to Bournemouth

5 August

Gainsborough Community Action Plan event

8 August

Woodcote Family Fun Afternoon

13 August

Cholsey Playdays

16 August

Isis Close Street Party

19 August

Great Western Drive Community Action Plan event

20 August

Coach Trip to Boscombe in partnership with NOMAD

22 August

Community Event in Freemans Park, Henley, in partnership with NOMAD

30 August

Thame Playday, in partnership with Oxfordshire Play Association

AWARD-WINNING TENANTS In September, Soha hosted a celebration evening to say a big ‘thank you’ to our involved tenants. Almost one hundred of you came along to Didcot Civic Hall to be wined, dined and entertained by the Didcot Divas.

The highlight was the announcement of our Tenants’ Awards winners for 2014.

Soha Star 2014 was Elvina Goddard, pictured with Vic Breach, chair of the Tenants’ Forum. Community Gem Dave Eggleton isn’t a Soha tenant, but does so much for the people of Gainsborough we couldn’t leave him out. Soha Community Gem went to the fantastic Paula Isaac for her tireless work on the Gainsborough Residents’ Group, and David Boulton was our Neighbour of the Year. Congratulations to all four!

If you’re interested in hearing about how you can become more involved with Soha, email ri@soha.co.uk or call Kerry Lobb on 01235 515900 or 0800 014 15 45 (free from a landline).

10

www.soha.co.uk

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

www.soha.co.uk

11

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

DigIt! with Damien

Whether you’ve got a few pots, a window box or the full ‘Downton Abbey’ look back and front, there’s always something for a gardener to do during the winter.

Damien, Soha’s mobile caretaker and award-winning garden specialist, has some tips.

LAWNS Easier said than done, especially with children around, but cut the grass and then don’t walk or play on it again this winter. This gives the grass a chance to rest.

WILDLIFE Putting out fat blocks and other food will not only help local wildlife to survive the winter but will encourage birds, frogs, hedgehogs etc. to stay in the garden. They’ll devour your garden pests next season, so it’s a good investment. Local birdlife will be very happy if you put out any fur from grooming your pet.

They’ll line their nests with it.

Hedgehogs will be hibernating by now – if you spot a pile of leaves you’re tempted to clear, go carefully as it may be someone’s bed for the next few months.

CAN WE HELP? Check out sheds, gates and so on for signs of weakness or rot. If it’s a structure which Soha owns, let us know immediately if you think there are repairs needed.

PLANTS AND SHRUBS Dead-head autumn-flowering plants and prune summer-flowering shrubs.

Keep an eye on shrubs and trees; if we have heavy snow, brush or shake the snowfall off them to prevent broken branches.

CLEAN UP Gather all the tools that you have used over the past few months and give them a good cleaning to remove all the dirt and rust. Use a mild detergent to disinfect pots and seed trays.

HERBS Get your pots of herbs which you grow outside in as close to the house as possible for added shelter.

If they’re too big to move, cover them with some gardeners’ fleece.

You can buy lengths that you just cut to shape from garden centres or DIY shops. The fleece can be re-used another year if it has a chance to air thoroughly before packing away.

STAY INSIDE! If you are, or want to be, a keen gardener, the chances are you’ve got an eye for gardening mags. I’ve had some of my best ideas from mags I’ve seen advertised on my local Facebook page or Freecycle page!

I also love Gardeners’ Question Time on BBC Radio 4 on Friday afternoons (repeated Sunday afternoons). I learn something new every week and there’s nothing better for building my confidence than when I know the answer to a question put to the gardening experts.

VEG PATCH Cover root vegetables such as parsnips and carrots with 15cm of leaves or straw and they can be harvested throughout the winter. If snow is forecast, cover with an old piece of carpet. If you like your garlic, you can get a really good yield by sowing it now, whether in beds or pots. “Solent White” is a particularly good variety which likes the frost.

12

www.soha.co.uk

COMPOST With all the leaves that fell during autumn, the colder months are perfect for giving your compost heap a boost.

Continue to add compostable waste – including food waste – to your heap, and stir it up to speed the process along. Many councils do good deals on mini or full-sized home composting kits. Have you checked out greenersoha.wordpress.com?

It’s a blog all about gardening, sewing, baking, cycling and much more. There’s a thread about compost on it right now!

LOVE YOUR GARDEN? Watch out for Soha’s 2015 gardening competition – more details next edition!

Happy gardening

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

What a difference a day makes Rebekah Kent, Extra Care Scheme Manager

I begin my day by popping into Royal Scot House to check my email and gather up all today’s paperwork before heading out in one of Soha’s branded Smart cars.

M

y first visit is to a lady we saw during our Older Persons’ Visiting week this summer. She lives alone and has been having a little trouble getting in and out of the bath recently, even with the grab rails we fitted. After talking through what she thinks would work best for her, I call social services who agree to come and assess whether a wet room would be more appropriate than her current bathroom. I also refer her to Community Voice, who will set her up with a pendant alarm so that if she were to slip and fall someone will come to help. She waves to me from the front door as I leave, already looking much happier.

I’m going to be the manager for Towse Court, Soha’s new Extra Care housing development in Goring.

We’ve had lots of people sign up to look around, and the show flat is finally available for viewing. Today I’m showing Mr and Mrs Exell around; they’re currently living in a bungalow on a steep hill, and with their

I’M GOING TO BE THE MANAGER FOR TOWSE COURT, Soha’s NEW EXTRA CARE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN GORING

mobility issues would like somewhere a little more manageable. Mr Exell is a keen gardener, and was very impressed with the raised flower beds in Towse Court’s gardens, and Mrs Exell loved the open plan kitchen, with plenty of room for her wheelchair to turn around and specially adapted benches that can be raised and lowered to the perfect height for her. They go away happy, with a big decision to make.

Leaving Goring, I’m off to East Hagbourne, to deliver an offer letter to someone who’s applied for one of the flats in Towse Court. I first met him in April, when his family wrote to us saying he was very isolated in his home as they live too far away to visit very often. He was finding cooking and cleaning hard to manage, and it was a struggle for him to get into Didcot to shop. I’ve spent time with him over the summer explaining our Extra Care housing, and he visited Windmill Place in Thame to get an idea of what Towse Court will be like.

He’s over the moon when I tell him

we’re offering him a place in Goring and is looking forward to moving in sometime in January. I really love this part of my job!

There’s an allocation panel meeting for Towse Court this afternoon; this is where Soha gets together with social services, South Oxfordshire District Council and the care team to discuss the applications we’ve received.

We go through each application in detail, discussing any care needs and whether we feel Extra Care is appropriate for the applicant, and vote on whether they’ll be offered a place. Back at my desk, I type up the offer letters and set up appointments to deliver them in person. That’s a job for tomorrow, though!

YOU SAID, WE DID The Tenant Scrutiny Group said we should repeat our Older People’s Visiting Scheme. We visited almost 130 older people this summer and helped them with advice to make their homes safer and more comfortable, including having adaptations made and using lifeline alarms.

www.soha.co.uk 13

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

Diary dates December 2015

January 2015

Tuesday 2nd

Wednesday 7th

10am-noon & 1pm-3pm Free drop-in computer training at Windmill Place, Thame

am visit Estate inspection, Cholsey Meadows

Thursday 4th pm visit Estate inspection, Medill Close, Woodcote 10am-noon Free drop-in computer training at Mary Mead, Cholsey Monday 8th am visit Estate inspection, Great Western Park, Didcot Tuesday 9th 10am-noon Housing Benefit Surgery, Thame Town Hall 10am-noon Free drop-in computer training at Batten House, Sonning Common pm visit Estate inspection, Van Diemans Road & Broadwaters Avenue, Thame (with Thames Valley Police) Wednesday 10th 19.30am-noon Housing Benefit Surgery, Royal Scot House, Didcot am visit Estate inspection, Cholsey Meadows Thursday 11th

Thursday 8th 9.30am-12pm Housing Benefit Surgery, Henley Town Hall pm visit Estate inspection, Medill Close, Woodcote Tuesday 13th 10am-12pm Housing Benefit Surgery, Thame Town Hall Wednesday 14th 10am-noon Housing Benefit Surgery, Royal Scot House, Didcot 9.30am-12pm Estate inspection, Great Western Drive, Didcot am visit Estate inspection, Great Western Drive, Didcot Thursday 15th 10am-4.30pm Negotiation Skills Training, Royal Scot House 1pm-4pm Free drop-in computer training at Barnes Close, Didcot am visit Estate inspection, Gainsborough Estate, Henley Saturday 17th

am visit Estate inspection, Great Western Drive, Didcot

11am-1pm Free dog microchipping with the Dogs Trust at Royal Scot House, Didcot

am visit Estate inspection, Gainsborough Estate, Henley

Tuesday 20th

9.30am-noon Housing Benefit Surgery, Henley Town Hall

am visit Estate inspection, Ock Bridge Place, Drayton Road & Caldecott Chase, Abingdon

10am-noon & 1pm-3pm Free drop-in computer training at Henley YMCA

am visit Estate inspection, Fleet Meadow, Didcot

Seniors’ Day, Didcot Civic Hall

Wednesday 21st

Tuesday 20th

10am-noon Free drop-in computer training at Oakdale Court, Wallingford

am visit Estate inspection, Ock Bridge Place, Drayton Road & Caldecott Chase, Abingdon

Thursday 22nd

am visit Estate inspection, Fleet Meadow, Didcot

am visit Estate inspection, Sherwood Place, Barton, Oxford

Wednesday 17th

6pm Tenants’ Forum, Royal Scot House, Didcot

10am-noon Free drop-in computer training at Oakdale Court, Wallingford

Tuesday 27th

Thursday 18th am visit Estate inspection, Sherwood Place, Barton, Oxford 6pm Tenants’ Forum, Royal Scot House, Didcot Wednesday 24th - Friday 2nd January 12 noon - 8.30am Soha office closed for Christmas

14

www.soha.co.uk

pm visit Estate inspection, Mount View, Henley pm visit Estate inspection, Luker Avenue, Henley Wednesday 28th am visit Estate inspection, Great Western Park, Didcot Thursday 29th 1pm-3pm Free drop-in computer training at Henley YMCA

Hometalk | Soha Housing’s residents’ magazine | Winter 2014

February 2015

March 2015

Wednesday 4th

Tuesday 3rd

am visit Estate inspection, Cholsey Meadows

10am-noon & 1pm-3pm Free drop-in computer training at Windmill Place, Thame

Thursday 5th pm visit Estate inspection, Medill Close, Woodcote Tuesday 10th pm visit Housing Benefit Surgery, Thame Town Hall pm visit Estate inspection, Van Diemans Road & Broadwaters Avenue, Thame (with Thames Valley Police) Wednesday 11th 9.30am – 12pm Housing Benefit Surgery, Royal Scot House, Didcot Thursday 12th 9.30am-12pm Housing Benefit Surgery, Henley Town Hall am visit Estate inspection, Great Western Drive, Didcot am visit Estate inspection, Gainsborough Estate, Henley Wednesday 18th am visit Estate inspection, Fleet Meadow, Didcot 10am-noon Free drop-in computer training at Oakdale Court, Wallingford Thursday 19th 10am-noon & 1pm-3pm Free drop-in computer training at Henley YMCA

Wednesday 4th am visit Estate inspection, Cholsey Meadows Thursday 5th pm visit Housing Benefit Surgery, Thame Town Hall Tuesday 10th pm visit Estate inspection, Van Diemans Road & Broadwaters Avenue, Thame (with Thames Valley Police) Wednesday 11th 9.30am – 12pm Housing Benefit Surgery, Royal Scot House, Didcot am visit Estate inspection, Great Western Drive, Didcot Thursday 12th 9.30am-12pm Housing Benefit Surgery, Henley Town Hall am visit Estate inspection, Gainsborough Estate, Henley Tuesday 17th am visit Estate inspection, Ock Bridge Place, Drayton Road & Caldecott Chase, Abingdon am visit Estate inspection, Swindon Wednesday 18th

Tuesday 24th

am visit Estate inspection, Fleet Meadow, Didcot

am visit Estate inspection, Mount View, Henley

Thursday 19th

pm visit Estate inspection, Luker Avenue, Henley

6pm Tenants’ Forum, Royal Scot House, Didcot

10am – 12.30pm Performance Information and Value for Money Training, Royal Scot House

Tuesday 24th

Wednesday 25th am visit Estate inspection, Great Western Park, Didcot

pm visit Estate inspection, Mount View, Henley pm visit Estate inspection, Luker Avenue, Henley Thursday 26th am visit Estate inspection, Great Western Park, Didcot am visit Estate inspection, Sherwood Place, Barton, Oxford Monday 30th New grounds maintenance contract begins

If you’re interested in attending any of the events listed here, or joining one of our estate inspections, please call us on 01235 515 900 or 0800 014 15 45 (free from a landline) for more information. Even if where you live isn’t on our calendar, you can still arrange to meet your Neighbourhood Officer to chat about any concerns in your area.

www.soha.co.uk 15

Home Contents Insurance that makes things a little easier

Made for Soha Housing Tenants

Caught between paying too much for contents insurance and trying to save a little extra? It’s easy to see why some people decide to ‘risk it’ and don’t bother at all. However, it needn’t be that way.

My Home brings you essential home contents insurance from just £1.85 a fortnight for tenants aged under 60, (for a £9,000 sum insured), and £1.24 a fortnight for tenants aged 60 and over (for a £6,000 sum insured).

And that’s just for starters • No excess to pay • No minimum home security requirements • Flexible regular pay as you go payment options including fortnightly or monthly cash, monthly direct debit or annually • Realistic minimum sums insured • Quick and easy to apply for cover using a simple application form or apply over the telephone.

• Cover for extended accidental damage, personal possessions, hearing aids, wheelchairs/mobility scooters and buildings cover for garages, huts or sheds is also available for an additional premium Terms and conditions, limits and exclusions apply.

A copy of the policy wording is available on request.

Sound good? Why not find out more by giving us a call on:

0845 337 2463 (or it may be cheaper to call 01628 586 189 from a mobile)

T E N A N T

R I S K S

Think you’ll just be covered for fire and theft?

We guarantee you more than that - we’ll help protect you against the kind of things no one could plan for.

That’s what we did for Sharon Watson and her family. While they were away visiting friends, an electrical problem in the street meant that their electricity was cut off for most of the day. They returned to a fridge-freezer full of ruined food and a soggy floor.

As they were able to prove that there had been an electricity failure, Insurers had no problem in reimbursing them for the cost of their food - and some badly damaged laminate flooring.

(This scenario is based on a claim made under this policy).

email: myhome@thistleinsurance.co.uk or visit www.thistlemyhome.co.uk

The National Housing Federation My Home Contents Insurance Scheme is a product name arranged and administered on behalf of the National Housing Federation by Thistle Tenant Risks. A trading style of Thistle Insurance Services Limited. Lloyd’s Broker. Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. A JLT Group Company. Registered Office: The St Botolph Building, 138 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7AW. Registered in England No 00338645. VAT No. 244 2321 96. The National Housing Federation is an Appointed Representative of Thistle Insurance Services Limited.