Tel: 0300 303 1190
Email: info@ss-ha.org.uk
For all the local news about your community
Web: www.shropshirehousing.org.uk
Issue 74 – Spring 2012
Spring into life! Rockspring Thursday Page 3
Olympic Torch Bearer Page 10
Knit & Natter For Charity Page 4
Contents
2 Estate Walkabouts/Complaints/Our Services to You 3 County Training/Rockspring Thursdays 4 Knit & Natter/Are You Being Served? 5 Group Pages 9 New Community Gardener/Lunches 4 All 10 Chance of a Lifetime/Energy Saving/Tenants Handbook 11 Tass Update/Competition Winners 12 Competitions
How to contact us If you require this document in audio, braille, large print, or if English is not your first language, then please contact us. Si vous avez besoin de ce document en audio, braille, gros caractères, ou si l’anglais n’est pas votre langue première veuillez nous contacter. French Jeśli wymagasz tego dokumentu w audio, Braille’a, duże wydruku, lub jeśli angielski jest nie pierwszy język prosimy kontakt. Polish Если вам требуется этот документ в аудио, Брайля, крупных печатных, или если английский является не ваш первый язык напишите нам. Russian Os oes angen y dogfen hon mewn ffurf wahannol, er enghraifft Braille, llythrennau mawr, tâp audio neu iaith wahanol, gadewch i ni wybod os gwelwch yn dda. Welsh Se ha bisogno di questo documento in audio, Braille, grande stampa, o se inglese è la prima lingua contattaci. Italian
4 3 Estate Walkabouts 2012 5 6 A new schedule for estate walkabouts has been agreed for this year. The schedule is available on our website or from customer services. The areas covered are: Ludlow, Burford, Clee Hill, Bishops Castle, Craven Arms and Church Stretton
1 3 4 5 6
Complaints
We value your input and would like to hear what we can do to improve our service to you. Community Housing Officers are based in the community and rarely return to the office. This led to delays in answering enquiries made by the tenants they met.
We re-arranged the teams and we now have Tenancy Management Officers for each of the areas covered by the Community Housing Officers, who are office based and are able to answer day-to-day enquiries much more quickly.
OUR SERVICES TO YOU Our regulator, The Tenants Services Authority, has asked all social landlords to produce local offers through six standards that cover the services we provide. Our current offers are set out in the Tenants Report 2011, available on our website. All updates on the local offers will be marked with the appropriate sticker (see below) for the standard it applies to.
2 1 1 1 2 2 1 12 2 3 3 4 1 32 3 43 4 54 6 4 5 5 3 54 5 6 6 6 6 5 6 Tenant Involvement and Empowerment standard
Neighbourhoods and Communities standard
2 | The Key Spring 2012 | Tel: 0300 303 1109
Home standard
Value for Money standard
Tenancy standard
Governance and Financial Viability standard
Rockspring Thursdays A New Year! A New You! • Are you looking for a new direction? • Want to try something different but don’t know where to start? • Unemployed and needing some free advice? Drop in at Rockspring Community Centre on a Thursday to meet the Rockspring Team. There will be refreshments, a friendly face and time to chat. The team will be at the Rockspring Community Centre every Thursday, between 9.00am and 3.00pm.
For further information contact: 01584 876799 www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | The Key Spring 2012 | 3
SURVEY
ARE YOU BEING SERVED? A county-wide survey of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people (LGB) called Are You Being Served? has been launched. The survey is being conducted by Rights and Fairness Telford (RAFT) for a number of agencies across Shropshire to gain a better understanding of the experiences of the LGB community
in this area. It also aims to look at attitudes and perceptions of the LGB community and how these affect Public Bodies and Charities in providing the best possible services to all people living and working in Shropshire.
Services, Wrekin Housing Trust, Terence Higgins Trust, West Mercia Police, Shropshire PCT, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Councils, Victim Support, the CAB, the prison service, and the Fire Service.
The survey includes funding from Shropshire Housing Group, Severnside Housing, Shropshire Council’s Landlord
To take part in the survey, go to www.staw-lgbt.co.uk
K N I T & N AT T E R G R O U P
SUPPORT LOCAL CHARITY! The Knit & Natter Group that meets every Monday at Ley Gardens have been knitting for the past 12 months. Having filled three suitcases of knitted items, they decided to hold a coffee morning.
They also run the lunch club held at Ley Gardens every Thursday. The Local Good Neighbours Scheme were very grateful for this large donation.
The group started after Mrs Lockhart, a Ley Gardens resident, was given two sacks of wool two years ago which she felt she would never use. The group was originally made up of tenants from Windsor Place, and is now 12 strong, including residents from the local area. The event was well attended by local residents and raised ÂŁ715, which was donated to the Local Good Neighbours Scheme. The Scheme has volunteers that provide local hospital transport, deliver meals on wheels, hold bereavement counselling, and widows and carers groups.
4 | The Key Spring 2012 | Tel: 0300 303 1109
It will help them to keep their very valuable service running for our community.
Get Ahead of the Game! BENEFIT CHANGES From 2013 the Government will be making major changes to housing benefit. Along with Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Disability Living Allowance these benefits will be paid to you in one lump sum, monthly in arrears. It will be called Universal Credit. The Universal Credit will include any housing benefit you are entitled to. At the moment in most cases the Council pays it directly to us. Universal credit will only be paid into a bank account.
How to make paying your rent easier • A Direct Debit will ensure your rent is paid, and make sure you don’t get behind with your rent. • If you don’t have a bank account, get ahead of the game and go in to your local bank or talk to Just Credit Union. A BASIC BANK ACCOUNT allows you to set up Direct Debits. • We will be keeping you up to date over the coming months on how the changes will affect you. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Terry Tombs on 01588 676213.
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www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Group News Spring 2012
Rent
1 2 4 3 I n c r e as e Explain 5 e6d
The Boards of Sh ropshire Housin g Group have deci • T he value of ho using in the area ded that rents w ill be increased on payment plan an 2nd April 2012 • d advice. You ca T he average earnings by a n maximum of 6. in al th so seek indepe e ar ea 1% plus £2 a w nd co ent advice and mpared with the eek. national average help with manag Government guid ing debt from yo ance allows us to Rents are used to ur local Citizens Ad cover the costs increase rents an vi ce Bureau. nually to a maxim of repairs and m aintenance of th um of inflation + 0.5% You may be enti e tled to housing properties, the m + £2 per week. Th anagement of e inflation rate is ta benefit. If you want advice on ken from last ye tenancies and lo ar’s an repayments of September figur applying for be th e e which was 5.5% nefit, contact us or ig in al costs of the build . . ings. This is the targ If yo u ar e on ho et rent formula us We cannot take ing benefit we wi set personal or finan ll by the Governm let your housing cial ent to bring all benefit office kn circumstances of ow in di vidual tenants landlords rents that your rent ha in one area into s increased. into account wh en setting rents. line. This formul a reflects: For any other qu If you are having estions you have , difficulties • The location of please contact the property and us pa . yi ng your rent or arre th e number of bedroo ars, contact us as so ms on as possible. We can help wit h a personal
1 2 3 g 4 n i c i v r e S s Ga 5and 6use) Regu lati ons 1998 Und er the Gas Safet y (insta llati on d in your home. Safety checks are carried We have to carry out an annual gas safety check to the appliances installe safety check is due, you will receive a letter out by our contractors, Total Response Ltd at no cost to you. When your tors are on hand to book an appointment that from us telling you when the operatives will be in the area. Our contrac is convenient to you.
Perf ormance Info rmati on Gas Serv icing (Apr il-Dec 2011 ) MMH A SSH A 99.8% of homes have a valid gas safety certificate.
99.6% of homes have a valid gas safety ceritificate.
95.8% of tenants allowed access for the service at the first visit.
88.1% of tenants allowed access for the service at the first visit.
Group News Spring 2012 | Tel: 0300 303 1109
Sheltered g in g n a h c is g in s u o h • In the Centre by Severnside,
completely from their rent
There are going to be accounts. Self-funders will see ciation with Drapers. asso in way the in s nge significant cha their weekly costs fall quite ire er psh old for Shro ed by th vid Nor pro is the t n I por • sup significantly. Council Landlord Services Team people living in sheltered • Continue to pay service in association with Shropshire housing in Shropshire from charges for scheme upkeep Rural, Guinness and Equity. April 1st 2012. in
These changes are: • Sheltered housing tenants will no longer receive services automatically. • Support funding will only be available to assist those who are eligible and those who need help to become independent. This means that support services to older people living in sheltered schemes will no longer be provided by their landlord. The new Sustain Consortium includes sixteen support providers from across Shropshire. They will be responsible for sheltered housing support services throughout Shropshire, and will be coordinated: • In the South by Shropshire Housing Group.
The Sustain Consortium have listened to feedback from tenants who told us that they want more flexibility in sheltered housing, so they can opt in or out of services as their needs change.
The Sustain Consortium are also developing a landlord service for sheltered tenants which will ensure that they stay Safe And Secure. Community rooms and common services will be maintained as promised when tenants first moved into sheltered housing.
and services. Included with this will be the Safe and Secure service charge. This will be eligible to be paid for by Housing Benefit.
• Opt to buy additional services to help them in their day-today lives. We will be offering a choice of these services, and will also ensure our tenants are aware of other service providers. We look forward to working with tenants to develop our sheltered housing offer even further over the coming years.
From April 2012, sheltered tenants living in our homes will: • Continue to pay their rent. • See their Supporting People service charges disappear
www.shropshirehousing.org.uk| Group | GroupNews NewsSummer Spring 2012 www.shropshirehousing.org.uk 2011
We have recently launched our new website at
www.shropshirehousing.org.uk
The new site is easier to navigate, provides more succinct information and conforms with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This means that it is readable and understandable by people regardless of language, background, social circumstances or disability – whether it is sight impairment, learning difficulties, dyslexia or mobility impairment. We would really appreciate your feedback on the website so please visit, look around and fill in the online feedback form.
Coming Soon –
Look at your rent account and report repairs online.
1 2 3 4 Ways to get involved... 5 6 The table shows the different ways to get involved and have your say. For more information please contact the
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resident involvement team.
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Sheila Standley, Resident Involvement Officer (MMHA) Tel: 01939 238851
Michael Cotton, Resident Involvement Officer (SSHA) Tel: 01588 676264
www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Group News Spring 2012
N e w co m m unity gardener to boost gro w ing pro j ect
Grow Cook Share has appointed a new gardener, Lizzie Potter, who brings extensive understanding of community development projects along with her horticultural skills. Lizzie will work with community members and pupils to help them run two community gardens, at Ludlow’s Rockspring Community Centre and the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, in Craven Arms, as well as three school gardens, in Craven Arms and Ludlow. This year, to get the growing season off to a good start, Grow Cook Share will work with gardening volunteers at Rockspring Community Garden to get the communal veg garden planted, continue to support the Craven Arms Community Gardeners to grow
vegetables in their own plots and manage the garden. They will also work to introduce a sustainable water supply and compost and manure supply to the five gardens Grow Cook Share helps with. As well as work at these sites, Lizzie and Grow Cook Share volunteers will be helping people in Craven Arms and Ludlow East who have gardens, grow their own veg. Lizzie said: “I’m delighted to be joining such an exciting project, which is wonderfully well supported by people of all ages across the community." Valerie Meehan, Grow Cook Share Co-ordinator (left) with new Community Gardener, Lizzie Potter
LUNCHES 4 ALL AT G R A N G E R O A D
Lunches 4 All is run by tenants of Grange Road but is open to anyone in the community. The lunches are held once a month in the Grange Road community centre. This year they have included some themed lunches and are hoping to raise enough money for an extension to the community centre, as well as cook some tasty dishes! To book a lunch, call Mrs C Clarke 01588 630442 or 07956 062454.
2 1 0 2 r o f s u n e M th
0 March 3mb
Roast La lsh) mble (We Plum Cru
th April 27 Mash
Bangers & sh) ick (Engli Spotted D th
May 25ie
Cottage P ux BF Gatea
th June 29eas
P Faggots & ing d d u Rice P
th July 27 Fries
ers & Beef Burg n) (America ie Apple P
1st August ie3 Fish P Trifle
8th 2 r e b m Septe lad a & Chips/S Lasagne ) n a li ta Tirimisu (I
26th r e b o t c O noff ga Pork Stro re Ice C am
th er 30 b m e v o N hips
Fish & C own Upside D Pineapple
www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | The Key Spring 2012 | 9
Chance of a lifetime for Matt! Colin Clarke from Lydbury North Matthew was contacted just before nominated his son Matthew to carry Christmas and offered a place on the the Olympic torch, in June 2010. Gloucester to Worcester stretch of Colin said ‘Matthew has a genetic the torch’s journey. He has sent his disorder that makes life measurements for Matthew challenging at times the official uniform but he never lets it get has a genetic and will receive him down, his ‘can do’ more information disorder that makes life attitude helps him rise soon. Matthew also challenging at times to every challenge. enjoys army cadets He attends school in but he never lets it get and is interested in Bishops Castle and has joining the Police him down, his ‘can do’ achieved so much, I when he leaves thought he deserved attitude helps him rise school. some recognition for to every challenge. his efforts’.
Energy-Saving Advice Day An energy-saving advice day was recently held at Craven Arms Community Centre. Help was on hand to show attendees how to save money on their heating costs, how to switch energy supplier and what to do to save energy at home. Groups attending included Shropshire Credit Union, The Police, Age UK, Stretton Climate Care and The Community Council of Shropshire.
“”
1 3 5 New TenaNts Handbook The new Shropshire Housing Group tenants handbook has now been delivered. Staff and tenants worked hard to agree a new design and wording. If you haven’t received your copy, please call customer services.
The| Key 10 The Key Spring Spring 20122012 | Tel:| 0300 Tel: 0300 303 303 11091109
COMPETITION WINNERS! The winner of last time’s winter wordsearch was Alec Evans from Clee Hill who won £30 shopping vouchers. The winner of the children’s find the robins competition was Max Weaver (pictured) who won a £30 toy voucher.
Tel: 01588 676285 email: Tass@ss-ha.org.uk www.tasscommittee.org
Co-operative funding
Tass have had funding from the co-op for £450 to help us get out into the community to people who may not be able to get to the Tass meetings. The funding was presented to Joan Grant, Chair of Tass by Philip Dunne MP, at the Tass coffee morning in December.
Brewing up success! The coffee morning was very successful and raised £225 for the air ambulance. The resource centre is open five mornings a week and is staffed by the committee. Why not call in for a chat and a cup of tea.
Joan Grant, Chair of Tass and (right) Philip Dunne MP
Car boot sale There will be a car boot sale in The Gateway offices car park on Saturday 19th May from 10am-1pm. £5 per car. For more information call Tass.
www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | The Key Spring 2012 | 11
A D U LT S C O M P E T I T I O N Shropshire Towns Wordsearch W
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Postcode WORTHEN ELLESMERE CRAVEN ARMS MARKET DRAYTON HADNALL PREES
KIDS COMPETITION SPOT THE DIFFERENCE! Spot the 10 differences between the two pictures below and write your answer for a chance to win a £30 toy voucher. Name Parent/Guardian Name Address
Postcode Telephone No Closing date for all competitions: Monday
16th April
Send all entries to:
Vicki Coleman, Communications Officer, The Gateway, The Auction Yard, Craven Arms SY7 9BW. 60634: 01/2012