Summer 2013
Community means… team work! Terrain Gray, left, and Charley Varley, right, worked with us to create this fantastic community mural at the new homes we are building in Croxley View, Holywell. We arranged the project to brighten up the building site and give local young people a chance to learn new skills. Terrain and Charley took part in workshops led by urban art specialists Top Dog. Together they created a mural with the theme “Community means”. We have also worked with young people at Leavesden Green to create a second mural at the new Community Hub which the Trust is currently refurbishing. The new Hub will be opening in September. Amy Willcox-Smith, Communities Manager at the Trust, said:
“Building sites can look a bit messy so this project gives us the chance to brighten them up. We also thought it would be a great opportunity for young people in the area. “We had a lot of support from the local community in Croxley View. Residents from the sheltered housing scheme nearby provided hot drinks and we had passers-by giving thumbs up and cheering us on. One neighbour suggested we add the word ‘team work’ to the mural and another suggested we add ‘respect’.” Terrain, who wants to be an animator when he is older, said: “I really like art so as soon as I heard about this I said I definitely want to do it. I had a good time and I feel really proud that I did it. I don’t usually come this way but I’m going to start walking here more often as I like looking at it so much!”
Save the date: 14 September
Our big community event!
What’s inside Choose your decision makers Page 3
Guide to your neighbourhood contacts Page 4
Questions answered about service charges Page 11
How to report neighbour problems Page 12
Gateway News
Chair’s welcome Welcome to the Summer edition of Gateway News. One of the cornerstones of the Trust is that it is owned by our members. A key right is to vote for tenant board members and members of the Gateway Leadership Team so that our decision making can be shaped by you. So do please use your vote when the packs go out shortly. As a community business, supporting social enterprises which improve the lives of our residents including delivering jobs for our tenants, is important to us. On page 10 you can see the variety of businesses we have helped to establish and how they are all making a difference with their passion and imagination. The Boundary Way external insulation project is a groundbreaking partnership which has attracted government funding (page 14). This project is delivering both savings and comfort to residents whilst improving the whole look of the estate. A real “win win”. On page 13 we give you an update on our work to provide high quality new homes. These homes will be available over the coming year and are part of our ambitious target of five hundred new homes in the next five years. September 14th will be a sad day for me as my term as Chair comes to an end. However it should be a really great day out as we hold “Watford 2013”. It will be held at Leavesden Green Community Centre, extensively re-vamped by the Better Communities Fund and I hope to see many of you there. Diane Lee, Chair of the Board Watford Community Housing Trust 2
Find out how to start your own business 3-4 August 2013, Harebreaks Community Hub Ever dreamed of running your own small business but don’t know where to start? This two-day event, run by the Trust with Pop-Up Business School, covers how to start a business with no money, how to build your confidence, how to create a website for free... and more! Tickets cost just £2 – register at http:// popupwatford.eventbrite.co.uk .
Job hunting made easy! We are offering a special service, free to all tenants and leaseholders of the Trust: we have created an account for you at www.myworksearch.co.uk. This is a website that helps you create a CV, and automatically finds jobs that are suitable for you from all the recruitment websites, saving you the trouble of logging on to different sites to look for vacancies. Contact Nazma Abdul-Karim on 01923 209 114 to get your site password.
Competition: suggest a new name for this magazine! We feel the time is right for a new look and possibly a new name for Gateway News. What do you think the magazine should be called? Send your suggestions to joe.dumont@wcht.org.uk. If we choose your suggestion you will win a £25 Intu Watford voucher. We are also looking for residents to help us redesign the magazine – this could be great experience for you if you are interested in writing and publishing. Call us on 01923 209 112 to find out more.
Summer 2013
Elections coming up… don’t forget to vote! In July we will be holding elections for two tenant Board members and three members of the Gateway Leadership Team (GLT). The Board is our decision making body and has responsibility for setting the direction of the Trust. The GLT is the main representative group for our tenants and residents, and works with us to help improve our services. So whoever is elected will have a big impact on the services you receive! Make sure you use your vote wisely. You will soon receive a booklet with details of all the candidates. Simply make your choice and return your vote in the Freepost envelope provided.
Gateway programmes – your chance to join in our work Want to help improve our services? We hold discussion groups on three key issues. This is a chance to share your comments and ideas with our staff and change the way we do things. Why not come into the Trust for our next meetings?
Making Membership Meaningful Next meeting: 7pm, Wednesday 10th July. How can we make sure that your voice really makes a difference to our work, and what incentives can we offer people to get involved?
An update from the Gateway Leadership Team We have been discussing a variety of topics from service charges to community studies and everything that affects our residents. At every Board meeting members of the GLT give a verbal update about what we have been working on and we can raise any recommendations. Looking ahead, we have decided that the important issues are grounds maintenance, how our homes will be improved in the future, and value for money for tenants and the Trust. We recognise that times are tight for tenants and are very interested in working with staff on projects that support people living in our communities.
Communities Next meeting: 7pm, Wednesday 24th July. We will be looking at our policies for maintaining our homes.
Communications and Information Next meeting: 10.30am, Thursday 13th August. We’ll be discussing how to improve this newsletter, Gateway News, and also what we should include in the tenant handbook and starter pack.
To register for these meetings call us on 01923 209 183. 3
Gateway News
Your neighbourhood contacts This year we have reviewed our staffing and team structures throughout the Trust and made some changes to make sure you get the best possible service from us. From 1 July this new structure goes ‘live’. Here is a brief guide to some of the staff you will come into contact with in your neighbourhoods following the restructure. You will see many familiar faces and some new ones too! Boundary Way Neighbourhood services: Sue Armstrong Estate services: Marcin Dankiewicz Community development: Sarah Askey Callowland Neighbourhood services: Lin Lythaby Estate services: Jane Pursey Community development: Sarah Askey Central Neighbourhood services: Lin Lythaby Estate services: Jane Pursey Community development: Sarah Askey Courtlands Neighbourhood services: Paddy Proctor Estate services: Marcin Dankiewicz Community development: Jackie Tyrrell
Edward Amey Neighbourhood services: Sue Armstrong Estate services: Marcin Dankiewicz Community development: Jackie Tyrell
Community development: Sarah Askey
Foxhill Neighbourhood services: Sue Armstrong Estate services: Marcin Dankiewicz Community development: Jackie Tyrell
Meriden Neighbourhood services: Paddy Proctor Estate services: Jane Pursey Community development: Sarah Askey
Garston Neighbourhood services: Paddy Proctor Estate services: Marcin Dankiewicz Community development: Sarah Askey
Oxhey Neighbourhood services: Paddy Proctor Estate services: Jane Pursey Community development: Sarah Askey
Harebreaks Neighbourhood services: Lin Lythaby Estate services: Marcin Dankiewicz Community development: Jackie Tyrell
Radlett Road Neighbourhood services: Sue Armstrong Estate services: Jane Pursey Community development: Jackie Tyrell
Hillside Neighbourhood services: Sue Armstrong Estate services: Marcin Dankiewicz Community development: Jackie Tyrell
Rookery Neighbourhood services: Lin Lythaby Estate services: Marcin Dankiewicz
Holywell Neighbourhood services: Lin Lythaby Estate services: Jane Pursey
Leavesden Green Neighbourhood services: Sue Armstrong Estate services: Marcin Dankiewicz
Sherwoods Neighbourhood services: Paddy Proctor Estate services: Marcin Dankiewicz Community development: Jackie Tyrrell
Summer 2013
Who does what? Neighbourhood Services
Help with issues about your tenancy, such as your rights as a tenant, tenancy changes and any support you may need.
Community Development
Help you to get involved in the Trust’s work and make decisions affecting your home and neighbourhood. Amy Willcox-Smith Community Development Manager 01923 209219 amy.willcox-smith@wcht.org.uk
Sue Haines Neighbourhood Services Team Leader 01923 209131 susan.haines@wcht.org.uk
Sarah Askey Community Development Officer 01923 209240 sarah.askey@wcht.org.uk
Paddy Proctor Neighbourhood Officer, 01923 209141 paddy.proctor@wcht.org.uk
Jackie Tyrell, Community Development Officer 01923 209293 jackie.tyrell@wcht.org.uk
Sue Armstrong Neighbourhood Officer 01923 209120 sue.armstrong@wcht.org.uk
Roy Martin Community Organiser 01923 209017 roy.martin@wcht.org.uk
Lin Lythaby Neighbourhood Officer 01923 209135 linda.lythaby@wcht.org.uk
Caroline O’Leary Community Organiser 01923 209279 caroline.oleary@wcht.org.uk
Estate services
Responsible for the appearance of your estate and grounds maintenance, including grass cutting, shrub beds, caretaking, internal and external communal cleaning and renting of garages. Jane Pursey Estate Services Team Leader 01923 209122 jane.pursey@wcht.org.uk Marcin Dankiewicz Estate Services Officer 01923 209162 marcin.dankiewicz@wcht.org.uk
Tudor Neighbourhood services: Paddy Proctor Estate services: Jane Pursey Community development: Sarah Askey
Safer Communities We will have two safer communities officers to help with neighbour problems and anti-social behaviour issues on your neighbourhood. Look out for more details in our next issue. You can report anti-social behaviour at any time on 01923 209 222, at asb@wcht.org.uk or on our website at www.wcht.org.uk/report-anti-socialbehaviour. For more information on how we deal with neigbhour problems, see page 12.
Vicarage Neighbourhood services: Lin Lythaby Estate services: Marcin Dankiewicz Community development: Sarah Askey
Woodside Neighbourhood services: Sue Armstrong Estate services: Marcin Dankiewicz Community development: Jackie Tyrell 5
Gateway News
New appointments system – Neighbourhood Services To provide an improved service, we now have a new appointments service for our Neighbourhood Officers. Previously, a duty officer was available when you called into our offices – but this meant you couldn’t always speak to the person you had dealt with before, so you had to repeat information to a different member of staff. From Monday 1 July we will no longer have a duty officer, and instead we will offer you prebooked appointments. Each Neighbourhood Officer will be in the office for at least 1 day every week – different days on different weeks – and will be available to be seen by appointment. Appointments will be available for booking a week in advance. This means you will be able to see the person you want, at a time convenient to you, without having to wait until a duty officer is available.
Meet our new Community Organisers We now have two new Community Organisers, Roy Martin and Caroline O’Leary, who will be getting out and about to find out what changes can be made in your area. This is part of a national project partly funded by the government, so we are very proud to be one of the first housing associations to take part. Roy and Caroline want to find out what voluntary projects you would like to set up in your neighbourhood. They will be working in Boundary Way, Holywell, Hillside in Abbots Langley, and Woodside. Roy and Caroline recently introduced themselves to Woodside residents by serving
lunch at the pensioners’ luncheon club organised by Woodside Action Group. This takes place every first Wednesday of the month as a social opportunity for older people on the estate. For more information about the luncheon club contact Geoff O’Connell on 01923 676 446. Roy said:“This is a fantastic example of local people coming together to do something really special. We’re here to find out what else the community would like to see in the area and help to make it happen.” R oy Martin, 01923 209017, roy.martin@wcht.org.uk Caroline O’Leary, 01923 209279, caroline.oleary@wcht.org.uk
Performance snapshot – calling the Trust Last year, call waiting times to the Trust increased. But we also got much better at answering your questions from your first call, without having to call you back. Call waiting times First call resolution 6
We have recently trained our customer service staff to handle basic rent and repairs enquiries, so this can mean they spend more time on the phone. You Apr 2011-Mar 2012 21.5 seconds 63%
might have to wait a little longer for your call to be answered, but it also means we can solve your problem in one go. Apr 2012-Mar 2013 89 seconds 75%
Summer 2013
Our loveable mascot Trusty House gets out and about visiting residents throughout Watford and Three Rivers. You can now follow him on Twitter @trustyhouse1 or on Facebook @watfordcommunityhousingtrust. He also has a blog at www.watfordobserver.co.uk.
Trusty House had a great time visiting the revamped soft play area at Watford Mencap Children’s Centre off St Albans Road. The play area, which is used by children with learning disabilities, has been completely refurbished thanks to £3570 from our Better Communities Fund. It provides a safe environment for children to enjoy the ‘rough and tumble’ of active play while learning how to interact with each other, and is a key part of after-school activities at the centre. Sarah Fishwick, Manager of Children’s Services at Watford Mencap told us,“We really appreciate the Trust’s support. The children love the soft play area. It’s an all-time favourite and it’s great to have it refurbished – thank you.”
Last month Trusty visited The Brow shopping parade to see a lovely project to keep the flower beds tidy. Residents on Woodside Action Group have arranged for children from Alban Wood School to visit the area every Tuesday afternoon to water the flowers and pick up litter. The flowerbeds have been provided through our Better Communities Fund as part of a wider improvement project which will also see new seating and a community mural installed. The children are giving up their lunchbreak to look after the area, which shows just how much they care about their local environment.
Green Canteen Spring Fayre Trusty got his fingers dirty at the Green Canteen Spring Fayre. The Green Canteen is a fantastic social business, set up by Herts Mind Network with funding and support from the Trust, where you can buy locally-grown fruit and veg, volunteer, or even take a learn to garden course for just £10. The Spring Fayre had a great turnout – helped along by some beautiful sunny weather – and it had healthy takings from the day which is great news as all the income it generates goes straight back into running the business. Find out more about the Green Canteen on page 10. 7
Gateway News
Diane Lee…
thank you! In September, Diane Lee will step down from the Trust’s Board after serving six years as our Chair. She first got involved back in 2005 when Watford Borough Council proposed to transfer its homes to a new ‘community gateway’. Diane has always had a passion for volunteering and was keen to have a role in shaping the organisation. She went on to lead the Trust’s ‘Shadow Board’ until transfer, and then became our first Chair when we were established in September 2007.
Opening our new offices at Gateway House Since then she has steered the Trust through a very important time, as we have delivered the promises we made to you for our first five years, built our first new homes and established ourselves as Watford’s largest community organisation. Our rules state that six years is the longest anyone can be the Chair of the Trust, so Diane will be stepping down to enjoy her retirement. She can do so safe in the knowledge that she has done a fantastic job as our first Chair – here you can see just some of the things she has got involved with during her time on our Board.
Marking the start of our improvement programme. 8
Summer 2013
Our next Chair
Visiting a happy tenant in her new bathroom
We are looking at our options for our next Chair and want to make sure we find the very best person for the job. Therefore our Board is considering having a paid Chair for the first time. For this to happen, we would need our members to vote for a change to our rules at our annual general meeting in September. Many other housing associations around the country have paid Chairs, as an incentive to attract skilled and experienced people to the role. Other positions on our Board would continue to be voluntary and unpaid. It is also possible that our next Chair might not be a tenant of the Trust. We have previously discussed this with our members and they have agreed that our Chair should be the best person for the job, whether they are a tenant or not. If you have views on this, please provide any feedback to our Board by Monday 22nd July and be sure to vote at our AGM or contact us at tina.barnard@wcht.org.uk
Celebrating improvements to the Green Space in Croxley View
Unveiling the corner stone at our second housing development in Foxhill
Having fun at South Way natural play area
Abseiling 171 feet down Munden View – helping us to raise over £46k for the Peace Hospice
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Gateway News
Businesses for the community
“I just want them to know they’ve done a great job”
The Trust helps social enterprises (a ‘social enterprise’ is a business run to help the local community). These are some of the businesses that have been created with our help over the last 18 months.
The Community Maintenance Team
The Green Canteen
Watford Cycle Hub Watford Cycle Hub is a centre for cycling in and around Watford, set up with funding from the Trust in November 2012 by Kate Jenkins. The Hub is a community venture offering a social space for cyclists who want support or advice, and it also sells recycled and reconditioned bikes. Watford Cycle Hub is based at Holywell Community Centre off Tolpits Lane – contact them on 01923 223 994 or visit watfordyclehub.org.uk. For more on the Hub, see the back page. 10
The Green Canteen is based in Garsmouth Way, just opposite Meriden Park. It’s a place where you can buy locallygrown produce and gardening equipment at reasonable prices, or take a ‘Learn to Garden’ course for just £10. The Green Canteen is also on the lookout for volunteers. This social enterprise has been a great success since we launched it in partnership with Herts Mind Network last year so be sure to pay it a visit! For more information contact the Green Canteen on 07544 428 928.
Working with Construction Gateway, we have created a social business called the Community Maintenance Team, which is taking on apprentices to improve our homes. Six apprentices have joined the first phase of the scheme, three of them from the families of Trust tenants, and soon another six will be taken on. Trust tenant Patricia Bell of Gammons Lane has benefited from a refurbished kitchen which was fitted by the team. “It’s a brilliant idea and I have to say they’ve been marvellous,” said Mrs Bell. “They are good workers and I just want them to know they’ve done a great job.”
Jobs at Home We got together with Thrive Homes and the Housing Leadership Foundation to create a new business providing home decorations, adaptations and handyperson service in Trust and Thrive homes. We created 20 jobs for local residents (all the operatives are Trust or Thrive tenants), with the aim of providing skills and qualifications to people who are struggling to find employment. This is the first Jobs at Home business in the country but now other housing providers around the UK are looking to follow our lead!
Summer 2013
Talk to us – your views matter! Here at the Trust we always want to hear your feedback about our services, whether good or bad. Your feedback is important because it helps us to provide a better service. If we have done something wrong we can make sure it doesn’t happen again. And if you are very pleased with something we have done, we will make sure we do more of it! There are a number of ways in which you can give us feedback. You can call us on 01923 209000, send us an email at feedback@ wcht.org.uk or go to our website, www.wcht.org.uk/feedback.
Contacting a designated person If you have a complaint about the Trust we will always do our best to
put things right for you. However if we can’t resolve things to your satisfaction you can now ask for a ‘designated person’ to look into your complaint, following a recent change in the law. This designated person could be a local councillor, the local MP, or it could even be a group of tenants – known as a ‘tenant panel’. The designated person can help to resolve the complaint in two ways. It can try to resolve the complaint itself or it can refer the complaint straight to the Housing Ombudsman (this is an independent service which deals with disputes between landlords and tenants). While it is not the Trust’s duty to set up a tenant panel, we may be able to help if this is something
You said, we did
A tenant recently returned from a trip to America and returned to find a £1500 electricity bill. She contacted our energy surveyor Jason Ademola who contacted the energy company and found that the tenant was actually £16 in credit! Jason insisted that they read the meter and all was resolved.
you are interested in doing. Or, you can set up a panel yourself by contacting other tenants. They do not have to be tenants of the Trust, but it is important that we ‘recognise’ the panel. More information about complaining to a designated person and setting up a tenant panel can be found on the Housing Ombudsman’s website, www.housingombudsman.org.uk.
Services charges: your questions answered When we sent you out your service charges statement we included two leaflets, Your Service Charges Explained, which said what was included in the charge if it was one that applied to your property and Your Service Standards, explaining the standard of service you could expect from us. We know that many of you found these useful, but we have been asked for further clarification on a few items in particular so we thought it would be helpful to put them here.
Bin area and rubbish chute – this covers the cleaning and maintenance of communal bins, bin storage areas and, for our larger blocks, rubbish chutes. Legionnella testing and maintenance – this deals with water quality. The work includes the testing of water temperatures, testing for bacteria, and any necessary remedial work such as chlorination and cleaning. Since the original service charge estimates we have now completed our preliminary risk assessments and many properties will no longer attract a charge for this.
This contract is presently out to tender for a new provider. We have recently produced a leaflet, Staying Safe: Water Hygiene which explains more about this. If you want another copy of any of these leaflets please call our Customer Service Centre on 01923 209 000. 11
Gateway News
Neighbour problems? Tell us about it! Here at the Trust we have two Safer Communities Officers who can help deal with antisocial behaviour. You can contact them on 01923 209 222, email us at asb@wcht. org.uk, or report anti-social behaviour on our website, www. wcht.org.uk/report-anti-socialbehaviour. Your Tenancy Agreement, which is a legal contract, says you are responsible for your own behaviour and the behaviour of people who live with you or visit you. This means that we can take action when you, people living
You said, we did
You told us we needed to take more follow-up action when it came to complaints of anti-social behaviour. So now, two months after we have closed your case, we will call you to make sure you are no longer experiencing anti-social behaviour and are happy with the services provided by the Trust. with you, or your visitors, are behaving in an anti social manner which causes a nuisance to your neighbours or to other people in the neighbourhood. Examples might include, but are not limited to, harassment, writing graffiti, making noise which can
What can the Trust do? These are some of the actions we can take:
Acceptable behaviour contract This is where we enter into an agreement with a young person, the adults looking after them, and the Police. The terms of the contract are discussed and the contract sets out the type of behaviour expected by the young person. Examples could include a curfew, an agreement not to associate with another young person or agreement not to go to a certain area. The contract is voluntary but it is designed to reduce the risk of the young person causing further anti-social behaviour.
Anti-social behaviour injunction This stops someone from carrying out a particular type of behaviour, for example playing loud music late at night, using a property for drug dealing, or verbal abuse. If they break the injunction they can be arrested.
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be heard outside your home, dumping rubbish at your home or in the locality If you are experiencing antisocial behaviour in your neighbourhood, get in touch with us immediately.
Report neighbourhood nuisance on 01923 209 222 or at asb@wcht.org.uk, or visit www.wcht.org.uk/report-anti-social-behaviour
Notice seeking or requiring possession/ Notice to quit These notices are served before the start of legal proceedings for eviction. They mean that the tenant can be forced by a court to leave their home unless they change their behaviour.
Eviction We must demonstrate to the court that we have tried alternative ways to stop the anti social behaviour, and that we have given the tenant a chance to change their behaviour, before we ask for an order allowing us to evict a tenant. This is the final action we will take if other options have failed.
What have we done to deal with anti social behaviour so far this year? Since January 2013 we have started possession proceedings against 13 tenants, entered into one acceptable behaviour contract and served one anti-social behaviour injunction.
Summer 2013
New homes and community spaces Croxley View We are building 16 new affordable homes at Croxley View and work is progressing well. Working with West Herts College, we have arranged for eight apprentices to work on the site in bricklaying, plastering and carpentry. The development is on track to complete early in 2014.
Leavesden Green Community Hub We have a 99 year lease to manage Leavesden Green Community Centre and are carrying out a major refurbishment project to transform it into a new community space. The new look Community Hub will be ready in time for our big fun day Watford 2013 and our AGM which takes place on Saturday, September 14th.
New flats for market rent, 1-3 Clarendon Road We are converting former office space above Pret a Manger in the town centre into 21 new flats for rent at market rates. The income from the rents will be used to fund new affordable housing in Watford and Three Rivers. Work started on site this month and the flats are due to be ready in January 2014.
The Queens Drive/Shepherds Lane We have recently secured planning permission to build 27 new affordable homes at Rickmansworth, with work due to start in early August. Watch this space for more details!
Harebreaks Community Hub‌ space for hire! The Harebreaks Community Hub has recently been refurbished by the Trust, providing a community facility where you can access services, education, exercise and a meeting space right on your doorstep, even great for kids parties. The first floor hall is 100 metres square, with room for 100 people.
It has a small kitchen attached, equipped with oven, microwave, fridge/freezer and hot water urn, as well as a car park with space for 10 cars. The ground floor is being used by The Dan Tien performing arts school, and has been turned into a proper dance studio – but they are happy to discuss use of their
space at certain times when it is not in use. If you are interested in hiring the hall, please contact the New Business Team on 01923 209288 or email to newbusinessteam @wcht.org.uk.
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Gateway News
Energy-saving facelift for Boundary Way homes
Working with Watford Borough Council and Three Rivers District Council, we are leading a project to provide new insulation to over 100 homes on the estate, including not only our properties but private residences as well.
Last month we met up with Mayor Dorothy Thornhill and residents at Boundary Way to celebrate the completion of the first homes in our ambitious External Wall Insulation programme.
We have secured over £320,000 in Government funding from the Department for Energy and Climate Change to make this possible.
The project means warmer homes, cheaper bills and a brighter neighbourhood too, as the grey pebbledash render on the walls is being replaced by attractive brick cladding.
Grounds maintenance survey: voucher winner Many of you have recently taken part in a survey about what you think of our grounds maintenance… thank you so much, as the answers you gave will help us to ensure that we design our future service with your views in mind. The winner of the draw for £50 of shopping vouchers is George Sanders of Ganders Ash. Well done!
Asbestos If your home was built before 2000 it may have materials containing asbestos. When we have completed a survey on your home you will be advised of the location of any asbestos materials within it. If the condition of the asbestos is considered to be a risk to your health we will remove it or treat it. We have recently produced a leaflet, Staying Safe: Asbestos which explains more about this. If you want a copy of this leaflet please call our Customer Service centre on 01923 209 000. 14
“It’s going to make such a difference” Boundary Way tenant Joy Smith, shown on the far right of this picture, said:“I was so excited when I heard it was going to happen. These houses used to get so cold and the heating cost us a fortune so it’s going to be brilliant. Everyone’s pleased and we’re all getting this buzz from seeing the work being done, it’s going to make such a difference.”
You said, we did A number of you told us that you were not satisfied with the performance of one of our contractors. We are taking this seriously and have been having regular meetings with their senior staff. We have agreed an action plan and are monitoring their progress against this very closely. We have already seen an improvement in their performance since the plan was agreed – so your feedback does make a difference. Remember, to leave comments on any of our services you can call us on 01923 209 000 or leave comments on our website, www.wcht.org.uk/feedback.
Summer 2013
Young at Heart news Singing in the Schemes draws to a close
Here you can see residents in Tree Bridge House singing their hearts out at the final afternoon of our popular music project, Singing in the Schemes.
It’s part of a project called Hertfordshire’s Five Gold Rings, in which five housing associations are working with the Purcell School to take music into the community.
This is where we got together with the Purcell School for Young Musicians to run singing workshops for older tenants around Watford and Three Rivers.
Residents got together to sing along to some of their favourite songs and learn more about how to get the best out of their singing voices.
Residents roll back the years at tea dance People from all over Watford enjoyed an afternoon of ballroom dancing organised by the Trust. The event was held as part of the ‘Watford Live!’ community arts festival taking place throughout June. The dancers enjoyed entertainment from specialist ballroom DJ and compere ‘Mr Wonderful’, and also the housewife ‘Victoria Sponge’ who took everyone on a comedy and singing trip down memory lane. The event not only attracted Trust residents, but also the wider community, with older people coming together from different
schemes and areas, and ably assisted by volunteers from W3RT Timebank. Dancer Doreen Stone said: There’s a very good atmosphere here, it’s so warm and welcoming. I love dancing, it’s good for socialising, it keeps you mobile and it doesn’t matter how old you are.” If you like dancing and activities for older people, the Trust’s next venture for local residents will be its new ‘Nifty over Fifties’ group – for more details please contact Jackie on 01923 209 293.
And when they weren’t singing they simply enjoyed the performances of the very talented pupils from the Purcell School – who are some of the most gifted young musicians in the country. The project has visited at several of our sheltered schemes over the last year. The session at Tree Bridge House in March was so successful that the Purcell School’s pupils visited again for the grand finale. Eve Cross and Joan Munkley, pictured centre, both thoroughly enjoyed taking part. “I really did enjoy it, it’s all about youth and vitality,” said Joan.“The atmosphere’s very friendly and we can all join in. You feel at ease.” “I thought last time was good but this was absolutely brilliant,” added Eve.“You can’t help but join in. It’s a wonder I didn’t get up and dance!”
How you can get help with independent living If you are finding it harder to live at home, speak to the Trust about the support we can offer you. We provide sheltered housing: comfortable studio flats with your own front door, an emergency alarm cord, and help provided by trained support workers. Alternatively, we can provide support at your own home. Call us on 01923 209 236 for more information. 15
Gateway News
Why not visit… WATFORD CYCLE HUB If you have an interest in cycling and want to get more out of your bike, Watford Cycle Hub is the place to go. The Hub is a non-profit community bike centre, not just a traditional bike shop. They offer bike repair services, maintenance courses and cycle training. They also accept your old bikes (the ones that have been cluttering up the back of your garden for years!) and recycle them, salvaging what they can. In turn they also sell affordable reconditioned bikes and bike parts. They can offer advice and information about cycling and bikes, including local cycle routes and maps, news about locally led rides and cycling opportunities and advice on bike parts and maintenance. Here is some of the great feedback they’ve had recently from one of their happy customers: “Thank you for all your help this morning when I came in to enquire about cycles for my grandchildren. I am able to bring the twins in this weekend so that you can confirm what they need
and hopefully get some cycles in time for their proficiency test. I have full confidence in your services and again have to mention I am so impressed with your friendliness, enthusiasm and willingness to spend time talking and explaining things to us who, obviously, know very little!!” Find out for yourself about the great service the Cycle Hub has to offer – pay them a visit at the Pavilion, King George V Playing Fields, at Holywell Community Centre off Tolpits Lane. Alternatively contact them on 01923 223 994 or follow them online: http://www.watfordcyclehub.org.uk Facebook: watfordcyclehub Twitter: @watfordcyclehub
Contact us
How to contact the Trust In person or write to us: Gateway House, 59 Clarendon Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD17 1LA
Rent enquiry:
01923 209 111
Disabled adaptations:
01923 209 220
Home ownership:
01923 209 288
Telephone us: Customer Services 01923 209 000 Email us: enquiries@wcht.org.uk Visit the website: www.wcht.org.uk
Community development (resident involvement):
01923 209 183
Neighbourhood team (tenant issues):
01923 209 148
Useful contacts General Enquiries:
01923 209 000
Grounds maintenance (communal areas):
01923 209 055
Repairs Freephone:
0800 218 2247
Anti-social behaviour:
01923 209 222
Repairs line:
01923 209 247
Don’t forget you can check your account online. Simply go to www.wcht.org.uk and click ‘See my account’.