North edition - Nottingham City Homes
North edition - Nottingham City Homes
North edition - Nottingham City Homes
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from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong><br />
Issue 50 August 2012<br />
<strong>Homes</strong> and places where people want to live<br />
Your home<br />
Your neighbourhood<br />
Your service<br />
Help us to help you improve<br />
them all!<br />
It’s a new era for tenant and leaseholder<br />
involvement – and we need YOU.<br />
We’ve got a great history of working with<br />
tenants and leaseholders to improve homes,<br />
neighbourhoods and services – but we want to do<br />
much more.<br />
So we’re changing how we work to make it as<br />
easy as possible for you to get involved and shape<br />
how we do things.<br />
And we want to do more than we’ve ever done to<br />
support tenants and leaseholders to improve your<br />
own communities.<br />
We’re launching our Tenant Academy, where you<br />
can learn the skills you need to give you every<br />
chance to get involved.<br />
Most importantly you’ve told us you want tenant<br />
and leaseholder involvement to be fun. We agree!<br />
Chief Executive Nick Murphy said: “There’ll be lots<br />
of new and exciting opportunities for tenants and<br />
leaseholders to get involved with us. It’s all about<br />
them helping us to deliver the best services across<br />
the city – and we’re here to help people to improve<br />
their own communities.”<br />
Inside this issue you can find out more about<br />
these exciting plans – and some of the great<br />
things we’ve been doing this summer.<br />
Inside:<br />
Summer<br />
Involvement<br />
round-up<br />
See page three to find out more<br />
3<br />
Garden<br />
competition<br />
results 2012<br />
See page ten to find out more<br />
10 Tenancy policy 11<br />
consultation<br />
See page 11 to find out more<br />
<strong>North</strong> Edition • Aspley • Bestwood • Bilborough • Bulwell<br />
Setting the<br />
standards<br />
Want to improve<br />
your home, your<br />
neighbourhood and your<br />
housing service<br />
Then join us at the Council House on<br />
Wednesday 5 September. We’re<br />
holding a special event called ‘Reach<br />
for the stars – four star services for<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong>’ – where we want YOU to tell<br />
us what standards you expect from us.<br />
The conference is your chance to meet<br />
your fellow tenants and leaseholders –<br />
and tell us where you think we’re doing<br />
well or need to improve.<br />
You’ll be able to find out much more<br />
about how you can get involved with<br />
us to make a real difference to the<br />
lives of thousands of people in our<br />
city – and more about how our new<br />
Tenant Academy can help YOU to<br />
get involved.<br />
Want to come<br />
Call us on 0115 915 7380, or email<br />
gettinginvolved@<br />
nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk
2 News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell 3<br />
Our drive for<br />
to your <strong>edition</strong> of the <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong><br />
newspaper for tenants and leaseholders<br />
a message from the<br />
Chair<br />
Becoming involved in my local<br />
community has led to great rewards<br />
– and it could do the same for you.<br />
I started getting involved in a small way with<br />
my local tenants’ and residents’ group as I<br />
wanted to make my local community better<br />
for us all. That sparked an interest that<br />
has led me to gain formal qualifications in<br />
housing, becoming chair of your Board – and<br />
being awarded the MBE!<br />
But I couldn’t have done this without the help<br />
and support from those at NCH – that’s why<br />
I’m delighted about the launch of our new<br />
Tenant Academy.<br />
Anyone taking their first step to joining in is<br />
bound to feel nervous and wonder if they<br />
have the skills needed. This is where the<br />
Academy can help you.<br />
a message from<br />
Jean<br />
Getting involved can mean<br />
different things to different people.<br />
And this issue of NCH News really<br />
shows that range.<br />
Despite the awful weather earlier this<br />
summer, our green fingered residents have<br />
been able to keep on top of water-logged<br />
gardens. The results of their hard work and<br />
dedication can be seen on pages 10 and 11<br />
where we showcase the winners.<br />
Getting involved in the annual Garden<br />
Competition is just one small way of<br />
contributing to the vision of ‘creating homes<br />
and places where people want to live’.<br />
Another way is to join your local tenant and<br />
residents group to make your community a<br />
better place.<br />
Sometimes it is the power of us getting<br />
involved and working together that can have<br />
a big impact on where we live.<br />
They will<br />
provide<br />
support and<br />
training to<br />
give you the<br />
confidence to<br />
take your first<br />
steps on what<br />
could become<br />
an incredible<br />
journey for<br />
you.<br />
Learning new skills can not only lead to you<br />
becoming more involved with NCH but also<br />
lead to skills, experience and qualifications<br />
that could help you find a new job.<br />
There are so many ways to get involved<br />
with <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> – you can find<br />
out more on pages four and five. And why<br />
not come along to our special event in the<br />
Council House on Thursday 5 September.<br />
So what are you waiting for Get involved today!<br />
Janet Storar MBE<br />
Chair, <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong><br />
From the<br />
smaller<br />
projects on<br />
streets to<br />
groups of us<br />
taking our<br />
message to<br />
Parliament, it all helps.<br />
Those involved in the Tenant and<br />
Leaseholder Congress ran the ‘Nott Decent’<br />
campaign – and our working together<br />
means thousands of you are benefiting from<br />
improvements.<br />
But your involvement can be as little as<br />
making sure you give us your views – and<br />
one way of starting this is by telling us about<br />
what you think about our tenancy policy (see<br />
page 11).<br />
Jean England<br />
Chair, Tenant and Leaseholder Congress<br />
There’s still time!<br />
You need to be registered to vote in the next<br />
and following elections.<br />
If you haven’t already had one, you’ll shortly<br />
receive an election registration form. It is a legal<br />
requirement to fill this in and send it back.<br />
How do I register<br />
If you have lived at your current home for<br />
some time you will be sent a form with<br />
pre-printed details on it. If all this information<br />
is the same and you don’t need to make any<br />
changes, just sign the form and send it back<br />
to <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> Council in the envelope<br />
provided. If there are any changes, make<br />
them on the form, sign it, and send it back.<br />
If there are no changes you can register:<br />
• by freephone (available 24 hours) –<br />
0808 284 1483<br />
• on the internet –<br />
www.elecreg.co.uk/nottingham<br />
• by text - 07786 209 383. You will need to<br />
text us the two security codes on your form,<br />
separated by a space.<br />
The services above are available 24 hours<br />
and open until 8 October 2012.<br />
For more information, phone 0115 876 4111<br />
or visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/elections<br />
News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong><br />
Communications & Marketing Team<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong>, Head Office,<br />
14 Hounds Gate, <strong>Nottingham</strong>, NG1 7BA<br />
Telephone 0845 330 3131<br />
Minicom 0115 915 7447<br />
Email marketing@nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />
www.nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />
Like us on:<br />
nottinghamcityhomesinvolvement<br />
Follow us on:<br />
@nottmcityhomes<br />
Summer round-up...<br />
Perfect day<br />
for Pride<br />
This year’s <strong>Nottingham</strong>shire Pride took place<br />
under glorious skies at the Forest Recreation<br />
Ground on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July.<br />
The festival offered a great fun day out for all<br />
the family – with lots of interesting stalls and<br />
fantastic live entertainment, including this<br />
year’s headline act Basshunter.<br />
The weekend started with a march from Old<br />
Market Square to the Forest Recreation<br />
Ground, which involved hundreds of people<br />
waving rainbow-coloured flags and carrying<br />
banners with messages of support.<br />
Carnival<br />
time!<br />
Colourful costumes and a theme of<br />
‘togetherness’ were the order of the day when<br />
we took part in the <strong>Nottingham</strong> Carnival on<br />
Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 August.<br />
Tenants and leaseholders were heavily<br />
involved throughout the planning stages and<br />
on the day – choosing the overall theme, the<br />
colours of the costumes and the float and<br />
learning new dance moves for the parade.<br />
Along with our partner – carnival troupe ‘Hya<br />
Level’, and other community dance troupes<br />
from across the city, we took part in the Big<br />
Parade on the Sunday and had a stall at The<br />
Forest Recreation Ground on both days.<br />
In the run up to the big weekend we held<br />
Riverside Festival<br />
Although we weren’t as<br />
lucky with the weather for<br />
the Riverside Festival and<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> Mela, we didn’t let<br />
the rain dampen our spirits as<br />
members of our Involvement,<br />
Customer Service and<br />
Rents team dodged the rain<br />
showers and handed out lots<br />
of information to the people<br />
attending.<br />
This year’s festival took<br />
place on Friday 3 to Sunday<br />
5 August, with the Mela<br />
Festival being open on the<br />
Saturday and Sunday. Over<br />
the weekend, thousands<br />
of people of all ages went<br />
along to enjoy the fairground<br />
rides, live music, to watch the<br />
Olympics on a big screen and,<br />
of course, to meet us!<br />
Pictured: <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> staff get ready to join<br />
the march.<br />
An NCH team, took part in the march and we ran<br />
an information stall at the event, where people<br />
could find out about getting involved and how to<br />
bid for properties through <strong>Nottingham</strong> HomeLink.<br />
Pictured: Carnival costume making workshops.<br />
workshops across the city where tenants<br />
and communities came along to work on<br />
the costumes and learn the dance routines.<br />
The dance workshops were supported by<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> Forest – they provided a dance<br />
instructor to help the adults and children learn<br />
the routines. Look out for the pictures in the<br />
next issue!<br />
Pictured: Talking to residents<br />
at the Riverside Festival.<br />
We’re supporting ‘Hope<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong>’ to provide food<br />
gifts for families in need<br />
throughout the city – and we<br />
need your help!<br />
We’re looking for donations of<br />
any of these items:<br />
• Milk (UHT or powdered)<br />
• Sugar (500g bags)<br />
• Fruit juice (cartons)<br />
• Soup<br />
• Pasta sauces<br />
• Sponge pudding (tinned)<br />
• Baked beans / tinned spaghetti / macaroni<br />
• Cereals<br />
• Rice pudding (tinned)<br />
• Tea bags<br />
• Instant coffee<br />
• Instant mash potato<br />
• Rice / pasta<br />
• Tinned meat / fish / vegetables<br />
• Tinned fruit<br />
• Jam<br />
• Biscuits or snack bars<br />
And it’s not just food that’s needed. If you<br />
have any bedding, clothes, towels or other<br />
textiles that you no longer use, and they are<br />
of good quality, then we’d love you to donate<br />
these as well.<br />
If you can spare anything at all, bring it to any of<br />
our housing offices from Monday 3 September –<br />
or drop things off at the Council House if you’re<br />
coming to our conference on the 5 September.<br />
On that day we’ll also be opening the doors of<br />
our Tenant Resource Centre based at our<br />
Head Office.<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> staff will also be donating<br />
during the week – so it will be a real team effort<br />
among staff and tenants and leaseholders.<br />
Anything you can donate will be greatly<br />
appreciated and go towards making life just that<br />
little bit easier for people who struggle the most.<br />
For more about ‘Hope’ please visit<br />
www.hopenottingham.org.uk
4 News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell 5<br />
Get involved at our<br />
new Tenant Academy<br />
Want to do your bit but don’t<br />
know where to turn Turn to us!<br />
Your home<br />
Your neighbourhood<br />
Your service<br />
Until now, the Government<br />
used to tell us what standards it<br />
expected. Not anymore! Now we<br />
set our standards according to<br />
what <strong>Nottingham</strong> tenants and<br />
leaseholders want to see.<br />
So we’re now creating a whole new structure to make sure YOU<br />
are at the heart of everything we do.<br />
There will be loads of opportunities to get involved in improving<br />
your home, your neighbourhoods and your services – read more<br />
about them here.<br />
Want to help us set our standards<br />
Get Involved today!<br />
Call the team on 0115 915 7380, email gettinginvolved@<br />
nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk or text ‘INVOLVE’ to<br />
80800 followed by your name and address.<br />
Our Tenant Academy is here to<br />
offer you a wide range of courses<br />
to help you get involved in your<br />
local community.<br />
Whether it’s running a small local<br />
project – or all the way to joining<br />
our Board – we can help you learn<br />
the skills you need.<br />
At the academy’s heart is our<br />
desire to help you to help us<br />
improve homes, neighbourhoods<br />
and services.<br />
We don’t want anyone who<br />
wants to do their bit feeling put off<br />
because they don’t think they’ve<br />
got the skills. You can get involved<br />
as much or as little as you want –<br />
and we’ll be there to help you every<br />
step of the way.<br />
We’ll be offering a range of<br />
courses – including recognised<br />
national qualifications – as well<br />
as advice and guidance towards<br />
apprenticeships and job interviews<br />
and work experience opportunities.<br />
Tenant and Community<br />
Involvement Manager Ann Lynch<br />
said: “We’ve been running a range<br />
of short courses for involved<br />
tenants for years.<br />
“The academy will build on these<br />
with a number of ‘bite size’ training<br />
opportunities – covering everything<br />
from how to manage your money, to<br />
being more assertive, taking notes<br />
at meetings, organising events and<br />
running a community group.<br />
“We’ll tell you how to find<br />
volunteering opportunities, work<br />
experience and training. We’ll<br />
offer advice and guidance towards<br />
apprenticeships – directing you<br />
to opportunities in bricklaying to<br />
plumbing to office work – not just<br />
with us, but with others too.<br />
“We’ll encourage anyone who<br />
wants to get really involved to learn<br />
the skills you need to be on our<br />
Board – and equip as many tenants<br />
and leaseholders as possible with<br />
what they need to scrutinise our<br />
services.”<br />
Learning new skills doesn’t just<br />
improve your knowledge – it builds<br />
confidence and gives you a better<br />
chance of finding work if you’re<br />
unemployed.<br />
So we’re teaming up with the city<br />
council, Job Centre Plus, voluntary<br />
groups, local colleges and others<br />
to give you every chance to get<br />
ahead.<br />
Job Centre Plus will help direct<br />
long-term unemployed tenants<br />
and residents to the Academy. We<br />
can help improve your CV and job<br />
application skills and provide work<br />
experience placements.<br />
Get involved<br />
today to improve<br />
your home,<br />
neighbourhood<br />
and services!<br />
Join us at the Council House –<br />
Wednesday 5 September, 9.30am<br />
to 3.30pm<br />
Can’t come Don’t worry – just<br />
get in touch!<br />
Contact the Involvement<br />
team on 0115 915 7380, or<br />
email gettinginvolved@<br />
nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />
Or complete and return the<br />
comment form that’s enclosed<br />
with this newsletter.<br />
Customer<br />
Excellence Panel<br />
From now on, it will be tenants like<br />
you who will help set our standards<br />
– and then check how well we are<br />
measuring up. The panel will look at<br />
each of our services and challenge<br />
us to improve.<br />
Inspecting is ‘ACE’!<br />
The Customer Excellence Panel will<br />
be backed by a team of volunteer<br />
‘Achieving Customer Excellence’ – or<br />
ACE – Inspectors. We’re building on<br />
the great work our tenant ‘mystery<br />
shoppers’ and inspectors have been<br />
doing for the last few years to drive<br />
up the quality of our communities<br />
and local offices.<br />
Want to be part of a dedicated team<br />
that sets standards and reviews our<br />
services Get in touch today!<br />
Complaints Panel<br />
We welcome all compliments,<br />
comments and complaints –<br />
they help us understand how<br />
we’re doing and where we<br />
need to improve.<br />
For the first time, tenants and<br />
leaseholders will sit on our<br />
new Complaints Panel – so<br />
when you’ve got a serious<br />
concern about a service, it will<br />
be people like you who are<br />
looking into it.<br />
Communications Panel<br />
The Communications Panel will make<br />
sure all our, websites, events and<br />
publications – like this newspaper –<br />
are covering the things that matter<br />
to you, in a way you can easily<br />
understand.<br />
Our customers have told us that they<br />
want effective communications, to be<br />
kept informed about the things that<br />
matter to them, and to be listened to<br />
– so they can be confident their views<br />
are heard and acted upon.<br />
Equality Panel<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> is a wonderfully<br />
diverse city – and our<br />
customers reflect this. We<br />
need to offer services that<br />
reflect everyone’s different<br />
needs – and build strong<br />
communities based on mutual<br />
respect.<br />
If you want to see that<br />
too, then the new Equality<br />
Panel is for you – so we<br />
can develop better, more<br />
individual services.<br />
We’re changing how we support local groups – like tenant and residents<br />
associations – so they can do even more to improve neighbourhoods all<br />
over <strong>Nottingham</strong>. We want people like YOU to get involved in your local<br />
tenants group – or get one started! We can help you organise events and<br />
small projects to improve your neighbourhood, and help you get more<br />
people involved – for example by setting up garden clubs, breakfast clubs<br />
and activities for young people.<br />
Academy House
6 News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell 7<br />
Round your way. . .<br />
Round your way. . .<br />
Pictured: NCH staff sign the ‘Man Enough’ pledge.<br />
L ve Aspley<br />
Week of Action<br />
Aspley residents were encouraged to get<br />
involved in their local community during the<br />
Aspley Week of Action held in July.<br />
The week started with the Ambleside School<br />
Summer Fair – an event that was open to the<br />
whole community with activities and games<br />
for children and young people – including a<br />
ladies only Well Woman session for some free<br />
pampering, and a football tournament.<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> was heavily involved<br />
– holding a ‘Man Enough’ sign up event at our<br />
Harvey Road depot, giving staff the opportunity<br />
to voice their opposition to domestic violence<br />
(pictured).<br />
We also attended a series of ‘Did you know’<br />
events, including one at Brocklewood School<br />
(pictured), where residents had the chance<br />
to find out about a range of city council<br />
and <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> services.<br />
Getting safer – but don’t<br />
get caught out!<br />
With hopes still high of<br />
an ‘Indian summer’ this<br />
September, it’s easy to<br />
forget, particularly in warmer<br />
weather, about home<br />
security.<br />
We’ve fitted thousands of<br />
brand new secure-by-design<br />
windows across the city to<br />
make your homes more<br />
secure. In Broxtowe and<br />
Bells Lane estate in Aspley,<br />
we’ve seen burglaries drop<br />
by 41%. But we mustn’t be<br />
complacent.<br />
We’ve put together ten top<br />
tips to keep your house<br />
safe:<br />
Pictured: NCH attended a series of<br />
‘Did you know!’ events.<br />
1 Close windows when you are not in ground floor rooms<br />
and lock doors even when you are in the garden<br />
2 Lock doors and windows when you leave the house<br />
3 Do not leave laptops or car keys near windows<br />
4 Close curtains at night before you put on lights<br />
5 Use timer switches to put on a lamp or radio when you are<br />
out at night or on holiday<br />
6 Contact the police and ask about SmartWater for your<br />
property. Use it to mark your electrical items and things of<br />
value to help identify your possessions if you are burgled<br />
7 Keep hedges and fences low at the front of your home so<br />
neighbours or passers by can see if anyone is behaving<br />
suspiciously near your home<br />
8 Fit trellis and grow prickly plants near to your back fence to<br />
deter anyone from climbing into your garden<br />
9 Burglars do not want to be seen – fitting exterior lights can<br />
10<br />
deter burglars (but before you do, ask us first!)<br />
Intruder alarms can deter burglars.<br />
Bullock<br />
hits 3,000!<br />
It was all smiles in Bilborough as Mrs Hall<br />
(pictured) was presented with chocolates<br />
and flowers after her home became the<br />
3,000th that our decent homes contractor,<br />
Bullock, completed as part of our Secure<br />
Warm Modern scheme.<br />
Bullock is one of three contractors that<br />
are fitting new kitchens and bathrooms to<br />
thousands of eligible homes across the city.<br />
Mrs Hall, 91, was ‘over the moon’ that her<br />
home was recognised with this milestone.<br />
More importantly, she’s delighted with her<br />
new kitchen!<br />
Shaun Nee, Senior Liaison Officer for<br />
Bullock, said: “Mrs Hall is 91 years young<br />
and has coped very well while the works<br />
were completed. We hope she has many<br />
years of enjoyment in her new kitchen and<br />
wish her all the best for the future.”<br />
If you have a question about Secure<br />
Warm Modern, you can contact the<br />
team on 0300 333 8100, email SWM@<br />
nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk or visit<br />
www.nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk/<br />
improving_your_home<br />
Pictured from left to right: Andy Holmes (Bullock TLO), Pete<br />
Cook (Bullock Stream Manager), Scott Lee (NCH Technical<br />
Officer), Mrs Hall, Paul Bradbury (Bullock Project Manager),<br />
Sheila Gennard (NCH Project Liaison officer).<br />
Saving energy and cash in<br />
in Bulwell Hall<br />
More than 350 homes in Bulwell Hall are set to benefit from external wall<br />
insulation – helping tenants save a small fortune on their heating costs.<br />
The work, by energy company E.ON and<br />
managed by <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong>, will cost<br />
£2.35m and be funded through the Government’s<br />
Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP).<br />
As an added benefit, E.ON will also be spending<br />
an extra £350,000 installing solar panels on<br />
some homes.<br />
The 358 homes were built with solid brick walls and<br />
are now being clad with a ‘decoratively appealing’<br />
insulation to dramatically reduce heat loss.<br />
Energy costs can be a large element of family<br />
household bills and it is widely recognised that<br />
wall insulation significantly reduces heat seepage,<br />
therefore reducing domestic energy costs. The<br />
insulation also reduces carbon emissions.<br />
Bulwell<br />
The CESP programme is designed to help<br />
people in some of the most deprived parts of the<br />
country to cut their bills.<br />
Councillor Alan Clark, Portfolio Holder for<br />
Energy and Sustainability, said: “We have<br />
worked with E.ON on other energy saving<br />
schemes successfully – and with <strong>Nottingham</strong><br />
<strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> project management we are<br />
confident these homes will get the benefit of<br />
heat and energy saving in time for the winter.<br />
“With the offer of installing additional solar<br />
panels for selected homes as part of the works,<br />
this is a really positive move that will make<br />
homes warmer and cheaper to run. It will cut<br />
tenants’ energy bills and will also significantly<br />
cut the city’s carbon footprint.”<br />
Congratulations to our team at Bulwell Housing Office who won housing<br />
office of the month for June.<br />
Our team of tenant ‘mystery shoppers’ rated Bulwell for<br />
office accessibility, the friendliness and helpfulness of<br />
staff and presentation of staff, the notice board displays<br />
and information available to customers, the tidiness of<br />
reception and other public areas.<br />
Telephone calls were answered speedily, politely, and<br />
with respect and sensitivity. The helpfulness of staff also<br />
scored highly.<br />
The office scored top marks for the way in which it dealt<br />
with customer enquiries, complaints, ASB cases, and<br />
visits to new tenants.<br />
All of our offices are judged monthly by mystery shopper<br />
volunteers from our team of tenant services inspectors.<br />
is supreme in June<br />
Pictured: Tenant Services Inspectors Michael Savage (left)<br />
and Peter Reynolds (right) present Bulwell with the award.<br />
Simple<br />
steps to<br />
prevent<br />
fires<br />
Ever been distracted by the phone when<br />
cooking the tea Before you know it the<br />
kitchen is full of smoke, tea is burned, the<br />
smoke alarm is bleeping frantically and you<br />
have to start flapping a tea towel to shut it up!<br />
If this sounds familiar, then you’re not<br />
alone. Cooking is one of the most common<br />
causes of house fire and it is also the<br />
reason behind many of the false alarms that<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong>shire firefighters are called out to.<br />
Thankfully, it is also extremely preventable<br />
and fire and rescue service experts are<br />
urging people to:<br />
• Use the extractor or open a window<br />
when cooking.<br />
• Turn handles away from the edge of<br />
the cooker.<br />
• Take care when cooking with hot oil.<br />
• Clean cookers regularly to prevent a<br />
build-up of grease.<br />
• Take saucepans off the cooker if you<br />
are called away.<br />
• Don’t put towels or sleeves where they<br />
could catch light.<br />
• Fit smoke alarms and test them<br />
regularly to make sure they are<br />
working; they could save your life.<br />
‘Buy it, Fit it, Test it’.<br />
For more information<br />
Look on the ‘Your Safety’ pages of<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong>shire Fire and Rescue Service<br />
website – www.notts-fire.gov.uk – or call<br />
into your local fire station.
8 News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell 9<br />
On Call to<br />
protect you<br />
– 24 hours<br />
a day<br />
Top award for alarm<br />
service – seven<br />
years running!<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> On Call is our 24 hour<br />
emergency response service – available<br />
to all our tenants, many other housing<br />
organisations and private households in<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong>.<br />
We heard at the beginning of August that for<br />
the seventh straight year – <strong>Nottingham</strong> On<br />
Call has been accredited by the Telecare<br />
Services Association.<br />
As well as making sure the services we<br />
provide are of top quality, the accreditation<br />
means that families and carers have peace<br />
of mind that those who sign up to the service<br />
are getting the best.<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> On Call went through a rigorous<br />
scrutiny of its services and also has a<br />
challenging range of performance indicators<br />
set by TSA that it needs to achieve.<br />
All of our Independent Living<br />
communities are fitted with care<br />
alarms as standard.<br />
If you’re interested in having an alarm fitted,<br />
or want to find out more, contact the team<br />
on 0115 915 1634. We supply alarms at<br />
a cost of between £2 and £4 a week. This<br />
pays for the 24-hour monitoring service<br />
and any emergency<br />
responses from our<br />
Mobile Support Team.<br />
There’s no installation<br />
fee and no call-out<br />
fees to pay.<br />
Chris Holloway, Head of Supported<br />
Housing, said: “We are proud to have<br />
achieved the accreditation year-onyear.<br />
It shows the team’s commitment<br />
to providing the very best in Telecare<br />
services available anywhere.<br />
“Achieving the accreditation is a great<br />
motivator. – it allows the team to be as<br />
confident as those who use the service,<br />
and their carers, that our service is of the<br />
highest standard.”<br />
Pictured left to right: NCH Chief Executive Nick Murphy, Sylvia Ackah and asra Housing Group Chief Executive Matt Cooney.<br />
Making Stonebridge<br />
their home<br />
The first tenants have moved into their new homes<br />
on the multi-million pound regeneration scheme at<br />
Stonebridge Park in St Ann’s.<br />
The five-year scheme at Stonebridge Park is<br />
creating new homes in the area, as well as<br />
improved community facilities – and local residents<br />
have been involved in the regeneration scheme.<br />
The development is a partnership between<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> Council (NCC), asra Housing Group<br />
and the <strong>Homes</strong> and Communities Agency (HCA) –<br />
and we’ll be managing 71 homes on Dennett Close,<br />
Beacon Hill Rise and St Matthias Road.<br />
Over 60 * and<br />
looking for a<br />
new home<br />
Some of the tenants are returning to the area<br />
after their home was demolished to make way<br />
for the new build.<br />
One of these is Sylvia Ackah (pictured),<br />
who said her new home was ‘really nice’ and<br />
that she was looking forward to being part of<br />
the new community.<br />
Did you know there is a Stonebridge Park<br />
Tenants and Residents Association If you<br />
live in the area and want to find out more, call<br />
us on 0115 915 7380.<br />
Want to live in a safe, warm and modern home near people like you<br />
Do you want the peace of mind that comes from knowing that help is<br />
always on hand, should you need it<br />
Do you want to have the opportunity to keep fit, go on trips, make new<br />
friends and have fun . . . it’s all about Independent Living!<br />
Earlier this year we launched our new<br />
Independent Living service – providing residents<br />
over the age of 60* with their own home – and<br />
with the added peace of mind that comes from<br />
knowing that help, if needed, is always at hand.<br />
Giving you choice<br />
The new service is tailored to suit your needs.<br />
We can offer you as much, or as little support<br />
you need to make the most of your home.<br />
Over the next few years we will be improving<br />
our homes for older people – including<br />
disabled access – and we’ll also be improving<br />
the communal areas in our communities.<br />
Our local co-ordinators will make sure you can<br />
get the best out of local public services, take<br />
part in a wide range of social activities, and help<br />
you to do your bit to improve your community.<br />
Interested in Independent Living<br />
If you’re over 60 and would like to enquire<br />
about moving into one of our Independent<br />
Living schemes, call our HomeLink team<br />
today on 0115 915 7167 to find out more.<br />
*Disabled people aged<br />
55+ can also apply<br />
Pictured: Leighton Street, centre right, receiving his award.<br />
Leighton (pictured above) started<br />
working with our Estates and<br />
Caretaking team on an initial twoweek<br />
work placement back in the<br />
summer of 2011. He joined us as<br />
part of a new initiative launched by<br />
‘Business in the Community’ – the<br />
RISE programme – which aims to<br />
support young people leaving care to<br />
gain valuable work experience.<br />
RISE then gave us the funding<br />
to offer a six-month placement<br />
to Leighton. This has since been<br />
extended to a full 12-month<br />
apprenticeship scheme with the<br />
caretaking team – with funding for<br />
the extra six months matched by us.<br />
As part of the apprenticeship,<br />
Leighton is currently studying<br />
for a qualification in cleaning<br />
and customer services – as<br />
well as gaining valuable ‘hands<br />
on’ experience with our mobile<br />
caretakers.<br />
During his time with us, Leighton<br />
has not only met Prince Charles and<br />
David Cameron – he’s also been<br />
presented with the East Midlands’<br />
Young Achiever Award, at a recent<br />
award ceremony in Derby.<br />
Leighton told us: “Having the<br />
apprenticeship extended is great – it<br />
means I get to learn a lot more. I<br />
really love the work I do”.<br />
We’re now trying to secure more<br />
funding to offer apprenticeships to<br />
another two care leavers.<br />
Taking care<br />
of care leavers<br />
Around 60 young people who leave<br />
care each year take up a tenancy<br />
with us. They often need extra<br />
support once they’ve taken on their<br />
tenancy.<br />
So, we’ve been working with<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> Council to develop<br />
better ways to help care leavers<br />
become great tenants.<br />
Support from start to finish<br />
When a care leaver applies to<br />
go on the city council’s housing<br />
register, one of our HomeLink<br />
Support Officers will be their single<br />
point of contact, and work with<br />
them throughout their application.<br />
They make sure care leavers<br />
are offered the right services and<br />
will help them to bid for the most<br />
suitable property for their needs.<br />
And we don’t stop there.<br />
Once we’ve allocated a home, we’ll<br />
continue to support the tenant by<br />
introducing them to their housing<br />
patch manager, who will explain<br />
Tap the Gap is a <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />
Council programme that offers<br />
talented school leavers from<br />
BME communities, in care or<br />
with disabilities, voluntary work<br />
experience during the summer<br />
holidays.<br />
Now in its eleventh year,<br />
altogether 106 16-year-olds have<br />
had placements with the city<br />
council and its partners – including<br />
four students who started with us<br />
on Monday 23 July.<br />
They got a taste of what it is like to<br />
be an electrician, a plumber and<br />
a joiner by shadowing our staff on<br />
jobs all over <strong>Nottingham</strong>.<br />
Michael Jenkinson (pictured) has<br />
been doing work with the plumbing<br />
team for his placement.<br />
what their role is and also what the<br />
tenant’s responsibilities are. We<br />
help care leavers to get furniture<br />
through our partnership with The<br />
Arches Project (www.trentvineyard.<br />
org/serving/the-arches-project).<br />
We’ll then keep in regular contact<br />
throughout their tenancy –<br />
including with<br />
our rents team<br />
to make sure<br />
they receive the<br />
right financial<br />
advice.<br />
Leighton’s<br />
winning ways Stop press!<br />
As well as supporting young care leavers as they become<br />
tenants, we’re also giving them a chance to new learn skills<br />
through work placements and apprenticeships – people just like<br />
the award-winning Leighton Street.<br />
Competition time<br />
This month we are giving away a smoothie maker!<br />
To be in with a chance of winning,<br />
simply answer the following question:<br />
What is the name of the panel that<br />
makes sure this newspaper covers<br />
the things that matter to you<br />
To enter by text simply type:<br />
NCH, followed by your answer,<br />
name and address, text to 80800<br />
(all entries are charged at standard<br />
network rates)*.<br />
Alternatively, send your entries<br />
(with your name and telephone<br />
number) to: The Communications<br />
and Marketing Team, 14 Hounds<br />
Gate, <strong>Nottingham</strong>, NG1 7BA*<br />
*Only one entry per person<br />
Or, e-mail your answer along<br />
with your name and telephone<br />
number to: marketing@<br />
nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk *<br />
Deadline for receipt of entries is<br />
Friday 21 September 2012.<br />
We have a winner!<br />
We had over 30 correct answers<br />
to last month’s question. Marilyn<br />
Cooke, Clifton, who won a £50<br />
Argos gift card!<br />
We asked: What is the honour that<br />
our Chair, Janet Storar, received in<br />
the Queen’s birthday honours list<br />
The answer was: MBE<br />
Tap the Gap<br />
2012<br />
We gave four students a<br />
chance to ‘Tap the Gap’<br />
when they spent three<br />
weeks with us this summer.<br />
At the time of going to print<br />
we have just heard that we’ve<br />
successfully gained the ‘From<br />
Care2Work Quality Mark Award’<br />
in recognition for the help,<br />
support and opportunities that<br />
we’re providing to care leavers.<br />
We’ll tell you more about this in<br />
the next <strong>edition</strong> of ‘News’.<br />
Pictured: Michael Jenkinson.<br />
Maintenance Manager Kerrigan<br />
McMannus is mentoring Michael.<br />
He said: “Michael has a burning<br />
ambition to become a plumber.<br />
“He has spent three weeks<br />
working with experienced<br />
engineers seeing different<br />
aspects of the Gas Section – from<br />
changing cylinders and radiators,<br />
stripping down boilers, fitting<br />
new central heating systems and<br />
issuing Gas Safety Certificates.<br />
“Michael’s attitude towards work is<br />
absolutely brilliant… he just wants<br />
to learn and get on… he’s been<br />
great to have on the team.”
10 News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell 11<br />
Area 7 winner Bestwood and Sherwood – Mr Cairns.<br />
Blooming marvellous!<br />
Best Garden<br />
Competition<br />
2012<br />
Congratulations to all of the winners of this year’s Best<br />
Garden Competition – and thanks to everyone who entered.<br />
This year, we made some changes to the way we<br />
ran the competition – to make it easier for as many<br />
people as possible to take part. And it worked! We<br />
received a record number of entries.<br />
We were also delighted to be joined by Tesco<br />
Bulwell, which sponsored the Bulwell category, and<br />
Asda Hyson Green, which sponsored Radford and<br />
Hyson Green. We were once again joined by our<br />
Secure Warm Modern contractor Wates Living Space<br />
which sponsored the Independent Living category.<br />
Our sponsors, staff from NCH and our Tenant<br />
Services Inspectors judged the gardens in July –<br />
despite some terrible weather!<br />
Area 2 winner Bilborough – Mr Goodlad.<br />
The prize winners for the area categories are:<br />
Area 1: Aspley, Strelley,<br />
Broxtowe and Beechdale<br />
Winner – Mrs Connors<br />
2nd – Mr and Mrs Parsons<br />
3rd – Mr Thomas Rayner<br />
Area 2: Bilborough<br />
Winner – Mr Goodlad<br />
2nd – Mr Michael Philip Ryan<br />
3rd – Mrs I Hibbett<br />
Area 3: Lenton and The Meadows<br />
Winner – Mr M Taylor<br />
2nd – Angela Sage<br />
3rd – Ian Miller<br />
Area 4: Bulwell, Highbury Vale,<br />
Stockhill and Basford<br />
(sponsored by Tesco Bulwell)<br />
Winner – Mr and Mrs Marecki<br />
2nd – Linda Taylor<br />
3rd – Mr Easom<br />
Area 5: Radford and Hyson Green<br />
(sponsored by Asda Hyson Green)<br />
Winner – Andrew Jepson<br />
2nd – Sandra Brown<br />
3rd – Brenda Thornhill<br />
Area 6: Clifton<br />
Winner – Mr B Glover<br />
2nd – Tracey Thomson<br />
3rd – Mandy White<br />
Area 7: Bestwood and<br />
Sherwood<br />
Winner – Mr Cairns<br />
Area 3 winner The Meadows – Mr M Taylor.<br />
2nd – Ms L Eaton and Mr R Tolley<br />
3rd – Mr Robert Clark<br />
Area 8: Mapperley, St Ann’s,<br />
Colwick, Sneinton<br />
Winner – Mr Michael Breffit<br />
2nd – Ethel Anderson<br />
3rd – Miss K Kaur<br />
Young Person’s Garden<br />
Winner – Jerome Gardener<br />
2nd – Hayley Green<br />
Community Garden<br />
Winner – Duchess Gardens<br />
2nd – Fleming Gardens<br />
3rd – Ethel Anderson<br />
Disabled Person’s Garden<br />
Winner – Miss C. A. Mulligan<br />
2nd – Gladys Walker<br />
3rd – Mrs D Sowray<br />
Independent Living Community<br />
(sponsored by Wates Living Space)<br />
Winner – Peartree Orchard<br />
2nd – Aspinall Court<br />
3rd – Foxton Gardens<br />
Vegetable Garden<br />
Winner – Mr Hadfield<br />
2nd – Mr K Wardle<br />
3rd – John Riley<br />
Balcony/ container/ window box<br />
Winner – Mr P. Holehouse<br />
2nd – Mr H. Walker<br />
3rd – Mr K. W. Hopkin<br />
Special Cup<br />
The Special Cup Category was once again judged<br />
by BBC Radio <strong>Nottingham</strong>’s John Stirland.<br />
1st<br />
Mr and Mrs Roome – Whitemoor<br />
John said: “This is a very tidy garden, both front<br />
and rear and well laid out. Their perennial plants<br />
are very healthy and the annuals were of good<br />
quality despite the dreadful weather of recent<br />
weeks. The back garden has also got a very<br />
cosy feel and is a pleasure to be in. There are<br />
sitting areas where you can enjoy the garden.<br />
Everything is spotless.”<br />
Janet Chaplin – Radford<br />
2nd<br />
John said: “This garden shows just what can be<br />
done in a small space. All the little sections are<br />
filled with plants, including a variety of climbers<br />
which give an element of secrecy. Many<br />
containers and even an old wheelbarrow have<br />
been well used. A small water feature and even<br />
music finish the scene. Once again spotless.”<br />
3rd<br />
3rd – Olive Smith – Wollaton Park<br />
John said: “A cottage garden design which<br />
was seen at its peak condition. Perennials and<br />
shrubs make up the bulk but with containers<br />
providing an annual interest. A garden with<br />
a lot of character and with many surprises<br />
around each corner. Very neat all round.”<br />
Consultation on introducing a<br />
Tenancy Policy<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> is required to introduce<br />
a Tenancy Policy from October 2012 in<br />
response to changes in housing law, which<br />
were introduced by the Localism Act 2011. Most<br />
of the things in the current tenancy agreement<br />
will not change however; government has<br />
proposed two changes that could have an<br />
impact on all new tenants. Nothing will change<br />
for existing tenants. The two areas are Fixed<br />
Term Tenancies and Successions.<br />
We would like to seek your views on these two<br />
areas. Your views will be used to inform our policy.<br />
So what are Fixed Term Tenancies<br />
Government has said that Social landlords can<br />
now offer new tenants shorter tenancies on a<br />
‘fixed term.’ This can be for five years or longer. At<br />
the end of the fixed period an assessment would<br />
be made on whether you will remain in your home<br />
or not.<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> is proposing<br />
not to introduce fixed term tenancies for<br />
new tenants. We believe in this because<br />
we feel that lifetime tenancies provide<br />
security for our tenants as well as helping<br />
to maintain the quality of our homes and<br />
estates. Do you agree<br />
Name:<br />
✂<br />
Address:<br />
Telephone:<br />
Comments on proposed changes to tenancy policy:<br />
So, what are Successions<br />
Succession is the right to pass on your tenancy<br />
upon your death. The law has changed<br />
regarding this. If you are a new tenant from April<br />
2012, the law now only gives your spouse or<br />
partner the right to succeed to your tenancy.<br />
Our current policy says that a spouse, partner or<br />
qualified family member can succeed to a tenancy<br />
if they meet the criteria. The criteria includes but is<br />
not limited to the size of your home and how many<br />
people would remain in occupation.<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> intends to<br />
keep its current succession policy the<br />
same. Do you agree<br />
We want your views<br />
Your views will help shape our new tenancy<br />
policy, and we want to give as many of you as<br />
possible the opportunity to have your say.<br />
What do you think about these proposed<br />
changes and our proposals regarding them<br />
Want to know more<br />
If you have any questions about the<br />
Tenancy Policy, email gemma.murphy@<br />
nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />
Please cut-out and complete the comments form and send it back to us by no later<br />
than Friday 14 September 2012.<br />
The address to return completed forms to is: Gemma Murphy, Regional Housing<br />
Manager, <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong>, 14 Hounds Gate, <strong>Nottingham</strong> NG1 7BA.<br />
Or email gemma.murphy@nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk
12 News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell<br />
Opening hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and<br />
10.30am to 4.30pm on Wednesdays<br />
Rents Call Centre<br />
We offer a range of ways to pay your<br />
rent – and free debt advice if you need it.<br />
Ways to pay your rent:<br />
Direct Debit<br />
Via our website<br />
PayPoint<br />
By telephone<br />
At your local<br />
Post Office<br />
Ask us about setting up a Direct Debit,<br />
claiming council tax and housing benefit<br />
or FREE debt advice.<br />
Tel: 0115 915 4920<br />
Minicom: 0115 915 4113<br />
Text: RENT to 80800,<br />
followed by your name and address<br />
Tenant and<br />
Leaseholder<br />
Resource Centre<br />
Tel: 0115 915 7222<br />
E-mail: resource.centre@<br />
nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />
Info Point<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> Central Library,<br />
3 Angel Row, <strong>Nottingham</strong> NG1 6HP<br />
Tel: 0115 915 2828<br />
Mon-Fri: 8.15am to 5.30pm<br />
www.nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />
Your local<br />
housing offices<br />
Aspley<br />
14 Strelley Road, Strelley,<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong>, NG8 3AP<br />
Tel: 0115 915 3121 Minicom: 0115 915 3126<br />
E-mail: aspleyoffice@<br />
nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />
Bestwood<br />
Elmbridge, Bestwood Park,<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong>, NG5 5PF<br />
Tel: 0115 915 3301 Minicom: 0115 915 3407<br />
E-mail: bestwoodoffice@<br />
nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />
Bulwell<br />
Bulwell Riverside,Main Street,<br />
Bulwell, <strong>Nottingham</strong>, NG6 8QJ<br />
Tel: 0115 915 3212 Minicom: 0115 915 3407<br />
E-mail: bulwelloffice@<br />
nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />
Reporting antisocial<br />
behaviour<br />
Text: REPORTASB to 80800,<br />
followed by your name and address<br />
Report it online www.nottinghamcityhomes.<br />
org.uk/anti-social_behaviour or contact<br />
your local housing office<br />
Repairs Call Centre<br />
Tel: 0115 915 2222<br />
Minicom: 0115 915 1826<br />
Text: REPAIRS to 80800,<br />
followed by your name and address<br />
Email: repairs@<br />
nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />
www.nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk/<br />
your_repairs<br />
Get Involved!<br />
Tel: 0115 915 7380<br />
Text: INVOLVE to 80800,<br />
followed by your name and address<br />
Email: gettinginvolved@<br />
nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />
Secure Warm Modern<br />
Tel: 0300 333 8100 (calls charged at local rate)<br />
Email: SWM@nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />
<strong>Nottingham</strong> On Call<br />
Tel: 0115 915 1640<br />
Email: housingoncall@<br />
nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />
Translations<br />
If you are unable to read this tenant and leaseholder newspaper please<br />
contact your area housing office, or call us on 0845 3303131. We can<br />
arrange for an interpreter to explain it to you, or send you a spoken word<br />
version on tape or CD. If neither of these are suitable, we can translate this<br />
publication into your chosen language. This is also available in large print.<br />
Cantonese<br />
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