Get Connected Summer 2016

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SAFETY Be gas safe Poorly maintained gas appliances are a serious safety threat in the home, and carbon monoxide poisoning, although relatively rare, can be fatal. YOUR GAS SERVICE APPOINTMENT By law we must carry out a gas safety inspection each year to ensure your home is safe. Our gas contractor Sure will write to you to tell you when your annual service is due. It’s important you give access, so we can check your home is gas safe. Don’t forget this is a free service. CARBON MONOXIDE You can’t see, smell or taste carbon monoxide and it can kill without warning in a matter of hours. Symptoms can often be mistaken for flu, and other signs that there may be a carbon monoxide leak in the home are brown staining around gas appliances and yellow-tinged pilot lights that frequently go out. This is why it is important for us to gain access and inspect all gas appliances. If you have a gas fire in your home, we will fit a carbon monoxide alarm which we will test every year, however please ensure you test it regularly too. IF YOU SMELL GAS If you can smell gas please leave the property as soon as possible and call the National Grid emergency line on 0800 111 999. Be water safe Legionnaires’ disease is an illness caused by breathing in small droplets of water contaminated by bacteria. It can affect anybody and is potentially fatal, but it’s very rare in the UK. Hot and cold water systems in homes are a potential source for bacteria growth. Bacteria can survive low temperatures, thrives at temperatures between 20–45°C, but is killed in high temperatures of 60°C and above. There are some simple things you can do to make sure the water in your home is safe. Set hot water cylinders at 60°C or above (take care not to burn yourself). Clean limescale from taps and shower heads every three months. Don’t leave your shower head sitting in water. If you’ve been away for over a week, run all your taps (and shower) for a few minutes before using the water. Have you experienced or seen a hate crime? Stop Hate UK is working to challenge all forms of hate crime and discrimination. They provide confidential reporting and support for victims and witnesses. You can call their free 24 hour helpline on 0800 138 1625 or visit their website www.stophateuk.org. You can also visit Connect’s Leeds office which is an official Hate Incident Reporting Centre. A hate crime is an incident committed against someone because of their disability, gender-identity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation and should be reported. 12
COMMUNITY Diamonds are forever Congratulations to Eddie and Kath Ogden, tenants at Hawthorn Mill, on their 75th diamond wedding anniversary. We joined them at their celebration and they shared their story. What was your wedding like 75 years ago? Eddie: We got married in Colne, Lancashire in a congregational church. Kath: He was in the RAF and only got back the evening before. He got his suit half an hour before the clothes shop shut. During the war you were given a certain amount of clothing coupons, it was never enough to buy a proper outfit. But our family borrowed some and I got my dress from Leeds. I remember when my friends got married, they couldn’t afford to get a dress, so I lent them mine. I lent my dress out six times. How did you get together? Eddie: It just happened. Kath: We only lived in a small village, so there wasn’t a lot of choice! Eddie: I was the best you could get! Kath: He was quite a catch. I used to admire his hands, they were pianists hands. People would say he has lovely hair or teeth, but I liked his hands. They’re a bit knobbly now though! Listen to each other and talk things through because communication is key. You’ve got to battle on when things get tough. Kath A huge thank you Sue! Sue Hendry, Manager of Hawthorn Mill, has retired after 22 years. Sue has made a huge difference to the lives of tenants, the local community and to Connect too. We asked her for a few memories... This place has been a big part of my life. When I started I had just a telephone and a diary, no computer. Eventually, I got a computer and went on a training course. The tutor asked me if I had ever used one before, I said ‘No, but I can use a microwave!’ One of my best achievements has been the COPS (Connect’s Older People’s Strategists) group that I created and love. Connect staff come to ask the group what they think about new policies. Tenants were quite shy at first, but now they speak up and share their opinions. The summer events have been wonderful. I have a fond memory of a donkey escaping at one – he rampaged through the fair and ran up to a lady who was bent down and bit her bottom! 13
Page 1 and 2: Get Connected THE MAGAZINE FOR RESI
Page 3 and 4: High Five News you can use This pop
Page 5 and 6: The numbers £410,512 As a result o
Page 7 and 8: The Connect Residents Federation (C
Page 9 and 10: We have six new Community Housing O
Page 11: The selection We choose replacement
Page 15 and 16: The sweet smell of success Resident

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