Get Connect 10th Anniversary edition - Tenant Magazine
Welcome to our 10th anniversary autumn / winter edition of our Tenant Magazine - Get Connected.
Welcome to our 10th anniversary autumn / winter edition of our Tenant Magazine - Get Connected.
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THE MAGAZINE FOR RESIDENTS<br />
Winter 2016<br />
<strong>10th</strong><br />
<strong>Anniversary</strong><br />
Edition<br />
People’s homes, health<br />
and happiness matter<br />
Thrive at <strong>Connect</strong><br />
Winter Safety<br />
1
2<br />
In this issue:<br />
3 High Five<br />
Latest news and events<br />
4<br />
Taste the<br />
difference<br />
Find out about our free<br />
Money Matters service<br />
6 A word<br />
from Eunice<br />
Understanding the<br />
CRF and how they<br />
scrutinise <strong>Connect</strong>’s<br />
performance<br />
7 Open all hours<br />
A quick guide to our Out<br />
of Hours repairs service<br />
8 Improving<br />
services<br />
Find out how we are<br />
working hard to improve<br />
the service Sure provide<br />
10<br />
Winter safety<br />
A guide on staying warm<br />
and safe this Winter<br />
12 Older people<br />
News and stories<br />
from Hawthorn Mill<br />
14<br />
18<br />
The launch<br />
of Thrive<br />
All about our new<br />
community space<br />
in Dewsbury<br />
Supporting<br />
communities<br />
Introducing our new<br />
Community Housing<br />
Officers<br />
Welcome<br />
This year at <strong>Connect</strong><br />
we celebrated two key<br />
milestones: our <strong>10th</strong><br />
birthday and the launch<br />
of Thrive, our new<br />
community space<br />
in Dewsbury.<br />
Our vision and values have<br />
always driven us to help<br />
improve the lives of tenants<br />
and communities through<br />
housing and support.<br />
Despite the challenging<br />
circumstances over the<br />
last few years, our passion<br />
has grown and we’re<br />
more determined than<br />
ever to continue making<br />
a difference.<br />
Thrive, a new community<br />
space based at our Dewsbury<br />
offices is one way we hope<br />
we can achieve this. We<br />
welcomed over 150 people<br />
including tenants, small<br />
local businesses, community<br />
groups and partners to the<br />
launch in September.<br />
Our Chief Executive,<br />
Helen Lennon, spoke<br />
about why our vision is<br />
for a fairer society, where<br />
people’s homes, health<br />
and happiness matter.<br />
You can read more about<br />
Thrive on pages 14 -17.<br />
In our latest Annual Review,<br />
we have shared ten ways<br />
to thrive with <strong>Connect</strong>.<br />
You can read it here –<br />
www.connecthousing.<br />
org.uk/AnnualReview16<br />
We hope you enjoy this<br />
issue of <strong>Get</strong> <strong>Connect</strong>ed –<br />
happy reading!<br />
Share your<br />
thoughts<br />
If you’d like to be part<br />
of the next issue or if<br />
you’ve got a story you’d<br />
like to share, then we’d<br />
like to hear from you.<br />
<strong>Get</strong> in touch by<br />
phone, email,<br />
Facebook or Twitter<br />
0300 5000 600<br />
communications@<br />
connecthousing.org.uk<br />
/<strong>Connect</strong>Housing<br />
@<strong>Connect</strong>Housing<br />
Thank you<br />
<strong>Tenant</strong>s, volunteers and community partners have all<br />
been involved in this issue of the magazine and we’d like<br />
to say a big thank you to Eunice Clarkson and Donna from<br />
the Hidden Memories Dementia Cafe at Hawthorn Mill.<br />
High Five<br />
News you can use<br />
<strong>Connect</strong>’s offices will close for the holidays at 5pm on Friday 23rd December<br />
and will re-open on Tuesday 3rd January at 9am. For all emergencies<br />
including repairs and anti-social behaviour incidents during this time<br />
please call 0300 5000 600.<br />
Clearing a house is never an<br />
easy task. The British Heart<br />
Foundation offer a free collection<br />
service of any unwanted furniture<br />
and working electricals.<br />
Their service is professional,<br />
reliable and friendly.<br />
For more information please<br />
visit bhf.org.uk<br />
Value for<br />
Money (VFM)<br />
Holiday closure times<br />
Here to help<br />
VFM is a test we apply to check<br />
that the maximum benefit has<br />
been achieved from the money<br />
and time we invest in delivering<br />
services. Our annual VFM<br />
report is available to read and<br />
tells you how we think we have<br />
done. You can read the full selfassessment<br />
document here:<br />
www.connecthousing.org.uk/<br />
valueformoney<br />
All aboard<br />
The AccessBus is a dial-a-ride<br />
bus service providing door-todoor<br />
local transport, seven days a week<br />
between 9am and 5pm. Anyone can<br />
register for the service and it’s extremely<br />
helpful to people who are unable to use<br />
standard bus services. The buses are fully<br />
accessible, fitted with seatbelts and the<br />
most up-to-date wheelchair restraints.<br />
For more information visit:<br />
www.wymetro.com/BusTravel/<br />
accessrural/AccessBus/<br />
The CRF<br />
needs you!<br />
<strong>Connect</strong> Residents Federation (CRF) are<br />
recruiting. The CRF works in many ways to help<br />
improve services at <strong>Connect</strong>, one of these being<br />
<strong>Tenant</strong> Inspection. They have decided the next<br />
area for inspection in 2017 will be repairs.<br />
<strong>Tenant</strong> Inspectors are volunteers who are<br />
interested in improving services for tenants.<br />
The CRF need more inspectors and will<br />
make sure they are fully trained and supported<br />
throughout the process. Being a <strong>Tenant</strong> Inspector<br />
is a great way to learn more about how <strong>Connect</strong> works.<br />
To find out more please contact Lisa Longbottom,<br />
<strong>Tenant</strong> Involvement Officer on 0300 5000 600.<br />
3
MONEY<br />
MATTERS<br />
MONEY<br />
MATTERS<br />
Taste the<br />
difference<br />
<strong>Connect</strong>’s Money Matters Team ran the ‘Downshift Challenge’ at our Thrive launch<br />
event in September. They were on hand to talk about the work they do helping<br />
tenants with budgeting and debt advice, benefits, fuel poverty and finding work.<br />
The team asked event attendees to take the<br />
‘Downshift Challenge’ to see if they could<br />
taste the difference between premiumbranded<br />
and value-branded products.<br />
The challenge wasn’t about forcing people<br />
to drop down a brand level, but to ensure they<br />
weren’t spending money for no reason. If you<br />
can’t tell the difference with the lower brand<br />
level goods, then why pay more for them?<br />
Participants had to guess which the more<br />
expensive product was by taste alone.<br />
Then decide if the additional price was<br />
worth it.<br />
Over 100 people took part in the challenge<br />
and couldn’t believe the price variations for<br />
little difference in taste. Some people even<br />
thought the non-branded items tasted better!<br />
About the service<br />
Money Matters is a free and confidential<br />
service that provides:<br />
Help with welfare reform and benefits<br />
Budgeting and debt advice<br />
Ways of reducing fuel costs and<br />
improving energy efficiency<br />
Digital skills training<br />
Help creating CVs, job searching,<br />
volunteer and apprenticeship<br />
opportunities<br />
Health and wellbeing support<br />
Benefit cap update<br />
In the Summer issue of <strong>Get</strong> <strong>Connect</strong>ed, we informed<br />
you about the benefit changes announced by the<br />
Government in July 2015.<br />
If you are affected by these changes you should already have<br />
received two letters from the DWP (Department for Work and<br />
Pensions) advising of how these changes affect you. Below<br />
are the dates that these changes start and the new proposed<br />
maximum benefit amounts will be.<br />
• If your benefits were already capped at the existing<br />
maximum amount, then your entitlement will have<br />
been reduced to the new limit from 7th November 2016.<br />
• If your benefits are not currently capped but you will<br />
be affected by the new amount, that will take place<br />
on 19th December 2016 if you live in Kirklees and<br />
9th January 2017 if you live in Leeds.<br />
New weekly benefit cap<br />
Proposed changes from Autumn 2016<br />
£385<br />
Two parent family<br />
Single parent family<br />
£258<br />
Single person<br />
Any cap in your benefit entitlement will be taken from your<br />
Housing Benefit, which means that if you are affected you<br />
will have a shortfall in your rent to pay.<br />
Michelle Cox is currently contacting all tenants who are<br />
affected by the benefit caps as she may be able to help.<br />
Michelle can help you find out if you qualify for any additional<br />
financial help through Discretionary Housing Payments,<br />
if you meet any of the exemption criteria and help you<br />
understand what you need to pay. If you are concerned about<br />
the benefit cap or have any other financial worries, please<br />
contact Michelle using the details on this page and the<br />
Money Matters Team will try their best to help.<br />
<strong>Get</strong> in touch ›››<br />
To see how our free and confidential service<br />
might be able to help you, or to find out<br />
more about the benefit cap, please contact:<br />
Michelle Cox, Money Matters Team<br />
T: 0300 5000 600<br />
E: moneymatters@connecthousing.org.uk<br />
Money advice<br />
this Winter<br />
Winter Fuel Payment<br />
You could get between<br />
£100 - £300 tax-free to pay<br />
your heating bills if you<br />
were born on or before 5th<br />
January 1953. Usually this<br />
is paid automatically if you<br />
get the State Pension.<br />
If you qualify but don’t get<br />
paid automatically, you<br />
can make a claim. Visit:<br />
www.gov.uk/winter-fuelpayment<br />
Cold Weather Payment<br />
You may get a payment<br />
if you receive certain<br />
benefits. Payments are<br />
made when your local<br />
temperature is recorded<br />
as, or forecast to be, an<br />
average of 0°C or below<br />
over seven consecutive<br />
days. You’ll get a payment<br />
of £25 for each seven-day<br />
period of very cold weather<br />
between 1st November<br />
2016 and 31st March 2017.<br />
Visit www.gov.uk/coldweather-payment<br />
Christmas<br />
Christmas should be a<br />
happy occasion spent with<br />
family and friends, but for<br />
some it can be a time of<br />
financial worry and stress.<br />
There can be a great deal<br />
of pressure to spend<br />
money on presents and<br />
entertaining, even though<br />
bills, including rent, have<br />
to be paid. If you’re having<br />
difficulty with debts or<br />
struggling to pay your rent<br />
please contact our Money<br />
Matters team.<br />
4<br />
5
CRF<br />
HOMES<br />
A word<br />
from Eunice<br />
Open<br />
all hours<br />
The CRF (<strong>Connect</strong>s Residents Federation) is an independent<br />
organisation, run by tenants for tenants. This month we caught<br />
up with Eunice Clarkson, Chair of the CRF, to talk about scrutiny.<br />
When our offices are closed, we use an Out of Hours (OOH) service so that<br />
you have a contact in the event of an emergency repair. The cost of using<br />
this service is quite expensive so we would like to remind you to please<br />
only use it when absolutely necessary.<br />
I think it is really important<br />
to have scrutiny at <strong>Connect</strong><br />
and the CRF take this part of<br />
our job very seriously. A great<br />
example of this is looking<br />
at <strong>Connect</strong>’s performance,<br />
– if there are any areas of<br />
concern, working with the<br />
relevant staff to find out<br />
why, and what they’re going<br />
to do to improve. Our role<br />
is to ensure that as ‘The<br />
<strong>Tenant</strong>s Voice’ we can<br />
hold <strong>Connect</strong> to account<br />
and influence some of the<br />
decisions they make.<br />
One of the groups that the CRF<br />
are members of is the Service<br />
Improvement Forum (SIF).<br />
The SIF meets regularly<br />
throughout the year and<br />
makes recommendations<br />
to the Board and Directors<br />
at <strong>Connect</strong> for consideration<br />
to improve services. I think<br />
this is the most valuable<br />
of the groups we attend; it<br />
allows us to understand what<br />
is happening now, what the<br />
plans are for the future and<br />
represent tenants at a very<br />
strategic level.<br />
The CRF also use <strong>Tenant</strong><br />
Inspectors to review<br />
services that are in need of<br />
improvement. We use loads<br />
of information such as survey<br />
results, complaints and the<br />
feedback from other tenants<br />
to decide what area to look at.<br />
Diary<br />
dates 2017:<br />
CRF general meetings<br />
are not just for members<br />
– why not come along and<br />
see what it’s all about?<br />
Tuesday 14th February,<br />
1 - 3pm, Leeds<br />
Tuesday 11th April,<br />
6 - 8pm, Leeds<br />
If you’d like to attend a meeting or find<br />
out more about becoming a member<br />
of the CRF contact:<br />
Lisa Longbottom, <strong>Tenant</strong> Involvement Officer<br />
T: 0300 5000 600<br />
E: lisa.longbottom@connecthousing.org.uk<br />
The Out of Hours service is a ‘make safe’ service which<br />
means that our contractor will normally be instructed<br />
to just make the repair safe; the outstanding full repair<br />
then being carried out by us during normal opening hours.<br />
Please only use this service for a genuine emergency repair.<br />
If you call out an emergency contractor for a less serious<br />
repair you may be charged.<br />
We have included a quick guide so you can check if you<br />
require the Out of Hours service.<br />
Emergency repair<br />
An emergency repair is<br />
something which could<br />
cause danger to health,<br />
your safety or serious<br />
damage to property.<br />
This includes; severe roof<br />
leaks, burst pipes, loss<br />
of water, loss of power<br />
or lighting, loss of heating<br />
in cold weather or a<br />
dangerous electrical fault.<br />
Non-emergency repair<br />
Non-emergency repairs are<br />
things you can reasonably<br />
live with for a short time<br />
without immediate risk<br />
to your safety, security<br />
or health.<br />
This includes; internal door<br />
repairs, kitchen cupboard<br />
repairs or plastering.<br />
Before<br />
you call<br />
Before calling the service<br />
you should consider the<br />
following:<br />
• Is this causing<br />
damage to my home?<br />
• Is my family at risk<br />
of harm if this repair<br />
is not fixed immediately?<br />
• Could this issue<br />
wait until I speak to<br />
a member of <strong>Connect</strong>’s<br />
repairs team?<br />
• Is this repair my<br />
responsibility?<br />
• Is there anything<br />
I can do to prevent<br />
damage being caused?<br />
If you would like to find<br />
out more information on<br />
the Out of Hours service,<br />
please call 0300 5000 600.<br />
6 7
HOMES<br />
100<br />
We know that in the past tenants have<br />
reported dissatisfaction with our gas<br />
contractor, Sure. We have since put<br />
a number of measures in place to<br />
improve their service.<br />
Michael Boaler, our new Mechanical and<br />
Electrical Services Manager and Bianca Roe,<br />
the Technical Compliance Officer, have worked<br />
hard to improve the service Sure provides.<br />
of Sure’s repairs have<br />
been completed on the<br />
first visit.<br />
boilers have been<br />
replaced due to being<br />
old and inefficient.<br />
of repair appointments<br />
with customers have<br />
been kept.<br />
of tenants have been satisfied<br />
with the work Sure carried<br />
out in their homes.<br />
of reported unsafe appliances<br />
were successfully repaired or<br />
replaced by Sure.<br />
They work alongside each other to ensure<br />
<strong>Connect</strong> achieves compliance in areas such as<br />
gas, electrical safety, Legionella and fire safety.<br />
They act on any dissatisfaction reported by<br />
tenants as well as new laws in this area to<br />
ensure your safety.<br />
The following facts give a flavour of how<br />
well our gas contractor has been doing<br />
since 1st April 2016.<br />
of gas service<br />
certificates are<br />
up-to-date in<br />
line with The<br />
Landlord’s Gas<br />
Safety Record.<br />
Earlier this year<br />
our internal<br />
auditors checked<br />
our systems and<br />
confirmed that we<br />
were effectively<br />
managing gas<br />
safety. Our gas<br />
auditors who<br />
monitor the<br />
quality of the<br />
work also confirm<br />
that the work<br />
is to a high<br />
standard and your<br />
safety is assured.<br />
Michael Boaler<br />
Meet Larry<br />
Riseley – your<br />
new Estates<br />
Officer<br />
Your feedback has<br />
consistently told us<br />
that the appearance<br />
and upkeep of your estate<br />
is very important to you.<br />
At the same time,<br />
<strong>Connect</strong> is obliged to do<br />
all we can to make sure<br />
fire safety equipment<br />
and escape routes in an<br />
emergency are properly<br />
maintained. To meet<br />
these demands, we have<br />
created the new post<br />
of Estates Officer in the<br />
Property Services team.<br />
Larry took up his post<br />
in November and<br />
will be visiting all our<br />
estates every few weeks<br />
specifically to check the<br />
following:<br />
• Regular cleaning and<br />
gardening works are<br />
being done to the<br />
required standard<br />
• Fire safety<br />
arrangements are<br />
working as they<br />
should<br />
He will also deal with<br />
questions and queries<br />
about landlord services<br />
from you. So make sure<br />
you look out for him on<br />
your estate!<br />
INTRODUCING GERTIE<br />
If you would like further information<br />
about gas safety please contact:<br />
HOMES<br />
You’ve heard of Henry the Hoover. Well <strong>Connect</strong> now has<br />
Gertie the Gutter Vac. It’s a brand new piece of equipment,<br />
that makes cleaning out mud and leaves from roof gutters<br />
and drain gulleys so much quicker, safer and cheaper than<br />
the old manual method of ladders or scaffolding.<br />
The Property Services team have been trying it out, and are<br />
ready to start clearing blocked gutters over the winter months.<br />
Bianca Roe, Technical Compliance Officer<br />
T: 0300 5000 600<br />
E: bianca.roe@connecthousing.org.uk<br />
8 9
SAFETY<br />
Stay safe<br />
this Winter<br />
We want to share some practical tips and advice to help<br />
you stay warm and safe in your home this winter.<br />
1 KEEPING WARM 2 FROZEN PIPES<br />
4 GRITTING AND SNOW<br />
• Set your heating timer so that<br />
it comes on early in the day and<br />
switches off when you go to bed.<br />
• The recommended temperature<br />
is between 18 to 21 degrees.<br />
• If you can, keep well stocked with<br />
food in case bad weather prevents<br />
you from getting to the shops.<br />
• Wearing several layers of clothing<br />
will keep you warmer than one<br />
thick layer.<br />
• Keeping active, especially if your<br />
mobility is restricted, will keep<br />
your circulation flowing.<br />
• Make sure that you test your<br />
care and smoke alarms.<br />
3<br />
• If your water pipes have<br />
frozen and you’re without<br />
water, follow the guidance<br />
provided by Yorkshire Water.<br />
• Turn off your stop tap. In most<br />
homes you’ll find this under the<br />
kitchen sink, but it could be located<br />
in a cellar, garage or outbuilding.<br />
Visit: www.yorkshirewater.com/<br />
winterready for more information.<br />
BE HEALTHY<br />
• If you feel unwell but it isn’t an<br />
emergency you can call the NHS<br />
free phone on 111 for medical<br />
help. The hotline is available 24/7.<br />
• The flu vaccination is available on<br />
the NHS to help protect people<br />
who are at risk. Visit www.nhs.uk<br />
to see if you are eligible for a free<br />
flu jab.<br />
• If you have repeat prescriptions<br />
delivered, make sure you order<br />
them in plenty of time, especially<br />
if severe weather is forecast.<br />
We take reasonable steps to maintain<br />
safety by providing grit for use on<br />
key footpaths and communal areas<br />
required for access. We have to risk<br />
assess estates to ensure we get grit to<br />
where it is most needed.<br />
Low Risk: If there’s no grit bin on your<br />
estate you can collect self-help bags<br />
from our offices during prolonged<br />
periods of bad weather.<br />
Medium Risk: During severe winter<br />
conditions we’ll replenish grit bins on<br />
your estate every two weeks. We can’t<br />
spread the grit or clear footpaths.<br />
High Risk: We’ll top up grit supplies<br />
and clear footpaths for older people<br />
and designated supported housing<br />
schemes.<br />
If access by car is directly to your front<br />
gate, the surrounding footpath won’t<br />
be gritted.<br />
We’ll grit high risk estates when<br />
temperatures will not rise above<br />
0°C for three days in a row. Our<br />
staff will visit high risk areas every<br />
three working days depending on<br />
the weather conditions.<br />
5<br />
6<br />
CRIME PREVENTION<br />
• Don’t leave presents under your<br />
Christmas tree if they are visible<br />
from windows or doors.<br />
• If you’re going out, make sure<br />
your house looks occupied by<br />
using a timer switch to operate<br />
lamps as it gets dark and leave<br />
a radio on.<br />
• Keys should always be kept out<br />
of sight and not left near doors<br />
or windows.<br />
INSURANCE<br />
Although we insure the structure<br />
and fittings of the building, your<br />
belongings are not insured by us.<br />
You will need to have home contents<br />
insurance to cover this. If the<br />
unexpected happens, can you afford<br />
not to have insurance?<br />
If you would like help finding<br />
or switching insurance, contact<br />
our Money Matters Team on<br />
0300 5000 600 and they can help.<br />
10<br />
11
OLDER<br />
PEOPLE<br />
Festive<br />
fundraising<br />
Full<br />
of life<br />
On Monday <strong>10th</strong> October, tenants and staff at our older people’s scheme,<br />
Hawthorn Mill in Leeds, celebrated the International Day of Older<br />
Persons (which they do every day, in all honesty!)<br />
The International Day<br />
of Older Persons is an<br />
opportunity to highlight<br />
the important contributions<br />
that older people make to<br />
society and raise awareness<br />
of the issues and challenges<br />
of ageing in today’s world.<br />
Each year, since 1998,<br />
Leeds has celebrated<br />
the International Day<br />
of Older People on<br />
1st October. Celebrations<br />
span for around a week<br />
and a half with a different<br />
theme each time. This year<br />
the theme was Health and<br />
Wellbeing with a focus on<br />
arts and culture.<br />
On the day participants<br />
enjoyed a range of crafty<br />
activities including drawing<br />
and painting on canvases,<br />
a quiz about world culture<br />
and dined on a healthy<br />
lunch.<br />
The participants were<br />
then challenged to make<br />
animal models using only<br />
fruit as materials. The final<br />
creations were fantastic.<br />
The day concluded with<br />
a mini awards ceremony.<br />
<strong>Connect</strong>’s Chief Executive,<br />
Helen Lennon, joined the<br />
event to judge the creations<br />
and awarded trophies and<br />
medals to her favourite<br />
art pieces.<br />
I wasn’t confident<br />
about my drawing<br />
so I was pleasantly<br />
surprised when<br />
I won first place!<br />
I want everybody<br />
to know that it<br />
was a ship on<br />
the sea and not<br />
a submarine<br />
though! I’ve had<br />
a good day, itwas<br />
lovely coming here.<br />
Margaret,<br />
Hawthorn Mill Resident<br />
Hidden Memories is a monthly event held<br />
at our older people’s scheme, Hawthorn Mill.<br />
It’s designed to help people who suffer with<br />
Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or any form<br />
of memory loss. Everybody is welcome to join<br />
these sessions throughout the year.<br />
We have a generous<br />
participant, Donna, who<br />
attends the cafe regularly<br />
with her mother, Winifred.<br />
She found out about the<br />
cafe through a Community<br />
Health Advisor six months<br />
ago and has been attending<br />
with Winifred ever since.<br />
Donna fund-raised for<br />
the Christmas event by<br />
completing a women’s 10k<br />
run at Temple Newsam<br />
and having a bake sale at<br />
her workplace. She raised<br />
£200 which she has donated<br />
towards the entertainment,<br />
activities and banquet at the<br />
annual Christmas party.<br />
I find the cafe<br />
great and very<br />
supportive. My<br />
Mum loves it.<br />
She has made<br />
friends that she<br />
recognises each<br />
month. It’s really<br />
good for people<br />
with dementia<br />
and carers too. It’s<br />
an opportunity to<br />
reduce loneliness<br />
and isolation.<br />
Donna, Daughter<br />
of Cafe participant<br />
If you would like to find out more about<br />
the Dementia Cafe please contact:<br />
Sandra Clibbens, Scheme Manager<br />
T: 0113 2311 561<br />
E: sandra.clibbens@connecthousing.org.uk<br />
The Hidden<br />
Memories Cafe<br />
The Hidden Memories<br />
Cafe runs on the first<br />
Thursday of each month<br />
from 1pm - 3pm at<br />
Hawthorn Mill Sheltered<br />
Housing, Cobden Road,<br />
Lower Wortley, Leeds,<br />
LS12 5HQ. <strong>Get</strong> in touch<br />
if you would like to<br />
attend but please RSVP.<br />
Dementia<br />
Friends<br />
Programme<br />
<strong>Connect</strong> has signed<br />
up to the Alzheimer’s<br />
Society Dementia<br />
Friends programme.<br />
It aims to change<br />
people’s perceptions<br />
of dementia and intends<br />
to transform the way<br />
the nation thinks, acts<br />
and talks about the<br />
condition.<br />
At <strong>Connect</strong> we are<br />
committed to providing<br />
a helpful and reassuring<br />
service to anyone<br />
experiencing dementia.<br />
12 13
Thrive<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
Last year we held <strong>Connect</strong> the Dots – a pop-up festival that gave people<br />
a sneak peek of our new venue in Dewsbury. A year later that space has<br />
become Thrive! We used feedback from tenants, staff and partners to<br />
shape its design.<br />
A let’s get<br />
together<br />
and make<br />
things<br />
happen<br />
community<br />
space.<br />
Music is well known<br />
to be good for our mental<br />
and physical health and<br />
the club brings people<br />
together to sing and play.<br />
All musical abilities<br />
(including beginners)<br />
are welcome.<br />
Guests at the launch learned<br />
from a local knitting group<br />
who are part of The Crafting<br />
Club, which happens every<br />
Friday at Thrive. If you like<br />
sewing, card making and<br />
crafts in general, then this<br />
friendly group is the one<br />
for you!<br />
We’re planning Thrive’s<br />
calendar for 2017. This is<br />
a space for you and your<br />
communities and we would<br />
welcome any ideas about<br />
events and activities you<br />
would like to see, or even<br />
For more information about Thrive, what’s<br />
on or to hire the space please contact:<br />
Nuala Reilly, Community Networker<br />
T: 0300 5000 600<br />
E: info@thriveatconnect.org<br />
better, like to run there.<br />
The CRF are also planning<br />
to have a regular presence<br />
to recruit new members and<br />
join in existing activities.<br />
Could we do something<br />
similar in Leeds? There is a<br />
lot more happening in Leeds<br />
than in Dewsbury and we<br />
never want to duplicate what<br />
others are doing. However,<br />
we are considering how we<br />
can make better use of our<br />
Leeds office and we will keep<br />
you informed of any changes<br />
there.<br />
The September launch<br />
was an opportunity to<br />
show Thrive’s potential<br />
to support tenant and<br />
community activities. We<br />
were delighted to welcome<br />
over 150 people, including<br />
local Councillor, Eric Firth<br />
and MP Paula Sheriff.<br />
In the Creative Space, Lindsey<br />
from <strong>Connect</strong> and Simon<br />
from the Recovery College<br />
promoted a Happiness<br />
Course now being hosted<br />
at Thrive. It focussed on<br />
uncovering the simple,<br />
cost-free habits that help<br />
us live happier lives and<br />
contribute to a more caring<br />
and compassionate society.<br />
We hope to re-run this course<br />
in 2017, so keep a look out for<br />
details of the next sessions<br />
and a future Happy Cafe.<br />
Entertainment was provided<br />
by the Commoner’s Choir<br />
and a young dance group<br />
from Nouveau Wellbeing, a<br />
community interest company<br />
that encourages fitness<br />
and healthy living. They are<br />
running two exercise classes<br />
at Thrive every Thursday;<br />
Buggy Fit: Is a low-impact<br />
postnatal exercise class that<br />
helps ease mums back into<br />
shape from behind a buggy<br />
or pram.<br />
Pre-School Dance: A great<br />
way to prepare under 5’s for<br />
school by singing, dancing<br />
and playing games.<br />
Inspired by the Commoner’s<br />
Choir, every Friday afternoon<br />
Thrive is being filled with<br />
music through a music<br />
club open to everyone.<br />
What’s on at<br />
Thrive at <strong>Connect</strong><br />
We are hosting regular<br />
activities such as<br />
fitness classes, reading<br />
and writing lessons,<br />
craft clubs and music<br />
sessions.<br />
If you would like to know<br />
what’s happening over<br />
the next few months at<br />
Thrive please visit:<br />
www.connecthousing.<br />
org.uk/whatsonthrive<br />
<strong>Get</strong> Social<br />
/thriveatconnect<br />
@thriveatconnect<br />
14<br />
15
COMMUNITY<br />
What a<br />
wonderful<br />
community<br />
space in<br />
Dewsbury<br />
– so many<br />
activities<br />
and creative<br />
things<br />
happening<br />
Simona Manni<br />
HOMES FOR CATHY<br />
The 16th November 2016<br />
marked the 50th anniversary<br />
of the first showing, by the<br />
BBC of Ken Loach’s film<br />
Cathy Come Home.<br />
It shocked a nation into<br />
action. Within months<br />
Shelter and Crisis had<br />
been formed and housing<br />
associations had been set<br />
up all over the country<br />
(including the two<br />
associations that came<br />
together as <strong>Connect</strong>) with<br />
the aim of helping homeless<br />
people access affordable<br />
housing.<br />
Many of those housing<br />
associations are still around<br />
50 years later, having built<br />
hundreds of thousands of<br />
affordable homes to rent<br />
– but still there are people<br />
living on the streets and in<br />
Bed and Breakfasts. Shelter<br />
estimates 120,000 children<br />
will spend this Christmas in<br />
temporary accommodation.<br />
23 of those original<br />
1960/70s housing<br />
associations, including<br />
<strong>Connect</strong>, have come<br />
together to form the Homes<br />
for Cathy group, aimed<br />
at raising awareness of<br />
the homelessness crisis<br />
and to highlight the need<br />
for more homes and<br />
support for homeless<br />
people. To commemorate<br />
the anniversary, <strong>Connect</strong><br />
showed the film at Thrive<br />
on 7th December 2016<br />
and alongside other<br />
organisations in Leeds<br />
on <strong>10th</strong> December 2016.<br />
Available<br />
for hire<br />
If you are looking for<br />
a space to base your<br />
activities or hold an<br />
event – whether it’s a<br />
meeting room, cafe or<br />
community event then<br />
Thrive is available to hire<br />
for you! We have three<br />
unique spaces available<br />
which are:<br />
A sharing, inspiring,<br />
have a go creative space<br />
A Happy, friendly,<br />
get a brew cafe space<br />
A talking, thinking,<br />
try it out meeting space<br />
<strong>Get</strong> in touch for more<br />
information.<br />
Contact us<br />
hello@thriveatconnect.org<br />
/thriveatconnect<br />
@thriveatconnect<br />
16
Supporting<br />
Communities<br />
Supporting communities has always been one of our priorities. This year, we’ve<br />
created a new approach to neighbourly places. Our vision of a neighbourly place is<br />
where tenants are sociable, approachable and respect each other’s privacy and quality<br />
of life. It is a place where differences are tolerated and misunderstandings or disputes<br />
are tackled by practical conversations.<br />
We are pleased to introduce<br />
our new Community Housing<br />
Officers, who are part of the<br />
Neighbourly Places Team, and<br />
will have a regular presence<br />
in your community. They<br />
manage smaller areas than<br />
in the past which means they<br />
have more time to get to know<br />
local tenants better, deal with<br />
general enquiries and help<br />
build community relationships.<br />
Their priority is to enable<br />
tenants, and other people<br />
living and working in your<br />
local area, to contribute in<br />
creating a neighbourly place.<br />
This is a new approach to<br />
the way that we support<br />
communities by encouraging<br />
and supporting co-operation<br />
and neighbourliness.<br />
It means we won’t be<br />
stepping in to resolve issues<br />
– we’ll be supporting you and<br />
your community to resolve<br />
more issues for yourselves<br />
and provide opportunities<br />
for people in your area to<br />
get together and make<br />
local connections. We still<br />
have a small team that will<br />
deal with the most serious<br />
anti-social behaviour cases<br />
where matters can’t be<br />
resolved in any other way<br />
and will take<br />
tenancy enforcement action<br />
where appropriate.<br />
Over the coming months the<br />
Community Housing Officers<br />
will be in your area finding out<br />
as much as they can about the<br />
local facilities and resources,<br />
the people and organisations,<br />
and the things that matter<br />
to you and the community<br />
where you live. If you have any<br />
questions about this new way<br />
of working and how you can<br />
contribute please ask your<br />
Community Housing Officer.<br />
If you would like more information on our<br />
Neighbourly Places Strategy, please contact:<br />
Ceri Lewis, Neighbourhood Services Manager<br />
T: 0300 5000 600<br />
E: ceri.lewis@connecthousing.org.uk<br />
INTOLERANT<br />
OF INTOLERANCE<br />
Intolerance is the unwillingness to accept views,<br />
beliefs, behaviour, or indeed, people different<br />
to you and yours.<br />
It seems that intolerance is on the increase<br />
in our society. It can show itself in many ways<br />
including what is known as ‘Hate Crime’ which<br />
is harassment or intimidation based on disability,<br />
race, sexual orientation, gender-identity, religion<br />
or belief.<br />
We understand that people may be under a lot<br />
of pressure in the current economic climate which<br />
can make us all less tolerant, but intolerance<br />
ultimately hurts us all.<br />
If you see, or experience hate crime, please let us<br />
know. As well as working with the Police and Local<br />
Authorities, we view hate crimes as a breach of<br />
tenancy which could lead to legal action against<br />
the person committing the act<br />
For information on Hate Crime visit:<br />
www.connecthousing.org.uk/hatecrime<br />
WRAP UP FOR WINTER<br />
<strong>Connect</strong> are proud to be taking part in the Wrap up for<br />
Winter project alongside Leeds and Yorkshire Housing,<br />
Yorkshire Housing and Leeds City Council. The aim<br />
of the project is to collect winter clothes and coats<br />
for homeless people.<br />
We will be accepting donations from now until<br />
Monday 16th January 2017. If you want to help make<br />
a difference and donate some warm clothes, items<br />
can be left at either of our offices in Leeds or Dewsbury.<br />
205 Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS8 4HS<br />
21 Bond Street, Dewsbury, WF13 1AX<br />
The collections will be shared with several charities<br />
at a special event on Friday 20th January 2017 so<br />
that they can distribute to the people who access<br />
their services. The charities who will benefit from<br />
the generous donations are: Leeds Street Outreach,<br />
St George’s Crypt, St Anne’s and Emmaus.<br />
If you would like to know more, please contact<br />
Lisa Longbottom, <strong>Tenant</strong> Involvement Officer<br />
on 0300 5000 600.<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
While we celebrate<br />
our diversity, what<br />
surprises me time<br />
and time again<br />
as I travel around<br />
the constituency<br />
is that we are far<br />
more united and<br />
have far more in<br />
common with each<br />
other than things<br />
that divide us.<br />
The late<br />
Jo Cox, M.P<br />
18
<strong>Get</strong> in<br />
MONEY<br />
MATTERS<br />
touch<br />
0300 5000 600<br />
www.connecthousing.org.uk<br />
hello@connecthousing.org.uk<br />
<strong>Connect</strong> Housing is<br />
a charitable housing<br />
association.<br />
Our passion is for a<br />
fairer society, where<br />
people’s homes, health<br />
and happiness matter.<br />
/<strong>Connect</strong>Housing<br />
@<strong>Connect</strong>Housing<br />
Leeds Office<br />
205 Roundhay Road<br />
Leeds, LS8 4HS<br />
This office is open as usual:<br />
Mon, Tues, Thurs: 9am - 5.30pm<br />
Weds: 10.30am - 5.30pm<br />
Fri: 9am - 5pm<br />
Dewsbury Office<br />
21 Bond Street<br />
Dewsbury, WF13 1AX<br />
This office is open as usual:<br />
Mon, Tues. Thurs, Fri: 9am - 5pm<br />
Weds: 10.30am - 5pm<br />
We can help you understand this information in your language. We can also provide<br />
documents in large print or audio. Please contact us.<br />
This magazine has been printed on FSC certified paper by a<br />
Carbon Balanced Publication Printer using vegetable-based inks.