Get Connected Summer 2017

THE MAGAZINE FORRESIDENTS
Summer 2017
Residents
rock
Connect Residents Federation
Are you ready for
Universal Credit?
Improvement programme
1

In this issue:
3
4
6
8
10
12
13
High Five
Latestnewsand events
Our residents
rock
All the latestfrom
the CRF
Safety update
Asbestosadvice
and staying safein
your home
635 homes
being improved
This year’simprovement
programme
Are you ready
for Universal
Credit?
Benefit changes advice
and support
Rents update
Easy ways to pay
your rent
Throwback
Thursday
1940s event at our
Older People’sScheme
Welcome
Happy summer time! We
hope you’vebeen enjoying
the sunshineand blueskies.
With this newsletter we have
sent youaseparatesummary
of our Tenant Report. It’sa
chancetosee howwell we’re
doing and howthe Connect
Residents Federation (CRF)
has ratedour performance.
Speaking of the CRF, on
pages 4-5 of this issue we
take alook at what theygot
up to at their recent lively
AGMand share howyou can
get involvedtoo.
Lots of other events have
been taking placeacrossour
communities. Hawthorn Mill,
our Older People’sScheme
in Leeds, hosteda1940s
summer fete and at Thrive
in Dewsbury we held aGreat
Get Together (pages 13-15).
In this issue, we have
included our annual update
on howweare investing in
good quality homes. You
canfind out moreabout
what we aredoing and the
investments we aremaking
on pages 8-9.
The government’sUniversal
Credit is rolling-out and is
already affecting many of
our tenants. We’vetried to
cut-through the complexities
and haveput together some
simpleguidanceonwhat is
happening and when (pages
10-11). Don’t forget our
MoneyMattersserviceis
here to help you.
We hope youenjoythis
issue of Get Connected –
happy reading!
Share your
thoughts
Get in touchby
phone, email,
Facebook or Twitter
0300 5000 600
communications@
connecthousing.org.uk
/ConnectHousing
@ConnectHousing
14
16
Our Great Get
Together
Community spirit
at Thrive
Back cover
All the details youneed
to get in touch
Thank you
Tenants, volunteersand community partnershaveall been
involvedinthis issue of the magazine and we’d liketosay abig
thank youtothe Connect Residents Federation (CRF) especially
Nicola, Malcolm and Eunicefor being our front coverstars;
Gordon and Tom(Simon On The Streets); all of the volunteers,
staff and participants of Hawthorn Mill’s 1940s fete –especially
Ann, Eddie and Kath; all participants of our Great Get Together
including Paula,Hilda, Zoya and PC SallyBaines.
2

High Five
News youcan use
August Bank Holiday
We will be closed on Monday 28th August.You canstill call
0300 5000 600 and speak to our out-of-hoursservicetoreport
an emergency repair or anti-social behaviour.
How well is
Connect doing?
Enclosed is our Tenant Report 2017
summary.Findout howyour tenant
representatives ratedour performance.
Youcan download the full report at
www.connecthousing.org.uk/TR17 or call
0300 5000 600 to requestaprinted copy.
Annual event
runs all year!
Lastyear, we launched Thrive, our new
community spaceinDewsbury.Sincethen
therehas been apacked programme of events,
so rather than holding one big annual event
likewehavepreviously, we will continue to
investinactivities that run all year round. For
the latestcourses, workshops and events visit
www.connecthousing.org.uk/whatsonthrive
Our AGMsession forshareholderswillbe
happening as usual.
When: Wednesday 13th September, 6pm to 7pm
Where: ThriveatConnect, 21 Bond Street,
Dewsbury, WF13 1AX
RSVP: If youare ashareholder please
call 03005000 600 or email
sarah.midgley@connecthousing.org.uk
Hidden
Memories
Café
Every month the kettle’sonatHawthorn
Mill in Leeds. The café offerssupport to
peoplewho suffer with any form of
memory loss.Carersand relatives
arealso welcome. The next café is on
Thursday 7th September, 1pm to 3pm
–toRSVP call 0113 2311 561 or email
louise.clark@connecthousing.org.uk.
Catch-up
with Connect
Our Annual Reviewwillbepublished
in September.Findout howyour rent
is being investedback intoaffordable
homesand your localcommunity.
Sign-up to receiveyour copy online
www.connecthousing.org.uk/AR17
3

CRF
Our residents
rock
The CRF held their Annual General Meeting on 11th July 2017. It was afull
house and the energy was high, with guests including tenants, staff and a
special speaker. Here is ataste of what happened at the meeting...
Awarm welcome
EuniceClarkson, Chair of
the Committee, welcomed
membersnew and old and
shared some examples of the
good work that the CRF has
been doing this year.Eunice
reminded everyone how
important the CRF’sroleas
Connect’sCriticalFriend is -
scrutinising performanceand
holding Connect to account.
Theyare also keen to give
praise when theysee things
working well. Eunicesaid
that the next twoyearswill
be pivotal, especiallywith
changes such as Brexit. The
CRF will remain committed
to representing all tenants
and helping Connect improve
services forresidents.
Down to business
Maureen Kershaw,
Secretary of the
Committee, ranthrough
the financial accounts
and Lisa Longbottom,
our Tenant Involvement
Officer, announced the new
and re-elected officers.
Stuart Rippin, one of our
Community Housing Officers,
explained howhis newteam
will work with residents.
Rock and
(swiss) roll
Delicious cakesfuelled
everyone’screativity –
designing notebooks
and grooving to Elvis
numbers, sung by Trevor
the Music Man.
4

Simon On The
Streets speak
The guestspeaker was
Gordon Laing from Simon On
The Streets. He explained
howthe charity offers
emotional and practical
support on an outreach basis
to roughsleepers or those
atrisk of homelessness.
Theyalsooffer support
around drugs and alcohol
dependency and canhelp
with mental health problems.
If you’d liketoattend ameeting or find
out moreabout joining the CRF contact:
Lisa Longbottom, Tenant InvolvementOfficer
T: 0300 5000 600
E: lisa.longbottom@connecthousing.org.uk
Theyfind it’susuallythe
peoplewho havefallen
through the cracks of other
mainstream services that
theysupport.
The CRF presented acheque
for£100 to Simon On The
Streets, acombination of
moneyraised from the raffle
and adonation from CRF as a
thank you.
Youcan find out moreabout
the charity at:
www.simononthestreets.co.uk
Join the CRF
The CRF is an independent
organisation run by tenants
fortenants. Theyscrutinise
Connect, help to shape and
improve services and they
want you!
•You don’t haveto
attend every meeting
to be amember
•General meetings are
bi-monthlyfor twohours
•Transport to and from
meetings is provided
by Connect
•The meetings usually
featureaguest speaker,
refreshments, afun
activity and acharity raffle
•It’sagreat way to meet
other tenants in arelaxed
social atmosphere
Diary dates
2017
Tuesday 12th September
1pm-3pm
Tuesday 21stNovember
1pm-3pm
Another smart meeting
The CRF also held ageneral
meeting on Tuesday13th
June in Huddersfield.
Our Energy Efficiency Officer
spokeabout smart meters
and howtheycan help control
energy costs(see page 9).
The charity raffleatthis
meeting (the CRF is a
charitablebunch!) was in
aid of one of the Jo Cox
Foundation’scharities, The
RoyalVoluntary Serviceand
the group raised £79.10. The
servicecreates community
spaces in Batley and Spen,
wherepeoplework together
to combat loneliness,
something the CRF and
Connect feel stronglyabout.
5

SAFETY
All about asbestos
Information and advice about asbestos, what it is, where it can be found and
what to do if you think you may have asbestos in your home.
Forhomes built before 2000
What is asbestos?
Asbestosisanaturally
occurring material that has
avariety of uses throughout
the construction industry.
It is not unusual to find
asbestosinhomes as it was
used extensivelyuntil 1999
when it was banned due to
the associated health risks.
What are the
health risks?
Asbestosmaterials in good
condition do not cause
health problems. However,
when theybecome damaged
theymay release fibres
intothe air. If breathed in,
the fibres could lead to
asbestosrelated diseases
such as mesothelioma and
asbestosis.
Where might
asbestos be inside
my home?
Asbestosmay havebeen
used in the following places:
• Decorativecoatings to
ceilings (artex)
• Floor tiles
• Bath panels
• Parts of boilers
• Roof spaceinsulation and
tank supports
• Windowand door frames
What is Connect
doing?
We haveaprocedure
formanaging asbestos
which includes appointing
independent consultants to
survey our properties for
asbestos.
What is the
survey for?
The survey helps us to:
• identify if thereisany
asbestosinyour home
• see if the asbestos
presents any risk
• take appropriateaction
if required
When will asurvey
be carried out?
As alandlord, we havealegal
obligation to survey your
home beforewecarry out
any repair or improvement
works. Alternatively, youmay
havehad asurvey in thepast
and we need to do another to
updateour records.
Can Icarry out
works to my
home?
As outlined in your tenancy
agreement, youmustcontact
us beforeyou carry out
any works to your home.
If available, acopy of the
survey will be provided. If
we don’t haveasurvey for
your home, we will request
one if necessary.You should
not startany works until you
havereceived permission
from us.
If youthink youhave
asbestosinyour home,
do not do anything that
couldrelease fibres into
the air such as inserting
drawing pins, screws, nails
or adhesivetape intothe
affected areas.
The disposal of asbestosisa
matter forspecialists.
If youhaveany concerns about asbestos
or need further adviceplease contact:
Jenni Smith, Project Manager
(Asset Investment)
T: 0300 5000 600
E: jenni.smith@connecthousing.org.uk
6

Fire
safety
Following the shocking events
at Grenfell TowerinLondon, we
would liketoreassureyou our
properties conform with rigorous
firesafety standardsand that
we take the safety of all our
residents very seriously.
We carry out firerisk assessments
and work with West YorkshireFireand
Rescue Servicetocomplywith all safety
requirements. We undertakeregular
firesafety inspections of all communal
areas, ensuring all shared firedetection
and emergency systems areserviced
and testedand any obstructions in the
areas removed.
Youcan find moreinformation at
www.connecthousing.org.uk/firesafety.
If youdonot haveaccess to the internet
or would prefer aprinted copy of the
information, please contact us on 0300
5000 600.Ifyou haveany concerns about
your home and firesafety, please call us
or email estates@connecthousing.org.uk.
Domestic abuse
support
Domestic abuse is controlling, coercive
or threatening behaviour, violence
or abuse from intimate partnersor
familymembersregardlessofgender
or sexuality. Abuse cancomeinmany
forms andisn’talways physical–itcan
be financial or honour based too. Alot of
peopledonot realise that these factors
canbeareason to leave.
We canoffer support to anyone who is
experiencing domestic abuse. We havea
refuge forwomeninKirklees andsupport
workerswho canhelpboth females and
malesintheir home.
Help is available
If youorsomeone youknowisbeing
abused andwouldlikesomehelp,you can
contact us confidentially.
T: 01924 465238 (9am–5pm weekdays)
E: nkwr@connecthousing.org.uk
24-hour help
Thereisalsoa24-hour NationalDomestic
Violencehelpline and website if youneed
adviceout of hours.
0808 2000 247
www.nationaldomesticviolence
helpline.org.uk
!
If youare in immediatedanger
please call 999.
7

HOMES
635
Connect is committed
to investing in good
quality homes.
Each year we carry
out aprogramme of
planned maintenance.
This is asignificant
proportion of our
expenditureand
this year the work
includes the following
improvements…
150
New Boilers
£330,000 investment
80
New Bathrooms
£250,000 investment
70 25
New Doors
Properties with
new windows
£50,000 investment £100,000 investment
80 30 200
New Kitchens
New Roofs
£280,000 investment £400,000 investment
Homes Externally
Decorated
START
We will contact youtwo
months beforework
starts to explain what
will happen and when.
CHOOSE
We will explain what choices
areavailableand howtomake
your selection. You’ll haveat
leasttwo weeks to choose.
8

The selection
We choose replacement items based
on quality, cost and energy efficiency.
KITCHENS
Oakwood Kitchens provide our high quality
kitchens, which arebuilt using materials
sourcedfromsustainableforests. Youwill
be abletochoose from awide rangeofunits,
worktops and handles.
BATHROOMS
Youwill be abletochoose from an attractive
range of tiles and flooring. We also offer some
choiceoffixtures and fittings.
BOILERS
We arecurrentlyinstalling Ideal Logic combi
boilers, which aresmaller in size, aesthetically
attractiveand giveahigh output of heating and
hot water.Theyare also very efficient, meaning
your heating bills will be lower.
DOORS
These aresupplied by Manse Masterdor and
whereappropriatethere will be acolour choice.
WINDOWS
Wherepossibleweinstall whiteuPVCwindows,
chosen fortheir qualityand style. Theycontain
80% recycled content, which reduces their
impact on the environment.
Get in touch ››
To find out moreabout the
improvement programme
please contact:
Chris Wordsworth
Building Surveyor
T: 0300 5000 600
E: chris.wordsworth@
connecthousing.org.uk
Asmarter way
Did youknowyour energy supplier is
responsiblefor fitting youasmart meter
beforethe end of 2020?
Smart metersare the next generation of
gas and electricity metersand offer arange
of intelligent functions. The big difference
is readings aresent automaticallytothe
energy supplier using aGPS signal. The data
is encrypted forsecurity and no personal
information is included. Thereisalso an
in-home display (usuallyasmall portable
device) giving youdetails about the energy
youare using.
What are the benefits?
●
●
●
●
●
●
Real-time information –see exactlywhat
youuse and when, manage your energy
use and savemoney
No manual readings –noneed to wait in
foryour supplier to visit your home
No estimated billing –nounexpected
high bills, onlypay forthe energy you
actuallyuse, helping youbudgetbetter
No cost to upgrade –the cost of your
meter and its maintenanceisbuilt in to
your energy bills
Easier switching –smootherand faster
to switch suppliersand deals
Flexibility –pre-payment customers
givenalternativeand automatic top-up
options so youwon’t run out of credit
Youcan find out all about smart metersand
howtoget one at www.smartenergygb.org
If youare unabletoaccess the information
online please call us on 0300 5000 600 and
we will send youaninformation leaflet.
MEET ACTION FEEDBACK
We will makeanappointment
with youtorun through the
scheduleand confirm your
choices.
We will giveyou details of the
contractor and oncework starts
on site, regular inspections will
be carried out by our team.
We want to ensurethe work
is carried out to an excellent
standardand on completion we
will ask youtofillinasurvey.
9

MONEY
MATTERS
MONEY
MATTERS
Are you ready for
Universal Credit?
What is Universal
Credit?
Universal Credit is part of
the government’s welfare
reform policy. It is asingle
monthly payment for people
who are not working or are
on alow income. If you are
aged between 18 and State
Pension age and claim certain
benefits, you will be affected.
Universal Credit will replace the following
benefits, which are now known as ‘legacy
benefits’.
●
●
●
●
●
●
HousingBenefit
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
Income-related Employment and
Support Allowance
Income Support
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit
When will it
happen?
If youare already on the LiveService
Youwill be movedontothe Full (Digital)
Servicewhen it rolls-out in your area.
If youare making anew claim and
havenever been on Universal Credit
Your claim will be processed on
the Full (Digital) Serviceifithas
rolled-out in your area.
If youare in receipt of any legacy
benefits and do not haveachange
of circumstance
Youwill not be affected until at least
2019 when migration takesplace.
If youare in receipt of any legacy
benefits and haveachange of
circumstanceafter roll-out in your area
Youmay be requestedtoapplyfor
Universal Credit.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
has introduced Universal Credit in two stages.
The Live Service applies to single people out
of work. This is now being replaced by the Full
(Digital) Service which is being rolled-out at
different times across local areas.
Live Service
Full (Digital) Service
June 2017 – Calderdale roll-out
November 2017 – Kirklees roll-out
June 2018 – Leeds roll-out
August2018 – Wakefield roll-out
September2018 –all Live Serviceareas
movedtoFull (Digital)Service
Summer 2019 –DWP migrateall legacy
benefit claimants to Full (Digital) Service
10

What will this mean for you?
Key change
The Full (Digital) Serviceisdigital
by default.
Youwill be expected to manage
your claim via an online portal.
What do you
need to do?
Makesureyou haveaccess to the
internet, an email addressand a
bank account.
Youwill need these to set up an
online account.
Your Housing Benefit will no
longer automaticallybepaid
to Connect.
Instead youwill receivethe
housing cost element in your
Universal Credit payment.
Payyour rent directlytoConnect –
on time and in full.
Youwill need abankaccount and
should consider the bestway to
pay (see page 12). If youdonot
pay your full rent, youmay risk
losing your home.
When youmakeanew claim for
Universal Credit youwill haveto
wait aminimum of six weeksto
receiveyour first payment.
After the first payment, youwill
then be paid each calendar month.
If youare struggling to wait for
the first payment to arriveyou
canrequestanadvance payment
If youare used to working out
your budget weeklyorfortnightlyyou
will need to think about howyou can
manage your moneymonth to month.
Our Money Matters Team is here tohelp
We can help you:
●
●
●
●
●
Understand howUniversal Credit
will affect you
Set up an email addressand getonline
Setupabankaccount and a
direct debit or standing order to
pay your rent
Look at your budget, access debt
advice, loweryour energy bills and
pay off fuel debts
Developyour CV and find work
We canhelp your move to Universal Credit
go smoothlyand evenifyou’renot likely
to be affected straight away, we canhelp
makesureyou areready.
Get in touch ›››
If youare concerned about howthe benefit
capwillaffect youplease contact:
MichelleCox,
MoneyMattersTeam
T: 0300 5000 600
E: moneymatters@
connecthousing.org.uk
11

RENTS
Ways to pay
Thereare many ways to pay your
rent –havealook at which is the
mostconvenient foryou.
BY DIRECTDEBIT OR
STANDING ORDER
Asimpleand quick way to pay
your rent –justcall us and we
canhelpyou set this up.
BY PHONE
We canacceptpayment by
most debit cards–justcall us
during opening times.
PAY24/7 WITH APAYMENT
SWIPE CARD
If youhaveapayment swipe
card youwillbeabletopay
your rent anytime online, by
smartphone app, or by phone.
To requestapayment swipe
card just call us and we will
send one to you.
TALK TO US
If youowe rent youput your
home at risk. The earlier you
get in touchtolet us know
thereisaproblem, the easier
it will be to work together to
resolve it.Ifyou arehaving
difficulty paying your rent,
please call us so we canhelp.
Call us on
0300 5000 600
See back page forour opening times
Good to know
Did youknowthe rent youpay
is investedbackintoyour local
community?
Connect is anot-for-profit social
housing landlord. This means that,
unlikemany privatelandlords,
any profit we makegoes back into
improving homes, building new
affordablehousing and providing
much-needed support services.
This includes things likeour mental
health support workers, domestic
violenceservice, women’srefuge,
and MoneyMatters service.
Rent statements
At the moment, we manuallyprint
and postout rent statements to
tenants four times ayear.
Newtechnology and
processes mean we
canimprove this and
get better valuefor
money. We aretalking
to the CRF about our
ideas and will update
youinthe next issue
of Get Connected.
Do it online ›››
Don’t forget, youcan createan
online account to viewyour rent
balanceand track repairs. Just
visit www.connecthousing.org.uk/
myaccount to set it up.
12

OLDER
PEOPLE
Throwback
Thursday
On Thursday 29th June, our Older People’s Scheme, Hawthorn Mill in
Leeds, went back to the 1940s and hosted athemed summer fete.
The atmospherewas buzzing
and Hawthorn Mill looked
the part decorated with
bunting and photographs
of Leeds from 70 years
ago. Volunteers, staff and
residents were dressed for
the occasion in 1940s attire.
The afternoon featured a
raffle, jumblesale, afternoon
teaand agames corner
wheregueststried their luck
at winning some goodies.
Ahugethank youto
Morrisons supermarket and
Jojo’shairstylists who kindly
donated some great prizes.
Therewas also adisplay of
memorabilia from World War
II that belonged to residents,
friends of Hawthorn Mill and
Armley Helping Hands. The
items had been preserved
meticulouslyand therewas
an incrediblepersonal story
behind each one.
Hawthorn Mill couple, Eddie
and Kath, displayed their
military identity cardswhich
were in mint condition.
Anne, aneighbour of
Hawthorn Mill and collector
of memorabilia, brought
in many items including
severaldolls houses. It
was amazing to discover
she makes all the houses
herself.Hawthorn Mill
means alot to Anne as her
mother was one of the first
residents when it opened 20
yearsago.
The event raised funds for
futureactivities and gave
peoplethe opportunity to
sharetheir ownpoignant
stories and memories from
the era.
13

COMMUNITY
The Great Get Together weekend was Friday 16th to Sunday 18th June,
in celebration of the late Batley MP Jo Cox’s belief that “we are far more
united and have far more in common with each other than things that
divide us.” Millions of people came together for the biggest community
celebrations since the Jubilee.
On Friday 16th June we
held an afternoon teaat
Thrive, our community space
in Dewsbury.Wewelcomed
peoplefromall ages and
backgrounds to our gingham
coveredspace–tenants,
toddlers, community groups,
partner organisations, local
policeofficers, MP Paula
Sherriff, family, friends and
staff.
Staff, familyand friends all
enjoyedour Great Get Together.
With all the cake,conversation
and community spirit, the
afternoon was aperfect
exampleofwhatThrive, was
created for.
“Sometimes
we just need
an excuse to
get together,
and when we
do, it’s clear
that there’s
much more
that unites
us, exactly
as Jo said.”
Brendan Cox,
Jo’s husband
14

We love Dewsbury…
Alongside the cakes, we also
asked peopletosay ‘cheese’ and
havetheir phototaken in agiant
gingham frame, sharing what they
love about Dewsbury.Wecaptured
all these photos and wordson
our social media pages using the
hashtag #WeLoveDewsbury and
projected these as aliveexhibition
ontothe screens at the event.
Abig thank youto
everyone who took part.
There’salways something
happening at Thrive.
Find out more
hello@thriveatconnect.org
/thriveatconnect
@thriveatconnect
15

Get in
touch
Connect Housing is
acharitable housing
association.
Our passion is fora
fairer society, where
people’s homes, health
and happiness matter.
Leeds Office
205 Roundhay Road
Leeds, LS8 4HS
Mon, Tues, Thurs: 9am -5.30pm
Weds: 10.30am -5.30pm
Fri: 9am -5pm
Dewsbury Office
21 Bond Street
Dewsbury, WF13 1AX
Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 9am -5pm
Weds: 10.30am -5pm
We canhelp youunderstand this information in your language. We canalso provide
documents in large print or audio. Please contact us.
This magazine has been printed on FSC certified paper by a
Carbon Balanced Publication Printer using vegetable-based inks.
Resource Reg. No. 2110