meres news winter 2011
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Meres NewsFor all the local news about your community | Issue 19 – Winter 2011
Tel: 0300 303 1190 Email: enquiries@mmha.org.uk Web: www.shropshirehousing.org.uk
In this issue...
Welshamptonand Lyneal
Cockshutt/Petton
Baschurch
Myddle and Broughton
Ellesmere Rural
Hordley
Ellesmere Urban
Hadnall
Wem Rural
Whixall
Whitchurch Rural
Prees
Moreton Say
Cheswardine
Market Drayton
Sutton upon Tern
Stoke upon Tern
Stanton upon Hine Heath
HodnetWeston-under-
Redcastle
MoretonCorbet
andLee
Brockhurst
Shawbury
Grinshill
Hinstock
Child’sErcall
IghtfieldAdderley
Norton inHales
Woore
Whitchurch Urban
WemUrban
Loppington
Clive
Neighbourhoods TeamRead about the latest changes Page 10
TARCA Garden Competition WinnerReceives shield Page 9
Shropshire this
winter...Interview With...Philip Parker tells us why he loves MMHA Page 3
CONTENTS2 Our Services to you3 Improving Homes and Environments4 Interview with Philip Parker5 Group News9 TARCA10 Neighbourhoods Team Changes12 Competitions
If you require this document in audio, braille, large print or if English is not your first language then please contact us.
Si vous avez besoin de ce document en audio, braille, gros caractères, ou si l’anglais n’est pas votre langue première veuillez nous contacter. French
Jeśli wymagasz tego dokumentu w audio, Braille’a, duże wydruku, lub jeśli angielski jest nie pierwszy język prosimy kontakt. Polish
Если вам требуется этот документ в аудио, Брайля, крупных печатных, или если английский является не ваш первый язык напишите нам. Russian
Os oes angen y dogfen hon mewn ffurf wahannol, er enghraifft Braille, llythrennau mawr, tâp audio neu iaith wahanol, gadewch i ni wybod os gwelwch yn dda. Welsh
Se ha bisogno di questo documento in audio, Braille, grande stampa, o se inglese è la prima lingua contattaci. Italian
You can contact us in a number of ways:
1 PHONE 0300 303 11901 FREEPHONE 0800 43462891 EMAIL enquiries@mmha.org.uk1 IN WRITING by sending your letter to us at
Meres and Mosses Housing Association, Talbot House, High Street, Wem SY4 5AA
1 IN PERSON by coming along to the reception desk at Talbot House.
OFFICE OPENING HOURSOur normal office opening hours are:9.00am - 5.00pm Monday - Thursday9.00am - 4.30pm Friday
Tenant Involvement and Empowerment
standard
13 45 6
213 45 6
2Neighbourhoods
and Communities standard
13 4
5 6
2
Value for Money standard
13 45 6
2Tenancy standard
13 4
5 6
2
Governance and Financial Viability
standard
13 45 6
2Home standard
Our regulator, The Tenants Services Authority has asked all social landlords to produce local offers through six standards that cover the services we provide. Our current offers and the progress we have made are set out in the Tenants Report 2011.
All updates on the local offers will be marked with the appropriate sticker (see below) for the standard it applies to.
ChristmasOpening Times
Our offices will be closed from Friday 23rd December and will open again on Tuesday 3rd January. If you have an emergency repair during this time, you can ring our normal phone number: 0300 303 1190 at any time.
Cover photo: Natasha Bridges
2 | Meres News Winter 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1190
HOW
TO
CO
NTA
CT U
S
During staff visits and estate walkabouts with the
neighbourhoods team and local Police, it was noted
several times that the front garden chain link fences
were in poor condition, and the timber posts were
being pulled down and vandalised. Tenants were also
reporting these issues.
Around 30 properties on the estate had new fencing,
due to poor condition, and MMHA has received very
good customer satisfaction surveys from the tenants.
We have fitted concrete posts and timber picket fences
to the front gardens.
New Fencing
for Manor Place
MMHA recently celebrated the completion of its
kitchen and bathroom replacement contract eight
months earlier than planned. Tenants were consulted at every point along the way,
with choices of colours and styles of fittings and
flooring for their kitchens and bathrooms. Tenants
reported very high satisfaction rates for the standard
of fittings and the quality of work. Paul Sutton, director of assets and development said,
‘The work never stops, we will continue to look after
the homes and deliver what will now be a rolling
programme of improvements where they are needed.
We continue to listen to our tenants to ensure they
have the quality of homes they deserve.’
Kitchens Complete
13 45 6
2
www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Meres News Winter 2011 | 3
COMPLAINTS QUESTIONNAIRES In order to help us monitor and improve the complaints service we provide to you, once your complaint has been closed you will be asked to complete a short questionnaire on how you felt your complaint was handled.
Please help us to learn from complaints and improve our service and to prevent mistakes from happening in the future by completing and returning the questionnaire.
Resident involvement inteRview
Having spent 20 years in the Light Infantry, Philip says “we feel very spoilt to be able to have an input, as we are new to the process of being involved, and for years we have had no say with regards to our home.”
“Moving to a MMHA property has been a really good experience, I’m not saying there have not been problems, but they have been promptly dealt with and resolved. We have found all the staff, helpful, polite, and both listened to our issues and kept us informed all the way along the line.”
Philip and Denise have attended the voids inspection training and now visit empty homes before the new tenant moves in to check it is up to the right standard.
“We now have a much better understanding
and can influence the way that MMHA provides its services. I would encourage all tenants to take up the opportunity of getting involved, as you really can make a difference.” PHIlIP PARkER
Philip ParkerPhilip and his wife Denise moved to their MMHA property in Wem in December last year. They had previously lived in the Tower of London as Philip had been a Yeoman Warder, better known as a Beefeater, at the Tower.
Shropshire Council offers a Carers One-off Payment. This is a grant paid towards services identified by a carer as part of their Carers Assessment.
What can the payment be used for?It is a payment which is intended to improve health and well being and support carers in their role. It can be used towards:
• Thecostofaholidayorbreak,eitheraloneorwiththecaredforperson
• Ahobbyorleisurepursuit
• Toaccessatrainingcourse,ortoassistyoutoremainin,orreturntowork.
For more information contact Shropshire Council on 0345 678 9005 or email carers@shropshire.gov.uk
Carers One-off Payment
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2
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2
4 | Meres News Winter 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1190
13 45 6
2At this year’s Tenants Fun Day we wanted your views on both The Key and Meres News. It’s important to us to know you find the information relevant and interesting,
and most of all find it an enjoyable read! So the communications stand asked 29 households what they think of the newsletters, the results were surprising and we
had some interesting suggestions for further development which we will certainly look into for future editions. Thanks for your time and for giving us your View point!
Suggestions for future editions• Maybeabitmorelocalnews• Morepeoplestories• Morefinancialinformation• Makethedeadlinefor
competitions clearer• Morecompetitionsforchildren• Articlesonenvironmentalissues
6Households said WE LIKE IT!
3Households
said we like the competitions
9Households said we like it because it’s very informative
www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Group News Winter 2011
13 45 6
2What is it? People receive contribution-based ESA if they have limited capability for work and have paid enough National Insurance contributions. It is different to income-related ESA which is paid to people depending on their income and savings.
Possible Changes to Contribution-based emPloyment and suPPort allowanCe (esa)
what are the
ProPosed Changes?
The Welfare Reform Bill currently going through Parliament is proposing:
◆ To limit the amount of time that people in the Work Related Activity Group can receive contribution-based ESA to 12 months; and
◆ To remove the special contribution criteria for ESA "youth" so, anyone from this age group claiming ESA will have to meet the same National Insurance contribution conditions as other claimants.
If passed by Parliament these changes will be introduced in Spring 2012.
If eligible, claimants will be able to get income-related ESA.
The time-limit proposal does not affect claimants in the Support Group or anyone receiving income-related ESA. Time spent in the Support Group will not count towards the 12 months.
what is the work related
aCtivity grouP?
If someone is in the Work Related Activity Group, it has been decided that work may not be appropriate for them now, but with support they can prepare for work in the future.
what will haPPen if a Claimant’s Contribution-
based esa is stoPPed?
If this change takes place, claimants who receive income-related ESA and contribution-based ESA will lose the contributory element. The income-related element of their ESA will be adjusted to take this into account and will continue.
what should
Claimants do?
The Department for Work and Pensions will write to you if the proposals will affect your benefit and tell you what to do and how to be considered for income-related ESA.
Group News Winter 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1109
What would happen if you lost the contents of your home? Would you be able to afford to replace them?
It is your responsibility to insure the contents of your home.
The My Home Contents Insurance Scheme is designed for tenants in housing association homes. They have affordable premiums and a pay as you go option.
Benefits Include:• Instantcoveravailableoverthetelephone• Affordablepremiums• Cashpaymentsavailableinadditionto
traditional payment methods• Nominimumsecurityrequirementsto
the property • Noexcess(youdon’thavetopaythefirst
part of the claim)• Excellentclaimsservice
Are Your Contents Insured?
Burst and frozen water pipes can cause
serious damage to your home, so here are
some tips to avoid it during the winter.
Avoiding Burst Pipes
This Winter
For more information contact My Home
Contents Insurance on 0845 337 2463.
Open the loft trap door on cold days to let
heat in.
Make sure you have no dripping taps.
If they freeze they’ll block the pipe.
Make sure you know where your stop tap is
and check regularly that you can turn it off
easily in an emergency. Its handy to label
it so you remember where it is in a panic.
If you’re away for a while, then ask a friend
or relative to check on your home and
make sure pipes haven’t burst or frozen.
In very cold weather make sure your
heating is on low, or set to come on a
couple of times a day.
www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Group News Winter 2011
Drive Before
Drive After
Grab rail makes life easier for PeggyMrs Peggy Lloyd recently had a grab rail fitted to the front of her
property to assist her with her mobility when leaving her home.
Peggy said ‘It’s a great help and there’s no need to wait
for someone to come and help me. The Operatives were
really nice and polite too.’
If you have difficulty with mobility we are able to assist
by carrying out minor adaptations to your property
to make life easier. We can install grab and stair rails,
provide lever taps, install half steps and widen doorways.
For those with hearing difficulties, we can install
doorbells and smoke alarms with flashing lights as well
as install remote push button door entry systems.
This is a minor adaptation that can be completed
without a recommendation from a health
professional eg. an occupational therapist.
Mr Johnson has had various hip and knee operations, and is registered disabled. His driveway was very uneven and it was not safe for him to access.
Shropshire Council’s Occupational therapist recommended the works to be done on Mr Johnson’s drive to make it easier for him to access the front and back door safely. Mr Johnson reported that he is very satisfied with all work done.
Fixed driveway makes life easier13 45 6
2
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2
Group News Winter 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1109
www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Meres News Winter 2011 | 9
www.tarca.org.uk Tel: 01630 652953 Mobile: 07530 002771 email: tarcashropshire@yahoo.com
Sponsored by Meres and Mosses Housing
As
socia
tion
TownsAndRuralCommunitiesAssociation
www.tarca.org.uk Tel: 01630 652953 Mobile: 07530 002771 email: tarcashropshire@yahoo.com
TARCATARCA would like to wish all MMHA tenants a very happy Christmas and prosperous new year. We hope you like the calendar that we have produced this year for all tenants, as you will see we have a TARCA meeting in each of the four market towns in rotation throughout the year.
Dates of the meetings are marked in the calendar, the venues are: Whitchurch Civic Centre, The Beacon Community Centre, Market Drayton, Ellesmere Town Hall and The Board Room, Talbot House, (MMHA Offices) Wem,
All MMHA tenants are welcome to attend our meetings, we are a friendly group, trying to make life easier for tenants. You can be as involved as little or as much as you like, with travel expenses paid.
TARCA have set up a rolling programme for the provision of water butts to all MMHA tenants. To register, please contact Graham on 07530 002771 or email tarcashropshire@yahoo.com by 31st January to be entered into the draw for the first delivery.
Water Saving for Everyone
Garden Competition Winner Receives ShieldPictured is C Gaughan from Ash collecting the overall winners shield from Gordon Hodgkiss, Chair of MMHA Board and Jean Kinsella, TARCA member.
All MMHA tenants recently received a letter telling them about Smartwater and TARCA’s intention to provide this crime prevention product for all tenants.
We are now pleased to inform you that we are rolling
Smartwater out to all sheltered tenants.The aim is to make Smartwater available to all tenants across the district. If you have been in touch
with us previously, you have not been forgotten, we feel that it is important to look after vulnerable tenants first.Private homeowners will be offered the chance to purchase a kit from us at the greatly reduced price of £14.99 (normally £65.00 per year). Our deal is a complete price, and it doesn’t need to be renewed yearly.
Attention all Sheltered Housing Tenants. Smartwater coming soon!
Community Housing Officers (CHO) are community based and carry out accompanied visits for new lettings, visit tenants in their homes to respond to tenancy issues. They also run surgeries and estate walkabouts and work with other agencies and tenants to develop and improve your community.
Tenancy Management Officers (TMO) are the first point of contact for anti social behaviour reports and tenancy and estate management queries. They are also responsible for allocating empty homes.
Income Recovery Officers (IRO) are dedicated to the recovery of rent arrears, former tenant’s arrears and court costs. They are also responsible for everything related to rent accounts including Direct Debits, Standing Orders and adjustments to rent accounts.
The neighbourhoods team has recently changed some of the roles. There are now Community Housing Officers, Tenancy Management Officers and Income Recovery Officers. Each role is responsible for different areas of tenancy management:
Your Neighbourhoods Team
10 | Meres News Winter 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1190
Income Recovery Officer
Jennifer Edwards
Tenancy Management Officer
Becky MillsCommunity Housing Officer
Marie Stokes
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2
Welshamptonand Lyneal
Cockshutt/Petton
Baschurch
Myddle and Broughton
Ellesmere Rural
Hordley
Ellesmere Urban
Hadnall
Wem Rural
Whixall
Whitchurch Rural
Prees
Moreton Say
Cheswardine
Market Drayton
Sutton upon Tern
Stoke upon Tern
Stanton upon Hine Heath
HodnetWeston-under-
Redcastle
MoretonCorbet
andLee
Brockhurst
ShawburyGrinshill
Hinstock
Child’sErcall
IghtfieldAdderley
Norton inHales
WooreWhitchurch Urban
WemUrban
Loppington
Clive
Neighbourhoods Areas
NORTH
Community Housing Officer
Community Housing Officer
Annie Ireland
Dianne Williams
Tenancy Management Officer
Tenancy Management Officer
Stacey Bowen
Tracey Jackson
Senior Income Recovery Officer
Income Recovery Officer
Linda Price
Mark Timerick
www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Meres News Winter 2011 | 11
R E I C I C L E N C T L E N F D SP D A S B T O D B H B C T C R C LQ E U C P E B M L R U O W A O X EF W N R K E N P Q I Y A D W S Q DT A S G T G R W Y S E T S H T D FO J L W U K J K V T H O U G Z D YB I G R M I N L B M S N O W I E AO F T Z X O N Q A A G A C E V C SG Q W M T U R P U S F T K J B E JG X V J K L Y R P P W Y O Z R M XA F I R E P L A C E H B G I F B AN C J D Y I X Z C A H O S B D E FP S T S B U R P D S N O Q T T R BE Y N P S N W F H H T T P O V G NI I A O Q H M K P O G S Y K H M PC J U P W Y I B R V X O P H K N VE Y K B D M L T Y E F K S K I Z SV Y X R A P A V P L L P K D J M IK C R W L Q Z N Q O Q M P O E U Q
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How many robins can you find (incl. this one) hidden throughout this edition of Meres News? Write your answer for a chance to win a £30 toy voucher.
Name
Parent/Guardians name
Address
Postcode
Telephone number
Find all the words listed for your chance to win £30 in love To Shop vouchers ready for the January Sales! (winter wordsearch)
Name
Address
Postcode
Telephone number
The winner of last time’s Find The Phrase competition was Caroline kenin from Whitchurch, and the winner of the Children’s Find the Autumn leaves Competition was Hannah Griffiths from Quina Brook.
CompetitionsCompetitions
Adult’sAdult’sCaroline Kenin
Children’sChildren’s
Closing date for all competitions: Monday 9th JanuarySend all entries to: Vicki Coleman, Communications Officer, The Gateway, The Auction Yard, Craven Arms SY7 9BW.
SNOW
FROST
CHRISTMAS
ICE
COAT
PENGUIN
SlED
SNOWMAN
TOBOGGAN
SHOVEl
FIREPlACE
SkI
DECEMBER
ICIClE
BOOTS
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