For all the local news about your community Issue 74 – Spring 2012

Tel: 0300 303 1190 Email: info@ss-ha.org.uk Web: www.shropshirehousing.org.uk

Rockspring ThursdayPage 3

Olympic Torch BearerPage 10

Knit & Natter For CharityPage 4

Spring into life!

2 Estate Walkabouts/Complaints/Our Services to You

3 County Training/Rockspring Thursdays

4 Knit & Natter/Are You Being Served?

5 Group Pages

9 New Community Gardener/Lunches 4 All

10 Chance of a Lifetime/Energy Saving/Tenants Handbook

11 Tass Update/Competition Winners

12 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

EstatE Walkabouts 2012A new schedule for estate walkabouts has been agreed for this year. The schedule is available on our website or from customer services.

The areas covered are: Ludlow, Burford, Clee Hill, Bishops Castle, Craven Arms and Church Stretton

Complaints We value your input and would like to hear what we can do to improve our service to you.

Community Housing Officers are based in the community and rarely return to the office. This led to delays in answering enquiries made by the tenants they met.

We re-arranged the teams and we now have Tenancy Management Officers for each of the areas covered by the Community Housing Officers, who are office based and are able to answer day-to-day enquiries much more quickly.

Tenant Involvement and Empowerment

standard

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and Communities standard

13 4

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2

Value for Money standard

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2Tenancy standard

13 4

5 6

2

Governance and Financial Viability

standard

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2Home standard

ContEnts

HoW to ContaCt us

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ouR sERViCEs to YouOur 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 are set out in the Tenants Report 2011, available on our website.

All updates on the local offers will be marked with the appropriate sticker (see below) for the standard it applies to.

2 | The Key Spring 2012 | Tel: 0300 303 1109

• Areyoulookingforanewdirection?• Wanttotrysomethingdifferentbutdon’tknowwheretostart?

• Unemployedandneedingsomefreeadvice?Drop in at Rockspring Community Centre on a Thursday to meet the Rockspring Team.

There will be refreshments, a friendly face and time to chat.

The team will be at the Rockspring Community Centre every Thursday, between 9.00am and 3.00pm.

For further information contact: 01584 876799

Rockspring ThursdaysA New Year! A New You!

www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | The Key Spring 2012 | 3

Acounty-widesurveyofLesbian,GayandBisexualpeople(LGB)calledAreYouBeingServed?hasbeen launched.

The survey is being conducted by Rights and Fairness Telford (RAFT) for a number of agencies across Shropshire to gain a better understanding of the experiences of the LGB community

in this area. It also aims to look at attitudes and perceptions of the LGB community and how these affect Public Bodies and Charities in providing the best possible services to all people living and working in Shropshire.

The survey includes funding from Shropshire Housing Group, Severnside Housing, Shropshire Council’s Landlord

Services, Wrekin Housing Trust, Terence Higgins Trust, West Mercia Police, Shropshire PCT, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Councils, Victim Support, the CAB, the prison service, and the Fire Service.

To take part in the survey, go to www.staw-lgbt.co.uk

The Knit & Natter Group that meets everyMondayatLeyGardenshave been knitting for the past 12 months. Having filled three suitcases of knitted items, they decided to hold a coffee morning.

The group started after Mrs Lockhart, a Ley Gardens resident, was given two sacks of wool two years ago which she felt she would never use. The group was originally made up of tenants from Windsor Place, and is now 12 strong, including residents from the local area.

The event was well attended by local residents and raised £715, which was donated to the Local Good Neighbours Scheme. The Scheme has volunteers that provide local hospital transport, deliver meals on wheels, hold bereavement counselling, and widows and carers groups.

They also run the lunch club held at Ley Gardens every Thursday.

The Local Good Neighbours Scheme were very grateful for this large donation.

It will help them to keep their very valuable service running for our community.

K N I T & N A T T E R G R O U P

S U P P O R T L O C A L C H A R I T Y !

S U R V E Y

A R E Y O U B E I N G S E R V E D ?

4 | The Key Spring 2012 | Tel: 0300 303 1109

From 2013 the Government will be making major changes to housing benefit. Along with Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Disability Living Allowance these benefits will be paid to you in one lump sum, monthly in arrears. It will be called Universal Credit.

The Universal Credit will include any housing benefit you are entitled to. At the moment in most cases the Council pays it directly to us.

Universal credit will only be paid into a bank account.

How to make paying your rent easier• ADirectDebitwillensureyour

rentispaid,andmakesureyoudon’tgetbehindwithyourrent.

• Ifyoudon’thaveabankaccount,getaheadofthegameandgointoyourlocalbankortalktoJustCreditUnion.ABASIC BANK ACCOUNTallowsyoutosetupDirectDebits.

• Wewillbekeepingyouuptodateoverthecomingmonthsonhowthechangeswillaffectyou.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Terry Tombs on 01588 676213.

B e n e f i t s

If your benefits are stopped,

and you are moved to hardship

payments, this does not

mean that your housing benefit

will stop.

Ifthishappenstoyou,

pleasecallShropshireCouncil’s

benefitsteamimmediatelyto

makesureyourhousingbenefit

isnotstopped.

Shropshire Council Benefits

Team tel: 0345 678 9001.

BENEFIT CHANGES

Get AheAd of the GAme!

www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Group News Spring 2012

Gas servicinG

The Boards of Shropshire Housing Group have decided that rents will be increased on 2nd April 2012 by a maximum of 6.1% plus £2 a week. Government guidance allows us to increase rents annually to a maximum of inflation + 0.5% + £2 per week. The inflation rate is taken from last year’s September figure which was 5.5%.

This is the target rent formula set by the Government to bring all landlords rents in one area into line. This formula reflects:• The location of the property and the number of bedrooms

• The value of housing in the area• The average earnings in the area compared with the national average

Rents are used to cover the costs of repairs and maintenance of the properties, the management of tenancies and loan repayments of the original costs of the buildings.We cannot take personal or financial circumstances of individual tenants into account when setting rents.

If you are having difficulties paying your rent or arrears, contact us as soon as possible. We can help with a personal

payment plan and advice. You can also seek independent advice and help with managing debt from your local Citizens Advice Bureau.You may be entitled to housing benefit. If you want advice on applying for benefit, contact us.

If you are on housing benefit we will let your housing benefit office know that your rent has increased.For any other questions you have, please contact us.

Rent IncReaseexplaIned

Group News Spring 2012 | Tel: 0300 303 1109

SSHA

99.8%ofhomeshaveavalidgassafetycertificate.

95.8%oftenantsallowedaccessfortheserviceatthefirstvisit.

MMHA

99.6%ofhomeshaveavalidgassafetyceritificate.

88.1%oftenantsallowedaccessfortheserviceatthefirstvisit.

UNdEr THE GAS SAFETy ( INSTAllATIoN ANd USE) rEGUlATIoNS 1998Wehavetocarryoutanannualgassafetychecktotheappliancesinstalledinyourhome.Safetychecksarecarried

outbyourcontractors,TotalResponseLtdatnocosttoyou.Whenyoursafetycheckisdue,youwillreceivealetter

fromustellingyouwhentheoperativeswillbeinthearea.Ourcontractorsareonhandtobookanappointmentthat

isconvenienttoyou.

PErForMANCE INForMATIoN GAS SErvICING (APrIl-dEC 2011)

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There are going to be

significant changes in the way

support is provided for older

people living in sheltered

housing in Shropshire from

April 1st 2012.

These changes are:

• Shelteredhousingtenants

will no longer receive services

automatically.

• Supportfundingwillonlybe

available to assist those who

are eligible and those who need

help to become independent.

This means that support services

to older people living in sheltered

schemes will no longer be provided

by their landlord.

The new Sustain Consortium

includes sixteen support providers

from across Shropshire. They will be

responsible for sheltered housing

support services throughout

Shropshire, and will be coordinated:

• IntheSouthbyShropshire

Housing Group.

• IntheCentrebySevernside,

in association with Drapers.

• IntheNorthbyShropshire

Council Landlord Services Team

in association with Shropshire

Rural, Guinness and Equity.

The Sustain Consortium have

listened to feedback from tenants

who told us that they want more

flexibility in sheltered housing, so

they can opt in or out of services as

their needs change.

The Sustain Consortium are also

developing a landlord service for

sheltered tenants which will ensure

that they stay Safe And Secure.

Community rooms and common

services will be maintained as

promised when tenants first moved

into sheltered housing.

From April 2012, sheltered

tenants living in our homes will:

• Continuetopaytheirrent.

• SeetheirSupportingPeople

service charges disappear

completely from their rent

accounts. Self-funders will see

their weekly costs fall quite

significantly.

• Continuetopayservice

charges for scheme upkeep

and services. Included within

this will be the Safe and Secure

service charge. This will be

eligible to be paid for by

Housing Benefit.

• Opttobuyadditionalservices

to help them in their day-to-

day lives. We will be offering

a choice of these services, and

will also ensure our tenants are

aware of other service providers.

We look forward to working with

tenants to develop our sheltered

housing offer even further over the

coming years.

Sheltered housing is changing

www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Group News Summer 2011www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Group News Spring 2012

Resident Auditors

and Inspectors

Are we meeting the standard?

Tenant Scrutiny

Scratching beneath the surface

and holding us to account

Resident

Involvement at

Shropshire

Housing Group

Sounding Boards

and Reading Group

Are our services sensible and good for

tenants?

Are our documents clear?

Tenant Associations

Representing your area

and supporting projects in local

communities

Local Tenant

Groups

For each sheltered scheme

or community

Ways to get involved...The table shows the different ways to get involved and have your say. For more information please contact the resident involvement team.

We have recently launched our new website

at www.shropshirehousing.org.ukThe new site is easier to navigate, provides more succinct information and conforms with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

This means that it is readable and understandable by people regardless of language, background, social circumstances or disability – whether it is sight impairment, learning difficulties, dyslexia or mobility impairment.

We would really appreciate your feedback on the website so please visit, look around and fill in the online feedback form.

COmING SOON –Look at your rent account and report repairs online.

www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Group News Spring 2012

Sheila Standley, Resident Involvement Officer (MMHA) Tel: 01939 238851

Michael Cotton, Resident Involvement Officer (SSHA) Tel: 01588 676264

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L U N C H E S 4 A L LA T G R A N G E R O A D

Grow Cook Share has appointed a new gardener, LizziePotter,whobrings extensive

understanding of community development projects along with her horticultural skills.

Lizzie will work with community members and pupils to help them run two community gardens, at Ludlow’s Rockspring Community Centre and the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, in Craven Arms, as well as three school gardens, in Craven Arms and Ludlow.

This year, to get the growing season off to a good start, Grow Cook Share will work with gardening volunteers at Rockspring Community Garden to get the communal veg garden planted, continue to support the Craven Arms Community Gardeners to grow

vegetables in their own plots and manage the garden. They will also work to introduce a sustainable water supply and compost and manure supply to the five gardens Grow Cook Share helps with.

As well as work at these sites, Lizzie and Grow Cook Share volunteers will be helping people in Craven Arms and Ludlow East who have gardens, grow their own veg.

Lizzie said: “I’m delighted to be joining such an exciting project, which is wonderfully well supported by people of all ages across the community."

N E w C O m m U N I T Y G A R D E N E R T O B O O S T G R O w I N G P R O j E C T

Lunches4AllisrunbytenantsofGrange Road but is open to anyone in the community. The lunches are held once a month in the Grange Road community centre.

This year they have included some themed lunches and are hoping to raise enough money for an extension to the community centre, as well as cook some tasty dishes!

To book a lunch, call Mrs C Clarke 01588 630442 or 07956 062454.

March 30th Roast Lamb

Plum Crumble (Welsh)

April 27th

Bangers & Mash

Spotted Dick (English)

May 25th Cottage Pie

BF Gateaux

June 29th Faggots & Peas

Rice Pudding

July 27th

Beef Burgers & Fries

Apple Pie (American)

August 31st Fish Pie

Trifle

September 28th

Lasagne & Chips/Salad

Tirimisu (Italian)

October 26th

Pork Stroganoff

Ice Cream

November 30th

Fish & Chips

Pineapple Upside Down

Menus for 2012

Valerie Meehan, Grow Cook Share Co-ordinator (left) with new Community

Gardener, Lizzie Potter

www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | The Key Spring 2012 | 9

Colin Clarke from Lydbury North nominated his son Matthew to carry the Olympic torch, in June 2010. Colin said ‘Matthew has a genetic disorder that makes life challenging at times but he never lets it get him down, his ‘can do’ attitude helps him rise to every challenge. He attends school in Bishops Castle and has achieved so much, I thought he deserved some recognition for his efforts’.

Matthew was contacted just before Christmas and offered a place on the Gloucester to Worcester stretch of the torch’s journey. He has sent his

measurements for the official uniform and will receive more information soon. Matthew also enjoys army cadets and is interested in joining the Police when he leaves school.“

matthew has a genetic

disorder that makes life challenging at times but he never lets it get him down, his ‘can do’ attitude helps him rise to every challenge.”

EnERgY-saVing adViCE daYAn energy-saving advice day was recently held at Craven Arms Community Centre. Help was on hand to show attendees how to save money on their heating costs, how to switch energy supplier and what to do to save energy at home.

Groups attending included Shropshire Credit Union, The Police, Age UK, Stretton Climate Care and The Community Council of Shropshire.

nEW tEnants Handbook

The new Shropshire Housing Group tenants handbook has now been delivered. Staff and tenants worked hard to agree a new design and wording. If you haven’t received your copy, please call customer services.

Chance of a lifetime for Matt!

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The Key Spring 2012 | Tel: 0300 303 110910 | The Key Spring 2012 | Tel: 0300 303 1109

tel : 01588 676285 email : tass@ss-ha.org.ukwww.tasscommittee.org

Co-operative fundingTass have had funding from the co-op for £450 to help us get out into the community to people who may not be able to get to the Tass meetings. The funding was presented to Joan Grant, Chair of Tass by Philip Dunne MP, at the Tass coffee morning in December.

brewing up success!The coffee morning was very successful and raised £225 for the air ambulance.

The resource centre is open five mornings a week and is staffed by the committee. Why not call in for a chat and a cup of tea.

Car boot saleThere will be a car boot sale in The Gateway offices car park on Saturday 19th May from 10am-1pm. £5 per car.

For more information call Tass.

The winner of last time’s winter wordsearch was Alec Evans from Clee Hill who won £30 shopping vouchers. The winner of the children’s find the robins competition was max weaver (pictured) who won a £30 toy voucher.

Joan Grant, Chair of Tass and

(right) Philip Dunne MP

C O m P E T I T I O N w I N N E R S !

www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | The Key Spring 2012 | 11

60634: 01/2012

A D U L T S C O m P E T I T I O N

K I D S C O m P E T I T I O N

FIND ALL THE wORDS LISTED FOR YOUR CHANCE TO wIN £30 IN LOVE TO SHOP VOUCHERS Name

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Closing date for all competitions: mONDAY 16TH APRIL

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