YOUR LOCAL MAGAZINE FROM WELLINGBOROUGH HOMES

SPRING 2014

FISH-ing for success!

Support earns awards nodCommunity Stars shine page 11

Board member special

pages 14 and 15

Think Healthy 03

Support Wellingborough 04

Regeneration on Track 06

Fish-ing for Success 08

Knights Court Shop 10

Be a Good Neighbour 11

Meet the Team 12

A Day in the Life 13

Board Member Special 14

Shining Bright 16

Inside this Issue

Add us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ wellingboroughhomesFollow us on Twitter: @whomes_hr

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Take advantage of the opportunities available through us to pick up a new skill.From maths to sign language, history to IT and crafts to creative play, our range of courses cater for all abilities and age groups in a mixture of settings - there is something for everyone.

Some of our courses are also delivered out in the community to make it easier for you to attend.

How do I get on a course? Some of our courses are very popular and there can be a waiting list so contact us to ensure you get a place. Once a place becomes available we will write to inform you and you then just need to confirm your place.

How much do courses cost? The majority of our courses are free but a few have a small fee attached. For paid courses if you are in receipt of certain benefits you may qualify for a free concession.

Remember if there is no course on in our training room at Thompson Court our computers are free for anyone to use!

You can find all of the details on our new website or by contacting the team on 01933 234 450.

Boost your skills

Healthy living was the theme behind an event organised for families in Wellingborough.

A recent health and wellbeing event at Ruskin Junior School was arranged by our community involvement team and featured everything from blood pressure checks to advice on healthy eating and exercise tips. Some 25 families attended and 53 children took part.

Healthy snacks were provided and children were encouraged to sample foods they had never tried before. They also got the chance to take part in a host

of exercises from skipping to ball games and got creative in a healthy-eating inspired art challenge. All of the activity was supported by youngsters from the Wellingborough Homes Community Stars youth group.

Other local organisations, including the Community Law Service, Action For Children, NHFT and Citizens Advice Bureau, were also invited to allow parents the chance to access support on everything from debt and energy tips to family support.

Diana Bradbury, community involvement officer at Wellingborough Homes, said: “Getting young people thinking about healthy eating and exercise as early as possible is very important, particularly given the prevalence of issues such as childhood obesity.

“A big ‘thank you’ to the Community Stars who help events like this run so smoothly and play a key part in engaging with young people in the area.”

Save the date for our first ever Diversity Day! The event, at Tithe Barn, from 10am to 4pm, on Friday 30th May, will see everything from foods and clothing from around the world, to dancing displays, live music and story-telling. Our

Community Stars will showcase youth identity and culture. Brenda Alvarez, from our community involvement team, said: “This is set to be a fantastic event and a real showcase for how diversity enriches our culture.”

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

Thinking healthy

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‘The help I got saved my life’ Hundreds of people across Wellingborough have received vital support and advice since we launched Support Wellingborough last year.

Bob Cozens is one of those people. Bob Cozens reflects soberly on life before he received help from Support Wellingborough.

Bob had been using the money he received when he was made redundant in 2003 to pay his mortgage, but by the end of 2013 the funds had run out; leaving him with no heating or food.

His problems first came to light when he was referred to the Daylight Centre, a Support Wellingborough member organisation which supports people living in food poverty, after he revealed he hadn’t eaten for days at a work-based interview.

“I had got myself into real trouble,” Bob explains.

“I couldn’t afford to pay for the heating in my house and it was freezing cold. I wasn’t even feeding myself properly. If I’m honest I thought I was going to die in that house.”

Following his referral to the Daylight Centre, supplies from the organisation’s food bank were taken around to Bob the same afternoon. After seeing the way he was living they referred him to Support Wellingborough.

Days later Support Wellingborough officers Sharon Mcguire and Lesley Wills visited Bob to find that his house was in a state of serious disrepair, he had no heating and leaking pipes and was also unable to pay his mortgage.

Officers immediately arranged for a valuation on his property and within days had linked him up with a suitable buyer. In the meantime Bob had been assessed to see if he met the criteria for sheltered housing with Wellingborough Homes.

Just over two weeks after his initial referral, a home was identified at Charles Robinson Court and Mr Cozens was helped to move out by caretakers from Wellingborough Homes. The Daylight Centre then provided furniture and clothing for Bob through a SIL grant from NCC, to go with his new home.

“I just couldn’t believe,” Bob said. “From being desperate and in a situation where I had given up, I suddenly had all of this help and in such a short space of time.

“In just over two weeks I’d gone from basically waiting to die in a freezing cold home, not knowing how I was going to eat and pay my mortgage, to a wonderful new cozy, warm home. The way all of the different organisations worked together was just amazing.”

BOOST FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE CHARITYThe local branch of Women’s Aid received a welcome boost after we nominated the charity to receive a £250 donation from our contractor.

G Purchase Construction, which completes all repairs and maintenance on our properties, offered to give the charity of our choosing a donation for Christmas.

We picked Women’s Aid Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire (WENWA), which supports women and children across the area who are affected by domestic abuse.

The money will be used to fund video equipment for new therapy and counselling sessions for mothers and young children.

Hamida, a spokesperson for the branch, which is a Support Wellingborough member, said: “We were delighted to receive this funding. It makes a real difference to the work that we do to help women and children across Northamptonshire cope with domestic abuse.”

Bob has since received further help via Support Wellingborough to gain additional benefits.

“I would say to anyone who is in a position like I was that there is help available. I never would have thought things could change the way they have.

“If you need help tell someone because the support is there. It has transformed my life.”

Do you need support? We are here to help. At the heart of Support Wellingborough is a group of more than 20 local organisations committed to working together to improve the quality of life for people in Wellingborough. Together we provide support on everything from housing, debt and benefits to mental health, homelessness and domestic abuse.

Contact the Support Wellingborough team on 01933 234 452 for confidential advice and support.

rough cut out for proof

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Our major project to regenerate Diana & Sylvanus House, on the Queensway estate, is well on track.Work on the £5.2 million development is scheduled for completion in August 2015 and will see the 72 one-bedroom flats currently across the two blocks replaced by a new layout of 70 one and two-bedroom homes.

Byron Pountney, our Contract Manager, has been involved in the scheme from the start.

“In every regard this development will see a total transformation of the buildings and an overall improvement to the area,” Byron said.

Local architect, Sursham Tompkins, has designed a new modern exterior for the building, while contractor Steele & Bray Ltd, also local, will complete the work.

“We looked at this site because we felt it really needed work and that was backed up by what residents were telling us. The 1960s architecture was in serious need of updating along with the interior of the flats and the balance of homes.

“We considered all of the options available, including demolishing the buildings that are there at the moment and starting from scratch. Rigorous tests showed the overall structure of the buildings is sound, so we chose instead to keep this but transform it entirely.

“The work will see us strip the buildings back to their skeleton, before starting a complete remodelling of the structure and grounds to create 70 modern, high-quality and energy efficient affordable homes.”

Progress check...Dun Cow site, Gold StreetThe development of the former pub is still on track despite one of the wettest winters on record.

The 26 new flats at this £2.5 million scheme are due for completion in July of this year.

Meadowlands, Little HarrowdenThe former sheltered scheme has now been demolished and work on new homes has started. Once complete, the site will provide 16 new homes, featuring a mix of houses, flats and bungalows. The bungalows to the front of the site will be given a revamp to reflect the surrounding new properties.

Work is scheduled for completion this summer.

Hardingstone, NorthamptonOur first development outside the borough of Wellingborough is also on track.

The former allotment site will feature a mix of properties, 20 of which will belong to Wellingborough Homes.

The finished scheme will provide a mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties which will be available for rent and shared ownership from July of this year.

Transforming garage sitesWork has started on £1.6 million transformation of two disused garage sites into 12 new homes.The first site is on Masefield Close and will see the 47 garages currently at the site demolished and replaced with five new two-bedroom homes.

Dilapidated garages on Wordswoth Road will also be transformed. In their place will be seven new two-bedroom homes.Our contractor G. Purchase Construction Ltd will complete this work which is due for completion around October.

We continue to invest in estate improvements for residents. The latest round of works were carried out on the Queensway estate and involved the removal of unwanted garage blocks that were difficult to let and falling into disrepair. These have been replaced with much-needed off-road parking. Remaining garages have also been refurbished and landscaping work completed.

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FISH (Free Impartial Support and Help) earned a place in the final of two prestigious awards.

FISH won a place on the shortlist for the UK Housing Awards for “Campaign of the Year” and the “Community Impact Awards for Investing in People”.

The nominations come after new figures reveal since its launch the shop has dealt with more than 18,500 individual queries.

The Community Law Service, one of the organisations based at the Cambridge Street shop, has helped residents in Wellingborough to conquer more than £7.5 million in debt

and get access to more than £5.3 million in unclaimed or unfairly cut benefits.

Another 750 people have been helped to find employment or training with hundreds more supported through issues like domestic abuse.

Mo Baker, our Head of Customer and Support Services, said: “We launched FISH to give support to those who need it most and over the last year we have gone from strength-to-strength and exceeded our expectations.

“Our place in the final recognises all of the hard work which has been put in, not just at Wellingborough Homes, but by all of our partners at FISH who have been fantastic.”

The UK Housing Awards are run jointly by the Chartered Institute of Housing and Inside Housing magazine.

The Community Impact Awards are run by the National Housing Federation in partnership with 24housing magazine.

We will find out if we have been successful at the end of April.

FISH shop has been nominated for a prestigious national award!FISH-ing for success!

Nigel’s storyNigel Woodward is one of the many people to have been helped by advisers at FISH.

After having his Housing and Council Tax Benefit taken away following a decision by ATOS, Nigel was referred to FISH for help.

The advisers made a successful appeal on his behalf and got his benefit increased from just £17.70 to £106.50 a week, plus a backdated payment of seven months’ benefits.

Nigel said: “The support I received from FISH was invaluable.

“I had been struggling for some time and I’ve always been someone who is reluctant to seek support.

“I was told about FISH and never looked back, they made everything seem so easy and have helped me get my life back on track.

“I’d urge anyone who needs advice or help to drop and in get support. The team is so friendly and even if they can’t help you they will be able to direct you somewhere that will.”

Need support? Advisers at the FISH shop offer free help on everything from debt to domestic abuse. Call the team on 01933 278 248 for a confidential chat.

Page 11Page 10 | Well Informed | Spring 2014

A shop set up by residents at our Knights Court scheme has proved a runaway success.Residents at Knights Court, managed by housing provider Wellingborough Homes, came up with the idea of setting up the shop which takes in items people don’t want and sells them on. The shop takes 20% of the money raised to fund activities and equipment for residents and gives the rest back to the seller.

In just a few months residents at the Gold Street scheme have raised nearly £200 which has been used to fund a new treadmill and exercise bike to help them keep fit.

Resident Val Siddons, who came up with the idea, said the shop had been a huge success.

She said: “We have been amazed by how well the shop has worked.

“We have absolutely all sorts come to us from residents and their families and friends. We hold items for four weeks and then we often find that people say we can donate them on their behalf to charity shops of they haven’t sold, so it’s a win-win for everyone.

“We are delighted we’ve been able to make enough to fund exercise equipment because the whole idea of this was to improve the quality of life for people who live here.

“Residents have been fantastic giving up their time to volunteer so a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who has helped.”

Karen Low, Wellingborough Homes supported living officer, said: “The residents came up with this idea

themselves and it is great to see them make such a success of it.

“This is just another example of the great community spirit at Knights Court and I look forward to seeing the shop continue to go from strength to strength.”

Scheme shop a runaway success

Sometimes a little thought can go a long way. Here are ten tips on how to be a good neighbour. 1. Keep the music down.

Remember to reduce the bass and position speakers away from party walls, floors and ceilings. In the summer avoid playing music outside and remember - if you can hear it outside your home so can others.

2. If you are having a party warn neighbours in advance. Keep windows and doors shut, and ensure the volume is turned right down after 11pm.

3. Make sure washing machines and fridges are located away from party walls, and if possible on a mat or carpet to reduce vibration.

4. If you have a house alarm, register a key holder with Wellingborough Council’s environmental protection team (on 01933 229777) and the police to avoid long spells of it going off.

5. Carry out noisy DIY when it will least disturb your neighbours and warn them in advance.

6. Think twice before exposing your floorboards or laying laminate flooring, particularly if you live in a flat and are on the first floor of a block, or converted house or above. Many properties converted into flats are not suitable for wood or laminate flooring because any and all movement carris as noise into neighbour’s homes, be that through a wall separatin terraced or semi-detached properties, or through a ceiling into a neighbouring flat below.

7. Use garden power tools thoughtfully, avoiding their use early in the morning or late at night.

8. If you have to leave your dog, make sure it has enough exercise leave a radio on for company or get a neighbour to look in to make sure it isn’t causing a noise problem.

9. Consider the volume of your voice, avoid slamming doors and thundering up and down stairs.

10. Treat your neighbours as you would wish them to treat you and where possible be mindful of their lifestyle and remember not everyone works from 9am to 5pm.

Don’t be a noisy neighbour

If you live in one of our supported living schemes or bungalows you will recently have received correspondence from us about changes to the service based on cuts to our funding. We felt it was important that you got to know the whole team, as they will be supporting you as our service changes.

If you have any enquiries about these changes please contact Emma King on 01933 234478. You can find out more by contacting the support team below.

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Did you know we manage more than 4,500 properties? Within our many properties there is a regular turnover of people moving out or into other homes. So maintaining the quality of our homes and keeping that process moving quickly is a crucial part of our work.

Mike Fowler, one of our property technicians, is responsible for making sure this happens.

“There are many reasons why a property can become empty,” explains Mike.

“A tenant might be moving to another of our properties or moving away from the area altogether. Whatever the reason, it is really important that we turn empty properties around as quickly as possible.

“Either myself or my colleague Cliff will co-ordinate bringing it up to our lettable standard.”

The first thing Mike has to do is inspect the property before a tenant has moved out to check its condition. He then decides what work needs to be done.

“Sometimes we have to do quite a lot, other times it can just be a touch up. We have a very long checklist of things that we look at; from the decorative condition, to door fittings, to pipes and guttering.

“Some work is the responsibility of the person living in the home to keep up to standard as part of their tenancy. So if, for example, a door has been taken off they will have the chance to either get the work done themselves or we can carry out the works and re-charge them our costs.”

Once the tenant has moved out, Mike and Cliff work to a tight turnaround to avoid properties

being empty for too long. If the work required on a property is less than £950 our contractor G Purchase has five working days to complete it, if it is over £950 they have 10 days to complete it.

There are then standard tests that have to be done including gas and electric safety checks, an asbestos survey and an energy performance survey.

“It is all about getting the property up to the right standards for someone to move in again and making sure this happens in the shortest time possible. The new tenants can then begin making the house in to their home, for which we often help with decoration vouchers.

“Every property is different so no two days are the same!”

A Day in the Life of... A Property Technician

Joyce Allen Supported Living Officer

01933 234478

Angie Grimes Team Leader

01933 231364

Veronica Waters Supported Living Officer

01933 234478

Mo Baker Head of Service

01933 234454

Hazel Wake Supported Living Officer

01933 234478

Karen Low Supported Living Officer

01933 234478

Lizy Mhandhu Supported Living Officer

01933 234478

Simone Chapman Supported Living Officer

01933 234478

Michelle Darnell Supported Living Officer

01933 234478

Emma King Administrator

01933 234478

Meet the support services team

The team’s year in numbers

260 empty properties 26 new kitchens 21 new bathrooms fitted

Elsa Kelsey Supported Living Officer

01933 234478

Chamunorwa Mujury Supported Living Officer

01933 234478

Robert Rupere Supported Living Officer

01933 234478

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The Reverend Richard Coles joined the Wellingborough Homes board in 2011.“I’ve never enjoyed learning about something so much,” The Revd Richard Coles says of his role on the Wellingborough Homes board. Not an insignificant claim coming from a classically trained musician with a degree in theology.

Richard, who joined the board in 2011, has firm roots in Northamptonshire. Generations of his family have lived in Finedon and he was born in Northampton and educated at Wellingborough School.

“I love this place, it’s my home,” he says.

“It may not have the glamour of some other areas in the country, but it has such strong communities. I think other towns and cities could learn a lot from that actually.”

There is much more to Richard Coles than at first meets the eye.

He travelled the world after setting up The Communards with Jimmy Somerville and the duo had a string of hits in the 1980s.

After this he found religion, studying theology and working as a journalist for the likes of The Times and the BBC before being ordained in the Church of England.

He now presents the Saturday Live show on BBC Radio 4, having worked with the BBC for more than 20 years, and regularly appears on television quiz shows including Have I Got News for You, QI and most recently Celebrity Mastermind which he won.

His return to Northamptonshire came in 2011 when he became the parish priest at St Mary the Virgin and took up a role on the Wellingborough Homes board in the same year.

“The more I found out about Wellingborough Homes the more I wanted be involved,” he said.

“Providing quality affordable housing is so important, it’s at the centre of the community. Many of my parishioners are Wellingborough Homes tenants so to be able to play a part in making sure we do everything we can for them is a real privilege.

“What is great is that the decisions we make are about much more than just providing housing, they are about offering all kinds of support to the whole community in what are undoubtedly difficult times.

“It has been great to be a part of this and I have been so impressed by how Wellingborough Homes operates.

“I look forward to continuing our work to improve the lives of tenants and the wider community.”

We currently have one vacancy for an independent member on our Board.

The Wellingborough Homes Board has a key role in the organisation and makes key decisions on everything from investing in new homes, to rent increases and setting service priorities. All

members come together for a meeting every two months but in between these meetings there are also sub-committee meetings on auditing and policy. Training sessions are held throughout the year.

Contact us to find out more about joining the Board.

‘I’ve never enjoyed learning so much.’

Don’t Leave Me This Way, The Communards’ most successful hit, spent four weeks at number 1 in the UK singles charts in 1986.

Get on Board!

If you would like this magazine translated please contact us on 01933 234450 or call into the offices. Copies can also be made available in large print, Braille or on audio CD on request.

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Opening hours Monday 8.30am to 5pm Tuesday 8.30am to 5pm Wednesday 8.30am to 5pm Thursday 10am to 5pm Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm

Wellingborough Homes, Thompson Court, 9f Silver Street, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 1BQ

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Our Community Stars Youth Group have been shining bright again!The team of 11 young people, aged 9 to 18, give up their time to play a crucial role in helping our events to run smoothly – from our wellbeing events, annual fun day and Christmas event to holding activities for other children in the summer holidays.

Want to get involved on our events? Want to help breakdown age barriers and dispel myths about young people? Volunteering can be very rewarding and looks great on your CV.

Contact the community involvement team on 01933 234 450 to find out how you could become a Community Star.

Community Stars shine bright!