Insight Winter 2011 - South Essex Homes

WINTER 2011/12
THE SOUTH ESSEX HOMES RESIDENT NEWSLETTER
Councillor Lesley Salter and resident Doris Gunn were
pleased to open the recently refurbished communal
hall at sheltered scheme Bradfordbury in October
(see page 5).
For more information about living in sheltered housing
please contact us on freephone 0800 833 160
> INSIDE THIS ISSUE
PAGE 3
PAGE 4
PAGE 6
PAGE 8
PAGE 15
| Southend Stars - Interview
with actress Kierston
Wareing
| Your Community Tie-in
event round-up
| Commitment to fire
safety praised
| Advice on responsible waste
disposal and recycling
| Kid’s Corner - competitions
and fun stuff!
This issue of Insight contains ‘4 the Record’..
It includes information about our performance over
the last year, success stories and where we intend
to make improvements after valuable feedback
from residents. It has been produced with the
help of residents from the Southend Tenants and
Residents Federation, the Tenants Voice
Association and the Standards Leadership Group.
Also available at www.southessexhomes.co.uk
Find out when South Essex Homes is open over
the festive period - page 11

2 | CHATS WITH THE CHAIR
Chats with the Chair
With stories of record-breaking resident events and significant achievements,
this issue certainly reflects what a busy year 2011 has been.
Community
involvement is
a major theme,
with our
successful
residents’
conference in
November and
a round-up of
photos and news from August’s wellattended
Community Tie-in, which will
definitely be hard to beat! I must also
say a special congratulations to one of
our most elderly residents, Mrs Witton,
who celebrated her 108th birthday in
July. South Essex Homes was proud to
sponsor two community categories at
this year’s Echo Business Awards, which
recognise businesses making a
difference in the lives of local people.
Read our Chief Executive’s regular
column on page 13 for a fuller update
about our performance and
achievements, including a recent fire
safety visit by one of the Government’s
top advisors, and South Essex Homes
being elected to the Board of the
National Federation of ALMOs, giving
us even more of a say on behalf of
social housing tenants.
I hope you enjoy this issue of Insight.
As always, it is full of news,
entertainment features and
information about your community
and services. We also have an inspiring
interview with a young energy
apprentice, Adam Rush. Our Just for
Fun pages contain plenty of activities
and events for the whole family to get
involved in. We’ve had some positive
Your Community, Your News
We have moved
South Essex Homes has relocated to Cheviot House,
following feedback from residents that one office would
improve communication and allow our services to be
delivered more efficiently.
All our staff are now based at Cheviot House, 70 Baxter
Avenue, Southend, SS2 6HZ. The office has a fully-equipped
reception area for the comfort of visitors.
If you would like to pay us a visit please see the map above.
The local train station is Southend Victoria and the nearest bus
stops are located on Victoria Avenue.
You can still contact us as normal via our freephone on 0800
833 160 or visit our website www.southessexhomes.co.uk
feedback to Kids’ Corner so keep those
suggestions coming!
Plus, don’t miss out on an opportunity
to win a great hamper in our
Facebook and Twitter competition.
Social media is a good way to stay upto-date
with South Essex Homes and I
would certainly encourage all residents
to sign up.
Finally, I would like to wish you and
your household a fulfilling festive
season and a Happy New Year.
Best regards
Phil Lyons
Chair of South Essex Homes
We would like to reassure residents that part one sheltered
schemes are not being decommissioned.
Rumours have circulated recently that part one sheltered
schemes were being decommissioned. South Essex Homes
would like to assure residents that this is NOT the case and the
rumours were a result of a miscommunication.
At the beginning of the year, the alarm system supplier
Tunstall informed us that the existing systems were redundant
and the manufacturer could not maintain or support them
beyond March 2011 and as such the systems would need to be
replaced at a significant cost.
Rather than incur the high cost of replacing the alarm system
which historically had only been used by a minority of residents,
South Essex Homes worked in partnership with the Council and
in full consultation with residents to install new individual
systems free-of-charge only for residents who wanted it.
Working via the resident’s phone line, the ‘dispersed alarm’
device can be triggered in case of a health emergency and
operates in a similar manner to the previous system.
Therefore only the original alarm equipment has been
decommissioned and NOT the part one schemes themselves.
We hope this clarification resolves any concerns.
Mario Ambrose, Executive Director
MORE COMMUNITY NEWS ON PAGES 4 TO 7...
Get in touch
To send in your story ideas for future issues of Insight
Magazine, or to provide feedback on something you've read,
contact the Editor via the following methods:
Insight Magazine, South Essex Homes
Cheviot House, 70 Baxter Avenue
Southend-on-Sea SS2 6HZ
Phone: 01702 214 254
Email: insightmagazine@acceleris-mc.com

SOUTHEND STARS | 3
Southend Stars
Film and TV actress Kierston Wareing lives in Leigh-on-Sea, where she grew up. Since her first major
casting in 2007 by director Ken Loach in It’s a Free World which earned her a BAFTA nomination for
Best Actress, Kierston’s acting career has gone from strength to strength. Highlights include memorable,
gritty roles in series such as The Runaway, Martina Cole’s The Take and The Shadow Line.
It’s nearly the end of the year –
how has 2011 been for you?
Very busy - it’s been a bit of a
whirlwind really, going from one job
straight to the next. While the work
is very rewarding and I thrive on
being busy, I’m currently taking a
rare but much-needed break!
What are your highlights of the
last year?
I enjoyed making The Holding, with
an added bonus of winning a
Scream Magazine award for Best
Actress in October. Plus there’s been
some great TV work, starting with
The Shadow Line, Luther and Scott
and Bailey at the beginning of the
year, and more recently Inside Men
(which is out in April 2012) and Top
Boy.
Tell us more about Top Boy…
It’s a hard-hitting, four-part thriller
set in London which provides an
insight into the lives and personal
viewpoints of gang members and
the impact gangs and drugs can
have on local communities. I played
Heather, a pregnant mother with a
cunning but dangerous plan to give
her unborn child the best chances
in life. It was great appearing
alongside the talented rap artiststurned-actors
Ashley Walters (of
So Solid Crew fame) and Kane
Robinson.
What does 2012 hold in store
for you?
I can’t really say fully at the moment
but I do plan to visit the States to
see if there are any opportunities
there. I will hopefully be flying out in
February! Watch this space…
Looking back at your acting
career, the characters you’ve
played have predominately been
strong but often vulnerable
women. Has this happened by
chance or do you actively seek
out these roles?
A bit of both, really! Directors have
tended to cast me in these roles but
it’s good because I enjoy them.
I enjoy bringing these characters to
life on the screen, especially when
they’re powerful in some way, or
defy the odds to turn their situations
around.
If you could star alongside any TV
or movie actor who would it be?
Marilyn Monroe - she was amazing.
I am definitely what you’d call a
die-hard fan!
What’s your favourite film?
It’s hard to pick just one, could I
have two please? (Laughs) It would
have to be The Shining and Girl,
Interrupted. Oh – and anything
starring Marilyn Monroe!
That’s more than two but we’ll
let you off, Kierston! Did your
interest in the performing arts
begin in Southend?
Definitely - I began acting lessons in
Leigh when I was seven years old. I
had a fantastic teacher (she was
called Elizabeth Slater) who was a
huge support and role model for
me. I also took part in the Leigh and
Southend Festivals which nurtured
my interest in drama – I’d love to go
and take part again one day.
How important has the support
of others been to you as your
career has progressed?
Very - my family in
particular has stuck by me
from day one and always
believed in me. They are
still based in Leigh, so
when I’m not working
I spend a lot of time
with them.
You also regularly
volunteer at the local
YMCA – tell us a bit more
about your involvement.
I think I previously had a
misconception that centres
like the YMCA were just soup
kitchens, but they do so much
more than provide food, shelter and
other essential services. They help
young people get back into
education or employment and build
their confidence and skills to get
their lives on the right track. I’m
inspired by the work done at the
YMCA and the difference it makes,
so I’m glad to be part of that effort.
Finally, where are your favourite
places in Southend?
I love Hadleigh Castle and its
grounds, and of course the
Southend seafront. I explore these
places even more now that I have a
dog and go for long walks (he’s a
15-month year old golden retriever
called Marley, so-named because of
the film Marley & Me). Before I got
him I don’t think I’d completely
appreciated what beautiful places
we have on our doorstep!
The individuals featured in our Southend Stars
interviews donate their time and photography
free of charge.
In character – (left and right) Malcolm Kamulete as Ra’Nell and
Kierston Wareing as Heather in Channel 4 drama Top Boy

4 | YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR NEWS
Event attracts thousands
Over 3,000 Southend residents attended the 2011 Southend Tenants and Residents Federation
“Community Tie-In event” held in Southchurch Park on Wednesday 3rd August.
There were three times as many visitors than previous
years as the fine sunny weather helped to draw in the
crowds.
Organised by residents of South Essex Homes, the event
featured a host of attractions across more than 80 different
stalls. It was brought to a close by a flag ceremony and an
exciting 800ft teddy bear parachute jump by the Ted Devils.
Visitors also enjoyed live music throughout the day from
The Seasiders and cockney style entertainer Gordon
Bennett. Other attractions included dance displays, George
at ASDA fashion shows and a dog competition.
Phil Lyons, Chair of South Essex Homes, said: “What a
fantastic day! Great weather, a great event and great people
- Southend Borough Council and South Essex Homes can
be really proud.”
The event was organised and run by residents, and
sponsored by South Essex Homes, Mitie, PH Jones,
Lovell Respond Ltd, TSG Building Services PLC, AC
Radio Cabs Ltd along with pilot Nigel Willson and his
Ted Devils.
“Without the
commitment and
dedication of the committee it
would not have been possible to
make this day the outstanding
success it was. Congratulations
and many thanks to everyone
involved, including staff at
South Essex Homes.”
- Mike Chapman, Chair
of the Tie-in committee
“We are really pleased with
how the event has gone. The fun
activities and attractions were a great
way to bring people together and help
strengthen the local community
and I would like to thank everyone
involved for making this a great
day and hope to see you all
again next year.”
- Hayley Allen, from the
South Essex Homes Resident
Involvement Team
Flashmob – young residents in unannounced Thriller dance
performance, inspired by T-Mobile advert at Liverpool street
station. Participants had rehearsed the dance moves beforehand
“I would like to congratulate the Resident
Involvement team and the Tie-in Committee for all they
did to make this Tie-in the best I have ever been to.
There was plenty for young and old to keep them
entertained all day, the information provided was
great and the event went off without any
problems. All that is left to say is,
well done everyone.”
- Keith Ducker, resident
Fancy tying the knot? - registration service
stand at the Community Tie-in Event
Pampered pooches!
The Community Tie-in event included special
events for pets, including dog competitions
and sessions on being a responsible pet owner.
A one-year-old puggle (a cross between a pug and a beagle)
called Marley (see pictured) won the main ‘Dog Raffle’. Proud
owners Angela and Stephen Dando and their two children,
Jayden and Ryan, received a useful hamper of great doggie
treats and products. The prize was donated by the Tenancy
Sustainment Team.
The Dando family also took the opportunity to have Marley
micro-chipped at the event for free. Many residents used this
valuable service for their pets throughout the day, which was
carried out by Southend Borough Council’ s dog warden Val
Howells.
Proud puggle – raffle prize winner Marley with owners
Jayden (right) and Ryan (left) Dando

YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR NEWS | 5
Supporting communities
South Essex Homes is proud to have been a sponsor of this year’s Echo Southend Business
Awards, which took place at the Cliffs Pavilion in October.
More than 100 local companies and individuals were
in the running for a total of 30 prizes. South Essex
Homes, as a recognised brand name across Southend,
sponsored the Community category, under which
there were two sub-categories - Charity and Private.
Congratulations to staff from Southend Vineyard
Storehouse for scooping the Charity award, and joint
winners in the Private category, The Mushroom Theatre
Company and Southend United Community Trust.
All entries were of a very high standard, so selecting
the final winners in the two Community headings
posed a challenge for the judges, who had visited all the
shortlisted companies to observe the excellent and
varied work taking place on behalf of the local
community.
The South Essex Homes judging panel consisted of
Chair Phil Lyons, Board Member Councillor Nigel Folkard
and two Group Managers Paul Longman and Simon
Putt.
Award-winning community work – (from left to right) Phil Lyons, Chair
of South Essex Homes; Paul Longman, Group Manager; Sarah Lamb,
Support Services Officer; Beverley Gallacher, Support Services Manager;
Councillor Nigel Folkard, Board Member; and The Worshipful the Mayor
Councillor David Norman, also a Board Member
Revamp for sheltered
Councillor Lesley Salter and resident Doris Gunn were pleased to open the recently refurbished
communal hall at sheltered scheme Bradfordbury in October. The new opening was attended
by over 40 residents.
Doris, who has lived at the scheme for 23 years, said:
"The lounge really does look lovely - we are all very
pleased. We can now hold coffee mornings here and
card game nights.” The new facilities include a new
kitchen with eye-level open and separate hob, fully
accessible toilet facilities, new heating system,
replacement windows and doors and full decoration.
For more information about living in sheltered please
contact us on freephone 0800 833 160.
It has come to our attention that a number of our residents
have received mail-shots from CORGI advertising gas
maintenance services.
Since passing its gas engineer registration service to GasSafe, Corgi is
re-inventing itself, offering services directly to residents.
Please ignore these mail-shots as the services South Essex Homes provides
through PH Jones are comprehensive and of the highest quality.

6 | YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR NEWS
Reaching new heights
The Government’s leading fire and rescue adviser, Sir Ken Knight, visited residents’
properties in August to mark the completion of the first stage of a £3m fire safety
project to make Southend’s tower blocks some of the safest in the country.
The project sees the installation of new fire prevention
features and also aims to educate tenants about the role
they can play in preventing fires.
During the visit, Sir Ken inspected state-of-the-art fire
prevention systems installed at the ten-storey Bewley
Court building. This gave tenants a fantastic opportunity
to speak to Sir Ken direct about how they are benefiting
from the additional safety measures.
Speaking on the day, Sir Ken said: “I’ve seen a lot of good
practice during the visit which I hope South Essex Homes
will share with other housing providers and partners.
“In particular, this project
has demonstrated some
excellent examples of
partnership working
with residents being
involved in the work
carried out.”
Read more about
fire safety and waste
removal tips on page 8!
Sharing good practice – Sir Ken Knight (centre left) with
Pauline Tanrikulu (centre right) a Bewley Court resident and
chair of the Bournes Green Park Area Residents Association,
with representatives of the Essex Fire and Rescue Service
Excellence in adult education
South Essex Homes and Southend Adult Community
College are celebrating after receiving two certificates
from the National Institute of Adult Continuing
Education (NIACE).
The certificates represent our work in providing life skills and tenancy
sustainment courses to residents. The four-week courses enable
participants to learn valuable skills such as money management,
healthy eating, cooking on a budget as well as developing maths
and English skills.
Karen, a Southend Council resident, said: “The course has given me
a lot of confidence. Before this I was very isolated and felt low.
“I’ve now learnt lots of new skills in different areas which has made
a tremendous difference to my personal life.”
South Essex Homes Chief Executive, Mike Gatrell, said: “I am delighted
to see the achievements of this partnership being recognised in this
way.”
After the success of these courses, both organisations have
developed the Plus Programme which aims to develop further life
skills such as first aid, fire safety, ICT and food hygiene. More course
details can be found on page 10.

YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR NEWS | 7
Major milestone
Congratulations to Lisa Witton, a resident of South Essex Homes, who has this year
celebrated her 108th birthday surrounded by friends and family.
Mrs Witton was born on 18th July 1903. She was the youngest
of three sisters and spent her early years being cared for by her
grandparents in Ipswich, Suffolk.
After Mrs Witton finished her education, she went on to qualify
as a Chartered Accountant and worked for many big businesses
in London. She soon married, but shortly afterward, her husband
was called to the army and unfortunately was killed in the war.
Lisa carried on working as a Chartered Accountant until her
retirement.
Sheltered housing has been Mrs Witton’s home of choice for a
number of years; she moved to Trafford House four years ago.
Mrs Witton puts her long life down to having a good sense of
humour. She also enjoys being independent and still prepares
her own meals.
Councillor Nigel Folkard, SEH Board member, also paid a
congratulatory visit to Mrs Witton on her birthday.
Happy birthday Mrs Witton – 108-year-old is
congratulated by Councillor Nigel Folkard
Focus on residents
The South Essex Homes Residents’ Awards Conference
was held on Thursday 24th November at the Cliffs
Pavilion.
This annual event is an opportunity to thank all resident
representatives for their hard work during the past year and
for us to report back on the performance of South Essex
Homes. Various awards were presented to nominated
tenants for their commitment to resident participation
and their general community.
This year’s conference merged with the Christmas ‘Meet
and Greet’, which allowed residents time to network, meet
new people and exchange good ideas. Attendees also
participated in a fun quiz, with prizes for winners and
runners-up.
Photos from the event and details of award winners will
be available in the next issue of Insight.
Gardens in bloom
Residents are celebrating after putting their
horticultural know-how to the test at the
third annual Gardens in Bloom competition,
held at Southchurch Hall Park in August.
Their green-fingered skills were judged in seven
categories. The competition was extended this year to
include special categories for children under the age of
16, including ‘tallest sunflower’ and a colouring competition.
Winners were presented with their awards by Southend
Mayor Councillor David Norman and South Essex Homes
Chair, Phil Lyons.
Phil Lyons commented: “I am proud of all our residents who
have made such a fantastic effort to cultivate their
gardens large and small. Those who’ve participated have set
a great example for other members of the community.”
Look out for details of next year’s competition in future
issues of Insight magazine!
Blooming marvellous! Garden in Bloom winners with their certificates,
joined by Southend Mayor Councillor David Norman (far right)

8 | INSIGHT INFO
What a waste!
Thousands of pounds have been wasted and serious health & safety risks
posed by irresponsible and unnecessary dumping of rubbish on Southend
Borough Council estates managed by South Essex Homes over the last year.
Most of our residents dispose of rubbish, recycling and
unwanted items responsibly but not everyone follows their
example. Last year, the South Essex Homes bulk refuse team
collected and disposed of 300 tonnes of dumped rubbish, costing
nearly £65,000.
This money could have been spent so much better elsewhere.
For example, it could be used to expand the Estate Services
Team, fund extra routine refuse collections or buy cleaning
equipment.
South Essex Homes takes dumped rubbish very seriously. The
problem is not only costly, it also:
• Causes a serious fire risk
• Poses a danger to children, pets and wildlife
• Attracts vermin - another health hazard
• Looks unsightly
Please don’t turn a blind eye - report illegal dumping
confidentially to 0800 833 160 (freephone). After all, these
irresponsible actions may be putting you or your family at risk,
plus reducing services that you contribute towards.
Tackling dumped rubbish also takes a lot of staff time, which
could be put to much better use. This includes:
• Caretakers - picking up refuse sacks that are dumped on
landings outside front doors and by bin areas
• The Tenancy Services Team – sending letters to all residents
on estates and investigating who might be responsible
• Surveyors - inspecting sites where fires were set as a
Keeping you fire safe
result of dumped rubbish, and raising orders to repair
the fire damage
We will be taking action against tenancies, recharging
residents and also working with the Council via the criminal
courts to impose penalties. Illegal dumping of rubbish and fly
tipping can result in arrest, imprisonment and even a fine up to
£50,000.
So please dispose of your black sacks, recycling or old furniture
responsibly, improve the environment in which you live, think of
your safety and that of your neighbours and pets and protect
local wildlife. To find out more about how to dispose of your
waste responsibly, please call 0800 833 160 (freephone).
Recycle, recycle, recycle!
There are many ways to recycle unwanted items, which in turn
reduces landfill. Furniture, clothing and household items may be
of use to someone else – many charities are in desperate
need of donations.
Alternatively, take them to your local household waste
recycling centre on Stock Road, Southend-on-Sea, or
Leigh Marshes, Leigh-on-Sea. Cory Environmental also
provides a low cost bulk collection service - contact 01702 617766.
South Essex Homes also has a Facebook page – why not post
your items on there to see if they could be of use to
someone else?
South Essex Homes has pledged to carry out door-knocking visits to all of its 14 tower
blocks and meet with every tenant face to face to discuss fire safety in high-rise buildings.
This follows a successful initiative at Longbow Flats in July
following an arson attack. During the visit, staff helped reassure
residents about the safety of their homes and handed out fire
safety leaflets.
By following these simple fire safety guidelines, residents have
an important part to play in preventing fires of any kind:
• Remove rubbish from communal areas
• Ensure that their smoke alarms are working
• Keep fire exits unobstructed
• Not removing internal doors to help prevent fire from
spreading
• To immediately report anyone suspected of or planning arson
South Essex Homes has published specific fire safety advice for
tenants living in tower blocks which can be viewed on the
South Essex Homes website: www.southessexhomes.co.uk
Information on fire safety is also made available to every
tenant when they move into their property as part of their
tenant handbook. If you require more details about fire safety
or our door-knocking exercises, please call 0800 833 160.

INSIGHT INFO | 9
Our performance
How are we performing? Estate Services
In each edition of Insight we like to give our residents some information
about how we are performing against our targets.
In this edition we would like to report some performance information about Estate Services. This team has
responsibility for the day to day cleaning and caretaking on the estates, as well as maintenance of the grounds.
The figures in the chart below are for the year to date from April 2011 (up to and including September 2011).
ESTATE SERVICES PERFORMANCE INDICATOR
Satisfaction with Estate Services
Bulk refuse removed on time
Graffiti removed in target time
Satisfaction with Caretaking
PERFORMANCE
(TARGET)
69% (68%)
99.5% (95%)
100% (95%)
70% (75%)
ARE WE MEETING OUR
TARGET?
✓
✓
✓
Where the symbol is green, this means that we have met,
or are better than our target. Yellow means that we have not
quite met our target.
The figures for resident satisfaction with Estate Services and
Caretaking are taken from the surveys which are sent out to
a random selection of residents each month.
Between April and September this year, our caretaking
team removed 1,132 large or bulky items and dealt with 12
incidences of graffiti.
Look out for more performance information in the
next edition of Insight!
Your local residents’associations
South Essex Homes supports some fantastic residents' associations (RAs) to help bring local
communities together, discuss and resolve neighbourhood issues, and provide additional support to
residents who need it. We include details of local RAs in each issue of Insight. For more information,
please call the Resident Involvement Team on 0800 833 160 or see previous issues of Insight.
Cluny Residents Association
The Cluny Residents Association (CRA) was set up in 2006 by
people living and working in the Cluny Square area.
The idea was that this would be the vehicle by which we
could work together to improve the area, (which over recent
years had received some notoriety as a troublesome hot-spot),
and tackle issues such as anti-social behaviour and how to
improve the local environment.
The area surrounding Cluny Square covers 600 dwellings and
1,500 residents. Most are tenants and leaseholders of properties
managed by South Essex Homes; the rest are private dwellings,
mostly ex-Council houses.
While it has not always been easy, and sadly most residents
don’t attend our meetings, we have managed to get thingsdone.
In order to do so we have worked closely with the
Council, local businesses, churches and schools, as well as the
Police and agencies working in the health and youth sectors.
Thanks to this partnership, we have helped to:
• Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the local area
• Carry out improvements across Cluny Park
• Organise community events such as fun days
• Support health and youth initiatives
• Identify improvements needed in individual units managed
by South Essex Homes and the surrounding environments
• Resolve resident issues.
We value our relationship with South Essex Homes, especially
the support given to us by Sam Elliot of the Resident
Involvement Team.
There is still much that can be done to improve our
community and we invite local residents and others interested
in making a difference to join our association.
Our next open meeting is on Monday 12th December at 7pm
in the Cluny Community Café. Thereafter we have bi-monthly
open meetings, alternating with bi-monthly committee
meetings (dates TBA). For more information, please contact
CRA Chair John Barber on 01702 616 302 or via email:
jjandm.barber@blueyonder.co.uk

10 | INSIGHT INFO
Skills for Life
Want to learn a new skill, get tips on applying for jobs online
or cooking on a budget, or even find out how to administer
basic first aid?
Here is a calendar of popular courses held at Southend's Business Enterprise Skills and Training
(BEST) Centre between January and July 2012. For more information contact Tenancy
Sustainment on freephone 0800 833 160.
COURSE TITLE DATE & TIME COURSE OUTLINE QUALIFICATIONS
AVAILABLE WITH
PROGRESSION
ICT AND INTERNET
SAFETY
Starts Thurs 26th Jan
Four-week course.
10am-1pm
Learn how to carry out basic ICT skills
and safely work your way around your
PC. This course is designed for lowmedium
ability clients.
Numeracy
WWW.JOBS 4 ME.
COM
Six-week course.
10am-12.30pm
Starts Tues 21st Feb
Ideal for those who are new to
computers. Covers internet safety and
searching for jobs online as well as help
with completing online applications.
ICT literacy
SPEND AND SMILE
Starts Fri 9th March
Four-week course
12-2pm
A course designed to promote healthy
spending. Learn about budgeting and
how to control your spending. Gain tips
on how to spend with confidence
without sinking in to unmanageable
debt.
Numeracy
CONFIDENCE
AND SELF ESTEEM
Starts Fri 20th April
Three-week course
10am-12pm
A valuable course to learn tips on how
to build and boost confidence and
improve self esteem.
FOOD HYGIENE
Starts Fri 4th May
Five-week course
12-2.30pm
This course covers basic food hygiene
and food preparation within the home
and work environment.
Food Hygiene
Certificate
BASIC FIRST AID
Starts Mon 11th June
Five-week course.
12-2.30pm
This course offers basic first aid
guidance and gives you the confidence
to help in times of need.
First Aid Certificate
TENANCY
SUSTAINMENT
Dates to be agreed.
Four-week course.
Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday
10am-1pm
This course is available for candidates
who need information on how to keep
a tenancy, rent arrears, ASBOs, finance
and cooking on a budget, as well as
planning for your future goals.
Literacy
Numeracy
NOCN (National Open
College Network)
qualifications
Need a garage?
We have garages available to rent in the following areas:
• Fraser Close • Carmania Close • Purley Way
• Cunningham Close • Appletree Close
If you are interested in renting a garage or would like more
info, please call us on 0800 833 160.

INSIGHT INFO | 11
Our continued commitment to
equality and diversity
South Essex Homes is pleased to introduce our new equality objectives for
2011-15, which set out how we will continue to ensure the people we serve
are treated fairly and equally.
Our objectives are to:
• Ensure South Essex Homes policies are equal and accessible
• Use our "excellence" accreditation to assist in developing good
practice within the wider community
• Provide support for vulnerable residents to help sustain their tenancies
• Extend the resident profile information beyond 90%
• Ensure our contractors are meeting our equality obligations and theirs
• Engage with the harder to reach communities within Southend to
ensure all residents have access to fair services
• Do our best to ensure our workforce profile is reflective of the
community we serve
• Hate crime reporting - to raise awareness of action that can be taken
and support available to increase confidence in the system.
Working together for dementia
Trevett House and Great Mead have recently teamed up to raise
money for local charity The Peaceful Place, which offers specialised
help and support for people in South East Essex living with young
onset dementia.
Residents of South Essex Homes got together in August for refreshments
and fun, including a raffle, and raised a total £138 for this highly
worthwhile cause.
The Peaceful Place offers a day-care service, and soon a supported
living service, to support dementia sufferers under the age of 65 and
their carers.
Thank you to those who donated and supported the event. More
information can be found online at: www.peaceful place.co.uk
Christmas is coming!
Please see below details of South Essex Homes’Christmas opening hours:
• Friday 23 December 2011 - tba - please check our
website, Facebook and Twitter for up to date
information
• Saturday 24 December 2011 - closed
• Sunday 25 December 2011 - closed
• Monday 26 December 2011 - closed
• Tuesday 27 December 2011 - closed
• Wednesday 28 December 2011 - 8.30am - 5pm
• Thursday 29 December 2011 - 8.30am - 5pm
• Friday 30 December 2011 - 8.30am - 4.45pm
• Saturday 31 December 2011 - closed
• Sunday 1 January 2012 - closed
• Monday 2 January 2012 - closed
• Tuesday 3 January 2012 – 8.30am - 5pm

12 | UNIQUE INSIGHT
A Unique Insight into…
…a day in the life of Trainee Energy Officer Adam Rush
In every edition of Insight, we speak to a key South Essex Homes employee about their day-to-day role
and how their hard work benefits the residents of South Essex Homes and the community as a whole.
This issue the Insight editorial team chatted with Trainee Energy Officer Adam, 19, to find out more
about his job:
How long have you been with South Essex
Homes?
Only four months, of a year-long apprenticeship. I spotted
the role online on the national Apprenticeships website
(see below) and it sounded brilliant.
What does your job involve?
I work mainly on South Essex Homes’ Energy Strategy. This
will help to make properties as energy efficient as possible.
Part of this is assisting with completing energy surveys.
Tell us more about the Energy Strategy.
Following the fantastic improvements South Essex Homes
has made through the Decent Homes programme, this
work will help us take it even further. It covers the period
2011-2020 and, depending on the Government funding we
receive, will enable us to install a wide range of technologies,
for example loft and cavity wall insulation, solar photovoltaic
panels and solar hot water systems – all of which will
help get homes ‘energy fit’. Plus, we will work with residents
to help them to use the technology properly and get the
most out of it. We hope to start the work next year.
What do you do to unwind outside of work?
I like socialising with friends. I’m also a bit of an Xbox addict!
(Laughs)
Who was the last famous person you spotted
and where were they?
Jodie Marsh enjoying a spot of retail therapy in the Lakeside
Shopping Centre!
What is your favourite part of the job you do ?
As an apprentice, I enjoy the combination of learning and
working. For example, I recently shadowed Bradley Staff
who leads the voids team, helping to issue energy
performance certificates (EPCs) for properties. An EPC
shows just how energy efficient a property is, which is
really interesting. I do feel that renewable energy is the
future, so I am glad to be part of that.
Thank you for talking to us, Adam and we wish you all
the best for the rest of your apprenticeship!
For more information on apprenticeships with South
Essex Homes, please call 0800 833 160, or for
opportunities nationwide,
visit: www.apprenticeships.org.uk/
“
“I do feel that renewable energy is the future,
so I’m glad to be part of that.

FROM THE DESK OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE | 13
From the desk of the
Chief Executive
A personal message to Insight readers from Mike Gatrell,
Chief Executive of South Essex Homes.
Dear Readers
As we enter a new year, I’d like to take the opportunity to reflect on some of the
achievements and challenges of 2011 and look forward to 2012.
Household budgets have taken a
significant hit across the country as
the economic crisis continues. This
means sadly that we have seen more
residents finding it difficult to pay their
rent on time. It is important if you find
yourself in this position that, rather
than struggling on or missing
payments, to get in touch via
freephone 0800 023 4057 and speak
to the revenue services team. They will
chat to you about your circumstances
and how we can help.
“If you are struggling
to pay rent, please get
in touch. We are here
to help.”
We have recently re-located most of
our staff to Cheviot House (read more
on page 2), bringing teams even
closer together and resulting in
speedier responses to tenant
enquiries. This has also helped us
reduce our overheads, in turn
enabling us to
protect essential front-line services.
In the autumn, Southend Borough
Council launched a review of how its
housing management services are
run. They made it clear that tenants
will be involved in the consultation
about this, which is expected to finish
in spring 2012 - keep an eye out for
more information and opportunities
to have your say!
During the year we have continued
to work to ensure customer
satisfaction levels with South Essex
Homes remain high and that we try to
improve even further. It’s your views
which tell us how well we are doing.
We have also worked hard to further
improve across all performance areas,
such as the time it takes to re-let
empty homes, in order to provide the
best service we can for you. We have
been rated top of a local housing
performance league for repairs and
maintenance in South Essex (more
figures can be found in our annual
report). Plus, as a result of successful
bids for ongoing Decent Homes
improvement works, the Homes and
Communities Agency has given
permission to bring forward £500,000
of work originally planned for 2012/13.
This is great news for those tenants
who have had work done earlier than
scheduled!
We were very proud to have our fire
safety practices praised by the
Government’s chief fire and rescue
advisor, Sir Ken Knight, in August. He
inspected one of our tower blocks and
was very impressed with what he saw,
in particular how we involved tenants
in the planning and delivery of fire
safety works. He was very keen for our
sites to act as a model of best practice
to assist other housing organisations
with fire safety.
Nationally, there are a number of
major changes happening in social
housing, which we will continue to
update you about in the coming
months. Firstly, self-financing is
expected to come into effect in April
2012 – this is a different way of
managing council housing finance
and is designed to give councils more
control of budgets and how they are
spent locally. While the transition to
self-financing might initially lead to
tighter budgets, there will be real
opportunities for the Council to
anticipate significant investment in
housing over the next few years. The
Government has also announced it
will launch a new Housing Strategy,
which promises to bring changes such
as a development of the Right to Buy
scheme. Meanwhile, South Essex
Homes was elected to the Board of
the National Federation of ALMOs.
This role will enable us to represent
the views of ALMOs and tenants in the
southern region, on a national
platform. This has given us more of a
national voice with the ‘movers and
shakers’ of housing policy and we
hope will enable us to contribute and
make a difference as housing policies
develop over the next few years.
Finally, it has been a great year for
resident events at South Essex Homes,
including the busiest Community
Tie-in event ever, and our residents’
conference! South Essex Homes has
just celebrated its six-year anniversary,
so it is clear that one of our main
mission statements – to work together
to involve residents in their
community and housing services - has
stayed strong from Day One and
resident involvement is well and truly
at the heart of our culture!
Wishing each of you a really good
festive season and a positive start
to the New Year!
Mike Gatrell

14 | JUST FOR FUN
What’s on in Southend?
With Christmas and the New Year on our doorstep, there’s a wide range of varied and entertaining
events going on in and around Southend. Here’s some of our favourites. More information on most
of the events above can be found at: www.visitsouthend.co.uk
WHAT IS IT?
York Road Market
Up to 50 stalls selling a variety of quality fresh local produce
at great prices.
Santa on the Pier
Children can visit Santa in his grotto on the Pier and
every child will receive a gift
Carols on Strand Wharf
Carol singing by the community, accompanied by
Belfairs School. A wonderful evening for all ages
Southend Girls' Choir
Christmas comes to town in style as the Girls' Choir
treats the community to a night of song
The Southend Northern Soul Night
A ‘night designed to fill a dance floor’with a selection
of 60s and 70s original vinyl records
Christmas Farmers & Crafts Market
Festive market with stalls selling delicious seasonal
foods and unique crafted gifts. Great for that last bit of
Christmas shopping!
Crown to Crown 5km
An exhilarating race to get the blood pumping after a
day of Christmas decadence!
Chinese New Year
Join in the celebrations for Chinese New Year –
2012 is the Year of the Dragon!
Jazz at St James
A benefit night of contemporary jazz to help the
Fairhavens Hospice
Peppa Pig's Treasure Hunt
Join Peppa, George and Danny Dog for a fun-filled
show with the promise of hidden treasure
WHEN CAN I GO?
WHERE IS IT?
Every Fri, 9th Dec 2011 - 27th
April 2012 9am-4pm
York Road Market
Every Sun, 27th Nov - 18th
Dec 2011
Southend Pier
Sat 10th Dec 2011 6-7pm
Leigh-on-Sea Town Centre
Sun 11th Dec Starts at 7pm
Palace Theatre
10th Dec Starts at 8pm
Kursaal Functions Suite
Monday 19th Dec 9am –
5.30pm
Southend High Street
Monday 26th Dec 11am
Westley Heights Country
Park High Road
Saturday 28th Jan 2012
Southend Town Centre
Friday 17th Feb 2012
8pm St James the Less High
Street, Hadleigh
22nd – 23rd Feb 2012
Cliff Pavillion, Southend Centre
ANYTHING ELSE I NEED
TO KNOW?
Free entry
Tickets are £5 per child and include a ride
on the Pier train. Booking is essential, call
01702 618747 to book a place now
Bring an extra jumper, it promises to be
chilly!
Tickets can be purchased by calling
01702 351135
Tickets are £7.50 each.
The event is for over 18s only and goes on
until late (finishes at 2am)
Free entry. More information available at
www.essexfarmersmarkets.com
Tickets are £1 and can only be bought on
the day.The event is perfect for everyone,
from sprinters to snails, but children must
be accompanied by an adult
Free entry
Tickets are £10 on the door and go
towards helping the Fairhavens Hospice
Family tickets are £54, more information is
available at www.peppapiglive.com
Five top tips to stay healthy this winter
The dark nights are drawing in, it’s getting colder, but that’s no reason not to stay healthy and happy during the winter
months. Here are five top tips on making sure your winter remains sniffle free!
No.1
Eliminate your sleep debt. On average we sleep
6.5 hours a night, instead of the recommended
seven to nine. Use the longer winter nights as
an excuse to catch up on some snooze-time!
No.2
Drink more milk and eat more dairy products –
they are great sources of protein, vitamins A
and B12 and calcium. You are also 80 per cent
more likely to get a cold in winter so make sure
your immune system is in tip-top condition by
eating well.
No.3
Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables
a day. When it’s cold and dark outside it can be
tempting to fill up on unhealthy comfort food,
but it’s important to keep your diet healthy. If
you find yourself craving a sugary treat, have a
juicy Clementine instead! Winter vegetables
such as carrots and swede can be roasted,
mashed, or made into soup for a wholesome
family meal.
No.4
Regular exercise helps control your weight and
boost your immune system. As tempting as it
can be to stay in on cold winter days/nights, try
a new activity with the whole family such as ice
skating!
No.5
Have a hearty breakfast. Winter is the perfect
season for porridge, which is not only a
delicious way to start your day, but provides
energy, vitamins and fibre. Plus it helps you to
feel fuller for longer!
For more information on how to stay fit, active
and healthy, visit
www.nhs.uk/change4life/Pages/
change-for-life.aspx

KIDS’ CORNER | 15
South Essex Homes is organising a free swim and
inflatable fun event next February half-term for
children aged 8-16 years!
The whole pool will be privately hired for a period of nearly two hours.
This event will take place on Sunday 12th February 2012 from
6.15pm to 8pm at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre, Garons Park.
To book your place please contact Resident Involvement Officer,
Sam Elliott on 01702 236135. Places are limited and are available
on a first-come, first-served basis so book now
to avoid disappointment!
Spot the
difference!
Can you find and circle the five
differences between these two
pictures of four-legged friend
Marley and his family? You will
then be entered into a prize
draw to win a £10 gift voucher!
Send your answers by 31st
January 2012 to South Essex
Homes with your name, age
and address (our address is on
page 2). This competition is for
children under the age of 10.
Quick brain teaser!
Did you know the puggle is a cross between a pug
and a beagle? What other strange canine combinations
can you think of?

“I look forward to receiving Insight
Magazine. Having been previously
shown a copy by a neighbour, it is
of interest and appears to also have
useful information for us as occupants
of a Leaseholder Flat.”
Mr and Mrs S,
Eastwood Road North
This dedicated section of Insight gives residents the opportunity to
have their letters and feedback published. This issue’s Star
Letter was sent in by Ms P from Canterbury Avenue
who wins a £10 gift voucher.
★
“This year’s Community Tie-in
event was very well organised and
even better attended. I will
definitely go again next year!”
Mr F, Southend Hospital
★
★
★
Star Letter
“It is always a pleasure to speak to
anyone from the Customer Contact
Team. They are always polite and very
helpful.”
Ms P, Canterbury Avenue
★
★
If you have a compliment, suggestion or
comment you would like to feature in the
next issue of Insight Magazine, please
send it through to us using one of the
‘Get in touch’ methods on page 2.
★
There’s a fantastic £10 gift voucher up
for grabs for our favourite letter.
“I think your recent Disability
Conference was a great
success. Well done.”
Mr A, Westwood
“I rang to check if a rent account
was in order and spoke to Lauren
Anderson. Lauren was very
patient and took time to explain
the system for rent statements.
It was a pleasure dealing with her.
She is a credit to her department
and to South Essex Homes.”
Anonymous Mystery
Shopper
Online Insight
- Competition
0800 833 160
If you would like a copy of this
newsletter in large print, on
audio tape or CD, in braille or
on a CD-rom, please phone
the number above
Want to get up-to-the-minute updates from South Essex Homes straight to
your PC or smartphone? Why not connect with us via Facebook and Twitter,
and even be entered into a prize draw to win a fantastic hamper brimming
with goodies?
Chances are you already have a Facebook account, and may even be on Twitter,
so it will take seconds to ‘like’or ‘follow’us, and be kept constantly in the loop
about what’s going on at South Essex Homes and our services. You can even send
messages to us and receive a very quick response.
What’s more, if you sign up before 31st January 2012, you have the chance of
winning a great prize. One lucky household will receive a hamper, kindly donated
by ASDA, full of family essentials, including cleaning products, toiletries and much
more!
Go on – what are you waiting for? Search for South Essex Homes on Facebook
and Twitter, then ‘like’or/and ‘follow’us. We look forward to keeping you updated.
We will be in touch with the winner of the hamper after the closing date.
Good luck!
There are now 234 followers on Twitter and 76 members who 'like'
our Facebook page (figures correct as of 1 Nov 2011)
Why not join them?