Insight Winter 2011 - South Essex Homes

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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
Page 1: WINTER 2011/12 THE SOUTH ESSEX HOME
Page 5 and 6: YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR NEWS | 5 Suppo
Page 7 and 8: YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR NEWS | 7 Major
Page 9 and 10: INSIGHT INFO | 9 Our performance Ho
Page 11 and 12: INSIGHT INFO | 11 Our continued com
Page 13 and 14: FROM THE DESK OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIV
Page 15 and 16: KIDS’ CORNER | 15 South Essex Hom

Insight Winter 2011 - South Essex Homes

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