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from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong><br />

Issue 50 August 2012<br />

<strong>Homes</strong> and places where people want to live<br />

Your home<br />

Your neighbourhood<br />

Your service<br />

Help us to help you improve<br />

them all!<br />

It’s a new era for tenant and leaseholder<br />

involvement – and we need YOU.<br />

We’ve got a great history of working with<br />

tenants and leaseholders to improve homes,<br />

neighbourhoods and services – but we want to do<br />

much more.<br />

So we’re changing how we work to make it as<br />

easy as possible for you to get involved and shape<br />

how we do things.<br />

And we want to do more than we’ve ever done to<br />

support tenants and leaseholders to improve your<br />

own communities.<br />

We’re launching our Tenant Academy, where you<br />

can learn the skills you need to give you every<br />

chance to get involved.<br />

Most importantly you’ve told us you want tenant<br />

and leaseholder involvement to be fun. We agree!<br />

Chief Executive Nick Murphy said: “There’ll be lots<br />

of new and exciting opportunities for tenants and<br />

leaseholders to get involved with us. It’s all about<br />

them helping us to deliver the best services across<br />

the city – and we’re here to help people to improve<br />

their own communities.”<br />

Inside this issue you can find out more about<br />

these exciting plans – and some of the great<br />

things we’ve been doing this summer.<br />

Inside:<br />

Summer<br />

Involvement<br />

round-up<br />

See page three to find out more<br />

3<br />

Garden<br />

competition<br />

results 2012<br />

See page ten to find out more<br />

10 Tenancy policy 11<br />

consultation<br />

See page 11 to find out more<br />

<strong>North</strong> Edition • Aspley • Bestwood • Bilborough • Bulwell<br />

Setting the<br />

standards<br />

Want to improve<br />

your home, your<br />

neighbourhood and your<br />

housing service<br />

Then join us at the Council House on<br />

Wednesday 5 September. We’re<br />

holding a special event called ‘Reach<br />

for the stars – four star services for<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong>’ – where we want YOU to tell<br />

us what standards you expect from us.<br />

The conference is your chance to meet<br />

your fellow tenants and leaseholders –<br />

and tell us where you think we’re doing<br />

well or need to improve.<br />

You’ll be able to find out much more<br />

about how you can get involved with<br />

us to make a real difference to the<br />

lives of thousands of people in our<br />

city – and more about how our new<br />

Tenant Academy can help YOU to<br />

get involved.<br />

Want to come<br />

Call us on 0115 915 7380, or email<br />

gettinginvolved@<br />

nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk


2 News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell 3<br />

Our drive for<br />

to your <strong>edition</strong> of the <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong><br />

newspaper for tenants and leaseholders<br />

a message from the<br />

Chair<br />

Becoming involved in my local<br />

community has led to great rewards<br />

– and it could do the same for you.<br />

I started getting involved in a small way with<br />

my local tenants’ and residents’ group as I<br />

wanted to make my local community better<br />

for us all. That sparked an interest that<br />

has led me to gain formal qualifications in<br />

housing, becoming chair of your Board – and<br />

being awarded the MBE!<br />

But I couldn’t have done this without the help<br />

and support from those at NCH – that’s why<br />

I’m delighted about the launch of our new<br />

Tenant Academy.<br />

Anyone taking their first step to joining in is<br />

bound to feel nervous and wonder if they<br />

have the skills needed. This is where the<br />

Academy can help you.<br />

a message from<br />

Jean<br />

Getting involved can mean<br />

different things to different people.<br />

And this issue of NCH News really<br />

shows that range.<br />

Despite the awful weather earlier this<br />

summer, our green fingered residents have<br />

been able to keep on top of water-logged<br />

gardens. The results of their hard work and<br />

dedication can be seen on pages 10 and 11<br />

where we showcase the winners.<br />

Getting involved in the annual Garden<br />

Competition is just one small way of<br />

contributing to the vision of ‘creating homes<br />

and places where people want to live’.<br />

Another way is to join your local tenant and<br />

residents group to make your community a<br />

better place.<br />

Sometimes it is the power of us getting<br />

involved and working together that can have<br />

a big impact on where we live.<br />

They will<br />

provide<br />

support and<br />

training to<br />

give you the<br />

confidence to<br />

take your first<br />

steps on what<br />

could become<br />

an incredible<br />

journey for<br />

you.<br />

Learning new skills can not only lead to you<br />

becoming more involved with NCH but also<br />

lead to skills, experience and qualifications<br />

that could help you find a new job.<br />

There are so many ways to get involved<br />

with <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> – you can find<br />

out more on pages four and five. And why<br />

not come along to our special event in the<br />

Council House on Thursday 5 September.<br />

So what are you waiting for Get involved today!<br />

Janet Storar MBE<br />

Chair, <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong><br />

From the<br />

smaller<br />

projects on<br />

streets to<br />

groups of us<br />

taking our<br />

message to<br />

Parliament, it all helps.<br />

Those involved in the Tenant and<br />

Leaseholder Congress ran the ‘Nott Decent’<br />

campaign – and our working together<br />

means thousands of you are benefiting from<br />

improvements.<br />

But your involvement can be as little as<br />

making sure you give us your views – and<br />

one way of starting this is by telling us about<br />

what you think about our tenancy policy (see<br />

page 11).<br />

Jean England<br />

Chair, Tenant and Leaseholder Congress<br />

There’s still time!<br />

You need to be registered to vote in the next<br />

and following elections.<br />

If you haven’t already had one, you’ll shortly<br />

receive an election registration form. It is a legal<br />

requirement to fill this in and send it back.<br />

How do I register<br />

If you have lived at your current home for<br />

some time you will be sent a form with<br />

pre-printed details on it. If all this information<br />

is the same and you don’t need to make any<br />

changes, just sign the form and send it back<br />

to <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> Council in the envelope<br />

provided. If there are any changes, make<br />

them on the form, sign it, and send it back.<br />

If there are no changes you can register:<br />

• by freephone (available 24 hours) –<br />

0808 284 1483<br />

• on the internet –<br />

www.elecreg.co.uk/nottingham<br />

• by text - 07786 209 383. You will need to<br />

text us the two security codes on your form,<br />

separated by a space.<br />

The services above are available 24 hours<br />

and open until 8 October 2012.<br />

For more information, phone 0115 876 4111<br />

or visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/elections<br />

News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong><br />

Communications & Marketing Team<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong>, Head Office,<br />

14 Hounds Gate, <strong>Nottingham</strong>, NG1 7BA<br />

Telephone 0845 330 3131<br />

Minicom 0115 915 7447<br />

Email marketing@nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />

www.nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />

Like us on:<br />

nottinghamcityhomesinvolvement<br />

Follow us on:<br />

@nottmcityhomes<br />

Summer round-up...<br />

Perfect day<br />

for Pride<br />

This year’s <strong>Nottingham</strong>shire Pride took place<br />

under glorious skies at the Forest Recreation<br />

Ground on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July.<br />

The festival offered a great fun day out for all<br />

the family – with lots of interesting stalls and<br />

fantastic live entertainment, including this<br />

year’s headline act Basshunter.<br />

The weekend started with a march from Old<br />

Market Square to the Forest Recreation<br />

Ground, which involved hundreds of people<br />

waving rainbow-coloured flags and carrying<br />

banners with messages of support.<br />

Carnival<br />

time!<br />

Colourful costumes and a theme of<br />

‘togetherness’ were the order of the day when<br />

we took part in the <strong>Nottingham</strong> Carnival on<br />

Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 August.<br />

Tenants and leaseholders were heavily<br />

involved throughout the planning stages and<br />

on the day – choosing the overall theme, the<br />

colours of the costumes and the float and<br />

learning new dance moves for the parade.<br />

Along with our partner – carnival troupe ‘Hya<br />

Level’, and other community dance troupes<br />

from across the city, we took part in the Big<br />

Parade on the Sunday and had a stall at The<br />

Forest Recreation Ground on both days.<br />

In the run up to the big weekend we held<br />

Riverside Festival<br />

Although we weren’t as<br />

lucky with the weather for<br />

the Riverside Festival and<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> Mela, we didn’t let<br />

the rain dampen our spirits as<br />

members of our Involvement,<br />

Customer Service and<br />

Rents team dodged the rain<br />

showers and handed out lots<br />

of information to the people<br />

attending.<br />

This year’s festival took<br />

place on Friday 3 to Sunday<br />

5 August, with the Mela<br />

Festival being open on the<br />

Saturday and Sunday. Over<br />

the weekend, thousands<br />

of people of all ages went<br />

along to enjoy the fairground<br />

rides, live music, to watch the<br />

Olympics on a big screen and,<br />

of course, to meet us!<br />

Pictured: <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> staff get ready to join<br />

the march.<br />

An NCH team, took part in the march and we ran<br />

an information stall at the event, where people<br />

could find out about getting involved and how to<br />

bid for properties through <strong>Nottingham</strong> HomeLink.<br />

Pictured: Carnival costume making workshops.<br />

workshops across the city where tenants<br />

and communities came along to work on<br />

the costumes and learn the dance routines.<br />

The dance workshops were supported by<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> Forest – they provided a dance<br />

instructor to help the adults and children learn<br />

the routines. Look out for the pictures in the<br />

next issue!<br />

Pictured: Talking to residents<br />

at the Riverside Festival.<br />

We’re supporting ‘Hope<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong>’ to provide food<br />

gifts for families in need<br />

throughout the city – and we<br />

need your help!<br />

We’re looking for donations of<br />

any of these items:<br />

• Milk (UHT or powdered)<br />

• Sugar (500g bags)<br />

• Fruit juice (cartons)<br />

• Soup<br />

• Pasta sauces<br />

• Sponge pudding (tinned)<br />

• Baked beans / tinned spaghetti / macaroni<br />

• Cereals<br />

• Rice pudding (tinned)<br />

• Tea bags<br />

• Instant coffee<br />

• Instant mash potato<br />

• Rice / pasta<br />

• Tinned meat / fish / vegetables<br />

• Tinned fruit<br />

• Jam<br />

• Biscuits or snack bars<br />

And it’s not just food that’s needed. If you<br />

have any bedding, clothes, towels or other<br />

textiles that you no longer use, and they are<br />

of good quality, then we’d love you to donate<br />

these as well.<br />

If you can spare anything at all, bring it to any of<br />

our housing offices from Monday 3 September –<br />

or drop things off at the Council House if you’re<br />

coming to our conference on the 5 September.<br />

On that day we’ll also be opening the doors of<br />

our Tenant Resource Centre based at our<br />

Head Office.<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> staff will also be donating<br />

during the week – so it will be a real team effort<br />

among staff and tenants and leaseholders.<br />

Anything you can donate will be greatly<br />

appreciated and go towards making life just that<br />

little bit easier for people who struggle the most.<br />

For more about ‘Hope’ please visit<br />

www.hopenottingham.org.uk


4 News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell 5<br />

Get involved at our<br />

new Tenant Academy<br />

Want to do your bit but don’t<br />

know where to turn Turn to us!<br />

Your home<br />

Your neighbourhood<br />

Your service<br />

Until now, the Government<br />

used to tell us what standards it<br />

expected. Not anymore! Now we<br />

set our standards according to<br />

what <strong>Nottingham</strong> tenants and<br />

leaseholders want to see.<br />

So we’re now creating a whole new structure to make sure YOU<br />

are at the heart of everything we do.<br />

There will be loads of opportunities to get involved in improving<br />

your home, your neighbourhoods and your services – read more<br />

about them here.<br />

Want to help us set our standards<br />

Get Involved today!<br />

Call the team on 0115 915 7380, email gettinginvolved@<br />

nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk or text ‘INVOLVE’ to<br />

80800 followed by your name and address.<br />

Our Tenant Academy is here to<br />

offer you a wide range of courses<br />

to help you get involved in your<br />

local community.<br />

Whether it’s running a small local<br />

project – or all the way to joining<br />

our Board – we can help you learn<br />

the skills you need.<br />

At the academy’s heart is our<br />

desire to help you to help us<br />

improve homes, neighbourhoods<br />

and services.<br />

We don’t want anyone who<br />

wants to do their bit feeling put off<br />

because they don’t think they’ve<br />

got the skills. You can get involved<br />

as much or as little as you want –<br />

and we’ll be there to help you every<br />

step of the way.<br />

We’ll be offering a range of<br />

courses – including recognised<br />

national qualifications – as well<br />

as advice and guidance towards<br />

apprenticeships and job interviews<br />

and work experience opportunities.<br />

Tenant and Community<br />

Involvement Manager Ann Lynch<br />

said: “We’ve been running a range<br />

of short courses for involved<br />

tenants for years.<br />

“The academy will build on these<br />

with a number of ‘bite size’ training<br />

opportunities – covering everything<br />

from how to manage your money, to<br />

being more assertive, taking notes<br />

at meetings, organising events and<br />

running a community group.<br />

“We’ll tell you how to find<br />

volunteering opportunities, work<br />

experience and training. We’ll<br />

offer advice and guidance towards<br />

apprenticeships – directing you<br />

to opportunities in bricklaying to<br />

plumbing to office work – not just<br />

with us, but with others too.<br />

“We’ll encourage anyone who<br />

wants to get really involved to learn<br />

the skills you need to be on our<br />

Board – and equip as many tenants<br />

and leaseholders as possible with<br />

what they need to scrutinise our<br />

services.”<br />

Learning new skills doesn’t just<br />

improve your knowledge – it builds<br />

confidence and gives you a better<br />

chance of finding work if you’re<br />

unemployed.<br />

So we’re teaming up with the city<br />

council, Job Centre Plus, voluntary<br />

groups, local colleges and others<br />

to give you every chance to get<br />

ahead.<br />

Job Centre Plus will help direct<br />

long-term unemployed tenants<br />

and residents to the Academy. We<br />

can help improve your CV and job<br />

application skills and provide work<br />

experience placements.<br />

Get involved<br />

today to improve<br />

your home,<br />

neighbourhood<br />

and services!<br />

Join us at the Council House –<br />

Wednesday 5 September, 9.30am<br />

to 3.30pm<br />

Can’t come Don’t worry – just<br />

get in touch!<br />

Contact the Involvement<br />

team on 0115 915 7380, or<br />

email gettinginvolved@<br />

nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />

Or complete and return the<br />

comment form that’s enclosed<br />

with this newsletter.<br />

Customer<br />

Excellence Panel<br />

From now on, it will be tenants like<br />

you who will help set our standards<br />

– and then check how well we are<br />

measuring up. The panel will look at<br />

each of our services and challenge<br />

us to improve.<br />

Inspecting is ‘ACE’!<br />

The Customer Excellence Panel will<br />

be backed by a team of volunteer<br />

‘Achieving Customer Excellence’ – or<br />

ACE – Inspectors. We’re building on<br />

the great work our tenant ‘mystery<br />

shoppers’ and inspectors have been<br />

doing for the last few years to drive<br />

up the quality of our communities<br />

and local offices.<br />

Want to be part of a dedicated team<br />

that sets standards and reviews our<br />

services Get in touch today!<br />

Complaints Panel<br />

We welcome all compliments,<br />

comments and complaints –<br />

they help us understand how<br />

we’re doing and where we<br />

need to improve.<br />

For the first time, tenants and<br />

leaseholders will sit on our<br />

new Complaints Panel – so<br />

when you’ve got a serious<br />

concern about a service, it will<br />

be people like you who are<br />

looking into it.<br />

Communications Panel<br />

The Communications Panel will make<br />

sure all our, websites, events and<br />

publications – like this newspaper –<br />

are covering the things that matter<br />

to you, in a way you can easily<br />

understand.<br />

Our customers have told us that they<br />

want effective communications, to be<br />

kept informed about the things that<br />

matter to them, and to be listened to<br />

– so they can be confident their views<br />

are heard and acted upon.<br />

Equality Panel<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> is a wonderfully<br />

diverse city – and our<br />

customers reflect this. We<br />

need to offer services that<br />

reflect everyone’s different<br />

needs – and build strong<br />

communities based on mutual<br />

respect.<br />

If you want to see that<br />

too, then the new Equality<br />

Panel is for you – so we<br />

can develop better, more<br />

individual services.<br />

We’re changing how we support local groups – like tenant and residents<br />

associations – so they can do even more to improve neighbourhoods all<br />

over <strong>Nottingham</strong>. We want people like YOU to get involved in your local<br />

tenants group – or get one started! We can help you organise events and<br />

small projects to improve your neighbourhood, and help you get more<br />

people involved – for example by setting up garden clubs, breakfast clubs<br />

and activities for young people.<br />

Academy House


6 News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell 7<br />

Round your way. . .<br />

Round your way. . .<br />

Pictured: NCH staff sign the ‘Man Enough’ pledge.<br />

L ve Aspley<br />

Week of Action<br />

Aspley residents were encouraged to get<br />

involved in their local community during the<br />

Aspley Week of Action held in July.<br />

The week started with the Ambleside School<br />

Summer Fair – an event that was open to the<br />

whole community with activities and games<br />

for children and young people – including a<br />

ladies only Well Woman session for some free<br />

pampering, and a football tournament.<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> was heavily involved<br />

– holding a ‘Man Enough’ sign up event at our<br />

Harvey Road depot, giving staff the opportunity<br />

to voice their opposition to domestic violence<br />

(pictured).<br />

We also attended a series of ‘Did you know’<br />

events, including one at Brocklewood School<br />

(pictured), where residents had the chance<br />

to find out about a range of city council<br />

and <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> services.<br />

Getting safer – but don’t<br />

get caught out!<br />

With hopes still high of<br />

an ‘Indian summer’ this<br />

September, it’s easy to<br />

forget, particularly in warmer<br />

weather, about home<br />

security.<br />

We’ve fitted thousands of<br />

brand new secure-by-design<br />

windows across the city to<br />

make your homes more<br />

secure. In Broxtowe and<br />

Bells Lane estate in Aspley,<br />

we’ve seen burglaries drop<br />

by 41%. But we mustn’t be<br />

complacent.<br />

We’ve put together ten top<br />

tips to keep your house<br />

safe:<br />

Pictured: NCH attended a series of<br />

‘Did you know!’ events.<br />

1 Close windows when you are not in ground floor rooms<br />

and lock doors even when you are in the garden<br />

2 Lock doors and windows when you leave the house<br />

3 Do not leave laptops or car keys near windows<br />

4 Close curtains at night before you put on lights<br />

5 Use timer switches to put on a lamp or radio when you are<br />

out at night or on holiday<br />

6 Contact the police and ask about SmartWater for your<br />

property. Use it to mark your electrical items and things of<br />

value to help identify your possessions if you are burgled<br />

7 Keep hedges and fences low at the front of your home so<br />

neighbours or passers by can see if anyone is behaving<br />

suspiciously near your home<br />

8 Fit trellis and grow prickly plants near to your back fence to<br />

deter anyone from climbing into your garden<br />

9 Burglars do not want to be seen – fitting exterior lights can<br />

10<br />

deter burglars (but before you do, ask us first!)<br />

Intruder alarms can deter burglars.<br />

Bullock<br />

hits 3,000!<br />

It was all smiles in Bilborough as Mrs Hall<br />

(pictured) was presented with chocolates<br />

and flowers after her home became the<br />

3,000th that our decent homes contractor,<br />

Bullock, completed as part of our Secure<br />

Warm Modern scheme.<br />

Bullock is one of three contractors that<br />

are fitting new kitchens and bathrooms to<br />

thousands of eligible homes across the city.<br />

Mrs Hall, 91, was ‘over the moon’ that her<br />

home was recognised with this milestone.<br />

More importantly, she’s delighted with her<br />

new kitchen!<br />

Shaun Nee, Senior Liaison Officer for<br />

Bullock, said: “Mrs Hall is 91 years young<br />

and has coped very well while the works<br />

were completed. We hope she has many<br />

years of enjoyment in her new kitchen and<br />

wish her all the best for the future.”<br />

If you have a question about Secure<br />

Warm Modern, you can contact the<br />

team on 0300 333 8100, email SWM@<br />

nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk or visit<br />

www.nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk/<br />

improving_your_home<br />

Pictured from left to right: Andy Holmes (Bullock TLO), Pete<br />

Cook (Bullock Stream Manager), Scott Lee (NCH Technical<br />

Officer), Mrs Hall, Paul Bradbury (Bullock Project Manager),<br />

Sheila Gennard (NCH Project Liaison officer).<br />

Saving energy and cash in<br />

in Bulwell Hall<br />

More than 350 homes in Bulwell Hall are set to benefit from external wall<br />

insulation – helping tenants save a small fortune on their heating costs.<br />

The work, by energy company E.ON and<br />

managed by <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong>, will cost<br />

£2.35m and be funded through the Government’s<br />

Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP).<br />

As an added benefit, E.ON will also be spending<br />

an extra £350,000 installing solar panels on<br />

some homes.<br />

The 358 homes were built with solid brick walls and<br />

are now being clad with a ‘decoratively appealing’<br />

insulation to dramatically reduce heat loss.<br />

Energy costs can be a large element of family<br />

household bills and it is widely recognised that<br />

wall insulation significantly reduces heat seepage,<br />

therefore reducing domestic energy costs. The<br />

insulation also reduces carbon emissions.<br />

Bulwell<br />

The CESP programme is designed to help<br />

people in some of the most deprived parts of the<br />

country to cut their bills.<br />

Councillor Alan Clark, Portfolio Holder for<br />

Energy and Sustainability, said: “We have<br />

worked with E.ON on other energy saving<br />

schemes successfully – and with <strong>Nottingham</strong><br />

<strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> project management we are<br />

confident these homes will get the benefit of<br />

heat and energy saving in time for the winter.<br />

“With the offer of installing additional solar<br />

panels for selected homes as part of the works,<br />

this is a really positive move that will make<br />

homes warmer and cheaper to run. It will cut<br />

tenants’ energy bills and will also significantly<br />

cut the city’s carbon footprint.”<br />

Congratulations to our team at Bulwell Housing Office who won housing<br />

office of the month for June.<br />

Our team of tenant ‘mystery shoppers’ rated Bulwell for<br />

office accessibility, the friendliness and helpfulness of<br />

staff and presentation of staff, the notice board displays<br />

and information available to customers, the tidiness of<br />

reception and other public areas.<br />

Telephone calls were answered speedily, politely, and<br />

with respect and sensitivity. The helpfulness of staff also<br />

scored highly.<br />

The office scored top marks for the way in which it dealt<br />

with customer enquiries, complaints, ASB cases, and<br />

visits to new tenants.<br />

All of our offices are judged monthly by mystery shopper<br />

volunteers from our team of tenant services inspectors.<br />

is supreme in June<br />

Pictured: Tenant Services Inspectors Michael Savage (left)<br />

and Peter Reynolds (right) present Bulwell with the award.<br />

Simple<br />

steps to<br />

prevent<br />

fires<br />

Ever been distracted by the phone when<br />

cooking the tea Before you know it the<br />

kitchen is full of smoke, tea is burned, the<br />

smoke alarm is bleeping frantically and you<br />

have to start flapping a tea towel to shut it up!<br />

If this sounds familiar, then you’re not<br />

alone. Cooking is one of the most common<br />

causes of house fire and it is also the<br />

reason behind many of the false alarms that<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong>shire firefighters are called out to.<br />

Thankfully, it is also extremely preventable<br />

and fire and rescue service experts are<br />

urging people to:<br />

• Use the extractor or open a window<br />

when cooking.<br />

• Turn handles away from the edge of<br />

the cooker.<br />

• Take care when cooking with hot oil.<br />

• Clean cookers regularly to prevent a<br />

build-up of grease.<br />

• Take saucepans off the cooker if you<br />

are called away.<br />

• Don’t put towels or sleeves where they<br />

could catch light.<br />

• Fit smoke alarms and test them<br />

regularly to make sure they are<br />

working; they could save your life.<br />

‘Buy it, Fit it, Test it’.<br />

For more information<br />

Look on the ‘Your Safety’ pages of<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong>shire Fire and Rescue Service<br />

website – www.notts-fire.gov.uk – or call<br />

into your local fire station.


8 News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell 9<br />

On Call to<br />

protect you<br />

– 24 hours<br />

a day<br />

Top award for alarm<br />

service – seven<br />

years running!<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> On Call is our 24 hour<br />

emergency response service – available<br />

to all our tenants, many other housing<br />

organisations and private households in<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong>.<br />

We heard at the beginning of August that for<br />

the seventh straight year – <strong>Nottingham</strong> On<br />

Call has been accredited by the Telecare<br />

Services Association.<br />

As well as making sure the services we<br />

provide are of top quality, the accreditation<br />

means that families and carers have peace<br />

of mind that those who sign up to the service<br />

are getting the best.<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> On Call went through a rigorous<br />

scrutiny of its services and also has a<br />

challenging range of performance indicators<br />

set by TSA that it needs to achieve.<br />

All of our Independent Living<br />

communities are fitted with care<br />

alarms as standard.<br />

If you’re interested in having an alarm fitted,<br />

or want to find out more, contact the team<br />

on 0115 915 1634. We supply alarms at<br />

a cost of between £2 and £4 a week. This<br />

pays for the 24-hour monitoring service<br />

and any emergency<br />

responses from our<br />

Mobile Support Team.<br />

There’s no installation<br />

fee and no call-out<br />

fees to pay.<br />

Chris Holloway, Head of Supported<br />

Housing, said: “We are proud to have<br />

achieved the accreditation year-onyear.<br />

It shows the team’s commitment<br />

to providing the very best in Telecare<br />

services available anywhere.<br />

“Achieving the accreditation is a great<br />

motivator. – it allows the team to be as<br />

confident as those who use the service,<br />

and their carers, that our service is of the<br />

highest standard.”<br />

Pictured left to right: NCH Chief Executive Nick Murphy, Sylvia Ackah and asra Housing Group Chief Executive Matt Cooney.<br />

Making Stonebridge<br />

their home<br />

The first tenants have moved into their new homes<br />

on the multi-million pound regeneration scheme at<br />

Stonebridge Park in St Ann’s.<br />

The five-year scheme at Stonebridge Park is<br />

creating new homes in the area, as well as<br />

improved community facilities – and local residents<br />

have been involved in the regeneration scheme.<br />

The development is a partnership between<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> Council (NCC), asra Housing Group<br />

and the <strong>Homes</strong> and Communities Agency (HCA) –<br />

and we’ll be managing 71 homes on Dennett Close,<br />

Beacon Hill Rise and St Matthias Road.<br />

Over 60 * and<br />

looking for a<br />

new home<br />

Some of the tenants are returning to the area<br />

after their home was demolished to make way<br />

for the new build.<br />

One of these is Sylvia Ackah (pictured),<br />

who said her new home was ‘really nice’ and<br />

that she was looking forward to being part of<br />

the new community.<br />

Did you know there is a Stonebridge Park<br />

Tenants and Residents Association If you<br />

live in the area and want to find out more, call<br />

us on 0115 915 7380.<br />

Want to live in a safe, warm and modern home near people like you<br />

Do you want the peace of mind that comes from knowing that help is<br />

always on hand, should you need it<br />

Do you want to have the opportunity to keep fit, go on trips, make new<br />

friends and have fun . . . it’s all about Independent Living!<br />

Earlier this year we launched our new<br />

Independent Living service – providing residents<br />

over the age of 60* with their own home – and<br />

with the added peace of mind that comes from<br />

knowing that help, if needed, is always at hand.<br />

Giving you choice<br />

The new service is tailored to suit your needs.<br />

We can offer you as much, or as little support<br />

you need to make the most of your home.<br />

Over the next few years we will be improving<br />

our homes for older people – including<br />

disabled access – and we’ll also be improving<br />

the communal areas in our communities.<br />

Our local co-ordinators will make sure you can<br />

get the best out of local public services, take<br />

part in a wide range of social activities, and help<br />

you to do your bit to improve your community.<br />

Interested in Independent Living<br />

If you’re over 60 and would like to enquire<br />

about moving into one of our Independent<br />

Living schemes, call our HomeLink team<br />

today on 0115 915 7167 to find out more.<br />

*Disabled people aged<br />

55+ can also apply<br />

Pictured: Leighton Street, centre right, receiving his award.<br />

Leighton (pictured above) started<br />

working with our Estates and<br />

Caretaking team on an initial twoweek<br />

work placement back in the<br />

summer of 2011. He joined us as<br />

part of a new initiative launched by<br />

‘Business in the Community’ – the<br />

RISE programme – which aims to<br />

support young people leaving care to<br />

gain valuable work experience.<br />

RISE then gave us the funding<br />

to offer a six-month placement<br />

to Leighton. This has since been<br />

extended to a full 12-month<br />

apprenticeship scheme with the<br />

caretaking team – with funding for<br />

the extra six months matched by us.<br />

As part of the apprenticeship,<br />

Leighton is currently studying<br />

for a qualification in cleaning<br />

and customer services – as<br />

well as gaining valuable ‘hands<br />

on’ experience with our mobile<br />

caretakers.<br />

During his time with us, Leighton<br />

has not only met Prince Charles and<br />

David Cameron – he’s also been<br />

presented with the East Midlands’<br />

Young Achiever Award, at a recent<br />

award ceremony in Derby.<br />

Leighton told us: “Having the<br />

apprenticeship extended is great – it<br />

means I get to learn a lot more. I<br />

really love the work I do”.<br />

We’re now trying to secure more<br />

funding to offer apprenticeships to<br />

another two care leavers.<br />

Taking care<br />

of care leavers<br />

Around 60 young people who leave<br />

care each year take up a tenancy<br />

with us. They often need extra<br />

support once they’ve taken on their<br />

tenancy.<br />

So, we’ve been working with<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> Council to develop<br />

better ways to help care leavers<br />

become great tenants.<br />

Support from start to finish<br />

When a care leaver applies to<br />

go on the city council’s housing<br />

register, one of our HomeLink<br />

Support Officers will be their single<br />

point of contact, and work with<br />

them throughout their application.<br />

They make sure care leavers<br />

are offered the right services and<br />

will help them to bid for the most<br />

suitable property for their needs.<br />

And we don’t stop there.<br />

Once we’ve allocated a home, we’ll<br />

continue to support the tenant by<br />

introducing them to their housing<br />

patch manager, who will explain<br />

Tap the Gap is a <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />

Council programme that offers<br />

talented school leavers from<br />

BME communities, in care or<br />

with disabilities, voluntary work<br />

experience during the summer<br />

holidays.<br />

Now in its eleventh year,<br />

altogether 106 16-year-olds have<br />

had placements with the city<br />

council and its partners – including<br />

four students who started with us<br />

on Monday 23 July.<br />

They got a taste of what it is like to<br />

be an electrician, a plumber and<br />

a joiner by shadowing our staff on<br />

jobs all over <strong>Nottingham</strong>.<br />

Michael Jenkinson (pictured) has<br />

been doing work with the plumbing<br />

team for his placement.<br />

what their role is and also what the<br />

tenant’s responsibilities are. We<br />

help care leavers to get furniture<br />

through our partnership with The<br />

Arches Project (www.trentvineyard.<br />

org/serving/the-arches-project).<br />

We’ll then keep in regular contact<br />

throughout their tenancy –<br />

including with<br />

our rents team<br />

to make sure<br />

they receive the<br />

right financial<br />

advice.<br />

Leighton’s<br />

winning ways Stop press!<br />

As well as supporting young care leavers as they become<br />

tenants, we’re also giving them a chance to new learn skills<br />

through work placements and apprenticeships – people just like<br />

the award-winning Leighton Street.<br />

Competition time<br />

This month we are giving away a smoothie maker!<br />

To be in with a chance of winning,<br />

simply answer the following question:<br />

What is the name of the panel that<br />

makes sure this newspaper covers<br />

the things that matter to you<br />

To enter by text simply type:<br />

NCH, followed by your answer,<br />

name and address, text to 80800<br />

(all entries are charged at standard<br />

network rates)*.<br />

Alternatively, send your entries<br />

(with your name and telephone<br />

number) to: The Communications<br />

and Marketing Team, 14 Hounds<br />

Gate, <strong>Nottingham</strong>, NG1 7BA*<br />

*Only one entry per person<br />

Or, e-mail your answer along<br />

with your name and telephone<br />

number to: marketing@<br />

nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk *<br />

Deadline for receipt of entries is<br />

Friday 21 September 2012.<br />

We have a winner!<br />

We had over 30 correct answers<br />

to last month’s question. Marilyn<br />

Cooke, Clifton, who won a £50<br />

Argos gift card!<br />

We asked: What is the honour that<br />

our Chair, Janet Storar, received in<br />

the Queen’s birthday honours list<br />

The answer was: MBE<br />

Tap the Gap<br />

2012<br />

We gave four students a<br />

chance to ‘Tap the Gap’<br />

when they spent three<br />

weeks with us this summer.<br />

At the time of going to print<br />

we have just heard that we’ve<br />

successfully gained the ‘From<br />

Care2Work Quality Mark Award’<br />

in recognition for the help,<br />

support and opportunities that<br />

we’re providing to care leavers.<br />

We’ll tell you more about this in<br />

the next <strong>edition</strong> of ‘News’.<br />

Pictured: Michael Jenkinson.<br />

Maintenance Manager Kerrigan<br />

McMannus is mentoring Michael.<br />

He said: “Michael has a burning<br />

ambition to become a plumber.<br />

“He has spent three weeks<br />

working with experienced<br />

engineers seeing different<br />

aspects of the Gas Section – from<br />

changing cylinders and radiators,<br />

stripping down boilers, fitting<br />

new central heating systems and<br />

issuing Gas Safety Certificates.<br />

“Michael’s attitude towards work is<br />

absolutely brilliant… he just wants<br />

to learn and get on… he’s been<br />

great to have on the team.”


10 News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell 11<br />

Area 7 winner Bestwood and Sherwood – Mr Cairns.<br />

Blooming marvellous!<br />

Best Garden<br />

Competition<br />

2012<br />

Congratulations to all of the winners of this year’s Best<br />

Garden Competition – and thanks to everyone who entered.<br />

This year, we made some changes to the way we<br />

ran the competition – to make it easier for as many<br />

people as possible to take part. And it worked! We<br />

received a record number of entries.<br />

We were also delighted to be joined by Tesco<br />

Bulwell, which sponsored the Bulwell category, and<br />

Asda Hyson Green, which sponsored Radford and<br />

Hyson Green. We were once again joined by our<br />

Secure Warm Modern contractor Wates Living Space<br />

which sponsored the Independent Living category.<br />

Our sponsors, staff from NCH and our Tenant<br />

Services Inspectors judged the gardens in July –<br />

despite some terrible weather!<br />

Area 2 winner Bilborough – Mr Goodlad.<br />

The prize winners for the area categories are:<br />

Area 1: Aspley, Strelley,<br />

Broxtowe and Beechdale<br />

Winner – Mrs Connors<br />

2nd – Mr and Mrs Parsons<br />

3rd – Mr Thomas Rayner<br />

Area 2: Bilborough<br />

Winner – Mr Goodlad<br />

2nd – Mr Michael Philip Ryan<br />

3rd – Mrs I Hibbett<br />

Area 3: Lenton and The Meadows<br />

Winner – Mr M Taylor<br />

2nd – Angela Sage<br />

3rd – Ian Miller<br />

Area 4: Bulwell, Highbury Vale,<br />

Stockhill and Basford<br />

(sponsored by Tesco Bulwell)<br />

Winner – Mr and Mrs Marecki<br />

2nd – Linda Taylor<br />

3rd – Mr Easom<br />

Area 5: Radford and Hyson Green<br />

(sponsored by Asda Hyson Green)<br />

Winner – Andrew Jepson<br />

2nd – Sandra Brown<br />

3rd – Brenda Thornhill<br />

Area 6: Clifton<br />

Winner – Mr B Glover<br />

2nd – Tracey Thomson<br />

3rd – Mandy White<br />

Area 7: Bestwood and<br />

Sherwood<br />

Winner – Mr Cairns<br />

Area 3 winner The Meadows – Mr M Taylor.<br />

2nd – Ms L Eaton and Mr R Tolley<br />

3rd – Mr Robert Clark<br />

Area 8: Mapperley, St Ann’s,<br />

Colwick, Sneinton<br />

Winner – Mr Michael Breffit<br />

2nd – Ethel Anderson<br />

3rd – Miss K Kaur<br />

Young Person’s Garden<br />

Winner – Jerome Gardener<br />

2nd – Hayley Green<br />

Community Garden<br />

Winner – Duchess Gardens<br />

2nd – Fleming Gardens<br />

3rd – Ethel Anderson<br />

Disabled Person’s Garden<br />

Winner – Miss C. A. Mulligan<br />

2nd – Gladys Walker<br />

3rd – Mrs D Sowray<br />

Independent Living Community<br />

(sponsored by Wates Living Space)<br />

Winner – Peartree Orchard<br />

2nd – Aspinall Court<br />

3rd – Foxton Gardens<br />

Vegetable Garden<br />

Winner – Mr Hadfield<br />

2nd – Mr K Wardle<br />

3rd – John Riley<br />

Balcony/ container/ window box<br />

Winner – Mr P. Holehouse<br />

2nd – Mr H. Walker<br />

3rd – Mr K. W. Hopkin<br />

Special Cup<br />

The Special Cup Category was once again judged<br />

by BBC Radio <strong>Nottingham</strong>’s John Stirland.<br />

1st<br />

Mr and Mrs Roome – Whitemoor<br />

John said: “This is a very tidy garden, both front<br />

and rear and well laid out. Their perennial plants<br />

are very healthy and the annuals were of good<br />

quality despite the dreadful weather of recent<br />

weeks. The back garden has also got a very<br />

cosy feel and is a pleasure to be in. There are<br />

sitting areas where you can enjoy the garden.<br />

Everything is spotless.”<br />

Janet Chaplin – Radford<br />

2nd<br />

John said: “This garden shows just what can be<br />

done in a small space. All the little sections are<br />

filled with plants, including a variety of climbers<br />

which give an element of secrecy. Many<br />

containers and even an old wheelbarrow have<br />

been well used. A small water feature and even<br />

music finish the scene. Once again spotless.”<br />

3rd<br />

3rd – Olive Smith – Wollaton Park<br />

John said: “A cottage garden design which<br />

was seen at its peak condition. Perennials and<br />

shrubs make up the bulk but with containers<br />

providing an annual interest. A garden with<br />

a lot of character and with many surprises<br />

around each corner. Very neat all round.”<br />

Consultation on introducing a<br />

Tenancy Policy<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> is required to introduce<br />

a Tenancy Policy from October 2012 in<br />

response to changes in housing law, which<br />

were introduced by the Localism Act 2011. Most<br />

of the things in the current tenancy agreement<br />

will not change however; government has<br />

proposed two changes that could have an<br />

impact on all new tenants. Nothing will change<br />

for existing tenants. The two areas are Fixed<br />

Term Tenancies and Successions.<br />

We would like to seek your views on these two<br />

areas. Your views will be used to inform our policy.<br />

So what are Fixed Term Tenancies<br />

Government has said that Social landlords can<br />

now offer new tenants shorter tenancies on a<br />

‘fixed term.’ This can be for five years or longer. At<br />

the end of the fixed period an assessment would<br />

be made on whether you will remain in your home<br />

or not.<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> is proposing<br />

not to introduce fixed term tenancies for<br />

new tenants. We believe in this because<br />

we feel that lifetime tenancies provide<br />

security for our tenants as well as helping<br />

to maintain the quality of our homes and<br />

estates. Do you agree<br />

Name:<br />

✂<br />

Address:<br />

Telephone:<br />

Comments on proposed changes to tenancy policy:<br />

So, what are Successions<br />

Succession is the right to pass on your tenancy<br />

upon your death. The law has changed<br />

regarding this. If you are a new tenant from April<br />

2012, the law now only gives your spouse or<br />

partner the right to succeed to your tenancy.<br />

Our current policy says that a spouse, partner or<br />

qualified family member can succeed to a tenancy<br />

if they meet the criteria. The criteria includes but is<br />

not limited to the size of your home and how many<br />

people would remain in occupation.<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> intends to<br />

keep its current succession policy the<br />

same. Do you agree<br />

We want your views<br />

Your views will help shape our new tenancy<br />

policy, and we want to give as many of you as<br />

possible the opportunity to have your say.<br />

What do you think about these proposed<br />

changes and our proposals regarding them<br />

Want to know more<br />

If you have any questions about the<br />

Tenancy Policy, email gemma.murphy@<br />

nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />

Please cut-out and complete the comments form and send it back to us by no later<br />

than Friday 14 September 2012.<br />

The address to return completed forms to is: Gemma Murphy, Regional Housing<br />

Manager, <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong>, 14 Hounds Gate, <strong>Nottingham</strong> NG1 7BA.<br />

Or email gemma.murphy@nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk


12 News from <strong>Nottingham</strong> <strong>City</strong> <strong>Homes</strong> August 2012 <strong>North</strong> Edition: Aspley•Bestwood•Bilborough•Bulwell<br />

Opening hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and<br />

10.30am to 4.30pm on Wednesdays<br />

Rents Call Centre<br />

We offer a range of ways to pay your<br />

rent – and free debt advice if you need it.<br />

Ways to pay your rent:<br />

Direct Debit<br />

Via our website<br />

PayPoint<br />

By telephone<br />

At your local<br />

Post Office<br />

Ask us about setting up a Direct Debit,<br />

claiming council tax and housing benefit<br />

or FREE debt advice.<br />

Tel: 0115 915 4920<br />

Minicom: 0115 915 4113<br />

Text: RENT to 80800,<br />

followed by your name and address<br />

Tenant and<br />

Leaseholder<br />

Resource Centre<br />

Tel: 0115 915 7222<br />

E-mail: resource.centre@<br />

nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />

Info Point<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> Central Library,<br />

3 Angel Row, <strong>Nottingham</strong> NG1 6HP<br />

Tel: 0115 915 2828<br />

Mon-Fri: 8.15am to 5.30pm<br />

www.nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />

Your local<br />

housing offices<br />

Aspley<br />

14 Strelley Road, Strelley,<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong>, NG8 3AP<br />

Tel: 0115 915 3121 Minicom: 0115 915 3126<br />

E-mail: aspleyoffice@<br />

nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />

Bestwood<br />

Elmbridge, Bestwood Park,<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong>, NG5 5PF<br />

Tel: 0115 915 3301 Minicom: 0115 915 3407<br />

E-mail: bestwoodoffice@<br />

nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />

Bulwell<br />

Bulwell Riverside,Main Street,<br />

Bulwell, <strong>Nottingham</strong>, NG6 8QJ<br />

Tel: 0115 915 3212 Minicom: 0115 915 3407<br />

E-mail: bulwelloffice@<br />

nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />

Reporting antisocial<br />

behaviour<br />

Text: REPORTASB to 80800,<br />

followed by your name and address<br />

Report it online www.nottinghamcityhomes.<br />

org.uk/anti-social_behaviour or contact<br />

your local housing office<br />

Repairs Call Centre<br />

Tel: 0115 915 2222<br />

Minicom: 0115 915 1826<br />

Text: REPAIRS to 80800,<br />

followed by your name and address<br />

Email: repairs@<br />

nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />

www.nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk/<br />

your_repairs<br />

Get Involved!<br />

Tel: 0115 915 7380<br />

Text: INVOLVE to 80800,<br />

followed by your name and address<br />

Email: gettinginvolved@<br />

nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />

Secure Warm Modern<br />

Tel: 0300 333 8100 (calls charged at local rate)<br />

Email: SWM@nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />

<strong>Nottingham</strong> On Call<br />

Tel: 0115 915 1640<br />

Email: housingoncall@<br />

nottinghamcityhomes.org.uk<br />

Translations<br />

If you are unable to read this tenant and leaseholder newspaper please<br />

contact your area housing office, or call us on 0845 3303131. We can<br />

arrange for an interpreter to explain it to you, or send you a spoken word<br />

version on tape or CD. If neither of these are suitable, we can translate this<br />

publication into your chosen language. This is also available in large print.<br />

Cantonese<br />

French<br />

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Portuguese<br />

Punjabi<br />

Czech<br />

Gujarati<br />

Polish<br />

Urdu

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