Issue 3 - Marham Matters Online

Community
Support Squadron
Pride in breckland
awards 2011
Housing
Have your Say
What was said at the Occupancy
Consultancy Group
The Occupants Consultancy Group met on 8 th March 2011 in
St Georges Church to field questions and complaints relating
to housing within the families accomodation. The meeting
was well attended and a range of issues were raised to the
panel that included representatives from DHE and MHS.
The first issue that
was raised was that
of failed engineering
appointments
and making sure that they
were recorded as such. If an
appointment has been made
with the MHS Help Desk for an
engineer to visit or correct a
problem and they fail to turn
up or they come to the job
without the correct tools or
parts then Mike Baldock from
MHS management stated that
the occupant should contact
the MHS Help Desk and raise a
complaint. It is the occupants
right to insist that a complaint is
raised and that they are given a
complaint reference number. It
is important that all occupants
who have raised a complaint get
this number as it allows MHS to
identify how they can improve
their service and is required for
the complaint to be registered.
Occupants also commented
that some jobs would be
completed only to generate
another fault, leading to the
need for another appointment;
frustratingly however this
appointment can not be added to
the same job number resulting
in an incomplete picture of the
problem. MHS assured the
attendees of the group that if
they informed the Help Desk,
although the job can not be
raised on the same number it can
be linked to the previous works.
If an occupant is not happy with
the work that is completed then
they should not sign the PDA
at the completion of the work.
The inconvenience of having
to stay in all day to wait for an
engineer with the potential loss
of earnings and time was also
raised as a serious issue. Mike
from MHS responded that all MHS
engineers have been informed
that they are to call ahead of the
appointment and that if the door
is not answered on knocking
they are to wait for 15 minutes.
Any failure in this process should
be reported to the Help Desk.
The parking of cars on grassed
areas was also raised as a concern
as it damages the grass. Sarah
Williams the DHE Regional
Housing Manager reiterated to
the occupants that the parking of
cars on grassed areas is prohibited
and that if caught by the Housing
Officer action would be taken.
Occupants can also contact the
Housing Information Centre (HIC) to
report infringements confidentially
so that action can be taken.
An increase in litter on the patch
has also been noticed, Mike from
MHS assures occupants that his
team check the area weekly but
if a litter trap is identified it can
be called in to the helpline and
action will be taken. Occupants
are asked to try and ensure that
the lids to any external bins
are securely fastened after use
as it is believed that weather
conditions are a part of the cause.
Grass cutting was raised
and it was confirmed that this
is contracted to MHS who have
a remit to cut the grass once it
reaches a certain length. The
problem is that this sometimes
means the grass is cut when wet
which is far from ideal and can
lead to patching. Although the
issue was discussed, MHS would
be failing in their contract if the
grass did not get cut as dictated
by the contract. Tree pruning
where required can be booked
through the MHS helpdesk. All
occupants should be aware that
if you want feedback from MHS
and DE this can be requested
from them when you’re
making your appointment.
Useful Numbers
MHS Help Desk:
0800 707 6000
HIC: 0800 169 6322
PCSO: 0845 456 4567
SCSO: 01760 337261
Ext: 6052
Something to Add…
Were you unable to attend the
OCG If so don’t worry because
on the third Friday of every month
in the Chaplaincy Centre DHE and
MHS will be available to listen to
any problems that you may be
experiencing. Just drop by between
0930 and 1200 noon to have
your say and see about getting
any issues resolved. If they are
already speaking with someone
you can also grab a cuppa and a
bacon sandwich while you wait
from the Home Alone team.
SSAFA Forces
Help Confidential
Support Line (CSL)
becomes
Forcesline
With effect from 1 st
March 2011, the SSAFA-
Forces Help Confidential
Support Line (CSL)
re-branded using the
name ‘Forcesline’.
The CSL has been
helping members of
the Armed Forces and
their families since
1997 and Forcesline will continue
to provide the same confidential,
independent listening and
signposting service. Forcesline
remains totally independent
of the military chain of
command and is accessible
from anywhere in the world,
including operational theatres.
Hair Force
Hair Force Ladies and
Gents Hairdresser/
Barber, now open,
located next to the
CSS Hub/Hive.
Opening Hours
Monday - Friday
9am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm
Saturday
9am - 1pm (appt only).
MODEL
CADETS
AT MARHAM
Cadets at 864 (Marham)
DF Air Training Corps have
started intensive training
for a regional aircraft
modelling competition.
SAC David Jones and
his wife Amanda,
both instructors
at the unit, have
started a weekly “Modelling
Masterclass” for the cadets to
train them in the techniques
of scale modelling to get
them up to the standard
required for the Norfolk
& Suffolk Wing aircraft
modelling competition.
The cadets will compete
with 28 other units from
across Norfolk and Suffolk
in August to produce
the best made 1/48 scale
model of a Spitfire and a
1/72 scale diorama based
around an RAF Harrier.
The flight commander, Flt
Lt Tony Hall said: “This is the
first modelling competition
we have entered but I am
confident, that with David and
Amanda’s expert tuition, the
cadets will do very well.”
Aircraft modelling is just
one of the many activities
available to Air Cadets.
Boys and girls between
the ages of 13 and 16 who
are interested in joining
the Air Training Corps at
Marham should contact Flt
Lt Hall on 07900 518153 or
at oc.864df@aircadets.org.
Pride in
Breckland
Awards 2011
The Pride in Breckland
Awards is a ceremony
designed to recognise the
outstanding achievements
made by citizens throughout
their own communities.
RAF Marham was
proud to host the
event on behalf of
Breckland Council. RAF
Marham Station Commander Gp
Capt Pete Rochelle explained:
“Awards ceremonies like these
are hugely important in the role
they play in identifying and
celebrating the often unsung
heroes that make so much of a
difference in our communities.”
The ceremony began in
style with drinks and canapés
served by the excellent
staff of the Officers Mess
followed by music from local
band JDT Music Group.
Ex Tornado pilot Squadron
Leader John Peters, the guest
speaker, gave a vivid account
of his experiences during the
Gulf War that was thrilling and
intense. His determination and
bravery is mirrored by many of
the courageous and remarkable
people nominated. Harry
Pitchford and Isaac Hurry-Palmer
(both ten) pulled a drowning
four year old girl from a river
to safety, resulting in the
Child of Courage Award.
Erica Reynolds won the
Safer Breckland prize for
her role as Marham’s Youth
Worker providing support
and activities for the young
people of RAF Marham and
the local area. As a result
of the centre now opening
every night and weekend
anti-social behaviour figures
have dropped dramatically.
The Lifetime Achievement
Award was won by Marham’s
own Civil Servant Mick Gault
who is the most successful
English athlete in the
Commonwealth Games with
15 medals. He credits much of
his success to support from his
friends and colleagues at RAF
Marham, along with his wife
Jan. Mick also presented the
Sporting Excellence Award to
Danny Nobbs, a 2008 Beijing
Olympic Athlete. Finally, the
Pride of Breckland Award
was given to Nick Loades for
his outstanding carer work.
The evening was a
resounding success for the
participants and nominees.
20 MARHAM MATTERS ISSUE 3
Visit: www.marhammattersonline.co.uk
Visit: www.marhammattersonline.co.uk
ISSUE 3 MARHAM MATTERS 21