Link

Link
SPRING 2012
Bringing people together
The Making a Difference residents awards
7 13 14 21
Closer to you
Catherine Court
fundraising
New homes in
Littlehampton
Aids and adaptations

SPRING 2012
Publisher
Viridian Housing
Colwell House
376 Clapham Road
London SW9 9AR.
Ph: 0330 123 0220
Fax: 0203 202 3601
0330 123 0221 (minicom)
Email: communications@
viridianhousing.org.uk
Copyright
All material published in Link is
copyrighted and may only be
reproduced with the permission
of the editor.
Inside this issue…
3 Calls to the Customer Service Centre
Find out how we’ve changed our call centre to
serve you better.
4 Welfare Reform Bill
What does this mean for you?
9 Host a Jubilee party in your area
We’re offering funding through our community
grants scheme.
About us
Viridian Housing is a not-forprofit
organisation that provides
housing to over 30,000 residents
in the Midlands, West Sussex,
London and the south east.
Our mission is to provide high
quality, good value housing for
mixed income communities.
3 News
10 Around the houses
18 Resident involvement
21 Our services
23 Noticeboard
24 Lifestyle
26 How are we doing?
Welcome to the spring edition of Link,
our quarterly magazine for residents.
This edition was put together with the help of two fantastic residents,
Carol Ross and Tinuola Aregbesola. Carol is a general needs
resident living in Milton Keynes and Tinuola is a shared ownership
resident who lives in Tooting, London. You can read about Tinuola
and shared ownership on page 8. Both offered their time and
expertise to help bring
this magazine to life, so
thank you.
As usual, a big thank
you also goes to
colleagues and
residents who helped
at the editorial
committee meeting.
Happy reading!
Emilie Armstrong
Editor
Resident Editors Tinuola Aregbesola (left) and
Carol Ross (right) with Emilie Armstrong (centre).
Link editorial
committee
Do you fancy yourself
as a writer?
Or do you have
something to say
about this magazine?
You can get involved in the
Link editorial committee
by attending quarterly
meetings or simply offering
your opinions from the
comfort of your home
through a questionnaire.
Contact the Communications
team for more information.
Want to get in contact with us?
Communications team 0330 123 0220 communications@viridianhousing.org.uk
www.viridianhousing.org.uk/about_us/our-publications/Link
2 Link

NEWS
Going
mobile
Over the last few months,
we have been busy working
on an application for Apple
and Android smart phones
and tablets. We expect
the app, named Viridian,
to be available this month
to download from the App
Store or Google Play.
This is what our
app will look like.
The app will allow you to report any problems,
such as repairs or anti-social behaviour. All
you’ll need to do is enter the details on a simple
form. The app will also link you to news from
our website and to our Twitter and Facebook,
keeping you updated about what we are doing.
Unfortunately, residents at Middlesex University
will not be able to use the app.
We’re transparent
about our spends
We recently began voluntarily
publishing all employee salaries over
£50,000 and all expenses over £500.
Chief Executive, Matthew Fox, said the
decision to publicise these figures is about
meeting changing expectations.
“The world is becoming more open and we
are taking practical action to become even
more transparent, honest and accountable.
It is becoming increasingly important for us,
and our residents, to be very open about the
money we spend,” Matthew said.
“Around 80% of our income is from residents’ rent
and other charges, so we owe it to them to be
clear about how their money is used,” he said.
This information can be accessed online by
anyone and will be routinely updated.
Visit www.viridianhousing.org.uk/transparency
for full details.
Introducing
Social Impact
The first of April marked the launch of
a brand new team at Viridian - Social
Impact. The team will work to deliver
quality of life for residents and build on
the services we already provide.
They will work with our existing resident and
community engagement, supported housing and
retirement housing services to improve quality of
life and create positive impact for our residents.
Director of Social Impact, Matt Campion said
social impact is much more than just one aspect
of Viridian.
“Our social impact work is already beginning to
underpin the direction of the entire organisation,”
Matt said. “We’re passionate about offering
more training and employment opportunities,
financial assistance, life skills and the chance
to get involved in initiatives run by us and other
organisations. We recognise, particularly in these
financially difficult times, it is important to offer
more services to our residents.”
We’ll be measuring the impact we make by
looking at how happy residents are with their
lives and their communities. In particular, we’ll
be asking what we can do - either directly or in
partnership with other organisations - to improve
the quality of life for our residents.
If there is a service we could provide to help
improve your life, we would like to hear about
it. It could be anything from interview skills to
household maintenance tips – just let us know!
For more information:
Customer Service Centre
0330 123 0220
0330 123 0221 (minicom)
customerservices@viridianhousing.org.uk
spring 2012
3

NEWS
Welfare Reform Bill
What does this mean for you?
The new Welfare Reform Bill became
law last month and there will be some
important changes that may affect you.
Some of the changes include:
Universal Credit will replace many existing
income-based benefits with a single benefit
system. This means Jobseeker’s Allowance,
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA),
Income Support, Housing Benefit, Working and
Child Tax Credit will no longer exist.
A maximum benefits cap of £500 per week will
be introduced, which equals to £26,000 per year.
Households that have spare rooms may
receive less housing benefit.
Getting help
If you are on benefits you can expect a visit from
us to discuss how the changes may affect your
household and how we can help you.
If you are worried or unsure about how these
changes might affect you, get in touch with
your Housing Officer, Scheme Manager or
contact our Customer Service Centre.
0330 123 0220
0330 123 0221 (minicom)
customerservices@viridianhousing.org.uk
Tougher penalties for people cheating the system.
Calls to the Customer Service Centre
On Friday 6 April, all East and West Midland
calls began going through our Colwell
House office in London. This change will
provide an improved and more efficient
service to all Midlands residents.
Benefits of the centralised call centre include:
Increased opening hours of 8am to 6pm,
Monday to Friday.
Customer Service professionals who are trained to
handle a wide range of housing management,
repairs and maintenance requests.
We chose the 0330 number as it offers the lowest
price for calls from a landline or mobile phone.
Calls from West Sussex will still go through the
Littlehampton office, with the aim of bringing
these calls to London by 2014.
Did you know?
Repairs and maintenance calls from the Midlands have
been coming through our London-based call centre
since November 2010.
Contact our Customer Service Centre
0330 123 0220 0330 123 0221 (minicom) customerservices@viridianhousing.org.uk
4 Link

NEWS
What is the Affordable Homes Programme?
The Affordable Homes Programme
is a new scheme introduced by the
government to encourage housing
associations to offer some properties
at up to 80% of the rent charged for a
similar home if rented privately.
These new affordable rents are inclusive of
service charges, which mean the homes are
more affordable than renting privately, but will
be more costly than socially rented homes.
During the coming year, we will begin to
change some of our new homes and homes
that are vacated onto the Affordable Homes
Programme. This will mean we have two different
rent levels - social rent and affordable rent.
The Affordable Homes Programme will not
affect existing residents. Only new homes and
homes that become empty may be moved
into the programme. The only time current
residents could be impacted is if they chose
to transfer to an affordable rent property. We
have calculated the levels of affordable rents
so residents will still be eligible for housing benefit
and that the rent levels are below existing
benefit limits.
We are introducing five-year fixed-term
tenancies for some of our affordable rent
homes. The fixed-term tenancies will ensure our
homes are used for the best purpose and help
residents move to more suitable homes if their
circumstances change.
Affordable rents and fixed-term tenancies
will not apply to any retirement or supported
housing schemes.
The government has introduced this programme
to address the growing need for housing in the
UK. Housing associations will reinvest all money
generated to purchase or build new homes, as
well as fund other services.
For more information on the Affordable
Homes Programme, please contact your
Regional Housing Manager.
0330 123 0220
0330 123 0221 (minicom)
customerservices@viridianhousing.org.uk
Our governance
review
Our Board has approved a proposal for a
governance review, meaning we will be
reviewing the people who have a role in
approving our business decisions.
This will streamline governance
structures, provide clearer accountability
and greater resident involvement.
It will also reduce repetition in decision making
processes. The review is now underway and
will be an ongoing process. We will give you an
update as more information becomes available.
Our zero
tolerance policy
Our colleagues, partners and contractors
are committed to providing an excellent
service to all residents and should be doing
so without any fear of violence, threats or
other forms of abuse.
In the same way, our employees will not
tolerate bullying, harassment or intimidation
in any form and all incidents will be
reported and necessary action taken.
spring 2012
5

NEWS
NEWS
Making a Difference residents awards
Almost 100 residents, colleagues
and guests came to the Grange
Hotel in London in January for our
first residents’ recognition event,
the Making a Difference awards.
The hugely successful day recognised the
achievements of groups and individuals who
work to make our communities better places
to live. The group listened to inspiring speeches
from residents both young and old, as well as
from members of our Executive Team and the
chair of our Board.
Chief Executive Matthew Fox
(left) embraces Outstanding
Contribution to Viridian
winner, Shaun Lansfield.
Winners included National Residents’ Forum
Chair, Shaun Lansfield, who was awarded the
Outstanding Contribution to Viridian award for his
long standing commitment to the organisation.
Another winner, Resident Auditor Doreen Hill, was
awarded the Making a Difference award for her
work in retirement housing, and inspiring resident,
Uzma Shakil, from our Shanti women’s shelter was
awarded the Resident of the Year award. ard.
Nominations for next year’s Making a
Resident of the Year, Uzma Shakil (centre), with fellow
resident Manjula Tukadia (left) and Supported Housing
Officer, Sara Begum.
Taking a Stand
Abderrahim Mantouran
and his wife, Mina Bachar
Young Person
of the Year
Adam Gravely
Winners
Community Project
of the Year
Yvonne Carter
Outstanding
Contribution to Viridian
Shaun Lansfield
Difference awards are now open! If you
are involved in something great in your
community, or know another resident who
is, make sure you let us know. We can help
you gain funding for your project or provide
support in other ways. We’d also love to come
out to film or take photos of your project.
Making a Difference
award
Doreen Hill
Resident of the Year
Uzma Shakil
Customer Engagement team
0330 123 0220 0330 123 0221 (minicom) customerservices@viridianhousing.org.uk
6 Link

Closer
to you
NEWS
getting to know you better
Closer to You is our new pilot
programme offering residents in
north London better access to
their housing team.
The team, made up of one Area Manager,
five Neighbourhood Managers and one
Neighbourhood Assistant, are now looking after
250 homes each compared to the usual 350
homes each. This means much more face-toface
contact and personal service, helping
to build closer relationships and improve the
services we provide.
The six month trial covers all homes in
Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and
Chelsea, Enfield, Barnet, Hackney, Haringey,
Westminster, Camden and Hillingdon.
Meet the team
Area Manager
Melissa Gent
Neighbourhood Managers
Imogen Forbes
Kathy Weinrich
Moti Rahman
Antoinette Charlery
Taiwo Adekoya
Neighbourhood Assistant
Charlene Oliver
If you live in any of these areas and
would like to give your opinions about
how we are doing, please come along
to our Closer to You Residents’ Panel on
the evening of 26 April 2012.
Contact the team for more information.
Contact the Closer to You team
0330 123 0220 0330 123 0221 (minicom) m)
(From left) Antoinette Charlery, Charlene Oliver,
Moti Rahman, Kathy Weinrich, Melissa Gent,
Imogen Forbes and Taiwo Adekoya,
customerservices@viridianhousing.org.uk
www.viridianhousing.org.uk/about_us/closertoyou
spring 2012
7

NEWS
Do you want to own
your own home?
An artist’s impression of
the new development
Many residents who thought they
would never be home owners are
now achieving their dream through
an initiative called First Steps Shared
Ownership.
A new development on Tottenham High Road
in Haringey, London, is currently up for purchase
through shared ownership. Construction of
Skylark Apartments is due for completion in
August this year and includes 21 new shared
ownership apartments with one, two or three
bedrooms.
These modern apartments are very close
to shops and amenities, with excellent
transportation links nearby, nine local bus
routes, Bruce Grove railway station and London
underground, providing regular services to
central London. Apartments will be fitted with a
new kitchen, white goods and carpets.
For information on the Tottenham High Road
development or any other shared ownership
properties, please contact our Development team.
Development team
020 8307 7966 dlsales@viridianhousing.org.uk
Link magazine Resident Editor, Tinuola Aregbesola, entered into shared ownership
with us in 1995. If you’re thinking of doing the same, read on to find out about
Tinuola’s experience of the process.
The first time I heard about shared ownership
was while I was working in a doctor’s surgery and
overheard a conversation, which prompted me to do
some further research.
At the time I only had about £2,500 saved up. I had
also just completed my teaching degree and soon
after began working full time.
My new salary as a teacher put me in a position
where I could, at last, be considered for a mortgage
and able to purchase 50% of the property. After
my mortgage application was approved by the
bank, it was just a matter of completing the relevant
documentation for Viridian.
In August 1995 we moved into our new home, which
at the time was a brand new apartment. It was a
great change from the estate we were living on
previously and I was happy that I would now have
something to leave my family.
I would advise anyone thinking of entering into shared
ownership to make sure this is the right scheme for
them. For example, even though I only own half the
home, I am responsible for all repairs. Although, one
plus is that I do not pay for building insurance. Also,
it can be difficult to understand how to go about
purchasing the other half of the property – a process
known as ‘stair casing’ – which is actually one of
the most important things to know about shared
ownership.
Despite the cons, there is nothing more exciting than
having the freedom to decide everything about your
home. Of course, it is also an excellent investment.
The initial £2,500 has worked hard for us, appreciating
many times over.
To see if shared ownership is an affordable option for you, visit our financial adviser’s website, www.jdcifa.com.
For more information or to apply for shared ownership, visit www.firststepslondon.org or call 0845 230 8099.
8 Link

NEWS
Host a Jubilee party with a
Viridian community grant
On Sunday, 3 June 2012, the whole
country is invited to lunch with their
neighbours for the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee.
Best of all, we’re offering £100 community grants
to any group of residents who hosts a party in
their area. Hosting a lunch is a great way to
honour the occasion and get to know your
neighbours at the same time!
Community grants are also available for any
event or activity that involves getting together
with your neighbours, such as gardening
projects or social evenings.
To apply for a community grant, please visit
our website and search ‘community grants’ or
contact our Customer Service Centre.
Contact our Customer Service Centre
0330 123 0220
0330 123 0221 (minicom)
customerservices@viridianhousing.org.uk
Residents in West Sussex can contact their local office
for more information on 01903 734339
Changing our office
to serve you better
The new reception
area on the first floor
Over the next few months, we will begin
the process of redesigning the Colwell
House office.
Residents who visited the reception last year were
asked about their experiences at Colwell House
and we used their feedback to help design the new
customer area.
Computers will be available in this new area, so
everyone will have access to the internet. There
will also be new meeting rooms where you can
speak with your Housing Officer privately, as well
as a mothers’ room and a quiet room for prayer.
A reception desk will remain on the ground floor,
with the addition of seating for visitors.
Ground floor reception
spring 2012
9

AROUND THE HOUSES
Is something exciting happening in your community? Let us know!
0330 123 0220 0330 123 0221 (minicom) communications@viridianhousing.org.uk
Freepost RSSL-TTHU-SYSR, Viridian Housing, Colwell House, 376 Clapham Road, London, SW9 9AR
Estate improvements
The 2012/2013 financial year will see many improvements to our retirement housing
schemes across all regions.
We are investing £45,000 in the Midlands and
£17,000 in London to improve many schemes.
West Sussex has already had a number of
improvements carried out, including additional
CCTV cameras fitted at the Hawthorne Road
Scheme and a hearing loop system fitted
in the lounge at Benizi Court. This is already
making a big difference for residents with
hearing problems at the scheme. They can now
participate in social events and meetings.
Work in the Midlands will include upgrading
CCTV, improving street lighting, installing loop
hearing systems, providing storage for mobility
scooters and installing automated doors.
London schemes will also see improvements
to CCTV and street lighting, as well as more
storage for mobility scooters.
If you have any questions about improvements
at your scheme, please speak with your
Regional Housing Manager.
Retirement housing
garden competition
We hosted our very first retirement housing garden competition recently, with many
green fingered residents getting involved.
The winners for each region were:
Midlands: Catherine Court, Birmingham
West Sussex: Servite House, Bognor Regis
London: Lovatt Court, Balham
Millicent Buller House and Edith Pope House
were highly commended by the judges.
After months of hard work, all schemes were
very pleased to have won.
Catherine Court residents said the prize money
would be used to buy raised beds so all residents
could grow their own vegetables.
Kerry Blakemore, Scheme Manager at Servite
House said,
“The residents worked really hard
at this and put a lot of time and
energy into making the gardens
look so nice.”
Lovett Court resident, Anne Wilson, said she
was “gobsmacked to be part of the winning
scheme”, while Sid Stone promised to share the
produce of his garden with other residents.
10 Link

AROUND THE HOUSES
London
Getting healthy
in south London
In February we co-hosted an exciting Wellbeing
Workshop in Kennington, south London. The
afternoon included advice on stopping
smoking, cutting down on alcohol, tips for
healthy eating, fitness demonstrations and
opportunities for people to get involved with
sports and leisure activities in their community.
Brian Akintokun, Resident Involvement and
Community Engagement Officer, said the event is
a great way for us to encourage residents to get
involved in sport and promote a healthy lifestyle.
“As we approach an exciting summer of sport in
this country, it is important we help motivate and
support our residents to get healthy,” Brian said.
If you need that extra bit of encouragement to
get healthy, contact us and we’ll point you in
the right direction.
Customer Engagement team
0330 123 0220
0330 123 0221 (minicom)
customerservices@viridianhousing.org.uk
Learning independence at Harding House
Colleagues at our Wandsworth deaf care
home, Harding House, recently introduced a
programme to help residents become more
independent in their everyday lives.
Late last year, then Care Home Manager,
Imogen Lucas, and Deputy Manager, Sarah
Omogbehin, began hosting workshops for
residents capable of doing much more for
themselves than they had previously.
“Before now, it would be the responsibility of staff
to cook meals, as well as provide daily pocket
money for them. We think it is very important for
residents take control of their lives and learn these
basic skills as far as possible,” Imogen said.
The independence workshops have so far
covered topics including healthy eating,
cooking and shopping wisely.
One resident who has benefited from the
programme, Cornelius Brand, explained his newfound
responsibilities.
(From left) Support Workers Nezar Abul-Ela
and Huseyin D Jemal, resident Cornelius Brand,
and Care Home Manager Imogen Lucas.
“I used to be given £3 a day, which I spent on
coca cola at the local shop,” Cornelius said.
“Now I go out to get my own money from the
bank. I know how much I have in there and
how much I can spend. I’ve been saving for a
shopping trip to Oxford Street.”
More workshops will take place in the coming
weeks and will focus on eating out, take away
food and exercise.
spring 2012
11

AROUND THE HOUSES
What’s happening
at John Morris House
John Morris House (JMH) community
centre in south west London has been
thriving lately with many of our resident
groups hosting their meetings and social
events at the venue.
The Deaf Club is one group who has been making
the most of the space. In February, members hosted
their own lunch for Shrove Tuesday (pancake day).
Care Services Manager, Liz Alli said, “the group
is going brilliantly and members are becoming
very empowered.”
If you are hearing impaired and would like to
take part in the group, please contact Liz Alli or
Seeta Manjeswar.
Kim Baker and David Smith making pancakes.
Resident and CHISEL Kids charity founder,
Jacci Francis uses the rooms at JMH for her
youth training sessions.
“Thank you to Viridian for the support and
use of John Morris House. We are always
made to feel extremely welcome, so much
so that it is difficult to get trainees to leave
at the end of each session!”
0330 123 0221 (minicom)
elizabeth.alli@viridianhousing.org.uk or
If you are interested in hiring the space,
please contact the centre on 020 8871 3246 or
email carol.chambers@viridianhousing.org.uk
seeta.manjeswar@viridianhousing.org.uk
One step closer to Olympic dream
Our very own Olympic hopeful is
edging closer to competing in the
London Olympics later this year.
In January, resident and long jumper, Ezekiel
Ewulo achieved a personal best of 7.75
meters at the UK Indoor championship and
won the silver medal.
He also scored a place on the England
Athletics team and competed at three
high profile indoor track and field events in
Europe.
Ezekiel said his career is going really well
under new coach Aston Moore.
“My recent indoor performance has helped
to lift my profile for the coming outdoor
season, so things are looking up,” Ezekiel
said. “I’m going to the Olympics trials in June
at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham and
I’m definitely hoping to make the team!”
Ezekiel will also be jumping in May at the
IAAF World Challenge in Daegu, Korea.
We wish him all the best!
12 Link

Midlands
Catherine Court fundraising
AROUND THE HOUSES
Over the past 12 months,
Catherine Court residents have
been busy hosting a number
of fundraising events for this
year’s selected cause - The
John Taylor Hospice, Erdington.
Last month, project lead Eleanor
Plant was pleased to present a
bumper cheque for £1,150 to a
representative from the hospice.
This money was in addition to the
£330 given to the MacMillan Nurses
last September, and was up on
last year’s £1,000 donation to the
Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Events to raise the money included
tea and cake events, raffles,
lunches and movie afternoons.
Would like to host a fundraising
event in your scheme or
community? Talk to your Scheme
Manager or contact the
Customer Engagement team.
Sarah Jane (left) is presented
with a cheque from Eleanor
Plant on behalf of Catherine
Court.
0330 123 0220 0330 123 0221 (minicom) customerservices@viridianhousing.org.uk
Upstairs
Downstairs
Gerard Dutton outside his home.
Residents and colleagues in the Midlands have
been glued to their televisions recently, trying to
spot one of our properties in the latest season of
the BBC classic ‘Upstairs Downstairs’.
During filming, Claredon Square in Leamington Spa
was transformed into Eaton Square, with actors
and a film crew lining the streets.
Viridian resident and collector of Edwardian items,
Gerard Dutton, said it was great to watch the
filming take place around him.
“The film crew put tape across my windows, just like
they did in the war to prevent them breaking during
bomb raids,” said Gerard.
“It was great to see the square as it would have
looked in the Second World War. It added real magic
to the area and made me feel very proud that my
flat would be seen by millions of people on TV.”
The street on a day of filming.
spring 2012
13

AROUND THE HOUSES
West Sussex
New homes
in Littlehampton
Demolition at the old Wickbourne Swan
pub site in Littlehampton took place
in December 2010 and just over a
year later - in March this year - 12 new
families moved in to their new homes.
One family nominated for a home was Gemma
Johnson and her three children. Having been
on the waiting list for over four years and living
in a cramped two bedroom house, the family
were very excited to move into their new home
in March.
“I was overwhelmed when I was told, I cried
happy tears!” Gemma said. “It’s the smallest
things that made the biggest difference. I now
have my own space, so I can take myself off to
bed and read a magazine without disturbing
anyone.”
Gemma is no stranger to Viridian. She grew up in
one of our properties in Bognor Regis, where her
parents still live.
“I like the way Viridian properties
are managed. I know if I have any
problems I can call and get advice
on what to do. My Dad said he is
really happy I was going to be a
Viridian resident again,”
Happy new residents: Gemma Johnson and her three
children, Liam (15), Anya (11) and Leah (2).
The new homes are super-insulated and
airtight, with a mechanical ventilation and heat
recovery system that will help keep heating bills
affordable. Construction was carried out by
contractors PMC, who worked really well with
the community, employing local tradesmen and
doing minor building work for local residents.
Gemma said.
14 Link

AROUND THE HOUSES
West Sussex
ASB Officer invited
to House of Commons
In January, one of our Anti-Social
Behaviour (ASB) Officers, Anita
MacMahon, was invited to a
reception in the House of Commons.
Anita MacMahon
The function was to recognise the fantastic work of
Albion in the Community, an initiative funding free
football sessions and tournaments for our young
local residents. The Cup Final football project is
funded in partnership with eight other housing
associations, with Anita’s involvement extending to
weekend events where she provides refreshments.
Anita said she believes the football scheme has
helped to reduce low level anti-social behaviour
problems.
“During the five years we have been involved,
there has been great improvements in ASB
issues, particularly on estates where there are
many children and teenagers,” Anita said.
Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas said, “I
am immensely honoured to host a reception
for Albion in the Community at the House of
Commons. The fantastic work being done by
Albion in the Community shows that football can
be a tremendous force for good.”
Need a helping hand?
West Sussex Credit Union offers a helping
hand to people struggling to keep their
head above water when finances are tight.
The credit union has introduced Life Raft Loans
- a service to help refinance your existing loans
and avoid increasing debt. The Life Raft Loan
repays the outstanding loan or credit card
bill directly to the lender, then your debt is
refinanced into affordable repayments. The loan
is flexible and will ensure finances are managed
safely over the period of the loan, especially if
unexpected events occur.
For more information or financial advice, call
West Sussex credit Union on 01903 237221 or
01903 210172.
spring 2012
15

YOUTH
Go Green Week
Go Green Week is People & Planet’s
annual event to inspire colleagues
and students in schools, colleges and
universities to take action to prevent
climate change.
In February, residents at Southampton and
Middlesex Universities got behind Go Green
Week, with a series of exciting events to promote
the prevention of climate change.
Events included Waste-
Not Wednesday, a
day to think about
recycling, as well as
Fair Trade Friday, which
highlighted fair trade
university status and fair
trade products.
For information about
Go Green week and
People & Planet, visit
www.peopleandplanet.
org/gogreenweek
A student with a fairtrade chocolate bar.
Practical workshop
at Blackshaw House
Young residents at Blackshaw House recently
attended an eye-opening workshop by the Cassandra
Learning Centre (CLC). The workshop focused on
domestic violence, sexual abuse and relationships.
Residents taking part in the workshop.
Valarie Howard and Seun Okunowo from CLC led
the residents in a range of group activities and
discussions. Participants were also shown a film
on domestic violence, which was followed by a
challenging discussion where the young people’s
attitudes and perceptions were explored.
Supporting Housing Officer, Gemma Howard,
said the residents were really engaged with the
workshop.
“They thoroughly enjoyed interacting with one
another and were very keen to participate. They
were still discussing some of the issues days after
the workshop!” Gemma said.
For more information on the Cassandra Learning
Centre or if you would like to book a workshop, please
visit the www.cassandralearningcentre.org.uk
Contact us if you need support on
domestic violence or relationships
0330 123 0220
0330 123 0221 (minicom)
customerservices@viridianhousing.org.uk
16 Link

YOUTH
Celebrating ‘New Leaders’
In January, residents Jodie Gerald and
Adam Gravely attended a celebration
evening for successfully completing their
‘New Leaders Programme’ through Duke
of Edinburgh (DofE) London.
Residents Jodie Gerald and Adam Gravely
at the celebration event.
The ‘New Leaders Programme’ is an innovative
training and development opportunity for
young people, which incorporates the Duke
of Edinburgh’s Gold Award alongside work
placement and qualification in youth work.
Jodie and Adam were two of only 15 ‘New Leaders’,
who were selected for the initial programme.
This is the first time DofE in London has worked
in partnership with social housing associations
to engage vulnerable young people and offer
them leadership opportunities.
Would you like to get involved with the Duke of
Edinburgh award?
Customer Engagement team
0330 123 0220 0330 123 0221 (minicom) customerservices@viridianhousing.org.uk
LGBT history month!
February was lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
(LGBT) history month and we celebrated with a
number of events across all regions.
Young residents at our Foyer in Worthing took part in a
LGBT history themed quiz and enjoyed an afternoon tea
to celebrate.
There was also some great discussion around current LGBT
issues, as well as the history behind civil rights movements
for LGBT people.
Our Equality Tsar,
Eoin Quiery, cutting
the diversity cake
with Ewan McLeod
at the Writtle House
LGBT event.
Viridian supports a joint initiative by Stonewall Housing and Age UK
to promote greater housing options for older LGBT people.
We are committed to working with all residents to help improve our
services. If you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender and would
like to get involved, please email equalities@viridianhousing.org.uk.
Residents at Worthing Foyer
taking part in the LGBT quiz.
spring 2012
17

RESIDENT INVOLVEMENT
Resident involvement strategy
Since the approval of our resident
involvement strategy last year, we’ve
been working hard to consider your
views about the services we deliver and
decisions that effect you.
In the last 12 months we have:
Delivered local events on our estates, in
our retirement schemes and for our street
properties in all regions.
Increased the number of residents in our
involvement groups and asked questions
about performance and service delivery
at our regional scrutiny panels.
Our priorities for next year include:
Develop the scrutiny role for the National
Residents’ Forum by agreeing a new structure
and approach, as well as recruit and train
new members.
Provide a training programme for all members
of our resident involvement groups.
Maintain and develop existing local area and
scheme meetings programme.
The resident involvement strategy is available on
our website.
Delivered three resident-led audits
of our services.
Updates from our
resident involvement
groups
Some of the members of the NRF, scrutiny
panels and resident auditors at the Making a
Difference residents awards in January.
National Residents’ Forum (NRF)
The NRF held its quarterly meeting in March. It
discussed a range of issues, including:
Closer to You pilot in north London
affordable rents
service charges: and,
changes to the planned repairs programme,
which included the publication of a five-year
schedule of the works to be carried out.
Scrutiny panels
In February, the regional scrutiny panels discussed:
day-to-day repairs
communal repairs
service charges; and,
benchmarking our services against other
housing associations.
To find out when the next scrutiny panel will take
place in your area, please contact the Resident
Governance team or see our website.
Contact details are on the next page
18 Link

RESIDENT INVOLVEMENT
Do you want to get involved?
We are looking for residents to join our
involvement groups!
National Residents’ Forum (NRF)
Working as part of a team of other residents
and colleagues, you will help out by attending
four meetings a year. We will provide training,
support, expenses, an iPad and internet
connection.
Regional scrutiny panels
Resident auditors
Would you like to inspect our services and work
out how we can work better for you? We will
provide training, expenses, support and advice
to help you carry out the role. The skills you will
learn will be invaluable. One of our auditors
has used the experience to help get a job with
another housing association.
Interested? Get in touch with us.
If would like to get involved in issues affecting
your local area, want to work as part of a team
whilst getting to know some of your neighbours,
this is the involvement group for you. We will
provide training, support and all expenses.
Resident Governance team
0330 123 0220 0330 123 0221 (minicom) customerservices@viridianhousing.org.uk
Freepost RSSL-TTHU-SYSR, Viridian Housing, Colwell House, 376 Clapham Road, London, SW9 9AR
Log onto My Viridian and tick the relevant boxes in the ‘Getting Involved’ section.
Let us know if we
do something great!
Live It! is our colleague recognition
scheme, which rewards our people
when they’ve done something
particularly special.
So if your know someone who has gone above
and beyond – let us know! You are welcome to
nominate at the reception in any of our offices,
by sending us an email or letter, or simply giving
us a call.
0330 123 0220 0330 123 0221 (minicom) communications@viridianhousing.org.uk
Freepost RSSL-TTHU-SYSR, Viridian Housing, Colwell House, 376 Clapham Road, London, SW9 9AR
spring 2012
19

RESIDENT INVOLVEMENT
Summer jobs fair
in Croydon
We are excited to be involved in this
year’s South London Jobs Fair, which will
be held on Thursday, 21 June at Fairfield
Halls, Croydon.
This important event is open to all residents, and
will offer real job opportunities, apprenticeships,
work placements, training sessions. It will link
local residents to local jobs and initiatives
through partnerships with local businesses.
Resident Involvement and Community Engagement
Officer, Brian Akintokun has been working with
partner organisations to pull the event together.
“Residents who attend this event are taking a
step in the right direction towards obtaining long
term, sustainable employment. It is important
we support residents who are currently looking
for work, so we encourage everyone to
register for the event by visiting the website or
contacting us directly,” Brian said.
We’d also like to hear about your experiences
or concerns in gaining employment and what
we can do to support you. Let us know by
contacting the Customer Engagement team.
0330 123 0220
0330 123 0221 (minicom)
communications@viridianhousing.org.uk
To register your interest in the South London Jobs
Fair, please visit www.southlondonjobsfair.co.uk.
Two week legal
placement available
An exciting two week work
experience opportunity has become
available in our legal team for a
resident or a member of their direct
family, who is currently studying law
at a degree level or higher.
Based in our Colwell House office in south
London, the unpaid placement offers
invaluable legal experience. The successful
candidate will work in-house at Viridian,
as well as have the opportunity to work
in a London law firm for one day and
shadowing a barrister for another.
The successful candidate would ideally
have a particular interest in housing
law, and will work on matters including
subletting, anti-social behaviour and
possession proceedings.
The placement can be undertaken any
time from June to September this year.
For more information, please call Christine
Steele on 0203 202 3668 (Monday to
Wednesday).
To apply, please send your CV and
covering letter to:
Freepost RSSL-TTHU-SYSR
Viridian Housing, Christine Steele
Colwell House, 376 Clapham Road
London, SW9 9AR
20 Link

OUR SERVICES
Aids and adaptations
If you’re finding it difficult to manage in
your home, we may be able to make
changes to help you to live more
comfortably and independently.
Aids and adaptations can include:
Grab rails to help with stability
Level access showers if you can’t use the bath
Stair lifts to help you get upstairs
Ramps for wheelchair access to your home.
To help us provide you with the right adaptations,
we usually need a recommendation from your
doctor or occupational therapist. They can
provide us with a detailed explanation of what
improvements they think you need, which ensures
the adaptations we make are right for you.
We will make sure we
keep in touch throughout
the process, so you know
what is happening. Once
everything is complete, we
will carry out a feedback
survey to assess how happy
you are with the way we
handled the work.
Asbestos safety
Asbestos is a strong, fibrous material which is
resistant to chemicals and heat. It was popular
between the 1950s and 1980s because of its
insulation, fire proofing and sound protection
qualities. It was banned in the UK in 1999. However,
a lot of our housing was built before this time and
some properties contain asbestos materials.
It is our policy, in line with the Department for
Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and
the Health and Safety Executive’s recommendations,
to leave asbestos as it is. However, if it is in a bad
condition, is likely to be disturbed, or if maintenance
work is taking place on or near it, we may remove it.
A thank you letter from a happy resident!
Larger adaptations are usually jointly funded by
us and by your local authority. To secure funding
from your local authority, you will need to apply
for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and we can
help you with the application.
To date, we have completed 275 aids and
adaptation projects nationally. So if you are
having problems getting around your home,
please let us know and we will be happy to help.
0330 123 0220
0330 123 0221 (minicom)
nationalaids&.adaptations@viridianhousing.org.uk
As long as materials containing asbestos are left
undisturbed, there is no risk to you or your family.
You can find more
information on our
website or the Health
and Safety Executive’s
website, www.hse.gov.uk/
asbestos
If you have any concerns
about your property,
please contact us.
0330 123 0220 0330 123 0221 (minicom) asbestosinfo@viridianhousing.org.uk
spring 2012
21

OUR SERVICES
Dealing with anti-social behaviour
We want you to always feel safe in
your home and community, and we
take reports of anti-social behaviour
very seriously.
Examples of anti-social behaviour
Verbal or physical abuse
Vandalism
Graffiti
Threatening or intimidating behaviour
Substance misuse
Litter and rubbish dumping
Nuisance driving and nuisance vehicles
Domestic abuse
Racial, sexual and other harassment
Steps to dealing with anti-social behaviour
Handling the problem yourself
Have a conversation with the person causing
the nuisance. In many cases they may not even
be aware they are causing a problem.
Try not to approach the person when you
are feeling angry or upset. Instead, leave it a
little while so you have a clear idea of what
you want to say. Speak in a friendly way and
aim to discuss how the problem can be fixed.
If the person becomes aggressive, end the
conversation and walk away.
Seek advice and support
If the situation is not resolved after the
conversation, discuss the issue with other
neighbours who may also be affected. The
support of your neighbours will be valuable if we
need to take action.
Keep records
It helps to keep a record of when the nuisance
occurs. This will help you get your facts straight and
highlight whether there is a pattern. Write down
times, dates, places and a description of what
happened. It may also be useful to take photos
as evidence, if for example rubbish is blocking
communal areas or property is damaged.
If the issue is still not resolved, contact your
Housing Officer or the Customer Service Centre.
Our dedicated Anti-social Behaviour team will
take the relevant steps to control the situation.
0330 123 0220
0330 123 0221 (minicom)
communications@viridianhousing.org.uk
In severe cases of nuisance or harassment,
contact your local police. If there is a serious risk,
call the emergency number on 999.
Sign-up for My Viridian
My Viridian is our online tool that helps you log
repairs, view rent account information and keep
your tenancy information up to date.
This new service is completely free and can be
accessed through our website homepage.
We are continually improving this service, so if
you have any feedback please let us know.
To access My Viridian visit our website and
search ‘My Viridian’.
22 Link

NOTICE BOARD
My home energy switch
My Home Energy Switch is
a service provided for all
housing association residents
to quickly and easily check
the cheapest price of gas and
electricity available.
The My Home Energy Switch website is currently under development.
All visitors to www.myhomeenergyswitch.org.uk are being redirected to
the uSwitch website, where a price comparison can still be made.
The 0800 051 5346 telephone number is working as normal.
Thames Water
Residents whose water is supplied by
Thames Water may be eligible for a
discount. Thames Water has a Single
Occupier Discount, which is available to
those who cannot have a meter fitted.
For more information on the scheme,
visit www.thameswater.co.uk and search
‘Assessed Household Charge’.
London Re-use
Do you have unwanted or repairable able items
gathering dust in your home? London Re-use is a
network of charities who work to find new homes
for good quality furniture and appliances that are
no longer wanted. They will even collect items
directly from your home.
For more information, call
their hotline on 0203 142 8506.
spring 2012
23

LIFESTYLE
London Olympic quiz
Test your Olympic knowledge with this tricky quiz.
1. In which month will the London 2012
Olympics start?
a) January
b) December
c) July
2. Which country held the last Summer
Olympic Games?
a) Bolivia
b) China
c) Denmark
3. Which sport will kick off the games?
a) Women’s rugby
b) Women’s football
c) Women’s golf
4. How many sports will feature in the games?
a) 16
b) 26
c) 36
5. Which of these Olympic venues is outside
London?
a) Wembley Stadium
b) Olympic Stadium
c) Millennium Stadium
6. Who are the official London 2012 mascots?
a) Wendy and Matthew
b) William and Mary
c) Wenlock and Mandeville
7. Which sport will not be played at the games?
a) Softball
b) Hockey
c) Tennis
8. Which sport will be played on the Prime
Minister’s doorstep?
a) Fencing
b) Long jump
c) Beach volleyball
9. What is the name of the building where the
track cycling event will take place?
a) Velodrome
b) Eton Manner
c) Old Trafford
10. After the 2012 games in London, where will
the next summer Olympic Games be held?
a) Brazil
b) Belize
c) Bolivia
Answers
1. The opening ceremony is on
27 July 2012
2. The 2008 Olympics were
held in Beijing, China
3. Women’s football will be
the first sport of the games
4. 26 different sports will
feature in the games
5. The Millennium Stadium is in
Cardiff
6. Wenlock and Mandeville
7. Softball – although it was
played at the 2008 games
in Beijing
8. Beach Volleyball will be
played at the Horse Guards
Parade – just next to where
the Prime Minister lives in
Downing Street
9. Velodrome – Gold medal
cyclist Sir Chris Hoy helped
design it
10. The 2016 games will be held
in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil
24 Link

LIFESTYLE
Foods from around the world
Curried meat triangles
Ingredients
1kg beef or mutton, cooked and
minced
1 tbsp curry powder
1 small onion, chopped
225g short crust pastry
Oil to fry
Salt to taste
Do you have a yummy recipe you’d
like to share? Send it to us via email or
freepost and you could see it in the next
edition of Link.
Email: communications@viridianhousing.org.uk
Post: Freepost RSSL-TTHU-SYSR,
Viridian Housing, Colwell House,
376 Clapham Road, London, SW9 9AR
Method
Mix minced and cooked meat with curry
powder, onion and salt.
Roll out pastry and cut into squares 10cm
by 10cm.
Put a tablespoon of meat mixture on each
pastry square.
Brush edges of squares with milk and fold
over to form triangles.
Seal edges with a fork.
Fry each side of meat triangles until
golden brown.
Serve hot with vegetables.
The Livewell Plate
The University of Aberdeen, in partnership
with the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF),
have developed what they call the Livewell
Plate – a diet that is both healthy and
environmentally friendly.
The Livewell Plate recommend over a third of
our diet should be fruit and vegetables and
another third should be starchy foods like
potatoes, pasta or rice. The last third should
be split between treats, milk and dairy foods,
and protein-rich foods like beans, eggs, fish
and meat.
Research shows that many
of us eat much more meat
than is good for our health,
our planet and our wallet.
By eating a little less meat and dairy, and
bulking out our diet with more vegetables and
whole grains, researchers believe we can be
healthier, environmentally friendly and save
some money in the process.
For more information on the Livewell Plate,
please visit www.wwf.org.uk and search
‘Livewell’.
spring 2012
25

The period covered in this edition is April to December 2011.
doing?
Edition 11, Quarter 3, 2011-12
How are we
“How are we doing?” is our quarterly performance report which
provides residents with information on how we are performing.
Resident satisfaction
Satisfaction with our services Apr-Dec 2011
2011-12 target
Student service
Key worker service
Hostels service
Support service
ASB process
Customer Serv. Centre
Repairs service
Lettings service
57%
80%
78%
75%
79%
80%
85%
97%
95%
95%
95%
100%
95%
96%
95%
94%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
We are currently looking at how to improve satisfaction in our handling of ASB cases.
Customer services
% of telephone calls answered within five rings (20 seconds)
100%
Total number of calls
received between April
to December 2011
90,428
90%
80%
70%
60%
76%
82%
80%
81%
Number of calls
answered within
five rings
% of calls answered
within five rings
73,247
81%
50%
40%
Our 2011-12 target is 80%
30%
20%
Apr’10-Mar’11 Apr’10-Jun’11 Apr-Sep’11 Apr-Dec’11
% of calls to our
Customer Services
Officers resolved at first
point of contact
53%
26 Link

Repairs and maintenance
% emergency repairs completed in 24 hours
100%
90%
95.9%
95.2%
80% 88%
70%
96.3%
Total number of
emergency repairs
reported between
April to December 2011
Number completed
in target
4,088
3,932
60%
50%
% completed in target 96%
40%
30%
20%
Apr’10-Mar’11 Apr’10-Jun’11 Apr-Sep’11 Apr-Dec’11
Our 2011-12 target is 100%
% of responsive repairs where an appointment was arranged and kept
100%
90%
Total number of repairs
appointments made
between April to
December 2011
22,982
80%
70%
80% 81.4% 81.9%
82.2%
Number of
appointments kept
18,559
60%
50%
40%
% of appointments
kept
82%
30%
20%
Apr’10-Mar’11 Apr’10-Jun’11 Apr-Sep’11 Apr-Dec’11
Our 2011-12 target is 97%
For more information www.viridianhousing.co.uk/ourperformance RICE team 0330 123 0220
If you need help understanding this information or would like it in another language or format,
such as Braille or large print, please contact the Business Excellence team on 0330 123 0220.
spring 2012 27

Want to contact us?
Colwell House
376 Clapham Road
London, SW9 9AR
Tel: 0330 123 0220
Fax: 020 3202 3601
0330 123 0221 (minicom)
Email: customerservices@@viridianhousing.org.uk
Post any mail
to us for free!
Freepost RSSL-TTHU-SYSR
Viridian Housing, Colwell House,
376 Clapham Road
London, SW9 9AR
Want to get
involved?
Contact:
Customer Engagement team
Phone: 0330 123 0220
Email:
customerservices@@viridianhousing.org.uk
This document is also available in:
Audio
Tape
Different
languages
Large
print
Braille
www.viridianhousing.org.uk
Link is produced on 75% recycled paper