CHRONICLE

CHRONICLE
NEIGHBOURHOOD EDITION, YOUR MAGAZINE, YOUR CLANMIL
SUMMER 2015
Neighbourhood News
A look at upcoming events
and days out throughout
Northern Ireland
GROWING A
COMMUNITY
AT LINEN
GARDENS
Welcome Organisation
Fund hits £4,000

Christine Ashfield
Marketing and
Communications
Officer
Welcome to the
Summer edition
of your Clanmil
Chronicle
It's jam packed full of summer
family fun, great advice for
saving money and making
the most of your home and
lots of news about what's been
going on at some of our family
schemes in recent months.
KEEP AN APPY BUDGET
9
INTRODUCING SPEC
p11
As well as that we're delighted
to introduce a brand new look.
Thanks to feedback from some
of our neighbourhoods tenants
we've given the magazine a major
makeover and we're looking forward
to hearing what you think of our
refreshed and revamped style. Drop
me a line at christine.ashfield@
clanmil.org.uk with your views!
Look out for exciting news on
page 11 about out new SPEC
programme which is designed to
help you learn new skills through
employability training with our
partners Women'sTEC. We're
introducing our Clanmil Crusaders
good neighbour campaign on
page 19 and can't wait to receive
your nominations. We're also
really grateful to our tenant Angela
for sharing her story about how
irresponsible dog ownership has
impacted on her family on page 5.
We'd love to feature your stories and
photographs in the next edition of
the magazine. If there's something
interesting going on at your scheme
or if you have an idea for a feature
that you think other Chronicle
readers would enjoy, please get in
touch at the email address above or
give me a call on 028 9087 6000.
p20 CLANMIL KIDZ
IN THIS ISSUE…
04 Are you Missing Out?
04 Work Well Underway at Colin Glen
05 Be a Responsible Pet Owner
06 The Terrible Twos
07 Neighbourhood News
07 Find Local Family and
Support Services
08 Money Saving Hacks
08 Become a Savvy Saver
09 Keep and Appy Budget
10 Save Energy – Recycle!
12 A Day in the Life…
12 Your Forum Update
13 Welcome Organisation
Fund Hits £4k
14 Making an Impact
16 Water Safety
Front Cover
Katelyn (2) lends a helping hand to
Clanmil’s Community Cohesion Officer,
Philip and WomensTec's Kelli, as they
plant out a new community garden at
Linen Court and Gardens in Belfast.
16 Top Tips for Apartment Living
17 You Said, We Did
17 Maximising Storage
Space in Your Home
18 Back to School
19 Help us Keep your Community
Quite and Peaceful
19 Clanmil Crusaders
22 Family Fun
23 Knowing Me, Knowing You
23 Contactless Card Payments
24 Smoke Signals
24 Tweet Talk
25 Staying Social and Safe
26 Family Feast
27 Growing a Community
at Linen Gardens
Join the conversation
028 9087 6000
info@clanmil.org.uk
@ClanmilHousing
www.clanmil.org

WHAT ARE THE CHANGES TO TAX CREDITS
AND HOW WILL THEY AFFECT YOU?
The Chancellor recently announced his
summer budget and it included big
changes to taxes and benefits which will be
introduced over the next 4 years.
HOW WILL THIS
AFFECT ME?
If you are one of the 164,000
families across Northern
Ireland who claims Tax Credits
you will be impacted by the
planned changes. For many
families the amount they
receive will be reduced.
For detailed information on
the changes, the Employers
for Childcare website has
given examples of how each
of the announced changes
will impact on families. You
can read the article here
employersforchildcare.org/
news/article/what-are-thechanges-to-tax-credits-andhow-will-they-affect-you.
If you have a smartphone you
can use a QR reader to take
you to the article too. Simply
scan the QR code.
Welcome to the
Clanmil Community
A
warm welcome to everyone
who recently moved into a
Clanmil home including our
brand new homes at Glenann Court in
Glengormley, The Monarch Building in
Dunmurry, at Bayview Park in Lurgan
and at the final phase of Ballyvester
Grove in Bangor.
We wish you many happy years in your
Clanmil home!
Get in touch if there’s anything more
we can do to help you settle into your
new home and new community.
YOUR MAGAZINE, YOUR WAY
We recently brought a few tenants from our family schemes together
to talk about the Clanmil Chronicle and to think about how we could
make it more relevant and interesting for all of our readers.
We wanted to know what
our readers like about
the magazine and what
they don’t enjoy so much.
We were also keen to get
their views on some ideas
we had for improving the
Neighbourhoods Chronicle.
We got lots of really useful
feedback and we’ve started
trying out some of the
ideas that were discussed
in this edition. Hopefully
you’ll enjoy your new and
improved Chronicle.
We’re still on the look out
for ways to improve the
magazine, so if you would like
to share your views please
get in touch by emailing
christine.ashfield@clanmil.
org.uk or by calling Christine
on 028 9087 6000.
Here’s just a few of the things
that our tenants said:
• Competitions and
giveaways are really
appealing to readers
• Articles need to be
short – people want info
quickly
• The magazine should be
posted in clear plastic
packaging instead of a
white envelope so that
it’s easy to spot when
it comes through the
letterbox
• A section on upcoming
events in the areas
around your schemes
would be useful
• More community based
articles needed
• The knowing me,
knowing you… section is
interesting to read
• More tenant stories
would be good
• Advice on things like
recycling and rubbish
disposal would be useful
• More humour needed
Some people said that the
Chronicle
never
carries
news about the
scheme where they live, so
the magazine didn’t really
appeal to them or their
neighbours. We’re putting out
a call for news from around
your schemes that we can
feature in future editions.
If you have a story about an
event, initiative or anything
at all that’s happened in your
area that you think readers
might find interesting, just
give Christine a call and let
her know the details.
Clanmil Housing Group | 3

ARE YOU MISSING OUT?
Each week people in Northern Ireland miss out on of millions of pounds of
unclaimed benefits such as Working Tax Credit. Are you one of them?
Working Tax Credit is designed to top up
your earnings if you work and are on a
low income.
Do you earn less than £13,100 per year
and have no dependants? Or do you and
your partner earn a combined salary of
less than £18,000 per year? Then you
could be entitled to Working Tax Credit!
But there’s no way I would qualify!
To qualify for Working Tax Credit
you must be over 25, or over 16 if
you have children, and work at least
30 hours a week - or 16 hours in
some circumstances.
DID YOU KNOW?
Tax credits are tax-free and you
don’t have to be paying National
Insurance or tax to qualify.
How much Working Tax Credit could I
be entitled to?
The amount of working tax credit that you
could be entitled to depends on:
• Your income
• How many hours you work per week
• Whether you have a disability
• Whether you pay for childcare
How can I claim Working Tax Credit?
For more information and to claim tax
credit go to www.gov.uk/browse/
benefits/tax-credits
Or call the Tax Credits helpline on
0345 300 3900
Working Tax Credit to help with
childcare costs
If you’re working at least 16 hours a week
and paying for childcare you might be
able to claim Working Tax Credit to help
with up to 70% of your childcare costs.
Find out if you’re missing out
If you would like a benefit
check call our Money
Adviser Eddie Smith on
028 9087 7047.
WORK WELL UNDERWAY AT
Steve Amos, Chair
of Clanmil Housing
Group helps
Renee Crawford
of Lenadoon
Community Forum
officially cut the first
sod at Colin Glen
watched by Cllr Tim
Attwood.
Renee Crawford of
Lenadoon Community
Forum has officially cut the
first sod at Clanmil’s latest
development of family
homes near Colin Glen
Forest Park on the Glen
Road in Belfast.
When completed,
this development
will provide 13
four bedroom homes,
33 three bedroom
homes and 18 two
bedroom homes. The
development will also
include a central green
area and play space.
Welcoming the new
homes Renee said:
“These are much needed
family homes in an area of
high demand. Lenadoon
Community Forum has
and will continue to work
with Clanmil to ensure the
needs of families in this
area are met through the
provision of quality lifetime
social housing and the
community infrastructure
required by those who will
live in this new housing
development.”
We’re looking forward to
64 new families moving in
during Spring 2017.
4 | Clanmil Housing Group

BE A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER
If you’re a dog owner, summer is the perfect time to enjoy long walks with your favourite
furry friend. When you're out and about with your dog, please be a responsible owner by:
➤ Carrying a plastic bag or 'poop scoop' with you and lift your dog’s mess.
➤ Never letting your dog onto the street on their own to foul.
➤ Respecting dog-free areas.
➤ Making sure your dog has a licence.
Failure to pick up your dog's mess, or
allowing your dog to stray, could lead
to an £80 fine for you and have life
changing consequences for others.
SAM’S STORY
Thank you to our tenant Angela for
sharing her story about how this issue
has impacted upon her family.
Angela says:
“My son Sam is 24. He has been blind
in one eye since he was just four years
old because he wiped it after touching
dog mess.
“Two days after starting primary school
Sam came home complaining that he
felt dizzy. He had a temperature, so I
gave him some Calpol and put him to
bed. When he woke up a few hours
later there was green puss all around
his eye and he told me he couldn’t see!
“We took him to hospital immediately
where tests confirmed that he had
contracted Toxocariasis, an infection
caused by the larvae of parasitic worms
that live in the intestines of dogs.
“In the following 6 weeks Sam lost
over 2 stone in weight and had nine
operations to try and save his eye.
Finally a biopsy showed that a tumor
had developed and there was no
other option than to remove his
eye completely.”
Angela explains that this was really just
the start of a very difficult journey for
Sam and the whole family:
“Having his eye removed had a big
impact on Sam that he feels to this
day. The process of having a false
eye fitted was horrific and it made
him feel different from everyone else,
inadequate and very, very angry. After
the surgery he was no longer the happy
go lucky, active wee boy he had been
before. And his brothers and sisters
also suffered as all of our focus had to
be on Sam.”
“Sadly he never came to terms with
what happened to him and he now has
problems with drugs. It breaks my heart
but we have very little contact now.”
“I would urge all dog owners to be
responsible – worm your dog regularly
and always, always pick up after
them. No child should have a lifetime
of suffering like Sam just because of
irresponsible owners.”
Clanmil Housing Group | 5

FAMILY
FOCUS
ADVICE FOR PARENTS
The
Terrible
Twos
NEED A LIFELINE?
Wherever you live in
Northern Ireland, if you,
or someone you know is in
distress or despair, contact
Lifeline on: 0808 808 8000
Trained counsellors will listen and help
immediately on the phone and follow up
with other support if necessary. This is
a confidential service and is available
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Lifeline counsellors are experienced
in dealing with many issues including
trauma, suicide, self-harm, abuse,
depression and anxiety. You can call
about anything that may be causing
you concern.
For information about local support
services in your area click on http://
mentalhealthservices.nidirect.gov.uk/
QUESTION
My 18-month-old son has become
such a handful. He was such
a placid baby but now he has
started having screaming and crying
fits when he can’t have or do what he
wants. I didn’t know the ‘terrible twos’
could start so early – is this a normal
change in behaviour at his age?
ANSWER
Most children go through the
transition of baby to toddler
from around eighteen months to
three years. As you have discovered,
children can start to become more
wilful, testing the limits on how far they
can go. Toddlers like to have their own
way and can protest strongly when
they don’t get it but it is important
to remember that wanting to do
more things for himself is a normal
part of your son’s development.
Toddlers can express their anxiety,
anger and affection but become easily
frustrated when they find it difficult
to communicate their feelings with
others. It is also normal for them to
develop their own likes and dislikes
and to be possessive about their own
things - from a toddler’s point of view
the world revolves around them.
You will find that around this age your
son will also become more aware of, and
interested in, other children. Developing
social skills, such as how to share, take
turns and make friends, takes time and
practice. Play is an important social
activity that will help your son develop
these skills and learn how to get along
with others. Young children also like
to copy adults and frequently play at
being grown-up, which explains their
interest in toy kitchens, lawnmowers
and doctor’s kits. They will also want to
explore and investigate their world but
will lack the ability to think ahead. This
means that climbing steep steps is great
fun but they cannot think ahead to the
problem of how to get back down safely.
Normal age appropriate behaviour can
be easily misinterpreted as a toddler
being naughty or challenging. Frequent
reasons behind toddlers' challenging
behaviour can include tiredness, hunger,
boredom, feeling left out, needing your
attention, or not understanding what’s
going on. Understanding the reason
why your son is behaving in a certain
way will help you know how to respond.
Parenting NI provides free confidential
support, guidance and counselling to
parents throughout Northern Ireland
dealing with family issues. Every
parent experiences difficulties from
time to time. Sometimes they may
seem small, but cause a lot of worry.
Sometimes they are major family
crises. In many cases it helps to talk
to someone outside the family.
If you are concerned about your
child's behaviour, family conflict,
the impact of separation, bullying
or any other family issue, contact
the freephone helpline 0808 8010
722 available Monday -Thursday
9am - 8pm & Friday 9am - 5pm.
For further information on the range
of services offered by Parenting NI,
including parenting programmes,
log onto: www.parentingni.org
or visit their Facebook page.
6 | Clanmil Housing Group

Neighbourhood News
Whether your idea of a great day out is street entertainment, a
teddy bear BBQ or a chance to meet Northern Ireland’s newest
robot, there’s sure to be something going on in your area to
keep the whole family occupied this summer. Have a look at
just a few of the upcoming events and days out throughout
Northern Ireland, that are perfect fun for the whole family…
Enjoy a free, fun filled, family
afternoon of entertainment, when the
Children’s Street Theatre come to the
streets of Portrush and Portstewart
throughout August. This event is
suitable for kids of all ages and makes
for the perfect excuse for a trip to the
North coast! For more details see:
www.discovernorthernireland.com/
Childrens-Street-Theatre-Portrush-
Portrush-P50359
Carnfunnock teddy bears are hosting
their annual Teddy Bears’ Big Day Out,
just before school starts back! The
teddy bears are inviting everyone along
to their teddy bear BBQ on Saturday
29th August, for an afternoon of
dancing, competitions and much, much
more. For more information visit: www.
midandeastantrim.gov.uk/culture-leisuretourism/parks/carnfunnock-countrypark/events-at-carnfunnock-2015/
events-at-carnfunnock-2015
Come and see Northern Ireland’s newest
robot at W5 in Belfast. Take the kids
along to meet RoboThespian; the life
sized, interactive robot who can move,
speak, educate, interact and entertain.
For more info please see: www.w5online.
co.uk
For up to date information on what is
going on in your area this summer visit
your local council website:
Fermanagh and Omagh -
www.fermanaghomagh.com/news-andevents
Derry/Londonderry and Strabane -
www.derrycityandstrabanedistrict.com/
Things-To-Do/Whats-On
Causeway Coast and Glens - www.
visitcausewaycoastandglens.com/
Events-and-Festivals-A86
Mid and East Antrim - www.
midandeastantrim.gov.uk/events
Mid Ulster - www.midulstercouncil.org/
Things-To-Do/What-s-On
Antrim and Newtownabbey - www.
antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/Things-
To-Do/Events
Belfast - www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events/
Events.aspx
Lisburn and Castlereagh - www.
lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk/things-to-do
Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon
- www.armagh.co.uk/events/
page/7/?etype=upcoming
North Down and Ards – www.
northdowntourism.com/getattachment/
Events/2015-Events-Guide-Out-Now!/
AAND-Events-Guide-2015.pdf.aspx
Newry, Mourne and Down - www.
newrymournedown.org/events
FIND LOCAL FAMILY
SUPPORT AND SERVICES
The Family Support NI website
provides details of a wide
range of services provided
by statutory, voluntary and
community organisations
across Northern Ireland.
Click on www.familysupportni.gov.uk to
access up-to-date information on a range
of local services available to support
families, young people and children
throughout Northern Ireland.
A new childcare and family support
iPhone and Android app is also available.
This app provides constant fingertip
access to the information on the Family
Support NI website.
THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT
The app features a search for various
types of family support and registered
childcare providers by District Council
Area, by Postcode or by using a GPS
locator. It can be accessed by searching
for ‘Childcare & Family Support NI’ on
App store or Google Play .
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/
childcare-family-support-ni/
id858506900?mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/
details?id=com.origin.fsni&hl=en
Clanmil Housing Group | 7

MONEY
MATTERS
MONEY SAVING HACKS
We all struggle when it comes to saving money, whether it’s for a big event or we just want to put a
little by for an emergency. Have a look at these quick fixes that will help you save a few extra pounds
here and there:
➤ Reduce you electricity bill by turning
off lights and unpluging appliances,
such as the TV, kettle and microwave
when you’re not using them.
➤ Slice your food bill by planning your
weekly menu in advance and making
a list of all the ingredients you’ll need
before you go shopping. That way
you won’t buy unnecessary food that
could end up in the bin.
➤ When cooking, double up on recipes
so that you can cover two nights’
dinners instead of one. Not only
will this lower your food bill it will
also reduce the amount of cooking
required throughout the week.
➤ When you’re out and about, buy two
less hot drinks per week and put what
you would have spent into savings.
This could add up to a £20 saving
each month.
➤ Try cutting your electricity costs by
drying clothes on the washing line
more often. And on damp days,
use a clothes horse instead of a
tumble dryer.
➤ Websites such as mazumamobile.
com and musicmagpie.com pay
cash for old phones, so if you get an
upgrade, trade your old phone in for
cash instead of tossing it into the
junk drawer.
Become a
“SAVVY
SAVER ”
Jacqueline Macques
with Clanmil Money
Advisor Eddie Smith.
Clanmil has launched an innovative new scheme offering people living in Clanmil
homes the opportunity and incentive to save.
Our Savvy Saver
scheme is designed to
encourage people to
start saving regularly,
whether towards big events
like a family holiday, or as a
safety net in an emergency.
Savvy Savers has been
introduced with the help of
a donation of £15,000 from
Danske Bank and runs in
conjunction with local Credit
Unions. So far credit unions
in North Belfast, Lisburn and
Bessbrook are involved.
Everyone who signs up to
the scheme will have their
membership fee paid and
a £5 deposit made to their
account to get them started.
Those who save at least £5
per week in their Savvy Saver
account for 12 weeks will
receive a £20 bonus!
Jacqueline Macques, who
has signed up to the scheme
said;
“When I heard about the
Savvy Saver scheme and
how easy it makes setting
up an account, even starting
you off with an initial deposit,
it seemed like too good an
opportunity to miss.
“It’s good to have some
money put aside for those
unexpected costs and it
also helps make things like
Christmas and the kids’
birthdays less stressful. I’m
determined to stick to my
new saving habit.”
Saving through Savvy Saver
will give you the peace of
mind of knowing you don’t
have to borrow to pay
monthly bills. And when
you need money in a hurry
for unexpected expenses,
you’ll be able to borrow at
low interest rates from a
Credit Union.
For more information and
updates on when our Savvy
Savers scheme will be
coming to a credit union
near you, keep an eye out in
future editions of the Clanmil
Chronicle or call, text or email
Eddie at 028 9087 6000,
0785 0751924 or
eddie.smith@clanmil.org.uk
8 | Clanmil Housing Group

KEEP AN APPY BUDGET
In the UK, seven out of 10 people now own a smartphone. We use
them to connect with family and friends, search for information, keep
up to date with the news and even to find the way from A to B. But did
you know that they are also great for saving money and helping you
manage your budget?! Read about 4 free apps that can help you save.
Checkout Smart & Shopatize
Watch the savings build up on your
weekly shop, even after you’ve left
the supermarket by using cashback
apps like CheckoutSmart and
Shopatize. Sign up and receive
exclusive access to offers from all your
favourite supermarket brands, including
freebies. Use your phone to scan
your receipt and earn cash back from
everyday purchases.
FoodMatic Lite
If you’re looking for a way to cut food
waste and don’t mind being a bit
adventurous, Foodmatic is the perfect
app for you. All you need to do is raid
your cupboards and fridge, enter all the
ingredients you have into Foodmatic
and use the suggested recipes to whip
up something delicious.
Spendometer
The Spendometer app allows you to
keep tabs on your spending. You can
easily set a budget, log every spend
and keep track with simple reports. The
Spendometer shows you how much
of your money has been spent so far
in a given week or month ensuring you
make the most of your money.
MySupermarket
MySupermarket makes sure you
never overpay on your groceries by
comparing thousands of products,
so you don’t have to. Their prices
are updated daily from all the major
supermarkets including Tesco, Asda
and Sainsbury’s.
PUTTING SERVICE
CHARGE UNDER THE
MICROSCOPE
Service charges cover the communal
cost of keeping your neighbourhood
safe and tidy. This can cover the cost
of things like window cleaning,
maintenance of door entry systems
and fire extinguishers, keeping the
grounds tidy or cleaning communal
corridors.
These costs will vary, depending on
where you live, but you will only pay
for the services you receive.
How is my Service
Charge Calculated?
At the beginning of each year we try
to estimate the costs of the services
we aim to provide at your scheme
throughout the coming year. Once
we have identified a cost for this
work the total is divided evenly
between all tenants at that scheme
and the service charge per tenant is
then spread out so that it’s paid over
52 weeks.
Sometimes, at the end of the
year, when we compare our actual
service costs to the amount we
had estimated these amounts don’t
match. If we have over estimated
and charged too much during the
year, we will charge you less the
following year to make up for it. In
just the same way, if we have under
estimated, this will be built into your
service charge for the following year.
Example Service
Charge Calculation
Cost of work
£50,000
100 tenants 52 weeks
£2,000
+
overspend
÷
in previous
year
÷ =
Weekly
service
charge of
£10
Clanmil Housing Group | 9

SAVE ENERGY - RECYCLE!
Did you know that nearly two thirds of household rubbish can be
recycled?
This saves energy and raw materials, and avoids waste going to landfill. In fact,
recycling just one aluminium can saves enough energy to run a television for three
hours.
All councils in Northern Ireland collect recycling direct from outside your home and
also have household recycling centres.
RECYCLABLE ITEMS INCLUDE:
Plastic bottles such as
milk, water and cleaning
product bottles
Rinsed shampoo and
shower gel bottles
Plastic food trays and
wrappings are sometimes
recyclable, so check the
packaging for more details
Washing powder and
liquid containers
Glass bottles and jars
(but no cookware or pyrex)
Unwanted clothing
Cardboard, such as
frozen and dry food
boxes and sleeves
Toilet roll tubes and
packaging from
toiletries and make-up
Find out more about the recycling services and facilities in your area
by checking your council’s website.
MAKE RECYCLING EASY AND SAVE TIME
• use soapy water left over from washing up to rinse cans and glass jars before you
put them out for recycling.
• keep your recycling bin next to the main bin so you can take out the rubbish and
recycling at the same time.
• make recycling part of your weekly supermarket trip using supermarket recycling
points.

INTRODUCING SPEC
SUPPORTING PEOPLE:
EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES
SPEC is a new Clanmil programme providing skills and employability
training to our tenants and the wider community.
The £850,000 programme, which
is open to both women and
men, has been developed in
partnership with Women’sTEC,
the largest provider of training for
women in non-traditional skills in
Northern Ireland, and is funded through
the European Union’s Social Fund.
Through SPEC, participants can access
a range of entry-level programmes
including accredited programmes
in Joinery, Plumbing, Electrics,
Horticulture, Furniture Making, Painting
and Decorating, Tiling, Entrepreneur
training, Money Management,
Computers, First Aid and Health &
Safety.
To experience SPEC and find out
where their interest’s lie, programme
participants can take part in a sampling
course called Tea and Drills without
committing to a full programme. And,
for those who already know what they
want to do and are keen to get into the
workplace, SPEC can also move at a
quicker pace to suit their needs.
Childcare will be available and travel
costs will be covered.
TEA AND DRILLS
Clanmil and Women’sTEC have already
delivered some Tea and Drills sessions.
This is what Allison, who lives with her
son at Harbourview apartments in
Belfast, said about the programme:
“When I heard about Tea and Drills I
thought I’d go along and see what it was
about. I just thought it would get me out
of the house and doing something.
“I’m glad I did! I’ve enjoyed the fun with
the other girls and our instructor Louise
has been great. After the first week I was
really looking forward to coming back.
“The workshops have turned out to be
more than just a bit of fun. I’ve learned
new skills that will allow me to have a go
at jobs around the house that I would
never have attempted before. Like most
of the other girls taking part, I’m on my
own with my son, so being able to do
things like DIY myself is important. It
may not seem like a big thing but just
being able to hang a picture by yourself
or put up a curtain rail allows you to take
a bit of control. It’s a boost for my self
confidence to know that with the right
equipment and a bit of guidance there’s
lots of things I can do.”
A number of private sector employers,
including our Maintenance Contractor,
JMC have come on board to help fund
the SPEC programme.
SIGN UP FOR A COURSE
As well as boosting your chances of
getting a job, SPEC is a great opportunity
to meet other people, give your
confidence a boost and learn skills that
would be useful around the home.
If you are interested in knowing more
about SPEC or want to register for a
course, please get in touch by emailing
SPEC@Clanmil.org.uk or by calling
Patricia at Women’sTEC on 028 9074
9810. Alternatively, speak to your
Housing Officer.
Clanmil Housing Group | 11

“I love living at Caffrey Hill.
It’s just like one big family,
which suits my kids and
I perfectly, and it’s most
definitely a place where we
can call home.”
A day in the life of our
NEIGHBOURHOOD WARDENS
You may have already
met one or all of Clanmil’s
neighbourhood wardens;
Maurice Newberry, Roger
Clarke or Carl Maxwell?
Maurice, Rodger and Carl provide a presence in most schemes throughout Belfast,
as well as Crumlin and Downpatrick, with an aim to help improve your tenant
experience within the community.
Our wardens provide a range of services, including:
Caffrey wins gold at
CIHNI AWARDS
Back in February our Caffrey Hill family
housing scheme in Belfast was
named Sustainable Development of
the Year at the annual Charted Institute
of Housing Awards. Two of the people
who live there, Helen Griffin and Elisha
Mullen joined Clanmil staff at the gala
awards evening in Belfast City Hall.
Helen explains what the award means
to her and how Elisha and she felt when
Caffrey Hill was announced as the
winning development:
“I love living at Caffrey Hill. It’s just like
one big family, which suits my kids and I
perfectly, and it’s most definitely a place
where we can call home.
“When Elisha and I went along to the
awards night everyone was sitting
around the table and I just had a feeling
we were going to win! We were one
of two finalists and when we were
announced as the winners, everyone
was just ecstatic. When we all got up
on stage I was thrilled to accept the
award on behalf of Caffrey Hill, it was
very well deserved.
“We had such a brilliant night and
everyone was on such a high from
the win. I am proud to call myself a
Caffrey tenant.”
• Anti-Social Behaviour prevention
• Caretaking duties
• Risk assessments
• Providing information to residents on maintenance issues
• Monitoring empty properties and visiting tenants
• Promoting residents’ associations, organising activities and consulting with
residents over services
Our neighbourhood wardens will always make time to speak to you and discuss any
issues which you may have. So, if you see our wardens out and about, don’t hesitate
to say hello or to introduce yourself!
Our wardens are a key part of our team, serving as the first point of contact in many
occasions and helping to provide a safe and secure community for all tenants.
YOUR FORUM UPDATE
The Neighbourhood Tenant Forum meets four times a year
and the last meeting was held in Belfast’s only floating
theatre, The Barge.
The forum was attended by eight
tenants and items on the agenda
included an update on proposed
planned maintenance for the year ahead.
Tenants were able to ask practical
questions, such as ‘would the contractor
provide storage boxes when kitchens
were being replaced’?
Eddie Smyth, our Money Advisor,
gave tenants information on a number
of incentive schemes to help them
manage their money. He also asked for
feedback on a Household Contents
Insurance scheme.
The next meeting will take place in the
Autumn and new members will be made
very welcome. If you would like to join
the Forum, or just come along to see
what it’s all about, contact your Housing
Officer. We’d be delighted to see you.
Rosemary Farrelly, from Harbourview
Apartments says:
“I very much enjoy being part of the
tenant forum. It’s wonderful to meet
other tenants from different schemes
to discuss and resolve issues. There
is always good feedback regarding
projects that are going on and the
Clanmil staff that are there are always
able to answer any questions and inform
us of what has been happening at
Clanmil’s schemes.”
12 | Clanmil Housing Group

WELCOME ORGANISATION
FUND HITS £4K
This year we’re working together to raise funds for our charity of the
year The Welcome Organisation, which provides help and support for
homeless people in the Greater Belfast area.
Over the past few months we’ve been
having all sorts of fundraising fun, from
baking cakes to running marathon miles
and lots in between!
Now that we’ve reached the half way mark
in the year we’re thrilled to announce that
we’ve raised over £4,000 so far. And
there’s still 6 more months to go!
Thanks to all who have dug deep to
help boost the fund - all of your
generous donations are going to such
a worthy cause.
Why not get involved in fundraising
for the Welcome Organisation too!
If you have a money making idea
or suggestion, then let us know by
contacting Jim Pow on 028 9087 6000
to find out more!
Bake Off
Chef, Michael Deane and pastry chef Charlie
dropped by to judge the final of the Great
Clanmil Bake Off, crowning Development
Officer James as our well deserved star baker!
Jingle and Mingle
Clanmil’s Development team
brought the Christmas spirit
to Head Office in December
with their Jingle and Mingle
afternoon!
MarathonDay2015
Ready… set…go! Team Clanmil
had time for one quick snap before
heading to the starting line.
Clanmil Housing Group | 13

MAKING AN IMPACT
A review of our activities in 2014/15 was presented at our Annual General Meeting in June. This year,
some of our tenants kindly shared their stories about the impact our work had on them during the year.
If you have access to the internet and would like to read the report for yourself, download it from the
publications section of our website at www.clanmil.org Alternatively, call us on 028 9087 6000 and we’d
be delighted to send you a copy.
Here’s an overview of our performance in key areas during the year:
AVERAGE RENT
PER WEEK
£57.39 £72.15 £91.42 £99.98 £105.75
1 bedroom 2 bedrooms 3 bedrooms 4 bedrooms 5+ bedrooms
Overall average
£75.42
How each £1 of rent
was spent in 2014/15
Of a total of 17,794 repair requests
issued, 15,697 (an average of 88%) were
completed within the target timescale
Response maintenance
17p
Cyclical and planned maintenance 15p
Major repairs
27p
Housing management
11p
Financing costs
30p
Repairs Requests issued
2,092
3,306
6,947
1,315
4,134
91 % Immediate 4 hours
86 % Emergency 24 hours
Repairs completed within timescale
1,908
2,853
6,023
1,131
3,782
91 % Routine 28 working days
87 % Urgent 4 working days
86 % Non emergency 10 working
Rent Arrears at 31 March 2015
Rent and other
charges to be
collected
£19,019,692
£980,428
Housing schemes
14 | Clanmil Housing Group
Arrears (not including
outstanding Housing
Benefit/Supporting
People/Health Trust
Funding)
£568,669
£15,233
Housing with Care
Arrears as % of rent
due (non technical)
Void losses
Voids as a percentage
of gross total charges
9.85 % £331,401 1.71 %
9.93 % £38,508 3.78 %

Expenditure on Maintenance
Response
Planned
and cyclical
Major Repairs
Total
£8,197,225
Maintenance
Administration
£2,077,594
£1,866,241
£3,377,509
£875,881
Assets comprising:
Adaptations 3
Landscaping 8
Repairs 68
Planned maintenance 10
Development and defects 7
Staff 10
Allocations 13
Service Charge 8
Rent 4
Complaints
165 Complaints Recorded 158
Compensation 4
Security 6
Health and Safety 2
Pets 1
Neighbour Nuisance/ASB
(re process) 8
Consolidated 9
Anonymous 1
Others 3
Complaints Resolved
(by 31st March 2015)
Housing Stock at 31 March 2015
Development at 31 March 2015
41 Housing with care
91 Supported and Shared Housing
1,025 Independent Living
2,272 General Needs Housing
310 Category 1 – Older people
12 Group Housing
49 Hostel bed spaces
195
Units where
construction continued
353
New units purchased
or where construction
commenced
Voids
Total
3,800
4
Total
no of
House
Sales
56 12
DAYS
Average void period –
supported housing and
housing with care
DAYS
Average void period – older
people and neighbourhoods
(excluding difficult to let
properties)
Total number of
Compliments Received
70
270
New lettings
Lettings
304
Re-lets
574
Total lettings
Clanmil Housing Group | 15

WATER
SAFETY
The summer months are a
great time to enjoy water sports
such as swimming, surfing and
canoeing. Whichever activity
you’re taking part in, don’t sink
the fun!
Make sure you take responsibility for your safety by ensuring
you're properly prepared for the conditions.
Here are some top tips for making sure you stay safe while in
and around water this summer…
• If you see someone in difficulty, don't attempt a rescue.
Tell a lifeguard, or dial 999/112 and ask for the coastguard.
• Get trained - take part in any safety training needed for your
sport or activity
• Check the weather and tides before setting out
• Wear the correct lifejacket for your activity
• Take an appropriate means of communication with you, such
as a mobile phone
• Tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back
• Don't drink alcohol before going in or on the water
For more information on water sports and activities and where
you can get appropriate training, simply click onto www.nidirect.
gov.uk/water-sports-and-coastal-activities-safety-advice
TOP TIPS FOR APARTMENT LIVING
Living in an apartment can be very different to living in
a house. The apartment lifestyle can require a bit more
consideration for your neighbours, and a little courtesy can
certainly make apartment life run smoothly.
Try to be Considerate
• By entering and exiting the building
and apartments quietly.
• By negotiating a solution with
neighbours should they ask you to
keep the noise level down.
• By being aware of noise transfer on
hard wood floors.
Be a Good Neighbour
• By respecting parking spaces and
making sure that you are within the
white lines in the tenant car park.
• By asking visitors to park at
convenient areas off the premises, if
there is no visitor parking available.
• By giving neighbours a heads up if
you are having a party and by making
sure music isn’t too loud and that
guests leaving your apartment do so
quietly and with care.
• By offering help to elderly neighbours
with groceries and bags and by
holding doors.
• By checking in to see they are
doing ok.
Take responsibility
• By recycling, as this is an effective
way of reducing the amount of
general waste and helping keep the
bin area safe and clean.
• By keeping personal belongings out
of communal areas.
16 | Clanmil Housing Group

YOU SAID, WE DID…
You said contractors were
turning up unannounced
to carry out repairs.
New contractors have been
appointed who are required
to contact you and make an
appointment to carry out a repair.
You said the landscaping
service is poor and you
would like local gardeners
to provide the service.
New landscaping contractors
will be appointed soon and
revised contracts will help
improve this service.
MAXIMISING STORAGE
SPACE IN YOUR HOME
Do you live in an apartment or want to maximise the amount of space around
your home? Here’s a few helpful tips on how you can make your home a practical,
comfortable space for you and your family.
1
Hang peg boards with small
hooks, on the inside of cabinets
and wardrobes. These can double
as useful storage solutions for
jewellery, belts and other small
accessories.
3
4
Use drawer dividers to help de-clutter
and organise and ensure you make
sure you use all the space available.
Fit rails inside the
cupboard under the
sink. Hooking spray
bottles over these can
double the amount of
storage space you have
in the cupboard.
5
Use
the ceiling of a wardrobe to
store wrapping paper rolls.
2
Store your ironing board behind
a door or in a cupboard by
hanging it from the wall using
bathrobe hooks.
6
Attach a magnetic strip to the
inside of your bathroom cabinet
to store and organise all those
little tools such as tweezers, nail
scissors and hair clips.
7Tuck your matching sheet sets
inside one of its own pillow cases
to keep your hot press organized.
Clanmil Housing Group | 17

BACK TO SCHOOL
Your child could be eligible for free school meals and uniform allowance.
What makes my child eligible for a
School Uniform Allowance?
You can apply for School Uniform
Allowance for children attending
Primary, Secondary, Grammar, Voluntary
Grammar, Integrated Secondary and
Special Schools. This also includes an
allowance for P.E clothing too. Children
attending mainstream Nursery schools/
Nursery Units or Reception Classes are
not entitled to this help.
For a pupil to be eligible the parent(s) and
the pupil must meet criteria set by the
Department of Education and have their
application approved by the relevant
Education and Library Board.
Parents who are receiving any of the
following benefits will be entitled to
receive a School Uniform Allowance for
their child:
• Income Support
• Income Based Jobseekers’ Allowance
• Income-related Employment and
Support Allowance
• Support from the Home Office under
the National Asylum Support Service
(NASS)
• The Guarantee element of State
Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit or Working Tax
Credits and have an annual income of
£16,190 or less
• Or pupils who are boarders at a
special school
A pupil who receives Income Support
in their own name is also entitled to
receive a School Uniform Allowance.
School Year 2015/16
01 August 2015 - 31 July 2016
Mainstream Primary Allowance
Uniform Allowance of £35.75 for
mainstream primary pupils (includes
P.E allowance)
Post Primary and Special
School Allowance
Uniform allowance of £51.00 for Post
Primary and Special School pupils
under 15 years of age on 01/08/2015
Uniform allowance of £56.00 for Post
Primary and Special School pupils 15
years of age or over on 01/08/2015
P.E allowance of £22.00 for all eligible
pupils attending Post Primary and
Special Schools
Is my child eligible for Free School
Meals?
The eligibility criteria for Free School
Meals is similar to School Uniform
Allowances, with additional children
qualifying who have a statement of
special educational needs and who
are designated to require a special diet.
You cannot receive a monetary
allowance instead of your child receiving
free school meals.
How do I apply?
You can receive both application forms
directly from your child’s school, or
contact your local Education and Library
Board. Please note, you should apply to
the Education and Library Board you live
in even if your child goes to school in a
different Board area.
BELB 028 9056 4239 www.belb.org.uk
SEELB 028 9056 6200 www.seelb.org.uk
NEELB 028 2566 2571 www.neelb.org.uk
SELB 028 3751 2523 www.selb.org
WELB 028 8241 1411www.welbni.org
YOU SAID, WE DID…
All of our staff have been
reminded of the importance
of returning telephone calls
promptly – if not on the same
day, within 24 hours.
You said that we're not
returning your calls.
New contractors have
been appointed and we are
monitoring their performance
closely to ensure repairs
are carried out on time
You said repairs are not
being carried out on time.
18 | Clanmil Housing Group

HELP US KEEP YOUR COMMUNITY
QUIET AND PEACEFUL
As your landlord we strive to ensure you feel safe and secure in your home and neighbourhood.
However, anti-social behaviour (ASB) can really upset people’s lives and communities.
Help us to Help You!
Please report all incidents of ASB to
us and we will respond quickly and
effectively.
Clanmil has a strict policy against ASB
of any form, but it can only be tackled
by everyone pulling together. No one
should have to suffer in silence. If you
are dealing with any of the issues below
please let us know!
What is ASB?
ASB can include:
• Neighbourhood nuisance
• Noise
• Harassment and intimidation
• Racism
• Criminal activity
How can I report ASB?
To make us aware of any form of ASB,
big or small, simply give us a call on
028 9087 6000, drop into head office,
speak to your Housing Officer or onsite
Neighbourhood Warden or send us
a letter or email.
Tackling ASB in 6 steps:
1. When reporting ASB, remember the 4
W’s and make sure to include details
of WHO, WHAT, WHERE and WHEN.
2. When a report is received we will
respond promptly and assess each
situation on an individual basis.
3. An interview will be carried out with
everyone involved and the incident
will be reported to the police, should
this be necessary.
4. We will keep you up-to-date at all
stages of the investigation and will
work with you to agree on the most
appropriate approach based on your
specific problem.
5. One of the following methods will
be used in an attempt to resolve
problems of ASB behaviour -
issuing warning letters, mediation
or agreeing Acceptable Behaviour
Contracts.
6. If a case of ASB is deemed highly
serious, Clanmil will take action
through the Courts.
Clanmil Crusaders
In the last edition of the Clanmil Chronicle we asked you to vote for Clanmil staff who you think go above
and beyond. Now it’s time to turn the spot light on you, our tenants and recognise those who go above
and beyond the norm when it comes to good neighbours! Read on to find out how you can get involved
in Clanmil’s good neighbour campaign…
Do you have a neighbour who cares
for a friend or relative? Or maybe
they have contributed to your
local community in a positive way?
TELL US WHO THEY ARE!
If you think your neighbour deserves
recognition for that little bit extra they
bring to your community, nominate
them today. We’ll pick one tenant from
everyone nominated in each edition of
the Chronicle and reward their efforts
with a lovely surprise. And just for
nominating the winner, you’ll win a £20
gift voucher of your choice!
Only people who live at Clanmil schemes
can be nominated.
Simply fill in the form below and post it to:
Emma Kernohan
Clanmil Housing
3 Waring Street
Belfast BT1 2DX
Or email emma.kernohan@clanmil.org.uk
Your Name: .........................................................................Telephone Number: ................................................
Your Address: ................................................................................................................................................................
Name of Nominee: .....................................................................................................................................................
Address of Nominee: ............................................................................................................................................
This person is my Clanmil Crusader because: ..........................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................................................
Clanmil Housing Group | 19

CLANMIL
KIDZ
MOVIE MUDDLE
While you're unwinding from a long day
of summer fun, why not have a go and
try and guess the mystery movie?!
Think you know what is it? Send your
answer to emma.kernohan@clanmil.
org.uk to be in with a chance of winning
a £20 Toys R Us voucher if you are 8 or
under. Or if you're aged 9 – 15 you could
win a £20 gift card for Newlook or GAME.
Good Luck!
Congratulations to the winner of the
Movie Muddle competition in the last
edition of the Chronicle… Ryan Graham!
We hope you enjoy your prize!
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
Take a close look at each of
these pool pics and see how
many differences you can spot!
Send your answers to emma.
kernohan@clanmil.org.uk to
be in with a chance of winning
a £20 Toys R Us voucher if you
are 8 or under, or a £20 gift
card for Newlook or Game if
you’re aged 9 – 15.
Good Luck!
20 | Clanmil Housing Group

SUMMER ALPHABET CHALLENGE
Whether you’re heading off on
holiday or enjoying long lie ins
and getting out and about with
your friends, just for fun, why not
have a go at coming up with a
summer themed word for each
letter of the alphabet?
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
BREAKFAST BONANZA AT HARBOURVIEW
At the beginning of July
we hosted a breakfast
morning and fun day
for families living at
Harbourview in Belfast.
Over 60 people came along to the event
and while the Mums and Dads tucked
into tasty bacon baps our younger
tenants made the most of the bouncy
castles, arts and crafts and
face painters.
The day aimed to promote the support
and services provided by local partner
organisations and give our residents
an opportunity to sign up to a range
of programmes and initiatives that are
available in their area.
New Lodge Arts, Women’s Tec,
Smile, Sure Start, Family Support NI,
Belfast City Council Summer Scheme,
Lemis +, TAMHI and the Ashton Centre
Community Family Support Programme
all came along to provide information
about their services and taster activities.
A great day was had by all and we plan to
continue to build on these partnerships
to ensure that people living at
Harbourview have access to the support
and services available.
Clanmil Housing Group | 21

FAMILY FUN
Whether you're staycationing or heading off to sunny climes Summer is a time for family fun.
For a chance to win a family pass to your local cinema try our sunny summer word search.
Send your completed entry to Christine
Ashfield at –
Clanmil Housing
Northern Whig House
3 Waring Street
Belfast BT1 2DX
Name: ..........................................................................................................................................
Address… ..................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................................
Congratulations to the winners of the film word search competitions in the last edition … Leon Boswell and Jack Hogg!
We hope you enjoy your prizes!
D B G N I M M I W S W S Z
N F L T J N R U B N U S S
A J D V X W I N R N J L X
S S W I M M I N G P O O L
L D E J I P T L V K B D M
A E D Y X A A A N E F A S
U D A K E S C T E R E S U
G A H H S A E R E R E J N
H P S E T K T C C V U Y C
I S S I C M K E A N X S R
N W O U L L C W E T U E E
G N B A E I T S U G U A A
S C P S S U N M M E V O M
AUGUST
BUCKET
FRECKLES
HEAT
ICECREAM
JUNE
LAUGHING
PALMTREE
SAND
SEA
SHADE
SPADE
SUN
SUNBURN
SUNCREAM
SUNGLASSES
SWIMMING
SWIMMINGPOOL
VACATIONS
WAVES
22 | Clanmil Housing Group

Knowing me,
KNOWING YOU...
Say hello to Philip Whyte, one of Clanmil’s new
Community Cohesion Officers. He recently joined us
to help with our work in supporting the communities
where we have homes. Philip may be fairly new to
Clanmil but he has more than 20 years experience
working within communities, not just here in Northern
Ireland but all over the world! Read on for an insight
into this well travelled man who started out at 16 as
an Ormo bread boy and who likes nothing more in his
spare time than a spot of lawn bowls.
What made you decide to work in
social housing?
I’ve worked in the voluntary sector for over
20 years delivering various community
projects including work on promoting
cohesion within neighbourhood
settings. What attracted me to the post
at Clanmil was the opportunity to be
involved in the creation of Shared Future
housing. I see this as essential for us
to move forward in Northern Ireland
toward a more peaceful society.
What do you like most about your job?
I’m really excited about the chance to
be involved directly in Shared Future
initiatives. Part of my role will be to
promote housing developments that
give people the choice to live in a shared
community if they wish.
I’ve been involved in peace and
reconciliation work throughout my
career and believe that if we are really to
have a shared future together we need
to learn to be good neighbours and live
side by side.
What has been your worst job ever?
When I was 16 I took part in a Youth
Training Programme – most people called
them YTPs – and worked as a bread boy
in the Ormo Bakery. I had to get up at 4am
every day (including Saturday) and deliver
bread to shops all over Northern Ireland.
Even worse than the early start was the
fact that I was only paid £29.50 a week!
What is your greatest achievement
to date?
Back in the late 90s I got involved with
a Japanese Peace organisation called
Peaceboat - basically a cruise ship
that sails round the world like a floating
university. My greatest achievement
is bringing the ship to Belfast on three
occasions with over 1000 passengers
on board. I was also lucky enough to
be invited back on board as a guest
speaker a few times over the years
which has given me the opportunity to
see much of the world.
What is your favourite film and why?
I still love the cult film The Warriors. It’s
set in gangland New York and I grew up
watching it pretty much on a daily basis
in the early 80s. I could almost tell you
every line.
When you’re not in the office what
do you like to do in your spare time?
Like most people I enjoy socialising with
friends and family after a hard
week at work. I also play lawn bowls for
my local team over the summer and I
just recently stepped down, after 15
years, as manager of my local senior
football team.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit this but I
enjoy listening to a bit of One Direction.
Which super hero power would help
you do your job better?
Omnilingualism – the power to speak
and understand every language in the
world. We live in such a multi cultural
society now and this superpower would
prove very useful indeed.
CONTACTLESS
CARD
PAYMENTS
Gone are the days where paying
by card in a shop or restaurant
took so long! Now with the
introduction of contactless card
payments we can literally pay
for things within seconds. Read
on to find out just how easy
contactless payments can be…
Making your payments contactless
1. If your card has this little symbol ….
you will be able to make payments
of small amounts quickly and easily
in shops and restaurants which offer
contactless payment facilities.
2. Your contactless card holds a chip
which holds all of your account
information which is surrounded
by a loop of copper wire that picks
up power from a signal sent out by
specialised card readers.
3. These card terminals emit an
electromagnetic field, meaning
when a card chip enters this field it is
powered ‘on’.
4. The reader then introduces itself to
the card.
5. Only when the card recognises the
reader will it ‘reply’ with a payment.
6. The card terminal will then confirm
that payment has been accepted
usually within seconds.
For more information on contactless
card payments and for details on which
shops and restaurant offer
these facilities simply click onto
www.theukcardsassociation.org.uk/
individual/what-is-contactless.asp
Clanmil Housing Group | 23

SMOKE SIGNALS
For your safety, Clanmil’s homes are fitted with smoke detectors.
TWEET TALK
Clanmil Housing @ClanmilHousing 21h
Some of our little green fingered helpers
lending a hand at the @womenstec Linen Gardens
gardening project today!
In the event of a fire, a smoke detector
could give you those precious few
minutes of warning to allow you and your
family to get out of your home safely.
On occasion a few tenants have
tampered with or removed these
detectors, putting their own and their
family’s lives at risk.
Please don’t tamper with the smoke
detectors in your home!
If your smoke alarm starts beeping
intermittently, this indicates that the
battery needs replaced. This is your
responsibility and you are putting
yourself and your home at risk if you
don’t do this promptly. If you are unable
to do this, please let you scheme
coordinator, housing or maintenance
officer know.
Also, please remember to test
your smoke alarm regularly. The
Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue
Service recommends that you do this
every week.
For more information on smoke alarms,
please contact your maintenance officer,
or call the repairs helpdesk on
028 9087 6019.
Clanmil Housing @ClanmilHousing Jul 1
Delighted to welcome @dsni_gov Minister Mervyn
Storey @doloreskelly & Joe Nelson to Bayview Park
in Craigavon today!
Clanmil Housing @ClanmilHousing May 11
Thanks to Renee Crawford of Lenadoon
Community Forum & @cllrtimattwood who joined
us today at our Colin Glen site
Clanmil Housing @ClanmilHousing Feb 27
We're a little excited!!! We just won
@CIHNI sustainable development of the
year award for Cafery Hill #2015HA
Clanmil Housing @ClanmilHousing 19h
Great Community Event in Harbourview to
celebrate the arrival of the TallShips
Clanmil Housing @ClanmilHousing Apr 29
Thanks to Ards & North Down Mayor Alderman Alan
Graham for visiting our new homes at Ballyvester
Grove, #Bangor today.
24 | Clanmil Housing Group

STAYING
SOCIAL
AND SAFE
Social media has taken the world by storm. It seems like everyone’s talking about Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram! It’s such a great way to stay connected with friends and family, but there are some
risks with using social media and even the internet.
To make sure you stay safe and
that all of your personal details and
private information is kept secure,
have a look at these top tips for
internet and social media safety…
Think Before You Share
Whenever you're about to post
something online, just imagine someone
in authority or someone who you
respect, reading that post or looking at
that photo. If that feels uncomfortable,
don't post it.
Got a nickname?
Think about using a nickname instead
of your real name if you're signing up to
sites such as Twitter. And remember,
only connect with people you know!
Check your settings
Use the privacy and security settings
on social media sites so that only your
friends and family can see your pages.
Also encourage friends and family to turn
on these settings too.
Guard personal information
Don't post information such as your
address, email address or mobile
number online. By sharing this
information, you could make yourself
vulnerable to identity fraud.
A picture speaks a thousand words
Avoid posting photos of your home,
work, school or places you're associated
with. Remember, once you've put a
picture of yourself online, other people
may be able to see it and download it.
It won’t be just yours any longer.
Keep it to yourself
Don't give out information online simply
because it's asked for. Think! Who is
asking for this information? Do they
really need it? When registering with a
website or signing up for a newsletter,
always provide the minimum amount of
information possible.
PM or comment?
Direct message or private message
functions are accessible on all social
media platforms. If you're having a
personal chat, this is the best option to go
for - unless you don't mind sharing your
conversation with millions of other users.
Get anti-virus software
Make sure you have anti-virus
software installed on your computer
and be careful what you download or
install onto your computer.
YOU SAID, WE DID…
You said that window
cleaning is poor.
New window cleaning
contractors have been
appointed and we’re monitoring
their performance closely.
You said that during major
works you were not being
kept up–to-date with when
work will actually take place.
We have appointed a Tenant
Liaison Officer to ensure you are
kept up-to-date on works taking
place at your home/scheme.
Clanmil Housing Group | 25

FAMILY FEAST!
Now that Summer is here and the weather is a little bit better, quick and easy dinners are just what you need
to make sure you can to enjoy every blink of summer sunshine. Try this tasty spaghetti carbonara recipe.
It’s sure to be a hit with all the family! And, if you have a sweet tooth, our yummy chocolate fudge brownies
are the perfect after dinner treat!
Spaghetti
Carbonara
Ingredients
400g spaghetti
1 tbsp olive oil
200g chopped streaky bacon
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 eggs
75ml double cream
50g finely grated cheese
Tip: Substitute streaky bacon
with chopped peppers,
mushrooms and other
colourful veg for the perfect
veggie carbonara!
Method
1. Bring a large, deep pan of
salted water to the boil.
Plunge spaghetti into the
water, stir well and cook
until the pasta is soft but
still with some bite in the
middle.
2. Meanwhile heat oil in a
frying pan, tip in the bacon
(or veg) and fry over a
medium heat until lightly
golden. Remove from
heat.
3. To prepare the sauce,
crack two of the eggs into
a mixing bowl and add only
the yolk of the third egg.
Beat together, along with
the cream and cheese.
Add a pinch of salt and a
sprinkling of pepper for
more flavour.
4. Add garlic to the bacon
and fry for 1 min until garlic
is cooked and the bacon is
warmed through.
5. Meanwhile, drain spaghetti.
Tip back into the hot
saucepan off the heat.
Pour egg mixture over
pasta, followed by the
bacon and garlic. Toss
quickly and thoroughly
to combine all of the
ingredients. The sauce
will thicken and become
smooth and creamy.
6. Serve, topped with cheese
and freshly ground pepper.
Chewy Chocolate
Fudge Brownies
Ingredients
225g plain chocolate
140g butter (cut into pieces)
4 large eggs
225g golden caster sugar
100g self raising flour
Method
1. Preheat oven to Gas Mark
4/ 180°C/ 160°C (fan
oven)
2. Line a rectangular tin with
non-stick baking paper
3. Break 175g of the
chocolate into pieces and
put into a glass bowl over
a pan of simmering water
along with the butter, stir
until melted.
4. Chop the rest of the
chocolate into small
chunks and set aside.
5. Whisk eggs and sugar
together in a large bowl
using a hand mixer until
the mixture is thick, pale,
fluffy and almost doubled
in volume.
6. Add the cooled melted
chocolate to the egg and
sugar mixtures, and gently
fold, before sifting in the
flour and gently folding
again.
7. Stir in the chopped
chocolate.
8. Pour the mixture into the
lined tin and lightly spread
it into all the corners
and bake for about 20
minutes, or until the
middle is just set and the
top is crusty.
9. Remove from the oven
and leave to cool in the
tray.
10. Cut into squares and
enjoy!
Do you have any easy tasty recipes that you would like to see featured in the next edition of the Clanmil Chronicle?
Send them our way – we’d love to hear from you and there’s a £30 supermarket voucher up for grabs if your recipe
is featured!
26 | Clanmil Housing Group

GROWING A
COMMUNITY
AT LINEN
GARDENS
A few months ago tenants at Linen Gardens in Belfast came together to form a residents
association. Since then they have been working closely with their Housing Officer and
our Community Cohesion team to build a strong community in their area.
At Clanmil we are committed to
encouraging tenant participation
and love to see our tenants getting
involved. We are constantly looking
for creative and innovative ways to
boost community engagement - ideas
like cleaning up and redeveloping the
courtyard at Linen Gardens to make it a
true community space!
Linen Gardens now has a fabulous
community garden for everyone
to enjoy.
Robin Stewart, who lives at Linen
Gardens said;
“Communities just don’t happen. It’s
not enough just to build houses, you
need to build communities as well. We
can see that Clanmil are investing in
our space with all of the great work
that has gone on. It’s also been so
nice to see everyone coming together
to help build a strong community”.
Philip Whyte, one of our new
Community Cohesion Officers said;
Thanks to lots of hard work by tenants
and staff, supported by Women’sTec
who provided advice and training in
gardening, painting and woodwork,
“We are delighted to see so many
of our tenants coming together as a
group to help improve the community
in which they live. We hope to see lots
more projects, just like this one rolled
out to all of our schemes in the future.”
Clanmil Housing Group | 27

HOMEOWNER
FROM
£340
PER MONTH
The affordable
route to home
ownership
Mountview Drive,
Lisburn
Interested in the
HOMEOWNER shared
ownership scheme?
Get in touch for more information
and an application pack –
Call McClelland Salter on 028 9267 4121
www.mcclellandsalter.co.uk
Clanmil Housing Association
3 Waring St, Belfast, BT1 2DX
Tel: 028 9087 6000
Fax: 028 9087 6001
Web: www.clanmil.org
Email: info@clanmil.org.uk