Get Connected Spring 2017

2 In this issue: 3 High Five Latest news and events 4 Affected by the benefit cap? Help and advice about the benefit cap 6 The CRF helped our heroes A special guest joined the CRF general meeting 8 New build developments Including £2,240,000 funding for new homes 10 Happy birthday Our COPS group is 10 years old 12 Stay safe online Internet safety tips 14 Evolve Kirklees New activities group for men in Kirklees 18 Wrap up for Winter Helping those in need and homeless charities 19 Engage Leeds Introducing a new housing support service in Leeds Welcome It’s <strong>Spring</strong> again – the season that brings new growth, longer days and hopefully blue skies. On that theme, we have lots of new developments and opportunities to share. We’re delighted to welcome new staff to Connect, who will be working with us as part of Engage Leeds, which you can read more about on page 19. We have been allocated over £2 million funding to build another 68 new homes across West Yorkshire. We’re also using new technology to develop 10 energy-efficient homes in Leeds. You can find out more about this on pages 8-9. We’re looking for new tenants to join our Board – take a look at page 3 to see how you can help run Connect and have your say. The CRF is looking for new members and you can find out more on page 6. Thank you If you’re over the age of 50 then COPS need you! They want new people to help shape older people’s services – see page 11. It’s also a year since we gave <strong>Get</strong> <strong>Connected</strong> a new look. We’ve had great feedback – thanks to everyone who got in touch. If you’d like to be part of the next issue or give us feedback we’d love to hear from you. Share your thoughts <strong>Get</strong> in touch by phone, email, Facebook or Twitter 0300 5000 600 communications@ connecthousing.org.uk /ConnectHousing @ConnectHousing Tenants, volunteers and community partners have all been involved in this issue of the magazine and we’d like to say a big thank you to the Connect Residents Federation (CRF) and Kevin Mitchell (Help for Heroes); all of the Connect Older People’s Strategists (COPS) especially Annette and Chris; everyone from the Hidden Memories Café; Kane and Kara from Swan Lane; Evolve football coach Jonny Morgan, volunteer Glen, Kieran and all the Evolve participants; and Louise Venton who helped us Wrap up for Winter. High Five News you can use Easter closure times We will be closed on Friday 14th April and Monday 17th April. For all emergencies including repairs and anti-social behaviour incidents during this time please call 0300 5000 600. Be appy! The allpay app is a free mobile app that allows you to make rent payments from your phone anytime, anywhere. It’s available to download from the Apple App Store, Windows Phone Store or Google Play. The allpay app is completely secure – all you need is a payment swipe card. If you would like to know more or need to order a payment swipe card just call us on 0300 5000 600. May Bank Holidays We will be closed on Monday 1st May and Monday 29th May. You can still call 0300 5000 600 and speak to our out-ofhours service to report anti-social behaviour or an emergency repair. Help run Connect! Keeping Leeds tidy Connect is proud to be involved with the Litter Free Leeds movement after attending the Clean Leeds Conference in February. The event was run by Leeds City Council and explored ways in which issues such as graffiti and littering can be tackled. Connect will be working with other organisations to help keep your community and Leeds litter free. For more information please visit: www.twitter.com/clean_leeds We’re on the lookout for another tenant to join our Board, due to one of our current tenant Board Members stepping down later this year. It’s an opportunity for you to help shape the way we deliver services and have your say. The Board is made up of volunteers who are responsible for making sure that we are properly managed and set our future direction. “Being a Board Member is an opportunity to learn how Connect is run and to have a say in that yourself.” Robert Chamberlain, Connect tenant and Board Member Contact Sobia Iqbal on 0300 5000 600 or email sobia.iqbal@connecthousing.org.uk 3