Inspire Magazine - Autumn

homes health community support
AUTUMN 2017
pride of manchester
Universal knowledge
Page 6
Page 8
Page 11
Feed your mind
in the spotlight
Page 21
Page 22
facebook.com/inspiremagazine

Welcome to Inspire Magazine
Contact us
Email
info@onemanchester.co.uk
Call us on
0330 355 1002
Call Monday to Friday 8am-5.30pm.
You can also phone this number for
emergency repairs (where there
is a danger to health or safety),
24 hours a day, seven days a week
and you’ll be transferred to the
out-of-hours service.
We get lots of calls about issues
dealt with by Manchester City
Council. Here are some useful
numbers to help save time:
Welcome to the Autumn 2017 edition of
Inspire Magazine from One Manchester
We have focused this issue on employment and skills, hopefully giving you
the information you need on finding a job, starting your own business or
attending workshops and courses. We have also included some inspiring
stories of people who have benefited from using our services. Why not take
a look, it may just inspire you.
But this issue isn’t all about employment, we still have our usual good news
stories on community projects and work. We also have an update from the
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue service, following the recent cladding
issues on our high rise blocks. Please rest assured that we are working very
hard to find suppliers so that we can begin cladding replacement, work will
be ongoing on our tower blocks over the next 12 months.
In the centre pages of this edition you’ll find the highlights of our annual report
for the last financial year, showing you how much we have spent on upgrading
homes, improving energy efficiency, providing people with financial support
and helping people into work. If you would like more information on any of
this, please visit our website www.onemanchester.co.uk.
• Permits & Car Parking
0161 234 4199
• Fly Tipping
0161 234 5000
• Bins & Recycling
0161 234 5000
• Pest Control
0161 234 4928
• Council Tax
0161 234 5002
• Housing Benefit
0161 234 5003
• Aids & Adaptations
0161 277 1704
C o m m u n i t y
On pages 24 and 25 there is a quiz about money, with a £500 prize up for
grabs, but hurry the draw closes on 17 November, so enter now to be in
with a chance of winning.
Once again, we hope you enjoy this issue of Inspire. Let us know what you
think by emailing us on the email address below.
The Inspire team
Email: inspire@onemanchester.co.uk
Family values
T
MOTIVATE
www.facebook.com/inspiremagazine @onemcr inspire@onemanchester.co.uk
2

Inside:
Good neighbours 4
Transforming ginnels
Community Soup dates 5
More money for good causes
An important update 7
Manchester Fire & Rescue
Universal Credit 8
Be confident, be prepared
Improve your skills 10
Free computer classes
Read & Feed 11
Combat holiday hunger
Annual Report 13
See how we did 2016/17
Employability Day 17
Workshops and Events
Interview Hints & Tips 18
Making the right impression
Volunteering Opportunities 20
Do something worthwhile
A day in the life 21
Our mobile cleaning team
Spotlight 22
Work placements
Our cover story 23
Women in Business
Seasonal advice 26
TV licences, who needs one?
How can you pay your rent?
Online
The quickest and easiest way to pay your rent is online. If you aren’t already registered
for online services, you’ll need to do that first - you will find guidance on how to do
this on our website - www.onemanchester.co.uk. You’ll need your tenancy reference
number (found on your rent statement) and National Insurance number before you
get started. Once registered you can pay your rent in three simple clicks.
Direct Debit
Receiving and making payments through your bank account is the best way to pay
your rent so you don’t have to worry about remembering to pay. The Direct Debit
Guarantee means that we can only collect the amount on the day we agreed with you.
If this needs to change then we will always write to you to let you know in advance.
Automated Phone Service
You can pay your rent easily by calling our automated payment service
on 0330 041 5530.
All you will need is your 19 digit rent card number and a debit or credit card.
The number is charged at the standard local rate – the same as One Manchester’s
contact centre number and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
At a PayPoint outlet or Post Office
You can use your rent payment card to pay at any PayPoint outlet displaying one of
the following signs:
Pay by cash
at any store
displaying the
PayPoint logo
Pay at any
Post Office with
cash, cheque
or debit card
These locations are open outside of One Manchester’s reception hours.
Turing House Cash Desk
As part of an ongoing review of how we provide services, we have
taken the decision to close the cash desk at Turing House, Hulme.
Friday 5 January will be the last day you will be able to make a
payment at this location.
We will be contacting all customers who still make payments at
Turing House, with details of alternative ways of making payments.
WIN
£500
in our prize draw
Page 24
Look out for further customer access updates including more details of our move to
Lovell House in the January edition of Inspire.
If you would like to speak to a member of our Customer Services Team
about the planned changes please phone us on 0330 355 1000
or email us on enquiries@onemanchester.co.uk
3

NEWS
Everybody needs good neighbours
A Levenshulme neighbourhood joined together to celebrate International Day of Friendship
in July by transforming their ginnels into creative spaces.
Event organiser Geli Berg explains how she and a team of
willing volunteers helped organise this unusual community
celebration:
“The reason I moved to this area is because it’s very
international, but the thing I didn’t love was all the rubbish
in the ginnels. Most of them are dumps because of people
fly-tipping, so we were trying to figure out how we could
change that.
We run world music events, so we thought why not run
something that celebrates different nationalities and different
artists in the area, using the ginnels as community arts spaces.
It’s been organised via our Facebook page with newsletters
sent out every fortnight to keep people involved.
Michelle Ayavoro, from community arts organisation Herarts,
who was running arts activities in the wellbeing ginnel said:
“Sometimes you can be living a street apart and you don’t
know who lives there. This is a really great way to bring
people together to do activities and you get chatting a bit
more using food, music and arts.”
Interested in setting up a community project in your
area? You will find details of support we can offer
online at www.onemanchester.co.uk/supportopportunities/supporting-communities
The African ginnel is being run by a couple of African
drummers who live on Henderson Street, there’s an
international children’s ginnel, a green and wellbeing ginnel
where you can even get a massage, ‘World of Words’ run
by volunteers looking to set up a mobile library, musicians
of Henderson Street and a ginnel of grannies and grandads
sharing memories and music over cups of tea.
To see little groups of people coming along with their
kids, I’m just thrilled to bits with it.”
Happy 85th birthday!
Community venue The Place at Platt Lane marked its 85th birthday in August with
generations of local people coming together to celebrate its special day.
The celebrations included poetry recitals and stories
of the building’s history from its 1932 beginnings and
through the years as Wilbraham Library, Fallowfield
Cultural Centre, Fallowfield Library and now The Place
at Platt Lane. Archives displayed historic documents
including the very first book borrowed from Wilbraham
Library all those years ago.
Stuart Lynd, a trustee at The Place at Platt Lane, expressed
his delight at the success of the celebrations too: “It was
great to see so many people enjoying themselves, taking
part in the activities and sharing their memories. Events
like this show the value to the community of The Place at
Platt Lane.
Louise Smallwood, who volunteers to help run a Thursday
knitting group shared her thoughts on the library’s
success: “They do an excellent job here. It’s all run by
volunteers and The Place would just fold if it wasn’t for
their hard work. Libraries are very important as people
tend not to read these days, so encouraging them to get
involved is a good thing. If it keeps on going like this, they
could be celebrating one hundred and eighty-five years!”
Fallowfield poet Mike Garry also paid tribute to The Place
which helped to teach him how to read.
4
@onemcr

PEOPLE
Blooming marvellous
Creative minds in our communities have been encouraging people to get out and get digging
with six gardening projects now thriving within our communities.
Sites at Platt and Worsley Court, City Road, Grierson Street,
Walsden Street, Will Griffiths Court and Winifred Massey
Court have been transformed into blossoming spaces for
green-fingered residents to develop their gardening skills.
Over £5,000 has been contributed by One Manchester
to help convert the previously disused sites into pleasant
green spaces.
The work is in collaboration with Sow the City, a project which
was awarded funding after pitching at one of our Community
Soup events. To help sow the seeds of team spirit, local
companies have volunteered their staff’s time to cultivate the
land, with Siemens recently supplying 44 staff to work on two
of the gardens.
Kieron McGlasson, lead gardener with Sow the City, explained
their motivation for getting involved with the projects:
“Our mission is to create a healthier city where everyone
can grow their own food. People are meeting and getting
exercise; they’re outdoors and in touch with nature and that’s
therapeutic.”
One of the people harvesting the benefits of their local
community garden is Sandra, a One Manchester tenant living
near the City Road site:
“The main thing for me was to grow my own food. I think the
garden is great, I come here every day if it’s not raining! I was
born in Hulme in 1974 and when I was growing up everybody
knew everybody, and I think projects like this are helping to
regain a sense of that community spirit.”
If you would like to get involved in community projects,
or fancy improving your gardening skills, contact our
Customer Involvement team on 0161 230 1013 or email
customerinvolvement@onemanchester.co.uk
Would you like to choose where funding is awarded in your community?
Community Soup is back and taking place in the last week of October at venues across Manchester. Listen to the pitches from
local community groups and organisations, with musical entertainment and tasty hot food provided, and then cast your vote.
South Central Mcr
Monday 23 October
6.30pm-8pm
Church of God of Prophecy
300 Moss Lane East
Moss Side
M14 4SS
South East Mcr
Tuesday 24 October
6.30pm-8pm
Gorton Community Centre
Highmead Street,
Gorton
M18 8PE
South Mcr
Wednesday 25 October
6.30pm-8pm
Birch Community Centre
Brighton Grove
Rusholme
M14 5JT
East Mcr
Thursday 26 October,
6.30pm-8pm
Roundhouse
1328-1330 Ashton Old Road
Openshaw
M11 1JG
0330 355 1002 75

PEOPLE
Ardwick in Wonderland
In July Sunday Assembly and Commonplace with their amazing double decker event space,
hosted a ‘Celebrate Wonderland’ event at Wonderland Park in Ardwick.
Supported by One Manchester and We Love Manchester, the idea
of setting up in the park was to take the familiar Sunday Assembly mix
of inspiring talks, music and poetry right to the people, with the bus
offering just enough shelter to escape the Manchester showers.
Musical entertainment was provided by talented young singer
and songwriter Chia Kali ( chiakali ) from Moss Side, with some
Manchester classics performed by Ian Lawton ( ianlawtonmusic ).
There were also fantastic readings from local poets Oliver-James
Lomax ( Oliver James Lomax Poems ) Yvonne McCalla,
Natalie Lek and Remi Adefeyisan. Tasty treats were also
provided by Back on Track, a Manchester charity which
supports adults experiencing problems with alcohol or drugs,
offending, homelessness and mental health to make lasting,
positive changes in their lives.
Sunday Assembly Manchester meets every month, usually
at The Wonder Inn at Shudehill, for chats, motivational talks,
poetry and a good old-fashioned sing-along.
Fancy popping along? To find out more visit
Sunday Assembly Manchester or follow them
@SunAssemblyMCR
The pride of Gorton
Gorton Carnival celebrated its 8th year in September with a colourful parade through the
streets involving community groups, local organisations and schools from the area.
The event has been going from strength to strength
from its beginnings in 2009.
This year the procession began at Sacred Heart Primary
School led by a brass band, with the Sea Cadets, British
Legion, Gorton Horticultural Society and Gorton Visual
Arts taking part.
The afternoon saw a lively Debdale Park hosting live
bands, exciting birds of prey performances, and a show
from the residents of Manchester Dogs’ Home. In true
Mancunian spirit and despite some rain, Gortonians
turned out in their numbers to celebrate with their
community.
The Reverend David Gray gave a poignant speech for the
22 Manchester Arena victims, and also offered a silent
prayer while 22 doves were released in their memory.
One Manchester supports many community
initiatives, so if you would like to get involved
get in touch with the Customer Involvement
team on 0161 230 1013 or email them at
customerinvolvement@onemanchester.co.uk
6
@onemcr

MESSAGE FROM GREATER MANCHESTER FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE
HOME
Fire update
Following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower in London, Mayor Andy Burnham set up the Greater
Manchester High Rise Task Force to provide fire safety reassurance, building by building.
We have been working alongside your landlord to ensure
you feel safe in your home as quickly as possible.
As part of this work, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue
Service has been carrying out inspections of all high rise
premises, including your block, to ensure buildings comply
with fire safety regulations and the right fire safety advice is
in place. Fire crews have also visited high rises to familiarise
themselves with the building - its layout and emergency
systems - in case a fire does happen.
However, it does mean that you need to consider your own
fire safety and how a fire in your home could impact on other
residents in your block. Make sure you understand what to do
in the event of a fire, whether it’s in your flat or somewhere else
in the building.
If you still have concerns about fire safety in your
building or want some fire safety advice than please
contact the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue service
on 0800 555 815 or speak to your landlord.
Residents are also being offered a Safe and Well visit to
assess your fire risk and take into account factors such as your
health and wellbeing and crime prevention - if you would like
a visit call us on 0800 555 815 or ask your landlord.
Please be assured that we will continue to work with your
landlord so you can be confident your home is safe. Please
also remember that serious fires in high rise buildings are rare.
Purpose-built blocks of flats are designed to keep people safe
if a fire breaks out elsewhere in the building.
If you’re unsure whether your cream is paraffin-based,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist and if it is,
follow these steps to keep yourself safe:
Do you use emollient creams,
lotions or ointments to treat your
eczema, psoriasis or other dry
skin condition?
White soft paraffin, white soft paraffin plus 50% liquid
paraffin or emulsifying ointment, can soak into clothing,
bedding, towels and other fabrics and furniture, which
can cause them to catch fire if they come into contact with
a burning cigarette or naked flame. They have been linked
to more than 30 deaths in England since 2010,
so it’s really important to take care
if you use them.
1. Do not smoke, or go near people who are smoking
near naked flames while these products are in contact
with your clothes, bedding, dressing or bandages.
2. Change your clothes and bedding regularly
(daily if possible) as the paraffin soaks into the fabrics.
Even washing might not remove all traces of the cream
unless items are washed at a high temperature.
3. Make sure that the paraffin doesn’t soak into chairs,
seating or furniture.
4. Tell carers that you are using these creams and show
them this article.
5. Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you smoke
and use these creams. They might be able to give you
a different cream or help and support if you want to
stop smoking.
0330 355 1002 7

BENEFITS
New full service:
Universal Credit
At a Jobcentre near you from October 2017
New full service Universal Credit (UC) is being rolled out across Manchester from October 2017.
This will affect new claims and existing customers who have a change in circumstances.
It will replace...
• Housing Benefit (HB)
• Working Tax Credit (WTC)
• Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• Income Support (IS)
• Jobseeker’s Allowance - Income
Based (JSA–IB)
• Employment & Support Allowance -
Income Related (ESA-IR)
What’s the difference?
• Payments will be made monthly in arrears.
• If you are a couple, you will receive one payment so you
will need to decide which account this payment goes into.
• Housing costs will be paid to you and you will be
responsible for paying your rent to your housing provider.
• Universal Credit does not include Council Tax Support,
so you will need to apply for this separately.
• You will need a bank or credit union account to receive
payments (Post Office accounts are not accepted).
• You will need to apply and manage your claim online.
If you are currently on Universal Credit you will be contacted
when you need to transfer onto the new full service.
You will receive a letter from DWP and need to reply
within 14 days or your claim will end.
Please read your letter carefully for details of what you will
need to do.
You’ll find a video explaining how to apply
for Universal Credit including the information
and documents you will need online at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WgJU8Y_bQg
8
@onemcr

Be confident!
You are going to need:
1. Access to the internet
If you don’t have this at home or on your phone, you can get
online for free at lots of locations around the city. To find out
where visit Manchester City Council’s website.
If you need help getting online or are interested in basic
computer courses you can ask at your local library or Jobcentre
Plus. One Manchester also offers help with free classes
and the One Future team can help with finding employment.
See pages 18 and 19 for details or call us on 0330 355 1001.
2. Photo identification (ID)
To claim Universal Credit, you will need to provide
photographic ID. You can do this online at gov.uk verify.
If you don’t have the correct ID please let your Jobcentre
Plus adviser know as soon as possible.
3. Bank account
Universal Credit will only be paid into a bank or credit union
account. For help choosing the right account visit the Money
Advice Service website www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk
or call 0800 138 7777.
4. To apply separately for Council Tax Support
This should be done at the same time as you apply for UC.
You can do this online by visiting Manchester City Council’s
website and searching for ‘Council Tax Support’.
Be prepared!
Things you can do now:
1. Save money
Make sure you can manage until your first payment (this can
be 6-7 weeks from the date your claim was made). If you
think you will struggle to make ends meet during this time,
you can ask for an advance payment but be aware that this
will be deducted from your future payments.
2. Bank account
Set up a bank account or credit union account suitable for
UC payments.
3. Make a budget
UC will be paid to you monthly. If you currently pay for your
bills and shop weekly or fortnightly, you might need to
switch this to monthly to make sure you have enough money
to last you until your next payment. Go onto our website
or get in touch for one of our spending diaries or budget
busters to work out your monthly budget.
4. Get online
Make sure you have an email address and know where to
access the internet.
5. Get your documents ready
Make sure you have the right documents (including your
photo ID) and any required personal information ready
before you claim.
6. Stock up
Collect food that won’t go off to help you
through until your first payment arrives.
You’ll find more information about
Universal Credit online at
www.gov.uk/universal-credit
www.onemanchester.co.uk/universal-credit
If you are a One Manchester
tenant looking for help or advice
call our One Money team on
0330 355 1001
or email
onemoney@onemanchester.co.uk
0330 355 1002 79

SKILLS
Need help
with your computer skills?
If you want to learn how to search for jobs or fill in forms online,
these free computer skills classes are for you.
The sessions for beginners have staff on-hand to help with a
range of skills, from emailing and using the internet, to searching
and applying for jobs.
Our FREE four week computer course will give you a better
understanding of how to use the Internet and be more confident
using digital technology to carry out job search activities.
The classes are open to everybody and aim to teach basic
skills to people from beginner to intermediate level.
All the necessary equipment is provided.
Free internet access is also available at other locations
including local libraries and The Place at Platt Lane
in Fallowfield.
Turing House, Hulme
Tuesday 28 Nov, 9.30am - 12.30pm
East Hub, Gorton
Thursday 30 Nov, 9.30am-12.30pm
Contact Lorraine on 0161 227 1346
Will Griffiths Court, Moss Side
Every Wednesday, 10am-12pm
Contact Anysie on 0161 226 5045
or 07579 965667
10
@onemcr

Why Jack became a literacy volunteer
When Westbrook Court resident Jack began helping his friend with filling in forms, he realised
there were probably other local people struggling with reading and writing in a similar way.
Seeing the progress his friend was
making made him notice he could make
a real difference to people’s lives. Once
the Gorton-born eighty year old found
out about our Literacy Beacons project
he saw it as the perfect opportunity to
get involved as a volunteer.
The former Maine Road turnstile operator was introduced to
learner Michael and the pair quickly bonded over their love
for Manchester City. Turning up for the hour-long sessions
each week, Michael told Jack what he wanted to get from the
meetings while he was in the process of applying for jobs.
Not only did the learning sessions build his confidence, but
the difference in his wellbeing was clear to see. As Jack got
to know Michael’s character he realised bringing in City books
would be a great way for Michael to practice further at home.
The kind-hearted mentor even brought in his treasured Sergio
Agüero signed Manchester City match programme as a gift.
Jack would recommend volunteering as a mentor to anyone
who could help others with their reading and writing.
“Helping people to be able to fill in forms and read signs is
really important. I go home feeling like I have done something
rewarding.”
Literacy Champions give one hour of their time per week for
six weeks. By attending training, mentors get to know what to
expect and find out about the learning materials available.
Project Coordinator Wendy Woodfine adds “Literacy
Champions do not need significant levels of literacy themselves,
but need to be able to support people through their own
learning. Learners struggle with anything from
writing a shopping list, spelling or even
reading to grandchildren. We build a
tailored plan and work through it on a
one-to-one basis with a trusted mentor.”
If you could offer your time as a learning mentor or
know somebody that would benefit from reading
and writing support call 0161 230 1013 or contact
wendy.woodfine@onemanchester.co.uk
Food for thought
Trying to keep the kids entertained as well as feeding
them the same nutritious food provided by schools
can make school holidays a difficult time for families...
Holiday hunger is a recognised problem in areas of high deprivation,
where many children only get one proper meal a day – their free
school meal. Not available in school holidays, there’s more risk of
malnutrition and related health and developmental problems.
The Place at Platt Lane in Fallowfield wanted to help tackle holiday
hunger whilst at the same time encouraging children to join in their
Summer Reading Challenge. The theme was Animal Agents and
there was a special collection of animal books and stories to set their
imaginations racing. Besides absorbing themselves in the world of
story time, the children aged four to eleven years could take part in craft
activities such as papier-mâché, Lego building and sports.
Each child also received a free dinner from catering social enterprise café
Good Mood Food and there was plenty of fruit donated by Fareshare.
If you would like to find out more about youth opportunities
around the city contact bridget.halliday@onemanchester.co.uk
0330 355 1002 711

Are Are you ready for for the the NEW
Universal Credit?
step step 1 1
Get a bank or credit
Get a bank or credit
union account -
union account -
make sure you have
make sure you have
the right account
the right account
for payments.
for payments.
From
25 From October 2017
25 October Alexandra 2017 Park JCP
Alexandra Didsbury Park JCP JCP
Didsbury Rusholme JCP JCP
Rusholme JCP
From
29 From November 2017
29 November Newton Heath 2017 JCP
Newton Openshaw Heath JCP JCP
Openshaw JCP
From
From January 2018
January Longsight 2018 JCP
Longsight JCP
step step 2 2
Get online -
Get online -
you will need an
you will need an
email address and
email address and
internet access.
internet access.
Read Read our our
article article on on
page page 8 8
step step 3 3
Get your ID ready -
Get your ID ready -
make sure you have
make sure you have
the correct ID.
the correct ID.
If you’re not sure,
If you’re not sure,
check with your
check with your
Jobcentre.
Jobcentre.
#BeeReady
#BeeReady
Most
Most
benefits
benefits
are
are
being
being
replaced
replaced
with
with
Universal
Universal
Credit.
Credit.
This
This
will
will
be
be
paid
paid
to you
to you
in a
in
single
a single
monthly
monthly
payment
payment
and
and
will
will
include
include
your
your
housing
housing
costs.
costs.
Therefore
Therefore
you
you
will
will
need
need
to budget
to budget
your
your
money
money
and
and
arrange
arrange
payment
payment
of rent
of rent
to your
to your
landlord.
landlord.
If you
If you
are
are
already
already
claiming
claiming
benefits
benefits
you
you
will
will
be
be
told
told
when
when
you
you
need
need
to apply
to apply
for
for
Universal
Universal
Credit.
Credit.
Bee
Bee
ready
ready
for
for
the
the
change…
change…
Find
Find
out
out
how
how
you
you
might
might
be
be
affected
affected
and
and
what
what
you
you
can
can
do
do
about
about
it.
it.
Visit
Visit
www.onemanchester.co.uk/welfare-reform
www.onemanchester.co.uk/welfare-reform
Alternatively
Alternatively
contact
contact
our
our
One
One
Money
Money
team
team
on
on
0330
0330
355
355
1001
1001
or email
or email
onemoney@onemanchester.co.uk
onemoney@onemanchester.co.uk
money
money
12
@onemcr

£22.8
million
secured to build
new properties
Nearly
£1.25
million
benefit gains
£56,000
awarded by our
Community Fund
ANNUAL REPORT
2016/17
Creating
opportunities
Transforming
communities
Changing lives
NEW
shared
ownership
scheme
£4.7
million
spent on
property upgrades
To date
we’ve achieved savings of
£5.92m
and we’ve got a savings target of
£9.08m by 2020/21

Making our money work harder,
re-investing in our neighbourhoods.
Our mission is ‘Creating opportunities, transforming communities, changing lives’ so we measure
our success not only by our financial viability but by whether or not this has been achieved.
We aim to continue delivering high quality services, whilst generating savings and income wherever possible.
Then we re-invest in our neighbourhoods through new builds and other growth ambitions. The full Value for Money report is online at
www.onemanchester.co.uk/how-we-are-doing/vfm
Here are some of the highlights:
This year we were inspected thoroughly
by our regulator
The Homes & Communities Agency
We received the top results possible for being wellgoverned
and led (G1) and for being financially sound (V1).
Providing support and finding opportunities
We awarded
£56,000
across 24 projects
by our
Community Fund
To help support members of the public who
pitched for funding for a project that will make
a big difference in their local community.
In addition we supported
people people people
217 into jobs
53
people
into work
placements
519 into training 61 into volunteering
540
young
people
into positive
activities
Managing debts and benefit claims
Total benefit gains
£1,234,653
including £19,000
charity awards
for 44 people
plus £59,193
in Personal Independence Payments
Total debt dealt with
£732,683
including
£75,954 water bill arrears
£198,880 unsecured
credit product arrears
£28,337 telephone debt
£82,443 rent arrears
£19,269 electricity debt
£65,929 council tax arrears
Leaseholder debt fell by £118,000 this year
15 Bailiff actions STOPPED 32 Bank Accounts OPENED 37 Home insurance policies STARTED

Servicing you and your home
We spent
£4.7
million
on window & door
replacements,
electrical upgrades
and much more
We worked with
NEW
One Manchester Repairs
Our new policy launched in November
2016. Its value for money approach
provides a modern, efficient, accessible
service for repairing, maintaining and
improving our homes.
We installed
LED lights
in some areas
Estimated savings
over £12,000
after 5 years plus
£65,000 income
from solar panels
We lead the way
into Self Serve ONLINE
tenancy access
Saving time & money
Total savings
£163,513
761 people enjoy an
average saving of
£214.87 per household
Enabling home ownership
In 2018 we will be launching our first
Shared Ownership Scheme
in Openshaw early in 2018, giving local people
the opportunity to buy a home
Energy
efficiency
Pumps and insulation
fitted at Stamford Court
reduced energy costs
Major works
& cyclical
costs
Up £68.49 per unit but
good in comparison
with our peers
Repairs &
maintenance
costs
down £114.67 per unit by
efficient use of resources
More savings
Gas servicing and grounds
maintenance services
have been
brought in-house,
now carried
out by the One
Manchester team
Investing in affordable housing
We will be managing
61 properties
on a 20 year lease
in Ben Street, Clayton
early in 2018
The vacant properties will offer
renewed, affordable housing,
and help to encourage public
and private investment into the
local area.
We secured
£22.8
million
in HCA funding to support our
affordable homes
programme
In 2017 we started building over 200 new homes

Your quick guide to how well we did
during the financial year April 2016 - March 2017
Below are our annual performance indicators which were selected as the most important
indicators by members of our Scrutiny Panel. The panel is a group of customers and
members of the wider community whose role is to challenge us to be the best we can
and to help us to continue to improve in all we do.
Amount of rent we have collected so far this year
Payments made for rents as well as arrears, which is why the result
can sometimes be higher than 100%.
2015/16 TARGET 2016/17
99.7%
100.5% 100.1%
Percentage of homes available to new tenants
Fewer properties became available last year, which resulted in
518 new lettings compared with 640 in the previous 12 months.
Average number of bids for each property
advertised on Manchester Move
Demand for our properties continues to grow. Last year City South
received 110 bids per property and Eastlands Homes received 85.
Time to re-let properties once tenancy has ended
Once a property has been vacated, we aim to get it ready and occupied
quickly. Our 17 day target was ambitious, but we are speeding up!
Calls answered within 20 seconds
Customers had to wait longer due to new system issues and
processes affecting resolution time. We‘re now seeing the results
of the big improvements we’ve made.
Number of formal stage 1 complaints received
At One Manchester our customers come first. We try hard not
to get complaints but when we do, we take them very seriously.
Not
available
Not
available
Not
available
67.3%
37
5% 4.20%
90 135
17 days 20.4 days
80% 59.8%
Not
applicable 39
Emergency repairs completed within 24 hours
If a repair requires extra work at a later date, the visit doesn’t register
on our system, so the result is low. We will fix it!
Not
available
100% 93.95%
Properties with a valid Gas Safety Certificate
One property was without a valid certificate and 17 properties did
not receive gas services due to access problems. All are now done!
Not
available 100% 99.99%
Properties sold through Right to Buy or Right to Acquire
More properties sold this year and we are building 1, 000 new homes
before 2022 to meet the different needs and aspirations of residents.
106
Not
applicable
113
0330 355 1002
@onemcr
enquiries@onemanchester.co.uk
Lovell House, 6 Archway, Manchester, M15 5RN

Join us for Employability Day
Employability Day will help job seekers find out more about
the employment support sector such as CV writing,
training, placements, housing, money and more.
Friday 10 November
9.15am - 4.30pm
East Hub, 27 Garratt Way, Gorton, M18 8HE
Our special workshops are designed to help you find the right job:
• The recruitment process & candidate sifting
Understand the stages of the recruitment process and candidate sifting.
• Personal presentation & workplace behaviours
Learn how to present yourself for interviews and appreciate the
difference between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour at work.
• Interview & assessment centre preparation
Gain a better understanding of competency based questioning,
the STAR method and assessment centre activities.
• Understanding job roles & team relationships
Find out how individual roles sit together in a team and how
they link with each other as well as externally with other
companies to meet the business needs.
Reserve your place, call Lorraine on 0161 227 1346.
You must be available to complete all four workshops.
Workshops & Events
WORKSHOPS & EVENTS
IT Skills for jobseekers Turing House, Hulme Tues 17 Oct 9.30am-12.30pm
IT Skills for jobseekers East Hub, Gorton Thurs 19 Oct 9.30am-12.30pm
Using LinkedIn to drive business sales The Place, Fallowfield Wed 25 Oct 10am-4pm
Retail business training open day The Place, Fallowfield Wed 1 Nov 10am-1pm
Using LinkedIn to drive business sales The Place, Fallowfield Wed 1 Nov 10am-1pm
Retail business training open day The Place, Fallowfield Wed 25 Oct 10am-4pm
Employability Day East Hub, Gorton Fri 10 Nov 9.15am-4.30pm
Free business advice drop-in The Place, Fallowfield Mon 13 Nov 2pm-4pm
Free business advice drop-in East Hub, Gorton Tues 14 Nov 2pm-4pm
Using LinkedIn to drive business sales The Place, Fallowfield Wed 22 Nov 10am-4pm
IT Skills for jobseekers Turing House, Hulme Tues 28 Nov 9.30am-12.30pm
IT Skills for jobseekers East Hub, Gorton Thurs 30 Nov 9.30am-12.30pm
Introduction to self employment East Hub, Gorton Thurs 7 Dec 10am-12pm
Free business advice drop-in The Place, Fallowfield Mon 11 Dec 2pm-4pm
Free business advice drop-in East Hub, Gorton Tues 12 Dec 2pm-4pm
0330 355 1002 177

HINTS & TIPS
The right impression
You’ve spent weeks trying to get an interview with your dream company and you finally got it.
Before you go, consult the following checklists to ensure you make the best impression you can.
Dressing for success
Men can never go wrong with a smart suit
• A two-piece matching suit in a dark colour. It does not
have to be the most expensive, but it looks better if it fits.
• Long-sleeved shirts, even in the summer in a light
colour or subtle pattern.
• Plain or slightly patterned to match your shirt and suit.
• Match your belt to your shoes and keep jewellery
to a minimum. A wristwatch is usually enough.
• Socks should be a dark colour.
• Lace-up or slip on business shoes.
Women should keep it classic and simple
• Two-piece suits for women should be fitted but not snug,
in a dark colour or subtle pattern.
• Trouser hems should not drag on the floor. A skirt should
completely cover your thighs when you sit down.
• A tailored blouse or jumper under your jacket that is
not see-through or showing too much cleavage.
• Tights should be plain or sheer and complement your suit.
• Shoes with a medium-height heel that match your suit,
and a smart, simple handbag and minimal jewellery.
Preparing well
Eight tips to put you on the right track come
interview day
1 Research the company before the interview
They want to know that you want to work for them.
2 Review your qualifications for the job
Make sure you meet the requirements.
3 Have a specific position in mind that you’d like to fill
Give reasons why you would be the perfect candidate.
4 Review common interview questions
Prepare responses - there’s lots on recruitment websites.
5 Think of questions to ask at the end of the interview
It will help you understand the role and organisation.
6 Be genuine, focused, confident, and concise
Most of all try to relax.
7 Look at your body language
Smile, make eye contact, sit up straight and listen.
8 Follow-up after the interview
Email them to show you are interested and ask for feedback.
Some things you’d be best to leave at home...
Looking presentable isn’t just about clothes
• Men should be clean shaven or have well groomed facial hair.
• Women should wear neutral make-up suitable for daytime.
• Clean nails are a must for everyone.
18
@onemcr

Talk body language
Use your body to convey the right message.
Your face
Your mouth is an indicator of your general attitude.
• An upward mouth means you smile a lot.
• A downward mouth means you frown a lot
• A composed, straight mouth means you do both.
Keep your mouth upward or at least straight!
Your entrance
• Upright and confident with a quick stride means you
are enthusiastic and confident about the interview.
• Slow and hesitant indicates nerves, which is normal,
but being too nervous might look like lack of confidence.
Appearing upright and confident works best!
Your handshake
• A firm palm-to-palm handshake with eye contact
and a sincere smile means confidence and honesty.
• A limp handshake indicates that you lack enthusiasm,
and may be passive and not people-orientated.
• An aggressive handshake with tight squeezing shows
an overly aggressive personality that lacks sensitivity.
• A crazy pumping handshake makes you look insecure.
• A hand-over handshake is too familiar and not really
appropriate for a professional setting.
Go with the firm palm-to-palm handshake!
Your posture
• A sloucher lacks interest, a percher is far too nervous.
• Sit upright with your head erect whilst looking relaxed
makes you look comfortable and confident of your ability.
• Kicking back on your chair with your hands behind your
head shows lack of respect and not taking it seriously.
• If your feet start to point towards the door, that means
you just want to get out of there.
Sit upright with your head erect!
Your exit
• If you slump when leaving an interview, it portrays you think
you’ve blown it, or are letting your confident facade down.
• If you are still walking upright, your confidence is intact
and you sincerely feel you can do the job.
Walk upright with your head held high!
Not got an interview?
Stand out from the crowd by having a
professional looking CV
The One Future team’s top 10 tips.
1 Your CV should be no more than two pages long.
2 Be sure you use commas and full stops.
3 Previous jobs should be listed in order of date
and be prepared to explain gaps.
4 Use clear headings so information can be found quickly.
5 Check all contact details. A missing phone number or
wrong email address may get your CV ignored.
6 Email addresses should contain your first and last name.
Babyblue@hotmail.co.uk or davemufc4ever@gmail.com
could be the reason you don’t get the job.
7 Include any completed paid or unpaid work experience
relevant to the job you are applying for.
8 Don’t list everything; your last 10 years work history is
perfectly acceptable.
9 Avoid irrelevant details such as date of birth, gender
and nationality.
10 Your CV has one job - to get you an interview,
so it’s important you keep it up-to-date.
If you would like to speak to one of the team for help,
why not drop-in to one of our weekly sessions:
East Hub 27 Garratt Way, Gorton, M18 8HE
Monday, Tuesday & Friday, 10am – 3pm
Turing House Archway 5, Hulme, M15 5RL
Wednesday, 10am – 4pm
The Place at Platt Lane, Fallowfield, M14 7FZ
Thursday, 12:30pm – 3:30pm
Alternatively call 0161 227 1346
or email onefuture@onemanchester.co.uk
0330 355 1002 19

VOLUNTEERING
Be part of something worthwhile
Our community grocers can’t be run without their wonderful volunteers
and we’re on the look out for more people to help.
With new locations opening over the next few months, we want people who can give
as little or as much time as they can in a range of different roles.
What are the benefits to you?
Increase self-confidence and self-esteem
Gain experience of working with the public
Develop retail and customer services skills
Enhance communication and personal skills
Valuable experience for your CV and job applications
Networking opportunities to meet lots of different people
Out of pocket expenses paid
Receive a reference
• Best of all... have fun!
I’m learning new skills and meeting even more people in the community
Anson Community Grocer volunteer
Let the good times roll
Now the fantastic volunteers at Rusholme’s
Anson Community Grocers are wheely mobile!
When shop staff suggested they would like to deliver groceries to
those who might struggle to carry shopping or with mobility issues,
we decided a trike would make that idea a reality. The team are now
able to drop-off food to local residents who can’t make it to the
shop in person, thanks to the brand new delivery bike.
If you would like to
volunteer in your community
please call Katie Roberts on
0161 227 1313 or email
katie.roberts@onemanchester.co.uk
The bike was delivered to the shop in style by our group director
of communities, Angela Salami. She cycled down Meldon Road
to a reception of cheers from members of the Anson estate who
were pitching in during a community clear-up day.
“What the bike means for the shop is for people who
can’t physically get to the shop, we can bring shopping
to them so they’re not missing out. I’m ecstatic!”
Volunteer co-ordinator, Sammy Minshull
20
@onemcr

Meet our mobile cleaning team...
Kirk Moore leads our mobile cleaning team and is responsible for managing nine operatives
working in our communities to make sure neighbourhoods are clean, tidy, and safe to live in.
We asked Kirk to describe a typical day, and to give us a glimpse of what they do to make sure our neighbourhoods are great
places to live.
Q
What
sort of services do the mobile
cleaning team provide?
“On a day-to-day basis an operative’s job can range from
cleaning areas inside and outside of buildings, to inspecting
communal areas like playgrounds. We’re looking for any
defects on the equipment to make sure it’s safe for people to
use. Then there’s removing offensive graffiti which has to be
done within 24 hours.
We currently provide a mobile cleaning service to 429
communal areas across east and south Manchester, and then
there’s also the service we provide to eight sheltered living
schemes, so we keep nice and busy.”
Q
How does your team get involved
in the community?
“We’ve had members of the team who have been involved in
gardening projects recently, and we’ve been very involved in
setting up parties and events for the sheltered living schemes.
We were recently at Abbey Hey Football Club helping to set
up for a family fun day event. We tend to get involved in a lot
of the neighbourhood events because of the resources we’ve
got like skips and our team have experience in handling large
bulky items.”
Q
What feedback does your team get?
“Through consultations with residents and members of staff
we’ve seen that everyone is really pleased with what we’re
doing.
In 2015 we won Team of the Year at the staff awards and
I couldn’t believe it. I was away in Spain at the time and I
got a phone call from an operative who told me we’d won
the award. I was absolutely made up because we’d got
recognition for all the hard work that the team had provided
throughout the year. I was over the moon to be honest for the
next six months after we won and was taking the trophy to all
the team meetings!”
Q
How do you see your role as an assistant
manager with the mobile cleaning team?
“I’ve been in this sort of work now for about nine years.
I started off as an area caretaker, worked my way up to a
supervisor and then from there I was fortunate enough to
get my current role. During all that time I’ve put myself
through college and earned loads of qualifications which
help with the job. It’s been a good few years and I feel
I’ve done well.
I like to lead by example and take charge by leading from the
front. I’m more than happy to roll my sleeves up and get my
hands dirty. I’m passionate about the people we work with
and the job we do and I try to be positive and upbeat to instil
that attitude in my operatives.
Q
What types of roles are available
with your team?
A DAY IN THE LIFE
“We’ve recently employed a mobile cleaning coordinator,
Ronan, and he creates training programmes and brings in
new initiatives and ideas to the team. He’s only been here a
few months and he’s already made his mark in the role.
We’re always willing to have a work placement jump on
board with our team, to learn new skills and hopefully find
employment. We’ve had three work placements recently who
were here for eight weeks and they all did really well.”
To find out more about the work
placement opportunities available at
One Manchester, visit the ‘Employment
Help’ section of the website or email
onefuture@onemanchester.co.uk
0330 355 1002 21

SPOTLIGHT
An asset to the team!
Frazer had been unemployed for five years and struggled with depression and low confidence,
but that all changed with the Skills for Employment programme.
With limited work experience and qualifications on his CV
he couldn’t see a way back into employment, until The Work
Company told him about work placement opportunities
with One Manchester being offered as part of the Skills for
Employment programme. Frazer completed an eight-week
placement with our Assets and Growth team, who have now
taken him on as a technical administrator.
“It’s a tough life being unemployed for so long. You don’t
have the confidence to begin with and then being out of work
makes your confidence even worse and people don’t want
to employ you because you’re not confident, so it’s a vicious
circle.”
“I didn’t see myself being able to get work through normal
means – my CV didn’t look great because of the lack of
experience and qualifications, I couldn’t prove to anyone I
could do the job - so getting a work placement gave me a
chance to put something on my CV. It was a great chance for
me to get experience in the field I actually wanted to work in.
Going into the role I felt like I was being handed an
opportunity, so I was definitely doing my best to make sure
I didn’t let them down. I think that really helped build the
work relationships up because they could see that I had a
positive work ethic and my manager particularly came to rely
on me knowing certain things very quickly and it helped my
confidence. They taught me lots of things and it felt very
much like a team, all working to a larger goal.
Before the placement, it’s no secret that I struggled quite
severely from depression. When you’re not in work it’s
very difficult to stick to a sleeping pattern and I didn’t see
much daylight which didn’t help. Things like getting up,
showering, going outside, anything was quite the ordeal.
Now I don’t mind going outside any more, meeting up
with other people, I have the confidence to do new things,
and a regular salary has put my mind at ease 10-fold.
One Manchester’s really helped because it feels very genuine.
I like it here. It feels more like a family and I’d like to continue to
be a part of that.”
Asset manager and Frazer’s line manager, Jacqui Saw, is proud
to have watched Frazer develop: “When Frazer first joined us
he was a very quiet, shy person with little confidence. Through
training, coaching and encouragement he has evolved into
a confident, self-motivated person, not afraid to ask for help,
liaise with other members of staff and also take the lead in
projects. He is now an invaluable member of the team, always
happy to help and always has a smile on his face.”
For more information
about work placements
email our team at
onefuture@onemanchester.co.uk.
22
@onemcr

A purr-fect business
When Nazima Kheratkar went to her first Women in Business
class, all she had was an idea and passion to succeed.
COVER STORY
Just over a year after completing the course, she has opened the doors
to her very own business. The former teacher runs Chorlton-based
FurCats, a shop which focuses on promoting healthy food
and activities for our feline friends.
“I’d been looking to set a business up for my cat shop. I’d found
a course online and it was a bit overwhelming so I attended an event
in Levenshulme, but still didn’t get the practical advice I needed.
Then, Jenny from Women in Business told me about a course she runs...”
The Women in Business course takes place throughout the year at
East Hub in Gorton and The Place in Fallowfield. Nazima believes
that without the support in these classes, setting up in business
would have been much more challenging.
“...One of the best tips I got from the course was that irrespective of
your idea, you have to be passionate about it, even if people don’t
have the same belief as you do. Jenny was an amazing teacher
and the group was so friendly.
For more details about Women in Business courses call Jenny on
07984 872325 or email jenny@theenterprisebridge.co.uk.
one life
Are you creatively crafty or culinary?
Would you like to start your own retail business, or have you already set-up?
Your business could follow in the footsteps of huge retailers like Tesco,
Marks & Spencer and Matalan who all started life on a market stall.
In conjunction with Prosper Associates, we are offering free training so
you can become a new market stall trader or trade online. There is also
a fantastic opportunity to access a small start-up grant too, based on
eligibility and completion of the whole programme.
What you will get
Awareness of the skills needed as a market trader or online retailer
Practical ideas
one
and action
money
points
Guidance of the rules and regulations to help support your business
• All equipment and materials will be provided
Discuss your ideas and find out more about the training
at our open day on Wednesday 1 November 10am - 1pm
The Place at Platt Lane, Fallowfield, M14 7FB
ure
one venture
Call Wayne on 0161 227 1294 or email wayne.wilson@onemanchester.co.uk
0330 355 1002 23

£500 PRIZE DRAW
Are you on top... or is your money on top of you?
One Manchester, money magazine Quids in! and the Open University have joined forces to
produce a quiz to help tenants think about small changes to help shape a better financial future.
For each question tick one answer that best
matches you. Add up the score at the end
and see how you did.
You can also do it online at qimag.uk/ouquiz
or send in your answers to receive a FREE
tailored version of the guide.
Plus, £500 is up for grabs for one lucky
person as every entry will go into a prize draw!
(see www. quidsinmagazine.com for terms and conditions).
1 Which of the following best describes
your views on money?
A Money is important because it shows how successful
and powerful you are.
B It is important to have savings, you never know when
you may urgently need the money.
C I often demonstrate my love to people by buying
them things.
D With enough money, you can do whatever you want.
2 How do you feel about how you
manage your money?
A I have some money worries but I manage day-by-day.
B I feel in control of my finances.
C Money is a constant source of stress.
D I don’t think about my finances that much.
3 How do you feel about putting away savings?
A I’m focused on making ends meet day-to-day,
saving money isn’t a priority for me at the moment.
B I’d rather save money than spend it.
C I’d like to have some savings but I struggle to put
money away.
D There’s no point saving anything as banks pay so
little interest on it.
4 What’s your biggest financial worry?
A I’ve got lots of debt and I don’t know how I’m going
to pay it off.
B I often run out of money and go overdrawn, borrow on
my credit card or miss payments.
C I get by day-to-day but I’ve not managed to
save anything.
D It would be nice to have more money but I don’t have
any real financial worries.
5 If you use a credit card, which statement best
describes how you repay it?
A I always pay my credit card off in full every month
or don’t have a credit card.
B I’m in arrears on my card and can’t afford to pay it off.
C I pay whatever the bank tells me I have to pay on my
credit card each month – the minimum repayment.
D I usually clear my credit card each month but sometimes
overspend and take a month or two to pay it off.
6 Do you save money?
A I have no savings and couldn’t afford to start saving.
B I try to save and I’ve got some money stashed away.
C I save up for things when I want to buy something –
holiday, Christmas gifts, a car – but don’t save regularly.
D I put some money into a savings account every month.
7 Imagine your car is essential to you, you need it
to get to work or do the weekly shop, but it
breaks down and the garage says it’ll cost
£650 to fix it. What would you do?
A Put it on my credit card or borrow from friends or family.
B I might dip into my savings but I’d be able to afford it .
C I’d struggle but if I cut back I could just about cope.
D I might be able to get a payday loan but there’s no
other way I could find £650.
8 Your gas and electric company suddenly
realises they’ve been overcharging you,
so refunds £400. What would you do
with the money?
A I’d save it.
B I’d pay off some debt.
C I’d use it to treat my family or friends.
D I’d buy the outfit/computer/holiday I’ve been
wanting for a while.
9 How do you plan your spending?
A I don’t really plan my spending, I just go with the flow
and hope there’s enough money left at the end
of the month.
B I set a budget and tend to stick to it pretty well.
C I try to control my spending but I can never
understand where the money goes.
D I don’t actively plan my spending but I keep track
of how much is in my bank account to make sure
I have enough to pay my bills.
24
@onemcr

Personal finance experts at the Open University have designed a free,
step-by-step guide to help people work out what to do to get on top
of their money and make the most of what they have. It’s not about
lecturing people or pushing us towards huge lifestyle changes, the
guide just offers the tips and tools to make things happen.
You will be sent a FREE copy when you enter the prize draw.
Add up your score
1 Your views on money A 2 B 1 C 2 D 2
2 How you feel about money A 2 B 1 C 4 D 3
3 Putting away savings A 3 B 1 C 2 D 2
4 Biggest financial worry A 15 B 5 C 3 D 1
5 Using credit card A 1 B 10 C 3 D 2
6 Saving money A 5 B 2 C 3 D 1
7 Fixing a car breakdown A 3 B 1 C 2 D 4
8 Dealing with a refund A 1 B 2 C 3 D 3
9 Planning your spending A 4 B 1 C 3 D 2
What your total means
17 or less: On top! Focus on your future to achieve your goals.
You’re really on top of your day-to-day finances and in a great position
to cope with life’s surprises. Well done! Now you can think about your
long-term future and making the most of your money. Do you have any
burning goals like buying a house or a dream holiday? Are you prepared
for retirement? Send us your completed quiz and we’ll send you our free
guide to help you decide what you want and to plan your next steps.
18-24: Managing day-to-day. Start to put a bit by each month.
You’re getting by right now but one major financial shock could set
you back. Could you and your family cope if you lost your job or fell ill?
Saving even a small amount each month can make a big difference.
It’s easier than you think. Maybe you want a holiday or a debt-free
Christmas? Our free guide can show you how to achieve your goals
with practical steps to budgeting and saving. Just send in your
completed quiz and details.
25-31: Struggling to make ends meet. Budget to take control.
You’re not in financial difficulty but a small financial shock or
unexpected bill could push you into trouble. Take control. Look closely
at your income and spending then decide what you want. Budgeting
is not about giving up things that make you happy, it’s about making
the most of your money. The guide we’ll send you will make budgeting
simple, and you’ll be surprised how much a few moments to plan can
help you achieve. Just send in your quiz.
32 or more: In debt difficulty. See a FREE debt adviser NOW!
If you’re in debt that you don’t know how to pay off then you need
professional advice to guide you through. Luckily, that’s available for
free. StepChange Debt Charity and your local Citizens’ Advice both
offer expert support to help you back to financial health. The sooner
you do this, the more successful it’s likely to be and the faster the
weight will lift off your shoulders.
Take part
for your chance to
WIN £500
in our prize draw!
How to enter
Complete the quiz and the form below then:
• Post to Quids in! Quiz,
3 Monmouth Place, Bath, BA1 2AT
• Or take a photo and email to
editor@quidsinmagazine.com
• Or take the quiz online at
qimag.uk/ouquiz
Name
Address
Postcode
Tel/Mobile
Email
Age
Male Female Don’t identify/choose not to say
Please contact me by: Please tick relevant box
Post, I’m not online
Email but send a text alert
Email, I check it regularly
Tick here to receive FREE, monthly Quids In
Readers Club emails with news and tips on
managing your finances.
Disclaimer: Quids In! and the Open University are researching
whether money guides work. When you submit your details we will
send you our free guide with money advice tips based on your quiz
answers. You will also be entered into a prize draw to win £500. Once
you have received the guide, as part of our research we will send you
a survey to see how you found it. Your details will only be used by
Quids in! and the Open University and used solely to assess whether
the course works. No personal data will be shared with any third party.
Draw closes 17 November 2017.
0330 355 1002 25

ADVICE
Who needs a TV Licence?
All devices, including TVs, desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, games
consoles, digital boxes or DVD/VHS recorders require a valid TV Licence!
If you do use any of the above without one, you risk prosecution and a maximum penalty of up to £1,000, plus any legal
costs or compensation you may be ordered to pay. You will also still have to buy a TV Licence if you need one. If you don’t
need a TV Licence, you still need to let TV Licensing know.
How can I buy a TV Licence?
A TV Licence costs £147 per year. There are lots of different
ways to buy a TV Licence. Whether that’s through weekly cash
payments, using your nearest PayPoint outlet, spreading the
cost with monthly, quarterly or yearly direct debit, credit
or debit card or by post – just choose the one that suits you best.
For details go to www.tvlicensing.co.uk/North
Could I get a concession?
Are you, or is someone you live with:
• 75 years old or older?
You are eligible to apply for a free Over 75 TV Licence.
Call 0300 790 6112 with your National Insurance number
to hand or visit tvlicensing.co.uk/over75info
• Blind and can provide the appropriate evidence?
You are eligible to apply for a 50% blind concession on your
TV Licence. If you are partially sighted (sight impaired) you are
not eligible. To find out more, go to tvlicensing.co.uk/blind
What if I don’t need a licence?
If you don’t need a TV Licence, you still need to let TV
Licensing know.
Got any plans for Christmas?
Christmas is an expensive time of year. The average Christmas spend per household
is around £500 which includes food, presents, travel and decorations.
However, there are ways to keep costs down to help you through
the festive season and beyond:
• Set your budget and stick to it.
• Make lists and don’t be enticed by offers for unnecessary items.
Presents - Who for and what’s your budget?
Food - What do you really need?
• Compare prices and deals - Check if it’s cheaper online or in store.
• Save - Put money aside regularly, so it doesn’t come as such a shock.
• Get creative - Make your own gifts, decorations or homemade foods.
• Group gifts - Buy presents for sharing or Secret Santas.
You’ll find even more great tips online...
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/saving-money-for-christmas
www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/christmas-savings
Could you be eligible
for the Warm Home
Discount Scheme?
Find out if you qualify for
£140 towards your electricity bill.
Contact your energy provider
for more details.
26
@onemcr

Your quick guide to how well we did
during April to June 2017
Below are the top 10 performance indicators which were selected as the most important
indicators by members of our Scrutiny Panel. The panel is a group of customers and
members of the wider community whose role is to challenge us to be the best we can
and to help us to continue to improve in all we do.
Amount of rent we have collected so far this year
We have not met our target but are making lots of changes to the way
we work to improve the amount of rent we collect and reduce arrears.
*this includes payments made for rents as well as arrears, which is why the result can sometimes be higher than 100%
LAST YEAR TARGET APR - JUN 2017
101.82%
100.5% 101.82%
Percentage of homes available to new tenants
Fewer properties continue to be available, with only 118 new lettings,
compared with 136 during the same period of time in the previous year.
Average number of bids for each property
advertised on Manchester Move
Demand for our properties increased last year and continues to.
It is higher than last year’s average of 135 between April and June.
1.02% 1.25% 0.59%
143 90 142
Time to re-let properties once tenancy has ended
It took us a little longer than we’d like to get available properties ready.
But, we are getting quicker and beat our target in June - just 16.4 days.
20.85 days 17 days 18.93 days
Calls answered within 20 seconds
On average, it took us 59 seconds to answer calls. We didn’t meet our
target, but improve every month - average time is currently 46 seconds.
80.6%
80% 64.2%
Number of formal stage 1 complaints received
At One Manchester our customers come first. We try hard not
to get complaints but when we do, we take them very seriously.
11
Not
applicable 8
Emergency repairs completed within 24 hours
If a repair requires extra work at a later date, the visit doesn’t register
on our system, so the result is low. We will fix it!
Not
available
100% 90.3%
Properties with a valid Gas Safety Certificate
Only one property was without a valid certificate at the end of June.
We have since taken court action and carried it out. Four properties
had their gas service completed after the due date.
99.9% 100% 99.99%
Properties sold through Right to Buy or Acquire
We sell a number of properties every year and also have plans to build
and acquire new properties. By March 2018 we aim to have 250 new ones.
23
Not
applicable
26
0330 355 1002
@onemcr
enquiries@onemanchester.co.uk
Lovell House, 6 Archway, Manchester, M15 5RN

Have a good look around
We are pleased to have launched our new show homes in Hulme and Openshaw.
We would love you to visit and have the chance to show you around.
Openshaw
The Whitworths are located on Columbine Street
and Lees Street comprising 2 and 3 bedroom homes,
available for shared ownership. This scheme allows you
to buy a home for between 35% and 75% of market
value, from £47,232 (35% share) plus a small rent
on the remaining share.
For more information and show home
opening times, please visit
visit www.onemanchester.co.uk/thewhitworths
Hulme
We have now opened the doors on our fantastic show
home on The Aaben in Hulme. This development
is available for market rent and all profits will go into
funding other One Manchester projects, making our
communities better places to live.
For more information and show home
opening times, please visit
www.onemanchester.co.uk/theaaben
Building a better life in Hulme
At The Aaben as well as using the profits to fund other One Manchester projects, we have
also been able to add social value to people and the area during the build programme.
One way that we have done this is through our apprentice
programme. Ben Lord had been working as a kitchen porter,
but had been struggling to get work as a bricklayer,
“It’s not easy to get your foot in the door unless
somebody you know works in the building trade”
However, following a work placement on The Aaben,
Ben has now been employed full-time by a bricklaying
contractor on the site and is looking forward to a long
career in bricklaying.
“The work placement got me on site, so I could show
I had the skills to do the job. It’s totally different having
a career and coming to work with a smile on your face”
Elsewhere, the Cornerstone Day Centre in Hulme has undergone refurbishments to the bathroom
facilities. As part of the partnership agreement with Keepmoat, who are building The Aaben, the contractors
have also agreed to invest their time and efforts into local social projects such as the Cornerstone Day
Centre which is a valuable resource for the homeless.