Street Talk - Chrstmas edition

StreetTalk
Residents & Tenants Magazine
Winter 2017 | Issue 57
Universal Credit, handy
tips and a number of
ways you can prepare
for the changeover
. . . see page 5
Meet Jo our new
Together for Families
Key Worker, providing
support for families
. . . see page 3
Wishing you a Happy Christmas
from all at Ocean
Thanks to the Eden Project, Gemma and her son Achilleas from Newquay
enjoyed getting into the Christmas Spirit on the ice.
Have peace of mind
and enjoy independent
living at home, with
a Lifeline
. . . see page 7
Our Christmas Opening Hours
Our offices will close for Christmas at 5pm on Thursday 21st December 2017
and will re-open at 8.30am on Tuesday 2nd January 2018.
Out of hours emergency contact number: 01726 874450

StreetTalk
Residents & Tenants Magazine
Ocean Group Chair retires
This December, we bid
a very fond farewell to
our Group Chair, Dennis
Spilsbury.
There isn’t much Dennis
doesn’t know about housing
after spending the last
55 years of his career in
the industry starting at
Plymouth City Council back
in 1962. Dennis joined
Ocean Housing in 2002 as
a Neighbourhood Services
Officer. At that time, he was
told his time with us was
just for a few weeks; little did
he realise it would turn into
nearly 16 years.
“The best part of the role was getting out and about,
meeting and helping residents. No day has ever
been the same in my job and that’s why I’ve loved it,”
says Dennis.
From Neighbourhood
Services, Dennis then joined
the Ocean Board back
in 2006 and took up the
Deputy Group Chair role
in 2009 followed by Group
Chair in 2011.
Mark Gardner, Ocean Group’s
Chief Executive said “Dennis
demonstrates everything
that’s good about Ocean
Group. His commitment
to us and especially the
promotion of tenant and
resident involvement is
second to none. He will be
greatly missed.”
Everyone at Ocean Group would like to thank Dennis
for his long service and commitment to continually
improving the service we provide. We wish him and
his wife Gloria, a long, happy and healthy retirement.
Providing you with friendly and
fast customer service is our
priority, and behind the scenes we
are making some changes to help
us do that.
We have been focused on
preparing a new computer system
that will bring big improvements
to the way we operate. It will
automate some day-to-day
processes – giving you a quicker
response time and freeing
up staff from standard admin
duties. Online payments, getting
permission for a pet or a
new fence for example, will
be a much faster process.
What’s more, while we’re
out and about visiting you,
Smooth Operations
we’ll be able to fill out forms on
mobile devices - linked directly
into the system – to save even
more time. This means that we will
be able to re-invest our time into
important areas like supporting
customers with the switch over to
Universal Credit.
Residents from our Editorial Panel
have reviewed the new look
rent statement, forms and letters
that the system will produce
automatically. They have made
sure that they are all easy to read
and understand.
The new system will ‘Go Live’
during the Easter Bank Holiday
weekend 2018, when the offices
will be closed for the holiday.
Like anything that’s new, it may
take a while to settle in but
we hope you’ll start to see the
benefits as
we progress
through 2018
and beyond.
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Winter 2017 | Issue 57
We don’t just want to build
houses, but communities too,
familes are an important part
of those. We know that some
families have problems, and
worries, that can together
make life difficult.
Meet Jo, our new Together for Families Key Worker
We want to ensure that
those families can find the
right support, so we have
created a new role to help.
Jo Hunt has recently joined
us and will be working with
families identified by the
Neighbourhood Services
Officers, who will refer
them for assessment and
support. This could include
debt, physical or mental
ill health, and domestic
abuse. Children who may be carers, excluded or not
attending school, and families who may be involved
Moving Home with a Mutual Exchange
Katrina is thrilled with her new home thanks to a
mutual exchange; “The swap was very easy to arrange
and it has made a huge difference to our lives. My son
Kian can now walk to school and spend more time
with his friends.”
A home swap or mutual exchange happens when
tenants of Registered Social Landlords such as Ocean
Housing, swap properties with each other. This can
only happen if both tenants have their landlords’
consent and meet the mutual exchange criteria.
with crime and anti-social
behaviour.
Jo says, “I have been working
in Cornwall for the last 30
years in roles supporting
people in the community and
am delighted to bring my
experience to the residents of
Ocean Housing.”
“I love working to help people
and I am sure there will be
challenges along the way,
however I am ready and
passionate about making
a difference and changing
families’ lives for the better.”
If you think you would benefit
from Jo’s help then please
contact your Neighbourhood
Services Officer in confidence, who will talk to you and
advise of you of the next step.
You can register free of charge with Home Swapper
which is a national database of social housing tenants
looking to swap their home. As a tenant, you can
register whether you wish to find a swap locally or
nationally should you wish to move outside the area.
Once you register with Home Swapper, we check your
eligibility to make sure your tenancy allows you to
swap. Once you find a swap, you need to contact us
and ask for a mutual exchange application form.
We will then need to carry out checks, such as inspect
your home and check your rent account. You cannot
move if you have rent arrears.
To find out more visit www.homeswapper.co.uk or
contact your Neighbourhood Services Officer on
01726 874450 or email help@oceanhousing.com
3

StreetTalk
Residents & Tenants Magazine
If you receive any of the following benefits, you will be
going onto Universal Credit:
Job Seekers Allowance (income related)
Employment Support Allowance (income
related)
Income Support
Housing Benefit
Working Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
Universal Credit is already live in Cornwall and the Full
Digital Service will be rolled out from December 2017,
starting with Liskeard, Launceston and Bude.
From May next year St Austell, Newquay, Truro and
Bodmin will go onto Universal Credit with Redruth,
Hayle and Penzance following in June.
Those first affected will be anyone who has a change
to their personal circumstances that will alter any
existing benefits.
Otherwise, the Department of Work and Pensions
(DWP) will be moving people onto the new benefit in
2019, so keep an eye out for any letters from them.
Updates from
the New Budget
22/11/2017!
• Scrapping the 7-day
waiting period for
those going from
employed to
Universal Credit.
• From January, you can
get up to 1 months Universal Credit payment
upfront within 5 days of making your application.
This is interest free and is now repayable over
12 months for everyone (it was 6 months).
• Existing Housing Benefit claimants will
now continue to be paid Housing Benefit
during the first 2 weeks of your Universal
Credit Claim.
Universal Credit
will mean that
your housing costs
(currently known
as housing benefit)
will be paid direct to you
rather than your landlord. This means you will
then be responsible for paying your rent. Paying
your rent should be your number one priority,
to ensure you are not at risk of losing your home.
The easiest way to manage this will be to set up a
standing order or direct debit.
If you have not already done so, please register for My Ocean at www.oceanhousing.com/ocean-tenant-zone
where you can see up-to-date rent information and make payments.
Your Universal Credit claim will be dealt with online only and you will have a journal to
keep track of your benefit and any work commitments.
If you are worried about Universal Credit and how you will manage please call
our friendly Welfare Advisors on 01726 874450.
For more information about Universal Credit visit www.oceanhousing.com/universal-credit
talk to our
friendly
team
4

Winter 2017 | Issue 57
Maria is preparing for Universal Credit
There are a number of ways you can
prepare for Universal Credit. Being
prepared now will make the change easier,
and our Welfare Advisors are here to help.
One of our residents, Maria, has already
started planning for Universal Credit.
4 Looking at her circumstances, she is
aware her benefits will change in
September 2018 when her son starts
school.
4 She is topping up her rent account
with £2 a week using her allpay card
to ensure her home will be protected.
4 She has started using the savings
cards at Asda and Iceland and is
putting £1 on these when she does
her weekly shops. This will soon add
up over time and ensure she has food
for her family.
4 Any spare coins at the end of the week she puts
into a jar, whether it is 1p, 2p or an occasional £5
note, this is to top up the key meters.
4 Her library card is up to date so she can get books
and films to entertain children as its FREE!
4 Looked at existing bills, reduced what she could
and pays extra when she can. Every little helps!
4 Uses Loyalty cards - you can get money off or free
goods anywhere for doing your normal shopping.
Maria has been taking these steps over several
months now and does not feel that she or her family
have missed out. She knows that every little will help
her family and would encourage people to do the
same. “I feel much more prepared for the changeover
next year and I am not as worried” says Maria.
Helping your Community
With several residents living alone, and the festive period fast approaching, have
you seen your neighbour recently? Do they live alone? Could you spare just a
few minutes and check they are ok?
On the other hand, does one of our properties look as if it may have been
abandoned? If so please contact us on 01726 874450. The sooner we know a
house/flat is empty, the quicker we can allocate to a person or family in need.
As we have said, Universal Credit will be managed online only.
Are you computer savvy? Do you have internet access? Could you help a friend
or neighbour with their claim?
Your friend or neighbour may need some extra support or access to a computer.
We would love to hear from you if you have been able to help in anyway so we
can share your story in order to help others.
Be Neighbourly
“
could you help a
friend or neighbour
with their claim?
”
5

StreetTalk
Residents & Tenants Magazine
Domestic Abuse
You shouldn’t
feel like you are
walking on eggshells
Domestic abuse can affect 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6
men. It can involve physical violence such as beating,
slapping and kicking, but there are other ways your
partner or other family member can abuse you. These
may be sexual, emotional, physiological and financial.
For Example:
• Threatening to harm or kill you, your children or
themselves.
• Forcing you to have sex when you don’t want to or
in ways that you don’t like.
• Criticising and humiliating you e.g. saying that you
are ugly, a bad parent or that you cannot cope on
your own.
• Stopping you from seeing family and friends.
• Not allowing you money, food or sleep.
• Ridiculing your beliefs.
Using alcohol or drugs is not an excuse for violent or
threatening behaviour.
Domestic abuse can make you feel frightened,
isolated, insecure, degraded, upset, embarrassed and
trapped. It’s also rarely a one off event and tends to
get worse and happens more often over time.
HOW TO GET HELP
There is support and help for you if you are suffering domestic abuse.
If you or your children are in immediate danger CALL 999 and ask for the Police Emergency Service.
Some other agencies that can support you are:
First Light REACH Service
0300 777 4777
www.firstlight.org.uk
The SUsie Project a dedicated
support service for domestic abuse
survivors in Pool, 01209 699241
www.susieproject.org.uk
HELP
HELP
HELP
HELP
Cornwall’s 24hr Domestic Violence
Helpline 01872 225629
www.cwrt.org.uk
Freephone 24hr Domestic Violence
Helpline 0808 2000 247
www.womensaid.org.uk
Men’s Advice Line
0808 801 0327
www.mensadviceline.org.uk
Karma Nirvana (Asian Support Network)
0800 5999 247
www.karmanirvana.org.uk
HELP
HELP
HELP
WRSAC (Women’s Rape and Sexual
Abuse Centre) in Bodmin, Rape and
Sexual Abuse helpline 01208 77099
or Domestic Violence Support Network
01208 79992 www.wrsac.org.uk
Or you can call Ocean Housing and ask to speak to your Neighbourhood Services Officer on
01726 874450 who can offer housing advice and signpost you to the right agency for support.
All reports are taken in confidence
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Winter 2017 | Issue 57
Having a Lifeline
Many people enjoy the independence of living at
home and just need that little extra support. Our
Ocean Extra Lifeline services give reassurance to
residents and their families that they are not alone,
and someone is at the end of the phone. The Lifeline
pendant or bracelet works anywhere around your
home and outside in the garden. Just press the
button and you are connected to a local 24-hour call
centre and it costs just £3.95 per week.
In addition, we also offer a
visiting service starting at £7.80 a
week including Lifeline, and you
decide on a weekly, fortnightly
or monthly visit. Our trained staff
can help you with housekeeping,
shopping, doctors’ appointments
and much more.
Maria from St Austell tells us “It
gives me the confidence to live
on my own and I know I can press
my bracelet button day or night
and someone will respond.” “I am
also lucky to have the friendship
of my neighbour Sonia who is the
first responder should I press my
lifeline for help.’”
Our Lifeline service
is open to everyone
living in Cornwall and
not just Ocean Housing
residents. If you would
like to find out more or
know of someone who
would be interested
please contact help@oceanhousing.com or the Ocean
Extra Team on 01726 874450.
Do you want to keep up to date on Ocean Housing
news? Follow our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
pages to find out what’s going on – community
projects, local events, new homes, benefits news,
updates to our services, jobs and much more.
Stay in touch using Social Media
Have you tried ‘Live Chat’?
Connect with us and our network to see how we can
help or inspire you.
www.facebook.com/oceanhousingassociation
www.twitter.com/Ocean_Housing
www.instagram.com/oceanhousingassociation
Do you normally have a busy week? Short on time and unable to contact us by phone?
Then why not try our Live Chat tool on our website if you ever need to ask us a question.
Customers tell us ‘It’s a great service, prompt and very helpful.’
Visit www.oceanhousing.com and click on the Live Chat icon in the bottom right. Connect with one
of our dedicated Digital Customer Advisers to book a repair, check your rent balance, ask for Universal
Credit advice, and update your household details ….anything. It can be used on any computer, tablet and mobile
phone, just give it a go – we’re here for you from 9.00am-4.30pm Monday to Friday.
7

StreetTalk
Residents & Tenants Magazine
Interested in becoming a Board Member at Ocean?
A new programme offering support and mentoring will be launched in the
Spring of 2018 especially for tenants who may be interested in becoming a
Board member at Ocean Housing. Board members make all of the big decisions
on budgets and plans for Ocean and we will be advertising for a new tenant
Board member next summer.
We need tenants with some of the following skills:
• General business skills/experience • Finance and audit
• Housing, property and development • Customers and community • Legal and regulatory requirements
If you’re interested, and want to find out more about becoming a Board Member, please e-mail
a.barry@oceanhousing.com or ring Angela on 01726 874450. For more background information you can
also look on-line at www.ocean-group.co.uk/home/join-our-boards
Can you spot the stars?
To enter the competition just circle
each star you can see hidden in the
Christmas picture.
All entries that find the correct
number of stars will be entered
into our prize draw on Monday
8th January 2018. One entry per
household only.
The first three correct entries drawn
will win
1st prize £60.00
Love to Shop Voucher
2nd prize £30.00
Love to Shop Voucher
3rd prize £10.00
Love to Shop Voucher
You don’t need a stamp, just cut
out the picture and pop it into an
envelope addressed to:
FREEPOST RSES-LCCA-EJUJ
Christmas Spot the Star,
Ocean Housing, Stennack Road,
St Austell, PL25 3SW.
Name: Age: How many stars have you spotted?:
Address:
Tel No:
Email:
Postcode:
Printed on Re-cycled paper. Designed & produced by Karen Jackson Design 01326 373108 Photography by Frame by Frame 01503 262684
email: help@oceanhousing.com
www.oceanhousing.com
01726 874450
Contact us for a Large Print or Audio CD of this newsletter
Out of Hours Numbers
Emergency Repairs: 01726 874450
Anti-Social Behaviour: 0800 0886699