Street Talk 65

Street
TENANTS & RESIDENTS MAGAZINE
Summer 2020 | Issue 65
Community
Hero
Meet Harley, who since lockdown
has become Penarwyn’s number
one community hero. At just 10
years old he has been supporting
his neighbours and making new
friends. Harley’s proud mum
Jo says, “Not only is it
brightening their day during
these difficult times, but
it’s putting a smile on
his face as well.”
Read more about
what Harley has been
up to on page 6.
Find out what Andy
from our Finance team
has been up to in
lockdown . . . see page 3
Our hardship fund
is here to help those
affected financially from
the pandemic
. . . see page 5
Staying connected with
engaged tenants, find
out how you can get
involved . . . see page 4
COVID-19, Coronavirus Pandemic
Please be aware that due to the ongoing pandemic our reception remains closed.
Please continue to use our contact number to report repairs & speak to an
advisor on 01726 874450, email help@oceanhousing.com
or visit our website www.oceanhousing.com to check for updates

Street
TENANTS & RESIDENTS MAGAZINE
A message from our new Chair of Ocean Housing Ltd
Hi everyone,
In these days of lockdown, I am particularly
pleased to be able to say “hello” to you all, if
only via a written communication rather than
in person.
I became Chair of Ocean Housing Ltd in
March this year – just weeks before lockdown
started. I had hoped to be able to get out and
about to meet some of you in person and to
visit some of the neighbourhoods where we
provide services – but it was not to be! So,
my initial involvement has been entirely via
my laptop and mobile phone, which does
seem very strange. But life in general has
been very different over the past few months,
hasn’t it?
Fortunately, although I only became Chair
of Ocean in March this year, I have been a
member of the Group Board since January
2018 and so I have had the opportunity to get to know Ocean prior to becoming Chair.
I moved to Cornwall a couple of years ago after retiring from my job as Director of Development for a
large housing association based in Southampton. Although I have worked on the development of new
homes for most of my career, I have always been interested in the wider business of housing associations.
I am passionate about the quality of homes and services that we provide and my interest in Ocean started
long before I became a board member so I was thrilled when I was invited to join the Group.
For me, moving to Cornwall has been fantastic and I’m definitely here for good. Everyone has been so
friendly and it really is a truly beautiful county. During this period of lockdown, I have enjoyed the fact that
so many people have become very community minded. I have been involved, alongside many others, in
collecting and delivering medical supplies and shopping for older or vulnerable people and it has been
fantastic to get to know people, I might never have met before. We have all had to find alternative ways
of doing things and it has been amazing that at Ocean, we have been able to continue to hold all our
meetings from the relative comfort of our own homes. We are all looking forward to the relaxation
of the lockdown measures but It is quite inspirational to see what we have all managed to do despite
the restrictions.
I am looking forward to being able to be more actively engaged with you in the (hopefully not too
distant) future and look forward to meeting some of you in person too.
Andie Smith
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Summer 2020 | Issue 65
Ocean is continuing to adapt the challenges presented by the
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In June you will have received a message in the post from Mark
Gardner, chief executive of the Ocean Housing Group, along
with a copy of Ocean’s proposed ‘roadmap’ to recovery.
We’re delighted to confirm that all stages of our roadmap have
been ticked off as complete. Ocean has now successfully restored
most services, while following strict social distancing measures to
ensure the safety of staff and tenants alike.
You will see from the image what we have been able to restore. This was
all made possible by the dedication
of our teams, who have worked
hard to ensure they could
continue their work to a high
level in these different times.
Once again, from all of us at
Ocean, we must say a huge
‘thank you’ to tenants for their
patience, understanding and support
during the unprecedented situation
that we have all found ourselves in
during the last five months.
As Mark said in his June message;
“Although our office doors are closed
– we are always here for you, and this will
never change.”
If you have any questions or concerns about anything at all
please get in contact with our Customer Service Team on
01726 874450 or by emailing help@oceanhousing.com
Giving something back to help the National Health Service (NHS)
In April, Andy, who works in our Finance team felt the
need to showcase his fancy dress and decided to run
around St Austell in a nurse’s outfit for
NHS Charities Together.
This charity is a collective experience
representing, supporting and
championing the work of the NHS’
official charities. They give £1million a
day to help provide important funds
so the NHS can do so much more.
Andy told us, “I decided to do a run for
the NHS as it was becoming very clear
in the media that they were under
extreme pressure due to the Covid-19
3
3
END OF JUNE -
• Restart of Cornish unit energy efficiency work
and external decoration programmes.
• Non-urgent repairs to be booked, if outside.
• Communal cleaning and caretaking.
• Empty property repairs and lettings services
(Cornwall Homechoice re-opened on June 4).
JUNE -
• Construction sites reopened on 11 May.
• Grounds Maintenance Service started back
on estates 1 June.
• Dealing with and responding
to post resumed on 15 June.
3
END OF JULY -
• Estate inspections to restart.
• Neighbourhood Service Officers to provide face-to-face home visits
to tenants where essential, following strict guidelines.
• Routine repairs, surveys and other property compliance work (such
as boiler appliance replacements and second smoke alarm installs).
END OF SEPTEMBER -
• Our kitchen and
bathroom programme
to recommence, as well
as window replacements.
3
pandemic. Also, it was obvious people were starting
to struggle and I wanted to give my friends, family,
colleagues and passers-by something
to laugh at in lockdown.” Andy
completed the 10k run and managed
to raise an impressive £1,225 for the
NHS Together Charities.
Great work Andy, you’ve certainly
given us something to smile about.
Have you done something for charity
during the lockdown period? If so,
please get in touch, we would love to
share your news, email us at
help@oceanhousing.com
3

Street
TENANTS & RESIDENTS MAGAZINE
4
Health and well-being
• www.cornwall.gov.uk/health-and-socialcare/public-health-cornwall/informationabout-coronavirus-covid-19
• www.cornwall
community
foundation.com
• www.pentreath.co.uk
www.oceanhousing.com
Grants, benefit advice and financial support
Keeping Connected with our Engaged Tenants
Coronavirus restrictions couldn’t stop the enthusiasm of our tenant group members. We are so grateful for the
group of tenants we have who have continued to show support towards us ensuring we are continuing the
important work with Together with Tenants and building our new group for its launch later this year.
Our engaged tenants from across Cornwall have been logging in and using zoom, which is a free online meeting
room, every couple of weeks to meet virtually with the Tenant Involvement team, Board members and our chief
executive to discuss ways of working and moving forward with this plan.
Beverley, senior tenant involvement co-ordinator told us, “Although it took a lot of work behind the scenes for us
to help people connect digitally, it was all worth it when we finally saw them up on screen, smiling and laughing,
while having meaningful conversations about issues that really matter to them.”
These are challenging times, and we are
having to rethink how we can engage with
customers and provide opportunities for
them to participate. This is a learning curve for
all involved and feedback has indicated that
there is an appetite for digital engagement
like this to have a permanent place as one of
the participation options that we offer.
If you would like to get involved and make a
difference, please contact one of the Tenant
Involvement team to discuss the best options
for you at help@oceanhousing.com or
01726 874450.
Help is only a click away
During these difficult times, you may find yourself needing extra support
or just have questions about your current circumstances. There is a wealth
of advice available, however sometimes it is difficult to know who you can
turn to. We work closely with many organisations who can support you and
the following websites will give further information. Should you need any
support or advice please do not hesitate to contact our Welfare team at
help@oceanhousing.com or 01726 874450.
• www.lets-talk.online•
• www.turn2us.org.uk/MyTurn2us/Individuals/
Application/Turn2us-Covid-19-Crisis-Fund
• www.trusselltrust.org
• www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/
contact-us/help-to-claim
• www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk
• www.westcountry.org.uk
Our app can be downloaded from the app store

Summer 2020 | Issue 65
In April this year we created a
fund to help our tenants most
affected by the coronavirus
outbreak, providing financial
support to those in need. As
well as our tenants, community
organisations have also been
able to apply for the grant to
help purchase essential items for
those living in Cornwall.
Our staff have identified a
significant rise in hardship since
the start of the pandemic. We
are aware, tenants have lost their
jobs and are struggling to meet
living costs such as bills, food
and rent.
Since April, numerous households have received
support not just from the hardship fund, but also
where our advisors have signposted customers to a
number of community organisations.
The Fund has been awarded to Newquay Foodbank,
Cornwall Community Foundation, St Blazey Recycle,
Start Clothing Bank and Cornwall Councillors for their
Coronavirus hardship fund to be spent on their local
Our Hardship Fund is Here to Help
Essential food items at Newquay Foodbank
projects and many others. This will enable vital work
to continue and allow them to reach even more
people in need.
The fund is available for 12 months, so if you are
struggling or you know of someone in need, please
contact us using the following link,
www.oceanhousing.com/hardship-fund-support/
Alternatively, please contact our Customer Services
team who will be able to help on 01726 874450.
IFF Research – Thanks For Your Feedback!
Cornwall Community Foundation has supported the
‘Drop in and Share Centre’ at Newquay, supplying
meals to the homeless in Newquay
Your views are vital when it comes to what we do and how we do it. Your
experience and feedback will enable us to work to improve the services we
provide and how we communicate with you. Starting later than we
first hoped due to Covid-19, IFF Research will contact a number of tenants by
telephone over the next few months to update the details we hold for you and
ask you a number of questions.
IFF Research has been selected to complete this research on our behalf, as
they are independent housing research specialists. We know that cold calling
can be a worrying issue for our tenants so to be confident that you know the
call you receive is genuine, please note the following:
• Interviewers will introduce themselves as calling from IFF Research
• The number which will appear on customer’s phones will be
0800 077 3572 or 0808 169 9378
• IFF Research will make calls between 10am and 8pm, Monday to Friday
and 10am to 4pm on a Saturday
• IFF Research are registered with the Market Research Society and bound by their code of conduct so we will
never pass a customer’s details to any third party.
5

Street
TENANTS & RESIDENTS MAGAZINE
Call Repairs Through
Pandemic
Life happens, even during a pandemic:
the sink leaks, the boiler breaks and you
need an urgent repair. This can be a
worrying time in normal circumstances
let alone a global pandemic, having
someone in your safe space is not
without risk, so we needed to ensure this
was done carefully. During the Covid-19
pandemic our day to day repairs team
have been providing an emergency
repairs service. It has been challenging
at times but our main concern has, and
always will be the safety of tenants
and staff.
We have ensured we have kept upto-date
and followed the government
guidelines, with increased levels of
personal protective equipment, increased
levels of hygiene, social distancing
and vulnerable tenants have all been
managed to enable us to complete over
1,500
emergency
and urgent
repairs
during the
lockdown
period.
Over the
past few
weeks we
have been
putting
new
procedures
and plans
in place
within
our road map so that we can safely start
introducing more repair services. As you
can imagine we have a large number of
backlog repairs. We are politely asking
tenants to be patient with us as we begin
to clear these repairs.
Harley the Community Hero
We couldn’t be happier to show our tenants the work of 10-yearold
Harley, who has been helping his neighbours in St Blazey in
some imaginative ways. Harley, has been supporting his local
community by delivering fresh eggs and gifts to their doors
during lockdown. His mum, Jo, said: “This all started as a way for
Harley to try to make new friends and get to know others within
the area. He is home schooled, and can often feel alone and
isolated from the world around him. “Over the last few months,
he has been busy making daily deliveries to people on our road
- including handing out rainbow hearts to hang in windows,
and colouring packs
for children - which
has been really well
received within the
community. We have
also been encouraging
tenants on our road
to get creative with
arts and crafts to show
appreciation to all the
keyworkers.”
Jo set up a Facebook
group called ‘Rainbow
Your Street’, where
people can share their
creations with others
in the community.
Tenants have been
doing everything from
decorating the streets
with chalk rainbows, to painting pebbles for people to find on
their daily exercise. Harley has also put up a tree in the centre of
his community, where tenants can decorate it with ribbons as a
memorial to remember loved ones lost during the coronavirus
pandemic. The Facebook group now has more than 500
members, with neighbours regularly interacting to share images
of Harley’s acts of kindness.
Our tenants are at the heart of everything we do at Ocean
Housing, so when one of Harley’s neighbours told us about his
fantastic work, we wanted to thank him for his community spirit.
Tenants of Penarwyn Road have really come together thanks to
Harley’s enthusiasm. Lockdown has been very difficult for so many
communities, with some people feeling isolated in their homes
- so it’s great to hear about neighbours supporting each other in
different ways.
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Summer 2020 | Issue 65
Polgrean News
With the outbreak of Covid-19 and the
national lockdown that followed it has
been a strange time for us. Gilbert &
Goode had made excellent progress with
the demolition of the existing homes
to make way for the new development.
However, like the rest of the country, we
were forced to down tools and shut the
site for a small period of time.
Since the relaxation of government rules,
we have been able to return to site with a
limited workforce who have been strictly
following social distancing guidance.
It didn’t take too long and we are pleased
to have now completed the demolition of
phases one and two at Polgrean Place.
Preparations are now underway to start
the first rented affordable homes which
will be finished and ready for families to
move in by the end of Summer 2021.
Over the next couple of years, we aim to
deliver over 60 new residential homes
and flats. We are really grateful for the
on-going support of our tenants and the
community as the development starts to
come to life.
At Ocean, we are committed to supporting equality and
valuing diversity within our workforce, our tenants
and our local communities.
...to do this we must provide services that can be accessed and enjoyed by all. So, we are
looking to ensure the information we hold for each household is up-to-date.
If you could take a look at and complete the questions on the back cover it would really help
us to continue to achieve this. It should only take a couple of minutes of your time.
Please post your answers by Friday 30th October or complete online,
here; www.oceanhousing.com/equality-and-diversity-survey
Once surveys are received, we will be randomly selecting five households and gifting
a £50 voucher to each to say thank you for getting involved.
If you have any questions please contact our Tenant Involvement team,
thank you.
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TENANTS & RESIDENTS MAGAZINE
Please recycle your Street Talk. Printed on Re-cycled paper. Designed & produced by Karen Jackson Design 01326 373108 Photography by Frame by Frame 01503 262684.
$
Street
As a thank you, all households that complete and return our survey
below will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 voucher.
1. What is your (main tenant’s) full name?
2. What is your (main tenant’s) date of birth?
3. What is your nationality?
❏ UK National in UK
❏ UK National returning overseas
❏ Bulgaria
❏ Czechia
❏ Estonia
❏ Hungary
❏ Latvia
❏ Lithuania
❏ Poland
❏ Romania
❏ Slovakia
❏ Slovenia
❏ Other EU country (EEA*)
❏ Any other country
❏ Refuse to answer
4. What is your ethnic group?
❏ Asian or Asian British Bangladeshi
❏ Asian or British Indian
❏ Asian or Asian British
❏ Asian or Asian British Pakistani
❏ Black or Black British African
❏ Black or Black British Caribbean
❏ Chinese
❏ Chinese Other
❏ Mixed Other
❏ Mixed White and Asian
❏ White and Black African
❏ Mixed White and Black Caribbean
❏ White British
❏ White Irish
❏ White Other
❏ Refuse to answer
5. What is your religion?
❏ Baptist
❏ Brethren
❏ Buddhist
❏ Christian
❏ Free Presbyterian
❏ Hindu
❏ Church of Ireland
❏ Islam
❏ Jewish
❏ Methodist
❏ Muslim
❏ No religion
❏ Any other religion
❏ Presbyterian
❏ Protestant
❏ Roman Catholic
❏ Church of Scotland
❏ Sikh
❏ Refuse to answer
6. What is your sexual
orientation?
❏ Bisexual
❏ Gay or Lesbian
❏ Heterosexual or Straight
❏ Other
❏ Refuse to answer
Name:
Address:
Tel No:
Email:
7. What is your employment
status?
❏ Full Time Work (30+ hours)
❏ Part Time Work (<30 hours)
❏ Gov training/ New Deal
❏ Job Seeker
❏ Retired
❏ Not Seeking Work
❏ Full Time Student
❏ Unable to Work (LT Sick/Dis)
❏ Looking after child(ren)
❏ Refuse to answer
❏ Other (Please specify)
8. Do you consider yourself to
have a disability?
(Tick all that apply)
❏ No (disability)
❏ Visual Impairment
❏ Hearing Impairment
❏ Mobility Impairment
❏ Wheelchair User
❏ Long term health condition
❏ Mental health condition
❏ Learning disability
❏ Refuse to answer
❏ Other (Please specify)
Postcode:
You don’t need a stamp, just complete the questions and pop into an envelope
addressed to:
FREEPOST RSES-LCCA-EJUJ, Equality & Diversity Survey 2020!
Ocean Housing, Stennack Road, St Austell PL25 3SW
email: help@oceanhousing.com
www.oceanhousing.com
01726 874450
Out of Hours Numbers
Emergency Repairs: 01726 874450
Anti-Social Behaviour: 01726 874450
Contact us for a Large Print or Audio CD of this newsletter