Special Feature Fire Safety - CCHA · Special Feature Angela Simpson ... call Smith & Byford on:...

Fire SafetyFind out what we are doing to

ensure you are up-to-dateon the latest fire safety

developments

Special Feature

Angela SimpsonDeparting after 29 years

Introducing

Digital Corner

Resident FundraisingWalking for charity

Issue 32 • Spring 2016

Have you used your Tenant Privilege Card yet?The cards, provided via Mears and Grafton Group, were sent out to residents last year. They entitle you to a 10% discount on a range of DIY products from BUILDBASE, PLUMBASE, ELECTRICBASE and HIREBASE. For more information, contact Mears.

Welcome to the second edition of our new look residents’ newsletter.

We hope you enjoyed reading the autumn edition, which featured our repairs app and many other stories from the CCHA community.

In this edition, we look at fire safety, tell you what is coming up in the next few months and bid farewell to our longest serving member of staff.

This edition also introduces our newest feature, Digital Corner, bringing you all our latest technological developments and sees our Kidz competition move to the back page.

Contributions to your newsletter are always welcome. Please send any ideas for the autumn edition to: [email protected]

To report a repair, call Mears on: 0800 056 7068

For gas emergencies, call Smith & Byford on: 0800 169 7703

Call CCHA FREE on: 0800 054 6710

Visit: www.ccha.biz

Charlene Grant Communications

& Marketing Officer

A warm welcome to our readers Contents

Welcome 2 & Contents

Coming Up 3

Opportunities 4

Fire Safety 5

Communities & 6-7 Good Causes

Internal Changes 8-9

Digital Corner 10

Feedback 11

CCHA Kidz 12

2 cchatzone spring 2016

WELCOME & CONTENTS

This year’s Residents’ Open Day is due to take place next month on Wednesday 20th April.

The annual event, which takes place at our Head Office, is a chance for residents to gain a behind the scenes glimpse of CCHA.

Staff will be on hand to answer questions and speak to any residents who attend on the day.

Our School’s Out Summer Holiday Programme is due to return after boasting a record attendance last year.

Working with Elevating Success, we have run the programme for the last six years, taking children on trips and activity days.

Dates for this year’s programme are as follows.

• 25th July – 29th July • 1st August – 5th August • 8th August – 12th August

For further information on School’s Out, contact Matt Piner on: 020 8633 8736, or via email at: [email protected]

The first Monday of April sees the start of a new financial year, and the majority of our residents rent and / or service charges may change. You will have been notified in writing if this affects you. If you have not received any information, please contact CCHA. If you receive any housing benefit, we advise you to make sure you

inform your local benefit office directly as soon as possible. You must also amend your payment amount immediately if you pay by standing order or debit card. CCHA will change any direct debit to the correct amount. If you are not sure how much you need to pay, please contact the income team.

There are various ways to pay your rent: these include direct debit, using your rent card at any post office or paypoint facility, standing order, over the internet, online banking, or over the phone. Please contact our income team if you have questions on: 020 8633 8768 or via email at: [email protected]

Popular: Residents’ Open Days always bring in a crowd

Residents’ Open Day 2016 is coming

Smiles all round: three weeks of activities and days out

Kidz, get ready for School’s Out!

New financial year brings rent changes

3cchatzone spring 2016

COMING UP

My CCHA: download it via your app store

Download our repairs app for a quicker, easier service

Resident Board Member vacancyClosing Date: 9:30am, Tuesday 3rd May 2016

Interview Date: June 2016

Croydon - £2,000 per annum

We are looking for a resident Board Member for our successful, forward thinking organisation, which provides high quality services and puts our residents and our communities at the heart of what we do.

We are seeking a CCHA resident who is passionate about making a contribution, can take on an ambassadorial role and be a strong team player. For an informal discussion, please contact Angela Simpson, Director of Corporate Services, on: 020 8680 7532.

For an application pack, please contact Gayle Gedala, Governance Policy Officer, on: 020 8633 8723, or visit our website: www.ccha.biz/job_vacancies.php

Since the beginning of the Mears contract, CCHA residents have been benefitting from the speed and efficiency of the ‘My CCHA’ app.The app allows you to diagnose and log your home repairs, with features including repair diagnostics, the

ability to view repair history, the ability to capture and upload photos of your problem and appointment booking notifications.

It can be downloaded on smartphone and tablet devices

from the Google Play Store or iTunes.

So far, 64 residents have been making use of the

app, with 76 repairs reported through it.

Celebrate The Queen’s birthday with our helpIn a few short months, Queen Elizabeth II will reach another milestone: her 90th birthday.

Like many royal jubilees, birthdays and weddings before it, we are expecting to see celebrations across the nation.

We would like to offer anyone throwing a street party for the occasion the chance to apply for financial assistance through our President’s Fund.

The President’s Fund was set up in 2006 to support community projects and bring communities together.

For an application form, contact Matt Piner on: 020 8633 8736, or via email at: [email protected] Celebrations: the Queen’s 90th birthday falls in June


OPPORTUNITIES

FREE smoke alarm testers for residents

From 2014 to 2015, local authority fire and rescue services attended 154,700 fires in England,

so it is essential to make sure your smoke alarm is in working order.

We are now able to offer a simple way for you to regularly test your smoke alarm.

Free Smoke Alarm Testers, supplied by Mears, are available for all residents. To collect yours, visit our

Head Office at any time during our open hours.

Fact: It is estimated that there are around 300,000 mobility scooters in Britain.

There have been a number of fire safety incidents involving mobility scooters.

Changes: fire safety is high on the agenda

Over the coming months, residents will see various improvements in communal areas of CCHA properties, including upgraded fire doors, added signage and alarm sensors.

Fire risk assessments, which occur every two years in sheltered schemes or blocks of flats where there are communal areas, comply with the latest fire safety regulations for social housing providers.

Craig Humphrey, CCHA Operations Manager of Property Services, has been working to ensure all residents are up to date about new developments and fire safety.

He said: “We are working to ensure that the works and any changes we make are clearly communicated to residents.

“We are also working very closely with the London Fire Brigade and will be offering free home fire safety visits if requested by residents.”

Bigger changes have also been taking place, with external mobility scooter sheds installed at some sheltered schemes.

The installations, some of which are ongoing, aim to reduce the risk of mobility scooters catching fire inside a property when charging: a common problem.

Craig said: “Residents are happy with the new external mobility scooter sheds and understand the increased safety implications they provide.”

CCHA extinguishing any doubt over fire safety


FIRE SAFETY

Spring AwakeningWith spring arriving on 20th March this year, we are gearing up to test our green fingers, and as part of this springtime mission, we are offering free packets of marigold seeds to all residents.

The months of March, April and May provide the perfect time to sow marigolds, ready to watch the brightly coloured flowers bloom from summer to autumn.

Follow these simple steps to grow your marigolds.

1) Find an area of well-drained, weed-free soil, in a spot where your marigolds will get plenty of sunlight.

2) Rake the soil until fine and crumbly, then make some 12mm deep drills in rows spaced 30cm apart.

3) Sprinkle the seeds into the holes and cover them up with soil.

For your FREE packet of seeds, contact Louis Scorza on: 020 8633 8732, or via email at: [email protected]

Marigold Seeds

Marching against cancerSeveral members of CCHA staff took on the Marsden March on Sunday 13th March.The Marsden March sees participants walk 14 miles from the Royal Marsden at Chelsea to the Royal Marsden at Sutton.

The event aims to raise money for the Royal Marsden to support the work they carry out with cancer treatment and research.

Last year, CCHA staff raised over £1,000, and this year they are aiming for over £2,000.

If you would like to donate, please visit their JustGiving page here: www.justgiving.com/WWA

Marching: Anne Carter and Sue Ginger


COMMUNITIES & GOOD CAUSES

CCHA resident sets up charity walking groupA CCHA resident has set up a fundraising walking group with the help of a local support worker.

Peter Nettleship started the group with Daniel Barnett, a housing support worker with Look Ahead, in November last year. Since then, the group have been on three walks within the London LOOP and have more in the pipeline.

Peter, who has been supporting Diabetes UK, initially set up the group due to his own passion for walking and quickly realised the potential to raise money for charity.

He said: “Fundraising can begin when we get more people attending.

“At the moment all we can do is offer the opportunity for walkers to get themselves sponsored.

“Some assistance with the fundraising would be of great help as well if anyone has previous experience of this.”

Daniel, whose work for Look Ahead includes helping people with a mental health diagnosis live independently, believes activities like this are also a positive contribution to the community.

He said: “The group provides an opportunity for people to socialise and get more exercise, which are common goals on many support plans.

“Both these things have been proven to promote positive mental health, and people aren’t always given the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities due to social isolation or limited finances.” For further information or to get involved, visit the website at: www.austerhagen.wix.com/peterswalkinggroup

Fundraising can begin when we get more people attending

Peter Nettleship and Daniel Barnett: started charity walking group


COMMUNITIES & GOOD CAUSES

Longest serving CCHA staff member leaves this summerAfter nearly 29 years, CCHA will be saying goodbye to our longest serving member of staff. Angela Simpson, Director of Corporate Services, will step down this summer to take on new adventures.

Since joining CCHA in 1987 as a temporary worker, Angela has seen the company grow from less than 500 homes to over 1,500 homes.

She said: “Together, we have seen some amazing things happen.

“Visions have been created, and aspirations that started out as ideals, more often than not, have become tangible realities.”

The introduction of the first Tenant Panel in 1991 is among her proudest moments with the company, back when the CCHA team was relatively small.

Angela has seen this small team grow and change, and attributes the company’s success to the staff who have worked alongside her for the past 29 years.

“I would personally like to pay tribute to their dedication, commitment, innovative approach and professionalism.

“I count myself most fortunate to have come to see all, not only as business colleagues, but as friends too.”

Despite gearing up to collect her pension and “do less”, Angela is not planning to slow down anytime soon.

“As those who know me well will know, I am not really the retiring type.

“I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges that await me, yet at the same time, as I look back on my time here at CCHA, I see a time well spent, a time with few regrets, and more than anything else, a happy time.”

Angela Simpson: preparing to depart

Early Days: Angela started in 1987


INTERNAL CHANGES

CCHA’s newest Board Member has been appointed, bringing a wealth of experience in social housing.Ken Morgan, an avid cricket fan who has worked in housing for over 20 years, took up his position in October last year.Previously, he was a voluntary Board Member for Sutton Housing Partnership for nine years and currently sits on the London Regional Board of the Chartered Institute of Housing.He said: “I was delighted to join the CCHA board in October to continue contributing to the UK’s strong legacy of providing secure social housing for it’s residents.

“I look forward to building on CCHA’s excellent track record in customer service and affordable housing provision.”

To find out more about joining the

Board, scan the QR code.

CCHA continue on fire safety missionCCHA have awarded Millwood Servicing Ltd a new fire equipment servicing and maintenance contract.

Craig Humphrey, CCHA Operations Manager of Property Services, is confident that this new

partnership will work well.

He said: “Millwood are a local family owned company based in Wallington and they scored very highly in our recent tender exercise.

“We are excited to be working with Millwood particularly as they share similar values to us and have a wealth of experience in this area, especially within housing.”

The new contract will start at the beginning of April. Residents will be provided with more information as the contract takes effect.

Cricket loving, social housing expert joins CCHA Board

New addition: Ken joined the Board in October


INTERNAL CHANGES

Home swapping made easy with MoveMaker

CCHA is now working in partnership with MoveMaker, making it easier to find your perfect property match.

The MoveMaker app and mobile website has been designed using feedback from social housing residents looking for home swaps, matching you to properties based on the number of bedrooms you need.

MoveMaker only connects you to those interested in swapping homes with you and gives lots of useful information about your chosen area, including information on local schools, hospitals and tube stations.

Sign up for free on your Apple or Android smartphone or tablet, or register online at: www.movemakerapp.co.uk

Residents lead the way with website re-launchWe are re-launching our website later this year and want to put resident views at the forefront of the project.

A resident focus group has been set up, comprising of three residents and three CCHA staff members. The group, which has been active since February, meet once a month to discuss the development of the website, keeping it in line with resident needs.

If you have not yet had your say, please take the time to fill in our website survey at: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CGQJND6

Free, accessible Internet at The HubStatistics from the 2015 STAR Survey showed that only 58% of respondents have internet access.

At CCHA, we offer all residents the chance to access the internet free of charge via The Hub.

The Hub is a touchscreen PC located in the reception area of our Head Office, available for all residents to use for personal or professional needs.

If you would like to use The Hub, visit us within our open hours and ask at reception for assistance.

CCHA on social mediaWe are currently operating on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, with a variety of content going up on each.

Our social media covers news updates, events, internal updates and much more.

© Copyright Viridian Housing 2015

Resident led: we want your views

www.youtube.com /channel/UCJ8XG-MeauOUU8elzlDlB4Sw

Find us on Facebook:/cchahousing

Follow us on Twitter:@OfficialCCHA


DIGITAL CORNER

RSP’s busy 12 months

Your STAR feedback

Current RSP: Pat, David and Tony (Left-to-right)

The CCHA Resident Scrutiny Panel (RSP) was put in place to oversee how we run our services and business, ensuring we remain a resident-led organisation.

Your RSP currently comprises of Chairman, Tony, as well as members, Pat and David.

Over the last 12 months, the RSP have given their time to many projects, including the roll out and communication of the Mears contract, an internal audit on communal cleaning and gardening, and hosted the RSP Christmas lunch. Currently, they are undertaking an internal audit on responsive repairs.

For more information about the RSP, contact Matt Piner on: 020 8633 8736, or via email at: [email protected]


FEEDBACK

CROYDON CHURCHESHOUSING ASSOCIATION LTD6th Floor, Norfolk House, Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 1LHFREEPHONE: 0800 054 6710 tel: 020 8680 7532 fax: 020 8688 5316email: [email protected]

Visit us online: www.ccha.biz

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62Design our new CCHA Kidz logo!Can you come up with a new design for our CCHA Kidz logo?

Draw what you think our new logo should be, colour it in, and send it back to us for your chance to win a brilliant prize!

All logo designs should be sent to Louis Scorza, CCHA, 6th Floor, Norfolk House, Wellesley Road, Croydon, CR0 1LH. If you would like a freepost envelope, please contact Louis Scorza on: 020 8633 8731, or via email at: [email protected]

Draw Your Logo Here:

Closing date: 17th April 2016

a fantastic prize!

CCHAtzone is printed on paper produced from a sustainable source12 cchatzone spring 2016

CCHA KIDZ

Special Feature Fire Safety - CCHA · Special Feature Angela Simpson ... call Smith & Byford on:...

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