SPREAD YOUR FUEL COSTS NEW HANDYMAN ......INDEPENDENT LIVING EDITION, YOUR MAGAZINE, YOUR CLANMIL...

INDEPENDENT LIVING EDITION, YOUR MAGAZINE, YOUR CLANMIL AUTUMN 2013 ISSUE 01

SPREAD YOUR FUEL COSTSNEW HANDYMAN SERVICEHEALTHY AGEING

Mrs Sadie Marshall, aged 90, who lives at Cedar Court independent living scheme in Whiteabbey, reminisces about her days as a textile factory machinist with National Museums Northern Ireland’s Live and Learn Outreach officer Sue Cathcart. Sadie spent the majority of her working life making hospital uniforms at Ewarts. She began work at 14 and

retired at 75. Pictured at the Ulster Museum’s fashion exhibition, Sadie was taking part in a group activity which is part of a 5 year Big Lottery funded project aimed at helping older people lead active lives and run by Clanmil and National Museums Northern Ireland. Read more about the Treasure House project on page 13.

Hopefully you’ll notice something a bit different about this

issue. This one is just for tenants living at our independent living and supported housing schemes!

Some of you had told us that you are not interested in the family related content in the magazine, while some tenants living at our neighbourhoods schemes felt that the magazine wasn’t

relevant to them or their families. So we’re trying a new approach. On this occasion we’ve produced separate versions of the magazine for tenants living in our independent living and supported housing schemes and for those living at our neighbourhoods developments.

We’ll be trying to gauge the success of this approach in the coming weeks and

would welcome your help. Let us know if you prefer having a magazine that’s just for you, or if you were happy with one combined version, by calling me on 028 9087 6000, emailing me at [email protected] or by speaking to your Scheme Co-ordinator or Housing Officer. We’d love to hear your views. Your feedback will help us decide on the future format of your Clanmil Chronicle.

Welcome to the Autumn Edition of the Clanmil Chronicle

Gas safety

A positive year14

CONTENTS

£285K refurbishment completed at Cramsie Court 3

Summer fun as two new Clanmil developments officially opened 4

Something to Think About 7

Keeping your homes up to standard 8

A Guide To Paying Your Rent 9

Healthy ageing 10

It’s a digital age 12

Your Forum Update 17

Fuel – spread the cost 18

Retirement? What retirement? 20

Well deserved recognition for Robert 22

Movie Nights Competition 27

Clanmil Kidz 28

6

Christine Ashfield, Marketing and Communications Officer

24Around theSchemes

Clanmil Chronicle Spring 2013 | 3

At a cost of £285,000, the six month renovation project included the refurbishment of the kitchens within all of the properties, external redecoration, an upgrade to the lift and other access improvements, refurbishment and redecoration of communal areas and the installation of new windows and external doors.

Alderman Cousley said:“I am very pleased to see for myself the work that has been done to improve the facilities here and I commend Clanmil Housing Association for its investment in Cramsie Court and Ballymoney. I congratulate all of those who have contributed to the refurbishment. The standard of the accommodation I have seen is first class and will provide people with a comfortable and safe place to live.”

Joan Baird, Chair of Clanmil Housing Association, who also joined the tenants at their

celebration event, said:“It’s a pleasure to join our residents to celebrate the successful completion of an extensive refurbishment project that has delivered so many improvements to their homes both inside and out. We are really grateful to them all for their patience during the refurbishment work and I hope that they will continue to enjoy life at the ‘new and improved’ Cramsie Court.”

Mrs Lena Adams who has lived at Cramsie Court for the past nine years, is very happy with the improvements. She said:“I’m just delighted with my

refurbished kitchen and all the work that’s been done. The work men couldn’t have been nicer or more helpful and Cramsie Court is a lovely place to live. I have a nice bright apartment and my neighbours are so friendly. I feel very much at home here.”

£285K refurbishment completed at Cramsie CourtDeputy Mayor of Ballymoney, Alderman Cecil Cousley, MBE joined tenants and staff at Clanmil’s Cramsie Court independent living scheme in Ballymoney to celebrate the successful completion of a major refurbishment project.

ABOVE: Joan Baird and Alderman Cecil Cousley joined Scheme Co-ordinator, Lillian McCullough and the scheme’s oldest tenant Mrs Kathleen McMillan to declare the refurbished scheme open.LEFT: Cramsie Court tenants enjoyed the celebration along with friends and family.

This summer Clanmil joined with new tenants to celebrate the official opening of two new housing schemes.

4 | Autumn 2013 Clanmil Neighbourhood Chronicle

Party Time at Caffrey Hill In May, Caffrey Hill, one of the largest housing developments to be completed in Northern Ireland this year was opened with a summer party by Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland and singer/songwriter Brian Kennedy.

The £26 million Caffrey Hill development was part funded by the Department for Social Development and is built on a landmark site in West Belfast which was home to a brewery for over 100 years. A range of family houses and apartments now occupy the

once abandoned site, bringing vibrancy and life back into this area of West Belfast.

The successful delivery of the scheme is the result of close community engagement and the provision of a children’s play park and retail space, to encourage local business, reflects Clanmil’s desire to invest in more than just

houses. In addition, a bus lay-by has been included in the scheme to help address traffic congestion on the Glen Road, a key arterial route into the city.

In officially opening the scheme, Minister McCausland said: “The provision of 165 new family homes on a site that has lain unused is a wonderful achievement. This continues to be an area of high housing

The provision of 165 new family homes on a site

that has lain unused is a wonderful achievement.

Summer fun as two new Clanmil developments officially opened

Singer/songwriter Brian Kennedy got the party swinging at the official opening of Caffrey Hill.

Clanmil Neighbourhood Chronicle Autumn 2013 | 5

need and these houses and apartments will make a huge difference to the daily lives of all who live here.

“Clanmil is to be congratulated for identifying the potential of this site and building these new homes on a site which has a long history. I would like to wish all the tenants well in their new homes.”

Joan Baird, Chair of Clanmil said:

"At Clanmil we are committed to providing housing that really meets our tenants' needs, not just in terms of quality homes and affordable rents, but also in relation to the cost of living in those homes. Not only does Caffrey Hill provide our tenants with a really good place to live - a place they can call their own, where they feel settled and secure and where they are happy to raise their families - but the homes have been designed and built to a very high environmental standard, making them over 40% more energy efficient than standard houses and considerably cheaper for our tenants to run."

Singer/songwriter, Brian Kennedy, originally from West Belfast, welcomed the new Caffrey Hill tenants to the area:

“I feel privileged to be part of the incredible changes happening in Belfast. I wish everyone at Caffrey Hill a long and happy life.”

The new Caffrey Hill homes have been built to high energy-efficiency standards with solar panels, triple glazing and high levels of insulation fitted to help reduce heating and energy bills for the families who live there.

Time to Celebrate at Sunningdale GardensIn June, Minister McCausland opened Clanmil’s new £7.4 million Sunningdale Gardens scheme in North Belfast which provides 40 new family homes and 6 apartments for active older people.

Speaking during a visit to the new homes, Minister McCausland said: “We should never underestimate the importance of good housing in people’s lives. These new homes will make a huge difference to all who now live here. All involved in their provision should be rightly proud of what has been achieved.”

Clanmil Chair, Joan Baird, said: “We are delighted to welcome our new tenants to Sunningdale Gardens and wish them well as they settle into their new homes and new community. We are particularly pleased to welcome back home nine people who used to live in the maisonettes that formerly occupied this site and who have been able to move back

into their community and these lovely new homes.”

The Sunningdale Gardens homes are built to Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and to Lifetime Homes and Secured by Design standards.

We should never underestimate the

importance of good housing in people’s

lives.

LEFT ABOVE Robbie and Reilly (age 3) help Nelson McCausland, Minister for Social Development, plant a tree to mark the opening of Sunningdale Gardens watched by Clanmil Chair, Joan Baird.ABOVE: Young tenants enjoy fair ground fun at Caffrey Hill opening event.

6 | Clanmil Chronicle Winter 2012

Your boiler can become a danger to you if it is not properly maintained.

As your Landlord, we are required by law to carry out an annual safety check and service on the gas fittings installed in your home. In order to do this we need access to your home. Please co-operate with us when we contact you to arrange access for our contractor.

As Landlord we will ensure that:• gas fittings (appliance

and pipework), and flues, installed by Clanmil are maintained in a safe condition

• all installation, maintenance safety checks and annual gas servicing is carried out by a Gas Safe registered installer.

• a gas safety check and service is carried out on each relevant gas fitting/flue in your home every year

• when you take up a new tenancy all gas appliances/flues will be checked before you move in

• we keep a record of each annual safety check and service

• we provide you with a copy of the gas safety record for your home on completion of the safety check.

As a tenant you must:• allow our contractor prompt

access to your home to carry out maintenance or safety checks on our gas fittings/flues

• keep appointments that have been made

• ensure that any gas fittings that you own, including your gas cooker, are installed correctly and are checked for safety and serviced annually

• report any faults with your boiler to us as soon as possible

• contact us before making any alterations to your home, no matter how minor

• always use a qualified Gas Safe registered installer to carry out any gas work in your home.

Failure to give reasonable access to your home to allow us to complete the annual safety check/service is dangerous for you, your family

and your neighbours. It is also a breach of your tenancy conditions, which could result in legal action to enforce access or end your tenancy.

Gas Safety TipsBy allowing us prompt access to your home, and by following the tips below, you can ensure the safety of your gas appliances.

• Never try DIY with gas• Make sure you know where

your gas meter is located and how to turn off the gas in an emergency

• Don’t block up air ventilation grilles and ensure that flue terminals are kept clear at all times

• Never use a gas appliance if you think it is not working properly

• Never cover gas appliances• Be cautious of buying

second hand appliances

If you have any queries regarding this or if your boiler hasn’t been serviced within the last year please contact a member of the Asset Management Team on 028 9087 6019.

Gas safetyIf you have gas or oil central heating, having your boiler serviced annually is an absolute necessity in order to keep it operating efficiently and more importantly, safely.

Clanmil Chronicle Winter 2012 | 7

Why do people order a double cheese burger, large fries and a diet coke?

Why is “abbreviated” such a long word?

Why is it that doctors call what they do “practice”?

Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called “rush hour”?

Why does the sun lighten our hair but darken our skin?

Why is the man who invests our money a “broker”?

Why, if flying is so safe, do they call the airport the “terminal”?

Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?

Why can’t women put on mascara with their mouth closed?

You know that “indestructible” black box that is used on every plane? Why don’t they make the whole plane with that stuff?

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavour and dishwasher liquid made with real lemons?

Something to Think About

1. Don’t panic.

2. Turn off any gas appliances and if possible turn off the gas supply at the gas meter. This can be done by turning the (normally) red lever through 90 degrees so that it runs across the gas pipe, not in line with it.

3. Ventilate the area by opening doors and windows.

4. DO NOT smoke or use any electrical equipment, including light switches and telephones.

5. Stay outside until the smell of gas clears.

6. Telephone the Gas Emergency Service without delay on 0800 002 001 from outside your home or a neighbour's telephone. Some people prefer to contact the Fire Brigade. While they will attend, it is best to cotact the Gas Emergency Service.

7. Contact Clanmil head office on 028 9087 6000 during normal working hours, or Fold Telecare on 028 9042 1010 outside office hours and let them know what’s happened.

Modern heating systems are extremely safe and reliable but, like all complex machinery,

they need regular servicing to keep them working safely, economically and efficiently.

We will service your central heating boiler annually and in order to carry out this work our engineers need access to your home. You will also need to have sufficient oil in your tank or gas credit on your meter to fire up the boiler during the service. We appreciate your co-operation when we contact you to make arrangements to service your boiler.

Please report any faults with your boiler to us as soon as possible, as boiler services cannot take place on boilers that need repaired.

What to do if you smell gasWe want you to be safe as well as warm in your home, so here’s some important advice about what to do if you smell gas in your home or if your Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector goes off:

8 | Clanmil Chronicle Spring 2013

Most of us forget all about our rubbish once we’ve dumped it in the bin. But did you know just how long it would take that rubbish to disappear as landfill?

Next time you can’t be bothered sorting your recycling,

think about the “rotting rate” of what you’re throwing away -A bus ticket - up to 1 month A cotton rag – 1 to 6 monthsA woollen sock – a year Painted wood – 13 yearsA tin can - 200+ yearsA plastic bag - 450+ yearsA glass bottle – undetermined

For the sake of our planet, please recycle!

The tasks that a handyman would undertake could include:

• keeping grounds litter free• helping our Maintenance

Officers manage our properties

• bringing refuse to a central point for collection by the Local Authority and keeping refuse areas clean and tidy

• checking that heating systems are operating efficiently and that there is adequate fuel

• checking all services regularly and keeping boiler-houses and plant rooms clean and tidy

• replacing defective light bulbs, tubes and fuses

as necessary and minor electrical repairs

• cleaning out gully traps and rod drains

• carrying out minor joinery/plumbing repairs

• reporting defects to the Scheme Co-ordinator and Maintenance Officers

• assisting in general cleaning duties

• assist with fire alarm testing

Updates on our proposals will be provided at upcoming tenant forum meetings. In the meantime, if you have any ideas or suggestions regarding this new service, please contact Mark Foster, Response Maintenance Asset Manager on 028 9087 6000.

Clanmil operates a cyclical redecoration programme to ensure that communal internal and external areas at our schemes are well maintained. Not only does this ensure that your homes continue to look their best and remain good, safe places to live, but it also protects our assets for the future.

The programme for 2013/14 will cover 85 schemes throughout Northern Ireland and the type of work that will be undertaken includes:

• Redecoration of previously decorated communal areas.

• Cleaning of upvc fascia, external cladding etc.

• Cleaning of external surfaces to remove moss growth.

• Cleaning of guttering and drainage gullies.

• Minor repairs and maintenance such as the replacement of rotten timber and repairs to rainwater goods, roof coverings, boundary walls/fences, external windows and doors.

Work is scheduled to start by November 2013 and will run until the end of March 2014.If the scheme where you live is included within this year’s programme, we will be in touch before work starts.

ROTTING RATE

Keeping your homes up to standard

Your views on ahandyman service please

We are considering providing a handyman service to tenants living in our Independent Living and Supported Housing schemes following the implementation of our new maintenance contracts in Spring 2014 and would like to hear what you think.


Your rent is due in advance either weekly, fortnightly or monthly

(For monthly payments please multiply your weekly rent by 4.35. This gives an average monthly rent to take account of the five week months during the year).

If you have difficulty paying your rent, always contact your Housing Officer or the Income Recovery staff immediately on 02890 877034. If you do not pay your rent and other charges you may lose your home.

We will work with you if you are experiencing difficulties with debt. Your Housing Officer has been trained to give advice on debt and our specialist money advisor is here to help you. Debt Action NI also advise on how to sort out debt including credit card debt and dealing with loan sharks. Call Debt Action NI on 028 9064 5919.

Please don’t avoid dealing with a debt problem. There is help available.

WAYS TO PAY

Direct DebitThe convenient, guaranteed way to

pay. No need to worry about missing a payment as it will be debited from your bank account automatically. To pay by Direct Debit contact Clanmil on 028 9087 6000 and press 3. We will help you complete a Direct Debit mandate form to set up your Direct Debit.

PayPoint Rent CardUse the PayPoint card that we gave you to pay

at the post office or at shops displaying the PayPoint logo.

Phone us with your bank card detailsUse your debit or credit card to pay by calling our

direct income recovery line on 02890 877034 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

PostSend a crossed cheque or postal order (with your

tenancy reference number on the back) made payable to Clanmil Housing to:

Clanmil HousingNorthern Whig House3 Waring Street BelfastBT1 2DX

InternetUse your debit or credit card to pay at allpayments.

net. Just follow the easy steps to register and you will be ready to make payments.

The allpay App Pay your rent wherever you are from your

smartphone with the touch of a button. The allpay app can be downloaded directly from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

CallpayYou can now also use your debit or credit card to make payments directly when a Housing Officer calls with you at your home.

Housing BenefitIf you are unemployed or on a low income you may be entitled to financial help to pay your rent. To make sure you are getting what you are entitled to, contact your local benefits office, Job Centre or Citizen Advice Bureau or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. You can also check your entitlement by logging on to www.entitledto.co.uk

A Guide To Paying Your Rent It’s very important that you pay your rent and charges on time as we need the income to pay for repairs to your home and for the other services you receive.


Tips for healthy ageing• Try to stay as physically

active as possible. Aim for 150 minutes of physical activity each week

• Eat a well-balanced diet - the Eatwell Plate is a good guide

• Avoid diabetes in later life by maintaining an ideal body weight

• Aim for a waist circumference of 37” for men and 32” for women

• Look out for any changes that may need

medical attention. If in doubt, check it out

• Don’t smoke and if you drink alcohol, adhere to weekly limits (14 units for women and 21 units for men)

• Take advantage of screening programmes offered to you

• Keep socially active and stay connected with friends and family if possible - loneliness and isolation are major threats to ageing well

• Maintain your sense of purpose and your zest for life. Stay positive!

• Keep your brain sharp through hobbies and interests

• Do things you enjoy

• Learn to adapt to change• If you or a loved one is

coping with a chronic illness, finding a support group can be very helpful.

Some physical changes which occur as part of the normal ageing process.The ageing process can result in the slowing down of certain functions, for example: • Our eyesight and

hearing may not be as good as before

• Our sense of taste and smell may not as acute as before

• We may not be able to tolerate as much alcohol as before

Healthy ageingA healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and physical activity can reduce your risk of illness and disease and improve quality of life. While the specific ingredients of healthy ageing are different for everyone, common factors are having good mental health and the ability to manage stress.

Tenants living at Clanmil’s Bessie Bell Court and Giboney Court independent living schemes in Newtownstewart and Cookstown have been helping out local charities by taking part in the Unlocking Potential Project.

Volunteer Now

The project, which is run by Volunteer Now, is funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies and aims to encourage healthier ageing and community involvement by enabling older people to take part in volunteering.

Tenants at Bessie Bell Court helped by putting together spring clean packs for Tidy

NI, while Giboney Court tenants helped fold and pack shirts for Action Cancer.

Eliza Threlfall, Volunteer Now’s Unlocking Potential Development Officer said, “Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and learn more about your local community. It’s also a great way to get out and about.”

Giboney Court tenants give up their time to help Action Cancer


Look out for:• Any changes to moles or

freckles, e.g. size, colour, ragged outline, bleeding

• Sudden changes in your vision

• Decrease in hearing especially if there is a sudden persistent reduction in one ear

• Changes in the regularity of bowel habits

• Blackout/loss of consciousness

• Passing urine frequently, loss of weight, thirst

• Shortness of breathHave these symptoms or any other unexplained symptoms checked out by your GP.

It is important to know:• After the age of 40 it

is recommended that everyone know their blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels

• Know your height and your weight (BMI)

• Get an eye test. Eye tests are free to people over the age of 60

• See your dentist at least every year even if you have dentures. Any red or white patches in the mouth which haven’t healed within two weeks need to be checked out

• Get your flu injection in the Autumn

Be aware of screening programmes and take part if invited• Breast screening from

50-70yrs, every three years. Women over 70yrs can make an appointment through their local screening unit.

• Cervical Screening from 20-64yrs every 3-5years

• Bowel screening - for men and women from 60-71yrs. Free helpline number is 0800 015 2514.

• The Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

Screening Programme offers screening to all men in their 65th year in Northern Ireland

This information is aimed at healthy ageing people. It does not apply to anyone with special dietary requirements, frail people or people who are seriously ill. If you are under medical supervision, check with your GP or other health professional before following this advice.

In the last edition of the Chronicle we launched our short story competition. We were delighted to receive fabulous entries from tenants throughout Northern Ireland but the stand out story was submitted by Margaret Wilson from Greenville Court independent living scheme in Belfast. Congratulations to Margaret who wins a £30 voucher for a high street store of her choice. Read Margaret’s war time

recollections on page 26

If you too have a story to tell, we’d love to hear it. It could be the winning story printed in our next edition. To enter send your story, fact or fiction, to –

Christine AshfieldClanmil Housing AssociationNorthern Whig House3 Waring StreetBelfast BT1 2DX

or email it to [email protected]

Your story should be suitable for a wide range of readers and should be no more than 800 words long.

I wanna tell you a story


The Digital Age Project is funded by the Big Lottery to bring a

digital learning programme to isolated older people living in sheltered housing.

While digital inclusion is important in its own right, the project aims to use it to meet other needs that older people face: the need for positive social interaction with peers, family, and the community at large; the need to stay mentally and physically active in later life; the need for access to

information and services; and the need to make the best use of limited finances.

Part of the Digital Age Project, delivered by LGNI, the Northern Ireland initiative promoting and supporting the development of intergenerational practice, involved tenants at Harmony Court in north Belfast and The Imperial in Newtownards joining children from local primary schools in intergenerational computer sessions. Together they enjoyed using the internet

for research, interviewing each other, exploring digital photography, compiling a newsletter, creating websites and their content, and learning valuable social and digital media skills through their interaction.

Comments from participants included “I liked the chance to work with school children who are well up on computers”, "I discovered we had common interests in all sorts of things” and “I learned how to work a camera and make a video for the website we created”.

It’s all about computersTenants at Clanmil’s independent living schemes throughout Northern Ireland have been continuing to get to grips with computer technology thanks to initiatives such as Silver Surfers and WEA’s Digital Age Project.

ABOVE: Tenants from Abercorn Court in Portrush joined pupils at Portrush Primary School in their computer suite on Silver Surfers Day

ABOVE: Pupils from St Anne’s Primary School in Donaghadee shared their computer skills with tenants at The Imperial

ABOVE: Tenants at Harmony Court in north Belfast were joined by pupils from Wheatfield Primary School for an intergenerational digital session

TOP CENTER: Tenants at Templer Court in Lurgan receive their Digital Age certificates

ABOVE: Harmony Court tenants and pupils from Wheatfield Primary School display their well earned Digital Age certificates


Sean spoke about how his interest in family history began. He explained how, through his research, he had traced the biological family of his mother who had been adopted as a child and found the 1932 death certificate of his father’s uncle who his family had lost touch with when he emigrated to Canada.

Sean highlighted on-line resources such as The Griffith’s Primary Valuation of Ireland, askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation and the 1901 and 1911 census returns for Ireland, census.nationalarchives.ie/search

He also pointed to local graveyards, libraries and museums as valuable sources of information and recommended visiting the Public Records Office at Titanic Quarter, the reading room at the General Register Office in Oxford House, Chichester Street, Belfast and the Newspaper Library and Local Studies collections at Belfast Central Library.

Sean also gave a quick introduction to the on-line genesreunited format for compiling your family tree and brought along publications, artefacts and maps for the audience to look at.

For details of all the resources highlighted by Sean, please contact Christine Ashfield at Clanmil on 028 9087 6000.

Clanmil tenants will be able to join monthly groups that meet at NMNI sites. Depending on where your scheme is based, you could be visiting

the Ulster Museum in Belfast and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Cultra or the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh. You can learn about the museum and take part in creative activities led by guides in traditional costume and Treasure House project staff.These activities may include making harvest knots, arts and crafts,

baking, reminiscence, candle dipping, black smith demonstrations, listening to music, and other traditional activities. And we’ll also provide the tea and biscuits! This is a wonderful opportunity for many great days out and a chance to learn new skills and develop your interests. For more information, please contact your scheme co-ordinator.

Unlock your family history

Treasure House

In June, Sean T Traynor, a tenant at Glenshesk Court in Ballycastle, gave a talk to his neighbours and guests entitled An Introduction to Family History in The North of Ireland.

Treasure House is an exciting new project for Clanmil tenants living in our independent living, housing with care and supported housing schemes. It is funded by the Big Lottery and will run for five years in partnership with National Museum NI (NMNI).

ABOVE: Sean brought along some research resources for tenants to look at.


This year the largest ever Clanmil staff team took part in the Belfast City

Marathon. Teams competed in the marathon, relay and walk events with the Clanmil relay team finishing in a very impressive 41st place. A great achievement considering nearly 1,000 teams took part.

A total of £2, 526 was raised - £1,804 for Cancer Focus, £402 for Cause (a local charity for carers of those with severe mental illness) and £300 raised by De la Cour House staff for their Residents’ Fund.

Everyone who took part is extremely grateful to their

colleagues, friends and tenants who supported through sponsorship. Special thanks to tenants and staff at our independent living schemes at Gloonan House, Ahoghill, Moatview Court, Ballymena, Hezlet Court, Coleraine, Cramsie Court, Ballymoney and Abercorn Court in Portrush who raised significant funds for Cancer Focus through events at their schemes.

Staff and tenants at Templer Court in Lurgan continue to be really active fundraisers. Over the past months they have raised an amazing £800 for a number of local

charities - £300 for the YMCA, £200 for Cancer Research NI and £300 for Downs and Proud in support of a summer scheme for children with Downs Syndrome.

Tenants at Cambridge Close and Shiels Houses in Carrickfergus once again took part in Marie Curie’s Blooming Great Tea Party initiative in May raising £425 for the charity. While Barbour Court in Enniskillen threw open its doors to local people by hosting a coffee morning for the Macular Degeneration Society and raising over £500 for the charity’s Christmas Fund. Age

Clanmil in the CommunityClanmil tenants and staff continue to run, walk, drink tea and coffee and have fun all in the name of helping some very worthy causes.

Clanmil’s largest ever marathon team


At Clanmil we are committed to delivering a customer focused, cost effective response maintenance service to our tenants.

Our existing maintenance contracts are coming to an end and in renewing these, we aim to ensure that:

• contractors will offer tenants appointment times when they will carry out the repair (within the agreed category for that repair)

• contractors will do better at getting the repair right first time

We are working towards getting the new contracts up and running in Spring 2014.

Updates on progress will be provided at Tenant For a meetings and in this magazine.

New maintenance contracts

related macular degeneration is an eye condition that causes problems with suffers’ central vision.

In Ahoghill, tenants from Cramsie Court, Slemish Court, Moatview Court and Allen Court recently joined with Gloonan House tenants for an evening of fun and laughter with Brian Rankin, local poet and comedy actor. The event raised £608 for

Brian’s Ugandan Children’s Hospitals Mission. As well as raising funds to help enhance the lives of children with disabilities in such a deprived part of the world, the tenants had a great evening and thoroughly enjoyed the humour of Brian’s poems and his expertise in acting them out.

Well done everyone. Keep up the good work!

ABOVE: Barbour Court’s fundraising coffee morning drew a crowd

ABOVE: Clanmil tenants enjoy a night of humour at Gloonan House.

BELOW: Templer Court tenants present a welcome cheque to Cancer Research NI.

RIGHT: Moatview Court ladies who helped raise funds for Cancer Focus

ABOVE: Tenants enjoyed a vintage tea party at Hezlet Court in support of Cancer Focus


Congratulations to Mr Billy McKnight (above) from Slemish Court independent living scheme in Ballymena who recently celebrated his 90th Birthday and to Mrs Jeannie Gracey (right) from Harmony Court in Belfast who celebrated her 80th birthday on 31st July.

And well done to Mr Henry Bell of Fiddes Court independent living scheme in Aughnacloy who has

been elected Chairperson of Dungannon local arts council.

Well done too to Lily Wright from Hughes Court independent living scheme in east Belfast, who recently completed a Food Hygiene Course. Lily helps Scheme Coordinator, Gerard McMullan with their weekly lunch club on a Thursday afternoon. She says, “it makes me feel useful and gives me something to do”.

And a big pat on the back to Jennifer McKinley, Scheme Co-ordinator at Templer Court independent living scheme in Lurgan, who was nominated by her tenants as someone who goes the extra mile in a competition looking for local people to be proud of run by the Lurgan Mail newspaper.

Clanmil Congratulations

ABOVE: Lily shows her certificate to Hughes Court Domestic Assistant Tracey Bush

When scheme staff are awayThere are occasions when the Scheme Co-ordinator or Domestic Assistant at your scheme is not onsite. This may be because they have to attend a training course or meeting, because they’re off on leave or sometimes due to illness.

We try to keep this to a minimum but sometimes it’s

unavoidable. When this is the case, another member of staff will provide cover. For example, during a holiday period one of our peripatetic or neighbouring Scheme Co-ordinators will be onsite at your scheme at least one day per week.

During a period of sickness absence we aim to provide one full day cover at least every fourth day for the first two weeks. If the absence is expected to be any longer than two weeks, we will review the situation and provide more cover.

The details of staffing levels and cover arrangements are

set out in the Standards of Service document relating to your scheme. If you haven’t received a copy recently, please ask your Scheme Co-ordinator for one.

The hours that your Scheme Co-ordinator is working each week are displayed on the office door or scheme notice-board.


Key issues that were discussed at the meeting included -

The Clanmil Chronicle Tenants asked for feedback when photographs that were submitted for the magazine were not used and suggested increasing the number of pages to allow for more photographs. The production of separate magazines for Neighbourhoods and Independent Living/Supported housing was discussed.

Appointment System for RepairsIt was reported that tenants will have a choice of morning or afternoon appointments when the new maintenance contracts come into effect.

Tenant Forum MembershipHousing Officers are working to recruit new members to the forum so that as many schemes as possible are represented.

It was reported that Clanmil will provide start up funding for new tenant committees at schemes along with appropriate training for committee members.

Tenant SatisfactionThe results of surveys at six Independent Living Schemes

- The Savoy, Cook Court, Somme Park, Church Mews, Ardnaskea Court, and Fiddes Court – during 2012/13 were reported. The results showed that 93% of tenants were satisfied with our services.

Areas of dissatisfaction included window cleaning, staff cover and security. We are working to address these issues and housing and maintenance staff will communicate directly with the relevant schemes on these issues.

Eight schemes will be surveyed during 2013/14.

Redecoration Cyclical Redecoration will be carried out at Cedar Court, Chichester Court, Glenshesk Court and Gloonan House in the coming year. Housing and Maintenance staff will communicate a full programme of works at Tenants Meetings.

Computers at Schemes The provision of computers

and internet access is currently being rolled out at the schemes where tenants have requested this service. For those living at the schemes involved, your Scheme Co-ordinator will be arranging classes and activities around the use of the computers.

Museum Project Staff have been recruited for this project and workshops and activities commenced in September. We will be rolling this service out to all schemes over a five year period.

Join Us!The Tenant Forum is a great opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas on how we do things. Please join us for a meeting and find out more about what we do. Travel Expenses and lunch will be provided.

Please contact your Scheme Co-ordinator or Housing Officer if you would like to attend. You will be made very welcome!

Your Forum UpdateCongratulations to Norman Dodds from Glenshesk Court in Ballycastle and June Bingham from Henderson Court in Belfast who were appointed Chair and Vice Chair of the independent living tenant forum at its last meeting on 14 June.


Northern Ireland has some of the highest fuel costs within the

United Kingdom and the cost of electric, gas and oil continues to rise. Research shows that Northern Ireland also has the highest level of households deemed to be in fuel poverty across the UK.

Not being able to pay for heating can lead to poor health, feelings of isolation, depression and loneliness. Bryson Energy, a sub group of Bryson House may be able to help.

Bryson Energy offers a range of services to help people including:• Advice on efficient use

of energy in the home• Advice on the use of

heating controls• Help with fuel budgeting• Benefit assessments• Home energy assessments• Technical assessments

and inspections• Domestic energy

assessmentsFREEPHONE 0800 14 22 865 for information and advice.

Spread the CostTo help with budgeting you can opt to pay for your electricity and gas as you use it – pay as you go. However, budgeting to pay oil bills can be very difficult.

Using emergency drums of oil can be tempting but did you know that this method of buying oil can be up to 40% more expensive.

If you have an oil fired heating system, there are schemes to help you budget and pay for heating and hot water.

Some local councils operate an Oil Stamp Savings Scheme which allows you to buy stamps on a weekly basis to help toward your oil bill. Councils currently operating these schemes are listed below. Contact your council for more information.

Antrim Borough Council Tel. 02894 463113

Ballymena Borough Council Tel. 02825 660300

Belfast City Council Tel. 02890 320202

Dungannon and South TyroneBorough Council

Tel. 02887 720300Larne Borough Council Tel. 02828 272313

Magherafelt District Council Tel. 02879 397979

Moyle District Council Tel. 02820 762225

Newtownabbey Borough Council Tel. 02890 340109

Some local Credit Unions run similar savings schemes and some offer competitive heating loans. Contact your local Credit Union for more details.Or contact the Northern Ireland Housing Executive who keep a list of oil suppliers who allow customers to use cards to save towards the cost of oil. Call the Energy Department at NIHE on 03448 920 920 for more information.

Fuel – spread the costWe’ve had some fantastic summer weather this year, and haven’t had to use our heating for months. At the risk of sounding glum, autumn has arrived, the heating has been switched on again and fuel bills have to be paid.


This momentous occasion was marked with a party at Allen

Court when Sadie was joined by friends and family and she also received a special medallion from Irish President, Michael D Higgins.

Mrs Bain was born in Omagh in 1911, the middle child of five. She moved to Antrim at the age of three and went to school at Ballymena Academy. She worked as a librarian until the age of 21 when she met her future husband Alfred (Jock) Bain who came from

Aberdeen. They married in 1934 and had two children.

Sadie worked as a librarian in Antrim until retirement, and then as a volunteer for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau where she was an Information Officer. She continues to hold the position of Madame President of the Royal British Legion Women’s Section in Antrim.

Happy Birthday Mrs Bain from everyone at Clanmil.

Those tenants from Mullan Mews and Sydenham Court

are unstoppable – it’s just creativity all the way!

As part of Belfast’s Culture Night in September they put on a show stopping display of their new skills in printmaking.

They are now forging ahead with Phase 2 of the project which will involve working

with boys from Ashfield High School to design and construct 3D fantastical lanterns to create a magical land and skyscape.

This will test their skills in printmaking, sculpture and pyrotechnics! Look out for the final results in the next issue.

Funding thanks to DSD Community Activity Grant and Big Lottery’s Culture for All.

Happy 102ND Birthday Sadie!

Lantern Light Intergenerational Project

Congratulations to Mrs Sadie Bain from Allen Court independent living scheme in Antrim who recently celebrated her 102nd birthday.

Mrs Bain with friends and family at Allen Court


In the months preceding my retirement, I couldn’t wait for the great day

when I would finally switch off the alarm clock and relax.

Six weeks later and my system had reached saturation levels of Jeremy Bile and daytime television. I confided my feelings to a friend who told me about a ‘new outfit’ set up down town called Lagan Search and Rescue. “You should Google them,” he said, “It sounds like your sort of thing.”

A fortnight later, I was sitting in front of an interview panel and while I emphasised

I was quite happy to volunteer for janitorial or storekeeping duties, I found myself the following week in a lecture room learning Pyrotechnics i.e. the use of flares and distress signals.

As the weeks went by, I was introduced to an intensive course in First Aid, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, defibrillation, treatment of major and minor lacerations, wounds, fractures, sprains, shock, burns, scalds, the application of various dressings… The list would almost appear endless.

Further training involved learning search techniques used in different

environments, tying secure knots and equipment coupled with the deployment of ropes in rescue operations, securing helicopter landing sites and acting as ‘live bait’ for trained swimmers to rescue during exercises. Other activities involved anything from 12k treks across the Mournes to fundraising in various towns and shopping centres.

As dawn was breaking last St Patrick’s Day, we were on the beach at Kinnegar. The scenario behind Exercise Leucothea was that a light aircraft with four passengers had ditched in Belfast Lough.

Working in tandem with George Best Belfast City Airport Fire and Rescue Service, the crew’s job was to find and recover four missing people both at sea and on land. My role in this exercise was that of a survivor with severe facial burns created using theatrical makeup. My task was to secrete myself among the rocks alongside the Lough. It didn’t take the team long to find me or indeed the survivors at sea.

Retirement? What retirement?Mervyn Dinsmore, a tenant at Hughes Court independent living scheme in East Belfast, shares his story of how volunteering with Lagan Search and Rescue has helped make retirement more enjoyable.

As the weeks went by, I was introduced to an

intensive course in First Aid, cardio-pulmonary

resuscitation, defibrillation…

ABOVE: Very realistic practise sessions.LEFT: On Belfast Lough


Following the publication by the NI Housing Executive of “The Unmet Need Prospectus”, which details areas throughout Northern Ireland where there is currently a need for more social housing, we are keen to find development sites in -

BelfastWest Bank of DerryBallymenaCastlereagh

Lisburn Newry

It would be really helpful if you could pass on to us the details of any sites available in your local area or that you come across on your travels. Even if the area is not listed above we’d still like to hear about it.

We are also interested in purchasing completed

houses in areas of housing need, for example, new houses built by private developers that have not sold on the open market.

We have a dedicated team of enthusiastic staff who are ready and waiting to take your call. Please contact Siobhan Kennedy, James Wright or Kelly Thompson on 028 90 876018 who will investigate all opportunities.

Help NeededWe are sending out a call to our eagle eyed tenants for help in sourcing new and exciting development opportunities that will help us create more high quality Clanmil homes across Northern Ireland.

Last month I found myself, complete with dry suit and PFD (Personal Flotation Device), jumping from a boat half a mile off the Copeland Islands with a colleague waiting to be ‘rescued‘.

In the course of the past year I have witnessed Lagan Search and Rescue move forward in leaps and bounds. Recently, with the help of our superb group of supporters and sponsors, we took possession of an Atlantic 21 ’Dove’ Lifeboat. Training becomes more and more professional and the commitment of volunteers is phenomenal.

In my early days as a volunteer I would sit in the Crew Room and I couldn’t help noticing that, with one exception, I was old enough to have fathered all of the other members. I am so proud of those young people. They convince me of a great future for this country. There is a day coming in the not too far distant future when Lagan Search and Rescue will

become a household name in Belfast. To me, personally, it is a privilege and honour to have played a small part in bringing this to fruition.

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.”

ABOVE: Mervyn sporting “victim” make up

I couldn’t help noticing that, with

one exception, I was old enough to have

fathered all of the other members.


Robert was part of Northern Ireland’s great naval

contribution to the war effort. By manufacturing 10% of all new shipping, as well as the famously indestructible Churchill Tank, Belfast contributed more than its fair share to the freedom we enjoy today.

70 years on, and Robert has many memories of the fleets that sailed through the bitter arctic weather.

The Lend-Lease program, as it was called, involved the United States providing military provisions up to the value of $50.1 billion to the Allied Nations.

The convoys combined the powers of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy, to deliver vital supplies to the Soviet Union. In one of the bleakest climates in the world, 16 of Britain’s Royal Navy war

ships, including Roberts’ ship the Aircraft Carrier HMS Victorious, helped escort over 1,400 merchant vessels.

At the age of 15, Robert was too young to join his brother in the Royal Air force. “The Navy was the only service that would take me so I went there,” he says. So strong was his desire to join up.

Robert and his shipmates spent “in excess of four hours a day” chipping away at the concrete hard ice that formed on the freezing decks. Robert well remembers the scenes of mayhem on board HMS Victorious when the distress call “Action Stations” was sounded. “Men were darting from all angles, scrambling to get to their stations,” he recalls. The single file ladders were difficult to negotiate as one man tried to get up and another tried to get down.

Local MLA Robin Newton has called Robert and his friends on the convoy “unsung heroes” living and working in what he described as

“incomprehensible hardship.”

“I don’t think people realise today what the people on the convoys went through,” said Mr Newton.

In acknowledgement of the herculean tasks that the men performed, Gerald Murphy of the Royal British Legion agrees that veterans must be ”reminded of the gratitude” for their services.

Robert has been awarded the Arctic Star in recognition of his courage in settings that he very modestly describes as “really tough.”

Well deserved recognition for RobertCongratulations to Robert McNair of Hughes Court in east Belfast who has been awarded an Arctic Star medal for his bravery in the World War 2, Arctic Convoys.

TOP: HMS VictoriousABOVE: A proud Robert displays his Arctic Star medal

At the age of 15, Robert was too young to join his brother in the Royal Air

force. “The Navy was the only service that

would take me so I went there.” So strong was his desire to join up.

By Andrew McNair (Mr McNair’s grandson)


Total no of

Compliments received 63

COMPLIMENTS

A positive year

New Lettings

324

Re-Lets

237

Total of Lettings 561

LETTINGS

Average void period –

General needs 6 days

Independent living 64 days

Supported housing 45 days

VOIDS

Allocations 12

Service Charge 3

Compensation 0

Rent

3

Security

4

Health & Safety 5

Pets/animals 4

Neighbour Nuisance/

ASB (re process) 7

Consolidated 2

Anonymous 1

Others

7

Total no of Complaints Recorded 179Total no of Complaints Resolved (by 31 March 2013) 176Property Services comprising:

Defects 6Landscaping 6Repairs 88Development 10Adaptations 4

Staff 17

COMPLAINTS COMPLAINTS

Units continued on site 123New units on site 354Total 477

Development at 31 March 2013

Response 2,221,193Planned and cyclical 830,629Major Repairs 1,517,142Maintenance Administration 572,271Total 5,141,235

House Sales

Total no of House Sales 1

Expenditure on Maintenance for the year ended 31 March 2013

Rent Arrears at March 2013

Housing Schemes Housing with careRent and other charges to be collected 14,878,564 879,062Arrears (not including outstanding Housing Benefit/Supporting People Funding)

420,298 4,138

Arrears as % of rent due (non technical) 9.70% 2.84%Void losses 267,001 83,685Voids as a percentage of gross total charges 1.76% 8.69%

Repairs Requests issued

Repairs completed with timescale

%

Immediate 4 hours 2,307 2,184 95Emergency 24 hours 1,945 1,849 95Urgent 4 working days 6,000 5,487 91Routine 28 working days 4,170 3,732 89

Of a total of 14,422 repair requests issued, 13,252 (92%) were completed within the target timescale

Below is information on our performance in key areas. If you have access to the internet and would like to see our annual report, download it from our website at www.clanmil.org.uk Alternatively, call us on 028 9087 6000 and we’ll send you a copy.

Tenants at Barbour Court independent living scheme in Enniskillen planted hanging baskets and pots with colourful plants for the courtyard in preparation for summer

Tenants from Gloonan House in Ahoghill enjoying an

armchair bowls activity provided by Ballymena Borough

Council Active Communities Programme.

A carnival at Mullan Mews supported living scheme in Belfast brought tenants from the scheme together with Sydenham Court tenants and friends and family for some summer fun.

Tenants from Hezlet Court in Coleraine, Abercorn Court in Portrush, Cramsie Court in Ballymoney, Gloonan House in Ballymena and Allen Court in Antrim enjoyed a tour of Parliament Buildings on their way to a day out in Bangor.

Ladies from Greenville Court in east Belfast

helped sew colourful bunting for the Caffrey

Hill summer celebration event. A big thank

you to everyone at our independent living

schemes who helped.

AROUND THE SCHEMES

Tenants at Bessie Bell Court in Newtownstewart had health checks as part of a Chest, Heart and Stroke information morning at the scheme

There was great excitement at The Imperial independent

living scheme in Donaghadee in June when the scheme

was used as a vantage point for filming of a multi-million

pound sci-fi movie blockbuster "Our Robot Overlords"

staring Ben Kingsley and Gillian Anderson.

Visitors enjoyed an art display at an open day at Forest Glen independent living scheme in Glenarm in July. John Wedlock who lives at Abercorn Court in

Portrush on a day out at Downhill Forest.

Tenants at Bessie Bell Court in Newtownstewart enjoyed a performance of "On the Camel's Hump" at the scheme along with an exhibition featuring photographs and film of the tenants participating in Sense of Memory workshops.

Harmony Court tenants who went along to

BBC Radio Ulster’s Hugo Duncan Roadshow

in June.

Moatview Court ladies taking part in a flower arranging class with Clanmil Activities Co-ordinator Pia Gore.

The local fire brigade recently visited tenants

at Slemish Court in Ballymena. During

the visit they talked to tenants about fire

safety and carried out a fire drill to refresh

everyone’s memory on what to do in the

event of a fire.

26 | Clanmil Chronicle Autumn 2012

There were five of us in our house - an attic house

in East Belfast - my grandparents, my mother and my mother’s youngest brother Andy who was a mere eleven years older than me and so regarded by me as a big brother. I adored him. I was ten.

Granny, Grandpa, Mother and I were all in bed when the sirens sounded that night. Andy had been at some Boy Scout Jamboree and had come in rather later than usual, still in his uniform. We had heard sirens before of course but Mother, always safety conscious, got me up and dressed and attempted to persuade my grandparents to do likewise. No such luck. Grandpa, who was obstinate as well as very deaf, said Hitler wasn’t going to make him get out of bed and anyway, he hadn’t heard a thing. Granny was more amenable but said her corsets had been left downstairs and it was too cold to navigate the stairs. Andy had raided the little meat safe and found some cheese which he sat munching while reading one of his motor

cycling magazines.We heard the sound of the anti-aircraft guns and the shouts of people in the street but I wasn’t aware of any panic in our house. Then it happened. A deafening whooshing sound from the top of the house and everything seemed to shake. Mother and Andy ran upstairs and at last persuaded my grandparents to get up but couldn’t go any further as the stairway leading to the attic was filled with smoke and they could see flames through the open door.

I was aware of Andy running into the street and coming back with Air Raid Wardens - all volunteers - complete with stirrup pumps and fire blankets. They bravely advanced to the attic where an incendiary bomb had come through our roof and landed on Andy’s bed, burned through the mattress and bedding and now smoldered on the wooden floorboards.

My memories after that are of the silliest mundane things - Granny struggling into her corsets in our living room while the wardens trooped back and forth to

the kitchen for more water and Grandpa taking the time to pack his pipe for a smoke - as if we hadn’t enough of the stuff. However, the most horrific thing I remember was my beloved Andy standing on the landing, filthy and coughing but managing a reassuring smile at me where I stood transfixed in the hall. My response was to scream at the top of my voice “Oh Andy, your teeth - your beautiful teeth - Hitler has blown out your teeth”. He wiped what was left of his Scout shirt across his mouth and removed the soot deposit from his teeth and all I could think of was sheer, blissful relief at the sight of his usual beaming white smile.

At ten, there I was, living in a danger zone, a big hole in the roof of my house, an attic gutted and black, the place awash with filthy water, our parish church at the top of the street ablaze and the sky red with fire, but all I could think of was Andy’s beautiful teeth.

This was a wake-up call for my Mother and I was shipped off to rural Fermanagh within a week. But that is a story for another day.

Easter Monday 1941 was the day Hitler’s Luftwaffe decided to pulverise the city of Belfast and indeed they almost succeeded.

MEMORIES OF THE BLITZby Margaret Wilson, Greenville Court, Belfast


With this in mind, why not enter our movie night wordsearch competition for a chance to win a £20 voucher for Marks and Spencer.

Send your completed puzzle along with your name and address to –

Christine AshfieldClanmil Housing Association

Northern Whig House3 Waring StreetBelfast BT1 2DX

The winner will be drawn at random from all correct entries.

Congratulations to Averil Dunlop of Barbour Court who won the Brain Teaser competition in the last edition of the Chronicle.

A TEAMGREEN HORNETSOCIAL NETWORKAVATAR HALL PASSSTEP BROTHERSBOOK OF ELIHANNA THE TOWNBURN AFTER READING HARRY POTTERTHORBUTTERFLY EFFECTIN BRUGESTRONCENTURIONINCEPTIONTRUE GRITCINDERELLA MANINDIANA JONESUNSTOPPABLECYRUSKICK ASSUPDARK KNIGHTKINGS SPEECHWALLEDEFINITELY MAYBEPUBLIC ENEMIES WANTEDDEPARTEDRESCUE DAWNWATCHMENFIGHTERSALTWRESTLER

F I G H T E R D I A H S K S D C G G K N

D V Z N D K E H T R T M E Q I R S K K O

E P J E I P O E A E M I L N E E E R I R

T O B N A D A T P Q M H D E N M H O N T

N A L R X M A B L E A E N O T N A W G E

A X T V A V R E N R R H J I W E L T S L

W E H N A O W E R E O A R A D M L E S B

D S N B T A C Y L R N G D P M H P N P A

I A A H L I P L N A E E Y P P C A L E P

H D E L L O A E I U U T I L U T S A E P

U R E B T M T D R C R O F N R A S I C O

S G U T A T N T S L V G V A B W Z C H T

T P E N C I M E S Y C F K N N R B O B S

H R G I Q K R E L T S E R W P R U S N N

O E B Y A M Y L E T I N I F E D U G R U

R G B V D A R K K N I G H T Q N F B E P

S S A K C I K Y J A B O O K O F E L I S

M C Y R U S D C E N T U R I O N P J S J

J B W H B U T T E R F L Y E F F E C T G

U V C W T H E T O W N I N C E P T I O N

As the nights draw in, the temptation to pull the curtains and snuggle up on the sofa in front of a good movie is hard to resist.

movienightsmovienightsmovienightsmovienights

Halloween HowlersHalloween HowlersHalloween Howlers


HALLOWEEN WORD SEARCH

That long summer break from school may already be a dim and distant memory but don’t worry – the Halloween holiday is just around the corner!

CLANMIL KIDZ FUN FOR YOUNGVISITORS TO OURSCHEMES

Halloween Word Search

L K Z Z R C I E M A A N F B E W Y R N M

C D E E J E A O M I B H R B O O L E E O

A A V I P V N U Z U A S Y O H S Q V E T

C J V Y R S T Q L U T G Y A C H E I W N

K V P F T H Y L N D M S P X J Y O H O A

L D V E E C S T U H R J O S P B D S L H

E Q R A N R E T N A L O K C A J W N L P

N S R T M D T B B W E F N L H O Y M A C

Z X A A H P T P L P W B K S R K W U H C

A B R O F R I G H T E N C C O R E M Z K

V Y U I W D R R B T U A E O I Z Q M V A

S S N F E E R I E A R R P M G R G Y E Z

E L H X B V N T Q Y A S A O R B T U W T

W Q C O V R Z X E C B Q B P U M P K I N

V B T M A E R C S X U L H D E G M Y O F

R C I H A W E X B I I L N L S V H C D W

O Z W S H O L O G N O Z S S O R O O P M

F U P Q R U T X T Z E E R H M G H Q S S

N O T E L E K S I G O Y Q I E G I M Y T

K D L T A E R T F K X E F X E F X M N G

BATBOOCACKLECANDY CORNCAULDRONCOSTUMEEERIEFRIGHTENGHOSTGOBLINGRUESOME

HALLOWEENHAUNTED HOUSEJACK O LANTERNMONSTERSMUMMYOCTOBERPHANTOMPUMPKIN

SCARECROWSCARYSCREAMSHIVERSHRIEKSKELETONSPOOKYTREATTRICKVAMPIREWITCH

www.Reading-With-Kids.com

Halloween Word Search

L K Z Z R C I E M A A N F B E W Y R N M

C D E E J E A O M I B H R B O O L E E O

A A V I P V N U Z U A S Y O H S Q V E T

C J V Y R S T Q L U T G Y A C H E I W N

K V P F T H Y L N D M S P X J Y O H O A

L D V E E C S T U H R J O S P B D S L H

E Q R A N R E T N A L O K C A J W N L P

N S R T M D T B B W E F N L H O Y M A C

Z X A A H P T P L P W B K S R K W U H C

A B R O F R I G H T E N C C O R E M Z K

V Y U I W D R R B T U A E O I Z Q M V A

S S N F E E R I E A R R P M G R G Y E Z

E L H X B V N T Q Y A S A O R B T U W T

W Q C O V R Z X E C B Q B P U M P K I N

V B T M A E R C S X U L H D E G M Y O F

R C I H A W E X B I I L N L S V H C D W

O Z W S H O L O G N O Z S S O R O O P M

F U P Q R U T X T Z E E R H M G H Q S S

N O T E L E K S I G O Y Q I E G I M Y T

K D L T A E R T F K X E F X E F X M N G

BATBOOCACKLECANDY CORNCAULDRONCOSTUMEEERIEFRIGHTENGHOSTGOBLINGRUESOME

HALLOWEENHAUNTED HOUSEJACK O LANTERNMONSTERSMUMMYOCTOBERPHANTOMPUMPKIN

SCARECROWSCARYSCREAMSHIVERSHRIEKSKELETONSPOOKYTREATTRICKVAMPIREWITCH

www.Reading-With-Kids.com

In the meantime, you can have some spooky fun by entering our scary Halloween competitions and winning some super prizes.

If you’re 8 years or under, you can win a £20 voucher for Smyths Toys or Toys R Us (you choose) by colouring our haunted Halloween house.

If you’re aged 9 to 15 years, find the Halloween words hidden in our wordsearch game to win a £20 voucher for Game or Newlook.

Send your completed entries to – Christine AshfieldClanmil Housing AssociationNorthern Whig House3 Waring StreetBelfast BT1 2DX

Don’t forget to include your name, address and age and let us know which prize you’d like if you win.

Winners will be drawn at random from all correct entries.

Happy Halloween!

Ingredients• 8 pork sausages• 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce• 1 small/medium butternut squash,

peeled and chopped into 2cm chunks (use potatoes if preferred)

• 2 small red onions, peeled and quartered • 12 cherry tomatoes• 2 tbsp olive oil• 1 small handful coriander, leaves

picked and chopped

Method1. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put

the sausages in a bowl with the sweet chilli sauce and shake around until they are fully coated. Tip them into a large roasting dish.

2. Toss the butternut squash and red onion in with the sausages.

3. Nestle the cherry tomatoes around the dish and then drizzle everything with the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and roast for 30 minutes, or until the sausages are golden brown and the vegetables tender.

4. Scatter with chopped coriander and serve in the centre of the table, with crusty bread to mop up the juices.

Enjoy!


As the weather turns colder why not try this warming one pot recipe of sausages basted in sweet chilli sauce and roasted with butternut squash, red onion and cherry tomatoes. This recipe feeds four but can easily be adjusted.

Sweet chilli sausage bake

YOUR RECIPIES

For the next edition, we’d love to hear from you. So, if you have something you’d like to share with other reader, drop us a line. Your article could simply be about day to day life at your scheme or about something completely different that you think would be of interest to others.

If you live in a Clanmil property and want your letter or article to be considered for publication in the Chronicle then write to Christine Ashfield, at –Letter to the EditorClanmil Housing AssociationNorthern Whig House3 Waring Street Belfast BT1 2DX

Alternatively you can email your contribution to [email protected] but please make sure you clearly label your email Clanmil Chronicle.

Please remember that we will not be able to print letters or articles that are sent anonymously.

Time to put pen to paperThank you to all of the tenants who have contributed articles for this edition of the Clanmil Chronicle


Many of you will have seen the happy, smiling face of this edition’s subject around your scheme. But did you know that he was originally destined to be a teacher or that he has really soft hands? Meet Brendan Morrissey, Senior Housing Officer, Older Peoples’ Services, who loves his wife and his new son but likes nothing more than having the house to himself!!

Knowing me,knowing you…

Why did you decide to work in Social Housing?I’d always wanted a career that involved helping people. My initial interest was in education and for a long time I wanted to be teacher. I got a place in teacher training college and came to work at Clanmil temporarily before the course started. During that time I started to develop a real interest in housing and when it came time to leave and start my course I decided against it and I’m still here 8 years later. Everyone deserves a safe and secure home. It’s fantastic to know that I am playing a part in making that a reality for people.

What are your hopes for the future of Clanmil?I just hope that Clanmil continues to grow and develop even more homes for people who need them. It is an exciting time for housing

in Northern Ireland and I hope that we can continue to do what we do so well.

What was your worst job ever?My first job at age 16 was a dishwasher in a café. Despite the fairy soft hands I didn’t stick it out. The fact that the sink was too low and I was too tall was my get out clause!

What has been your greatest achievement to date?We’ve just had our first baby. All my other achievements have paled into insignificance.

What’s your favourite film?That’s a hard one. I would probably say “Forrest Gump”. It’s a proper Sunday afternoon film. It shows that anyone can be anything they want to be if they have the will and determination. Also, I’d be letting my generation down if I didn’t give “The Goonies” a

mention. It always brings back happy childhood memories.

What keeps you awake at night?Despite being a bit of a worrier at times, I tend to sleep quite well! Like most people I don’t have a great night’s sleep on a Sunday when I just can’t shake off that “back to school” feeling.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?I love my wife. But I also love when she goes out with her friends and I get the house to myself. TV remote control, pizza and a wee beer. Can’t beat it!

Which super hero power would help you do your job better?I’d love to be able to slow down time. There never seems to be enough hours in the day!

Properties currently available to rentINDEPENDENT LIVINGBelfastHarmony Court, North Belfast – one and two bedroom flatsFilor Court, North Belfast – one bedroom flatHughes Court, East Belfast – one bedroom flatsHenderson Court, East Belfast – one bedroom bungalowBlessington Court, South Belfast – one bedroom flat

County AntrimAbercorn Court, Portrush – one bedroom flatGlenshesk Court, Ballycastle – one bedroom flatAllen Court, Antrim – one bedroom flatsSlemish Court, Ballymena – one bedroom flat

Forest Glen, Glenarm – one bedroom flats

County ArmaghStronge Court, Portadown – one bedroom flat

County DownCook Court, Newtownards – one bedroom flats

County LondonderrySomme Park, Londonderry/Derry – one bedroom flatHezlet Court, Coleraine – one bedroom flat

County TyroneArdnaskea Court, Coalisland – one bedroom flatFiddes Court, Aughnacloy – two bedroom flat

Bessie Bell Court, Newtownstewart – one and two bedroom flats/bungalowGiboney Court, Cookstown – one bedroom flatChurch Mews, Dungannon – one bedroom flat

HOUSING FOR ACTIVE OLDER PEOPLENewton Court, Dungannon – one bedroom flatAirfield House, West Belfast – one bedroom flatMillers Grove, West Belfast – two bedroom flat

SUPPORTED HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIAWe also have vacancies at Sydenham Court and Mullan Mews in East Belfast

To find out more, contact Clanmil Housing on 028 9087 6000 and ask for allocations or email [email protected]

SPREAD YOUR FUEL COSTS NEW HANDYMAN ......INDEPENDENT LIVING EDITION, YOUR MAGAZINE, YOUR CLANMIL...

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Transcript of SPREAD YOUR FUEL COSTS NEW HANDYMAN ......INDEPENDENT LIVING EDITION, YOUR MAGAZINE, YOUR CLANMIL...