plus dane group residents’ magazine Issue four 2010

www.neighbourhoodinvestor.comCDS Housing, Dane Housing, Hornby Homes & New Generation are members of plus dane group

Fight Against Crime p4

Red Carpet Event p21

National OlderPeople’s Dayp5

Winter Events Snapshots p19

plus dane UNiTY2

Our customers really make a differenceto the way we run plus dane group.

Our staff Make A Difference teams, who look atways we can improve our services to you, workclosely with customers to find out what you thinkabout our services.

We now have four customer groups up and running and working with the Make A Differenceteam. They help us develop our services aroundlettings and allocations, tenancy and estatemanagement, income management and repairs and asset management.

These are just a few of our achievements so far.Many of these achievements would not have been possible without the support of our customer groups:

■ New tenant welcome pack developed and approved for new customers, by existing customers;

■ New void standard developed with customers; ■ Local lettings framework developed

with customers; ■ We are redesigning our rent statements

following feedback from customers to ensure readability. New statements will be ready from April 2010;

■ Direct debit frequency dates have beenincreased in Cheshire giving more choice on payment dates for customers;

■ Staff on site are now wearing high visibility jackets on estate walkabouts;

■ We have trained a member of our Support team to be an in-house Advanced OccupationalTherapist assessor enabling customers tobenefit from property adaptations without long delays;

■ We have begun toinstall carbonmonoxidealarms inpropertieswith openflue fireappliancesto improvecustomersafety.

Proposed amalgamation of CDS, New Gen and HornbyHomesIf you are a tenant or leaseholder of one of thefollowing housing associationsCDS Housing Association Limited, (CDS) Greater Hornby Housing Association Limited (Hornby Homes) and New Generation HousingAssociation Limited (NewGen) you should by now have received a letterconfirming the proposedjoining together of the three individual organisations by amalgamation and asking for your views on this.

We are keen to hear your views but need to do so by no later than Friday 26 March 2010 to be able to take these into consideration.

A form was enclosed with your letter but you can also complete this on line at www.neighbourhoodinvestor.com

If you would like more information there is a freephone number0800 678 3795 or you can send your questions or comments by email to companysecretary@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

We have a vacancy on the Dane Housing Board for a tenantBoard member. Dane Housing is a subsidiary of the Plus DaneGroup and as such the Board members have an important rolein ensuring the strategic direction of the Group is fullysupported through the work of Dane in Cheshire.

The Board consists of 7 members of which two are tenants. The tenant member role is vital in ensuring that the strategicdecisions of Board fully reflect tenant views as well asmonitoring the day to day performance of the organisation. Ifyou are interested but require further information please contactAlison Carey, Company Secretary on 0151 708 4664 or byemail at companysecretary@neighbourhoodinvestor.com.Interested applicants will undergo an informal interview processprior to appointment to the Board.

If you would like to know more

about the work of ourMake A Difference teams,or would like to find outmore about becominginvolved in one of our

groups, contact Gaynor Nicoll on 0151 330 3502.

Dane Housing – Tenant Board Member Vacancy

plus dane UNiTY 3

We hope that as you read thepages of this

magazine, we willshow you the manyways in which we aredelivering thosepromises.

promises...Working with our customers, we have established a set of seven neighbourhood investor promises. These are:

■ Increased investment in existing property■ Creating great places to live■ Increased community safety measures■ Further supporting vulnerable customers■ Further supporting resident involvement■ Increased creation of local jobs■ Increased supply and choice of homes

This is our first magazine of 2010 – so may I take this opportunity to wish

you a belated happy new year. I hope it brings you happiness and good health.

We are now entering Spring, which is a season of fresh

beginnings and renewal. In the pages of UNiTY, we will

be showing you the way that plus dane is working with

you to bring a sense of renewal to the neighbourhoods

we serve.

You can read about our multi-million pound

regeneration plans in Castlefields, and take a look at

Heath View, our fantastic new extra-care facility for

older people in Congleton. We also feature the Alsager

neighbourhood, and the work that is ongoing there to

try and help make life even better for communities

such as the Radway Estate.

Looking back to the cold snap earlier in the year I like to

think that by all working together, we provided the very

best service possible, I do hope that you agree.

As usual, there is also a lot of important information

about our services, and the way you can get involved

in our organisation. We are always glad to hear your

views, and invite you to join us in a variety of ways

to help shape the way plus dane works. We can also

offer you training through our Residents’ Academy,

to renew or develop new skills.

I hope you enjoy reading our news, and if you

have any comments at all, please contact us.

With kind regards,

Ken PerryChief Executive

plus dane group

A Healthy Living Garden run by Riverview Residents’ Associationin Liverpool was named as Outstanding at the RHS North West in Bloom Awards. This is a great achievement for the group, whoworked with our INES team to design the garden. Focusing ongrowing healthy foods, it also provides a community focus andoffers a way to get gentle and enjoyable exercise. A merit was also awarded to the Sir Joseph Cleary Garden.

Buglawton was also honoured at the same Awards ceremony in Southport. Following their involvement in Congleton in Bloom,they were awarded a Merit for their hard work ‘breathing life into their community.’

Well done to everybody involved.

Awards for our Gardens

plus dane UNiTY4

Plus dane group’s EverybodyOnline project received £30,000 offunding to help in their work with young people, to prevent thembecoming involved in gun, gang and knife crime. The funding willbe made over a three year period, and we are one of more than150 organisations nationwide that were awarded over £2.3million to tackle knife crime and support victims.

EverybodyOnline teamed up with Big Dave Gauder, former WorldStrong Man and Merseyside Police, to deliver “Beat Bullying BeatCrime” - an anti gang crime campaign with a twist! The team worked with the pupils of five Liverpool primary schools: StPatrick’s, Our Lady Mount Carmel, St Malachy’s, all based inLiverpool 8 and Lawrence Community and Heygreen PrimarySchools in Wavertree- Liverpool 15. Big Dave and police constableRobby the Bobby Pritchard held an assembly about the dangers ofbullying and peer pressure, and how this can lead to a life of gangcrime. Big Dave discussed respect and mental strength as keythemes and then demonstrated physical strength by pulling avehicle in the playground!

EverybodyOnline is conducting follow-up sessions relating tobullying and gang activity via digital media, such as text message

abuse and inappropriate websites and emails. Merseyside Police will follow up the event by delivering hard-hitting sessions relating to knife crime, to run concurrently throughout the school term. The cash from the Community Fund and the Youth SectorDevelopment Fund will help organisations who work with youngpeople to prevent them becoming involved in gun, gang and knifecrime. Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: “The organisationsreceiving funding work tirelessly with communities at the very frontline of the fight against knife crime and demonstrate how at every level we are tackling serious youth violence.

“I am committed to making ourstreets safer by tackling theminority of young peoplewho commit seriousviolence throughenforcement, toughersentencing, and alsostronger prevention, sendingout a very clear message that it will not be tolerated.”

Fight against crime

The funding is part of the government’s

one-year extension of its TacklingKnives Action Programme (TKAP).TKAP now works intensively in 15areas affected by knife crime toreduce the number of knives onthe streets, as well as with theBritish Transport Police.

plus dane UNiTY 5

National OlderPeople’s DayThis special day was celebrated in style at an event organised by plus dane staff at the Union Street Hall in Sandbach.

We used the theme of Live Life to the Full, and took the opportunity to celebrate later life and thehuge contribution that older people make withintheir communities.

Many of our residents, from the Congleton area and from the Hungerford Road facility for homelessyoung people, also helped us – in both the planningstages and on the day as helpers.

The day included refreshments, line dancing and yoga demonstrations, a show by talented young ukulele player Jordan Pointon-Harding, and much much more.

Local police also took part and gaveout information leaflets and small anti-theft devices that can be attached to handbags, and Age Concern were on hand with lots of useful information.

The annual World in Princes Park event and carnival in Liverpool,which is delivered by plus dane group and its partner BrouhahaInternational, has scooped two prestigious awards. First it won theArts and Media Award at the Merseyside Black History MonthAwards, and later won the National Association of NeighbourhoodManagement Local Economy Award for the event that moststrengthened the local economy.

Princes Park is a winner

Internet goes live!Customers popping into the reception at ourShepherds Mill office in Congleton now haveaccess to a new service - free internet use. Noteveryone has a computer at home, so thispilot schemes aims to widen the availability ofthe internet to our residents. The internet canbe used for many different reasons, such asjob searches, homework, writing letters, usingspreadsheets and for accessing details ofavailable properties in the area. Work can also be printed off at no extra cost.

In autumn last year we launched the new Residents’ Academy to help improve the skills and knowledge of our customers. Since then we have delivered three courses which were all well received. They included a course on how to reduce fuel bills and make a positivecontribution to the environment; and a day at the Can Cook Will Cook studios in Liverpool as part of an ongoing project.

Later in the year, we will be introducing new courses including one to train ‘Tenant Auditors’ to help support us in delivering excellent customer service. People who have taken part in the courses so far have said they found them both enjoyable and useful.

We also have some exciting courses coming up for you this spring. Here are some details:

plus dane UNiTY6

Making the most of y

MarvellousMeals inMinutes

DIY Skills forBeginners

Getting Your ViewsAcross

GettingthatMoney

Course Details

Do you want to find out howyou can cook a low-cost mealfor you and your family? If yes, this is the course for you.

Delivered in partnership withB&Q and plus dane’s in housetrades team, learn some DIY tipsthat will have you busy all spring.

Useful for residents who are involved inservice improvement groups who wantto build their confidence to contributemore effectively at meetings.

Useful for community groups who are applyingfor grants and funding to deliver projects. Learnsome simple tips from our experienced in-houseteam who have a track record of attractingmoney for community projects.

Did you know that a significantnumber of our customers have a long term disability or illness?

In July 2009 a Disability Forum was setup to look at how customers and theircarers can improve services. We inviteda number of residents with a widerange of disabilities and/or long termillnesses to attend.

From the start residents were clear they wanted the Forum to bring aboutchange and action and not just becomea talking shop. They were keen for theForum to promote and champion theviews of disabled customers across theGroup and bring about real outcomesthat improve the quality of life.

The Forum has been instrumental in shaping the Group’s new AccessibleHomes Strategy and agreeing servicestandards. They provided muchneeded clarification about disabledadaptations and gave their opinions as to how best this should be presented to customers.

Ted Norminton, a member of thegroup, said: “I have been severelydisabled since the age of three but I livea full and interesting life in Cheshire.When I was asked if I would like to helporganise this venture, I jumped at thechance. Jackie Perry, NeighbourhoodDirector and I then began the task offinding enough interested disabledpeople to help formulate a basicframework to work from. The mainthinking behind this endeavour is toallow the disabled in our community tohave a say in matters concerningthemselves and their daily lives. We do

notexpect anypreferentialtreatment butwould like to be involved inmaking our homes as suitable and comfortable as possible.”

The Forum will shortly be contributingto the new Equality and DiversityStrategy and will be meeting PhilPemberton, Director for Repairs andAsset Management, to give theiropinions on these service areas. One of the Forum’s priorities is to explore inmore detail delivering disability trainingto our teams so they can be moreaware of customers needs whencarrying out their day to day duties.

The Forum is well supported by a teamof staff who are dedicated to working todeliver change. Transport is alwaysoffered to members and the meetingsare always fun. The Forum is veryinclusive and is committed to makingsure that everyone has the ability tocontribute regardless of their disability.This includes, aids such as large print,information on tape, hearing loops andspecific dietary requirements.

Get involved!Working with our disabledcustomers to shape and improve services

7plus dane UNiTY

our skills

Month

March 2010

April 2010

May 2010

June 2010

If you are interested in hearingmore about the Forum,

please contact Jackie Perry,

Neighbourhood Director on

01260 281 037.

Booking your place

If you are interested in any of the courses or would like

to give us your ideas for newtopics we should include in the programme, please contact Emma Sneyd on 01260 281 037 or email

emma.sneyd@neighbourhoodinvestor.comWe look forward to hearing from you.

8 plus dane UNiTY

• Lillian Hazell

For further information on the Level 2CIH course, please contactJeff O’Carroll, plus dane

Neighbourhood EngagementOfficer on 01928 706821,

or e mail:jeff.ocarroll@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

• Sabrina Sharif

• Debra Lynch

Anybody can be considered for a property, unless they fall into certain categories. They could include the following:

■ People subject to immigration control ■ People with certain unspent criminal convictions

that show they could be a danger to others ■ People who have had action taken against them for anti-

social behaviour or a history of ASB within the last two years ■ Arrears, except in certain circumstances ■ People who have left a tenancy with another housing

association without giving the correct notice, or knowinglymisrepresented their circumstances to try and get a tenancy

To ensure that our homes are allocated fairly and to those inhousing need, everyone is assessed and given a level of priority depending on their housing situation. The things we look at include:

■ Homelessness, or being moved from your property ■ Health, welfare and mobility ■ Specific need in circumstance such as suffering

domestic violence or harassment ■ Overcrowding ■ The condition of your current home

The length of time that you will wait depends on your housingneed and that of others on the list. Other factors may includewhat kind of property you want, and where you have said youwant to live. In certain areas there is over-demand and under-supply, so your wait may be longer. You can find out more in our Where Our Homes Are leaflet.

The more areas you are willing to consider living in, the more properties may be available to you.

Yes. If you want to move from your current plus dane home you can request a transfer by contacting us, after set periods of time. Another way of moving is to exchange with anothertenant. An exchange is where one tenant agrees to exchange with another, there are certain rules that you have to follow if you want to exchange.

To find an exchange partner you can use a free national service called HomeSwapper – you can find details onwww.homeswapper.co.uk, or contact us to register if you don’t have access to the internet. Hundreds of people swaphomes all over the country each month using Homeswapper.

That varies depending on where you live. Here are some generalguidelines but please contact us direct with specific queries:

Liverpool – use the Property Pool www.propertypool.org.ukAfter registering you can ‘bid’ on homes offered by a pool ofhousing providers

Sefton – contact us, and Homesearch, on 0845 1401234

Wirral – contact Wirral Homes direct on 0151 691 8040

Cheshire – see opposite article on Cheshire Homechoice

Halton – at the moment contact us, but also see article opposite

All other areas – contact us direct

Focus on allocationsWe are frequently asked about our allocationspolicies, and we understand that waiting for a new home, or a transfer, can be a difficult time.

Here we look at some of the general guidelinesabout allocations, but please bear in mind thatthere will be specific criteria and applicationsprocedures according to where you live.

If you have any queries at all, please contact your local office for clarification.

Who is eligible for one of our homes?

What criteria do you use for offering homes?

How long will I have to wait?

Can I get a transfer or swap homes?

How do I apply?

9plus dane UNiTY

Residents in Runcorn and Widneshave been asked how they thinksocial housing should beallocated across the borough.

Halton Housing Trust has teamed up with five otherhousing associations, includingplus dane group, who togetherown the bulk of social rentedhomes in Halton, to develop a Halton Standard for socialhousing allocations.

The standard, which will set out the landlords’ pledge tocustomers seeking social housing in the Borough, is being developed in collaborationwith residents, statutory andvoluntary agencies.

The project is part of a schemelaunched by the Tenant ServicesAuthority, which regulates social housing in England, aimed at developing localarrangements between landlords and their customers.

The draft Halton AllocationsStandard can be found atwww.haltonhousing.org. A finalversion of the Halton AllocationsStandard document will bepublished in April. Once the draftstandard is agreed, customerswill have a simplified and

consistent process to apply forthe majority of social rentedhousing across Halton.

This is the name for the newchoice-based lettings scheme inCheshire East. It comes intoeffect in April, and means thatyou can apply for propertiesacross the area as long as you are registered. Once registeredyou will be kept up to date withwhat properties becomeavailable, via the internet andweekly update sheets. You canthen express an interest in anyproperties that are advertised. If you are already on our housing waiting list and havecompleted and returned the additional information for Cheshire Homechoice, your points will be converted into relevant bandings withCheshire Homechoice.

We have already asked people to fill in a letter providing us with the information we need. It is important that you takeaction and respond. If theinformation has not beenreturned to us you may not beimmediately registered for thenew scheme when it goes live.

Please contact us if you have any issues with this, on 0500 026079.

Resident information pack

The leaflets and pack will be availablein all our offices andour sheltered schemesbut if you would like acopy, please contactus and we will send

you one.

We have worked with our Customer Communications Group over the past year to develop our new residents information pack.

This pack is made up of a range of leaflets which tell you about the services we provide as well as yourrights and responsibilities as a tenant.

Our fantastic new £6m+ extra care facility, Heath View, is now officially open.

The ceremony was scheduled to be carried out by acelebrity guest. Heath View’s residents are now settling into their new homes, and enjoying the facilities on offer.

Margaret Barlow, one of the new residents, said: “They arevery nice flats. Plus dane have been very helpful with themove along with my family. I am really looking forward tositting outside in the lovely gardens in the summer.”

Heath View Open!

Halton standard forallocating homes

Cheshire Homechoice

Spotlight on health, we Beat the Chill update

We would just like to remind our customers of our policies on dogs.

We know that most dogs are friendly, harmless pets, but sometimes, that is not the case. Under your Tenancy Agreement, all dogs must be kept undercontrol at all times. We have a zero tolerance policy to dangerous dogs.

Plus dane’s annual Beat the Chill campaign tookplace across Merseyside and Cheshire fromNovember onwards.

The campaign is one of the many ways we aim totackle fuel poverty, byshowing customers howthey can save money ontheir energy bills throughhandy energy-saving tips and advice on fuel tariffs.

All customers were sent a booklet packed withinformation, advice and

recipes, and a series ofneighbourhood events werealso held which were opento the wider public as well.All staff also made homevisits to some customers,delivering goodie bags andchecking they were ready for the onset of winter.

The campaign wasshortlisted for a TenantsParticipation AdvisoryService Awards 2010 for thenorthern region, in the BestPractice in SupportingPeople Award.

Act F.A.S.TWe have been asked to remind residents of the signs of stroke,and the need to act quickly if you suspect a stroke has occurred.

These are the signs to look out for:

F: Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?

A: Arms – can they raise both arms and keep them there?

S: Speech – is their speech slurred?

T: Time – time to call 999 if you see any single one of these signs

Dogs – someguidance

llbeing and safety

What is C difficile?

Commonly known as C diff, it is a type of bacteria (germ) that canlive in human gut. About 5% of the population have C diff in thegut and it causes them no harm. For others the infection causesdiarrhoea, which can be mild to severe.

C diff produces things called spores, which are resistant to heat,cold, dryness and moisture. Spores cause C diff infection in otherpeople when items are touched and the spores are swallowed. Toavoid this careful hand washing will remove spores.

How does C diff cause an infection?

When we take lots of antibiotics, especially those that are used to treat a wide variety of infections (known as ‘broad spectrum’antibiotics) the protection of the ‘friendly’ bacteria of the gut islost. The antibiotics can suppress the protection of the friendlybacteria and C diff then takes over.

The C diff then produces a toxin that affects the bowel wall. The bowel wall becomes inflamed and diarrhoea results.

However, it is important to remember that if you have an infectionand have been prescribed antibiotics, it is safe to take them.

What can I do to protect myself from C diff infection?

■ Wash your hands frequently with soap and water – alcohol hand gel doesn’t work against C difficile!

■ Always wash your hands before preparing or eating food,having a drink or taking medication;

■ Always wash your hands after using the toilet and after doing jobs like cleaning;

■ Maintain a good standard of cleanliness in your home; ■ Avoid sharing personal care items such as towels and facecloths;

■ Use normal household products for cleaning and vacuum carpets so that your home is dust free.

For more information contact your local Primary Care Trust (PCT).

C Difficile – what you need to know

We’d also ask that you consider our staff when they are visiting you – not all of them may be doglovers, and some may even be afraid. Others may be dealing with health issues such as asthma andallergies. Please be aware of these potential issues, and respect the needs of our staff when they are in your home.

plus dane UNiTY12

This major development will include:

■ New shops ■ A new community centre ■ A new health centre ■ 25 new apartments ■ Improved transport facilities ■ A new public square

Plus dane group is the lead developer for the newVillage Square, working with Cruden Construction tobuild Halton Borough Council’s new community centre,new shops, 25 new apartments and more new homesnext to Muncaster Court. Renova Developments Ltd will work with the local PCT and their contractorGalliford Try to build a new GP surgery and healthcentre, providing a wide range of health and well-being services.

Claire Griffiths, Interim Managing Director(Development) for plus dane group, said:

“The Castlefields Regeneration partnership has alreadydelivered significant results, hugely improving housingchoice for residents. The Village Square developmentwill provide excellent local facilities at the heart of thecommunity, based on what residents have told us theywant for their neighbourhood. This is a really excitingproject for us as it brings together shops, new homes, anew public square and improved transport links.”

This project is funded by Halton Borough Council, theHomes and Communities Agency (HCA), plus danegroup, WREN and Renova Developments Ltd. The £11Mproject has received Homes and Communities Agency(HCA) grant of over £3M. The new Village Squaredevelopment is due to be completed in 2011.

Village Square, CastlefieldsWork starts on

Work has started to build an exciting new local centre for Castlefields. The £11M VillageSquare development supports the wider regeneration of Castlefields – making it a greatplace to live, work, shop, learn and play.

Would you like to Have Your Say? If anythinghas made you mad, sad orhappy, made you cry ormade you smile, and you’dlike to share it – just let usknow. And don’t worry aboutthe writing part – if youprefer, you can just talk usthrough your ideas and wewill do the rest!

13

Plus dane group owns andmanages a small number ofproperties in Kirkby, which would have been affected by the regeneration proposals for the area known asDestination Kirkby.

The Destination Kirkby proposalswere rejected by the Secretary of State in November 2009.Knowsley Borough Council, Tesco and its partners are nowreviewing the reasons for thisdecision, looking to developrevised proposals.

We are working with ourcustomers and other partners inKirkby to ensure residents benefitfrom any revised proposals. Wewill continue to consult with ourlocal residents as these plansdevelop, and keep them fullyupdated on what is happening.

In Kirkby, we have developed a specific NeighbourhoodInvestment and Influence Plan(NIIP) in conjunction with localpeople and partners. The plan is based on our sevenneighbourhood promises andincludes commitments to increaseresident involvement, create jobopportunities, and to bring allhomes up to the government’sDecent Homes standard by 2012.

For further information contact Nicola Andrews on 0151 522 1327mobile: 07976 820 607e mail:nicola.andrews@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

KirkbyUpdate

This edition we hear from SandraMillett, one of our very active plusdane customers. Sandra has been aresident of ours for seven years, andher activities have involved sitting onour Hornby forum, the financialengagement group and providingsupport to UNiTY and our otherpublications through our editorialgroup. Sandra is also an essentialmember of our website projectgroup, helping plus danecommunicate effectively.

“As well as all of my work with plusdane, I am also involved with a placecalled The Basement in Liverpool thatworks with homeless people.

It supports people who sometimesstruggle to get the help they need, likegetting places at hostels, finding a GP,getting help from social services orhousing, and help with addictions.

There is a counselor and the staff alsodo work on things like confidencebuilding, helping give people back theirdignity and self-respect.

They can also do practical things likecook a meal, have a shower and dosome laundry.

We get up to 50 homeless peoplethere per evening. We don’t haveplaces for them to sleep but they cancall in just for a chat and a hot drink,and if we have any clothes or sleepingbags then we give them out.

I first got involved with the centre whenI was on a course I took part in throughplus dane, by the Chartered Institute

of Housing. I foundhomeless people come

from all types of backgrounds, doctors, solicitors, teachers you could go on. Some find themselveshomeless because of marriagebreakdowns and just go off the rails. It can happen to anyone. Many homeless people have a drinkproblem they would prefer to buyalcohol than food.

I never realized that people lived likethis in our city, I was in my own littlebubble and went on my way as mostpeople do, thinking that these peopleare on the streets because they arelazy no goods.

But these homeless people aresomeone’s mother, father, brother,sister, it could happen to us all. I never walk past the homeless peopleanymore - they have just been unlucky.

My Church St Cyprians help theBasement a lot. The Vicar Rev. MichaelCoates likes to go down to theBasement to talk to them.The guys liketo ask how their day went. So I hopepeople don’t just walk past in future.”

You can find out more about The Basement atwww.basementdropin.org.ukThey are always looking for donations of blankets and warm clothes.

We use our Green Pages to show yousome of the ways we are working tomake ourselves a cleaner, greenerworld. You can find stories about howwe are tackling environmental issues in the way we work with residents. Ifyou have any ideas, or anything you’dlike to see here, let us know.

A £2.7m development of eco-friendly homes for older people has begun in the Bootle area of Merseyside.

Eco-homes for Bootle residents

The 24 new apartments arebeing developed in the QueensBedford neighbourhood by plusdane group, a partner in EvolveNeighbourhood Regeneration.

The Oriel Road developmentwill provide high quality,affordable rentedaccommodation for people over the age of 55. Local peoplehave said they want this type of housing, and this is the first such development for the Queens Bedfordneighbourhood.

Plus dane group has securedmore than £1.5m funding from the Homes andCommunities Agency (HCA) to deliver this project.

Oriel Road will also meet Level 3of the government’s Code forSustainable Homes – anotherfirst for this neighbourhood.This means that the homes areeco-friendly, cheaper to run and more sustainable for thelong-term.

The apartments should be ready for residents to move into later this year.

Jack Costello, Chair of theEvolve Residents AdvisoryPanel, told us: “I’m delightedwith this great news for olderresidents. The new homes atRegency Park nearby have set avery high standard already andthis development will furtherenhance our neighbourhood. Iimagine people will be queuingup to live in this area.”

The apartments will be allocatedto people registered with SeftonHomesearch. To register onSefton Homesearch, call 0845 140 1234 or e-mailhomesearch@ovh.org.uk

For further information aboutthis development and the widerchoice of homes in the Evolveneighbourhood, including Rent-to-Buy and shared ownershipoptions, contact Evolve on0151 286 5555 or e-mailinfo@evolve-nr.org.uk

In each edition of UNiTY, we will be featuringgardening tips - some from residents, some fromstaff, but all with an expert view to offer! This timeround, many thanks to Alsager resident Hazel Kane, akeen gardener known by many for her green fingers.

"Now that we are all recovering from the freezingweather we should look forward to a better spring and summer, so hopefully you have remembered toclean and tidy those greenhouses, read your seed and plant catalogues and sent your orders in so plantscan arrive soon. Don't be in a rush to plant out,remember we could still get frosty nights. Keep themcovered in the greenhouse or wherever with somefleece or even newspapers.

We can now start some of the outside jobs, butremember there is more than one day to do them in,don't strain yourselves so you cannot enjoy yourgardens or allotments. One of these outside jobs iswith a spring tyne rake, begin to remove dead thatch

Garden

A warm welcome for Michael Michael Meakin of Sandbach recently said goodbye to hisold coal fire – and hello to a brand new heating system.

The new system installed into his 2-bedroomed terrace wasa Mitsubishi Eco Dan air-sourced heat pump. The systemnot only provides a much warmer home, but so far hasbeen cheaper to run.

Mr Meakin said: “The old coal fire was very messy and alsodidn’t really warm the place up. The main difference I’venoticed is how lovely and warm it is in the house. I alsonoticed from the first bill I had after it was installed that itwas extremely economical, and also I don’t have to buy logs and coal any more.

“Especially with the really cold weather we’ve had recently, I was delighted with it. I also can’t speak highly enough ofthe team from plus dane who installed the system for me – I was kept well informed all the way through, and thestandard of workmanship was exceptional. It’s made a real difference to my life.”

Energy efficiency and fighting fuel poverty are at the heartof plus dane’s work. We were treble finalists in 2009’sSustainable Housing Awards, and our Eco Leaders Groupcontinues to develop our green agenda.

and top rubbish from your lawn,spread it over a coupleof days then if needed fork the ground and apply somesandy compost to it and work it in.

If you have plenty of pots that are full of bulbs they canalso be tidied up, loosen the soil top and water gently,then after another week or so apply a little fertiliser tothe pots and water well. They are just like us, they needfeeding and watering to get the best out of them. EarlyApril if necessary you can repair bare patches in yourlawns by applying some grass seed, remember you will need to protect it from hungry birds so put somecriss-crossed cotton thread or string across the grass.Some of your shrubs will also need a bit of tidying andpossibly pruning and again don't forget to feed them to get them going.

After that you can sit and enjoy your labours knowingyou've done a good job, enjoy your tea /coffee or evena beer. Enjoy your garden."

ing tips

We are working closely with our Development team to make sure that for future new build schemes, we try and source local parts to make sure these delays don’t happen in the future.

We are looking to appoint a specialist contractor for all of our intercom systems. It is expected that this approachwill ensure speedier resolution in the future.

We have asked our contractors and trades team to contact neighbours where works will be completed out of normal working hours to discuss any concerns.

As part of our Make A Difference Team, we are reviewingour anti social behaviour letters with customers.

We have increased information on call logs to improve tradesperson access arrangements.

We have recently introduced a new procedure whichprovides us with the facility to apply for supplies on line with a response time from the supplier of 7 days.

plus dane UNiTY16

We value your views and would like to hear what you think of theservices we provide to you. We will use the feedback you give usto shape and improve the services that we provide. Here aresome examples of how we have done this recently.

Customer Feedback

you said... we did...There was a delay with my repair because you had to get a specialist locking mechanism which is made in Sweden.

It took you too long to repair the intercom system at the scheme I live in.

When you carry out works to empty homes at weekend it can be really disruptive to neighbours.

I think that you could improve your anti social behaviour letters.

I waited for a contractor there was a knock but when I got to the door no one was there.

I was told I would receive central heating this year but do not have a gas supply, what is taking so long?

17plus dane UNiTY

Merseyside Oct Nov Dec Total

Formal 19 17 18 54

Informal 35 29 39 103

Compliments 13 9 21 43

Cheshire Oct Nov Dec Total

Formal 3 11 2 16

Informal 24 48 24 96

Compliments 14 18 30 62

We value your views and would like to hear what you think of the services we provide to you.There are a range of ways which you can give us feedback including:� ■ Visiting one of our offices;■ Calling our free phone number 0800 169 2988;■ Emailing us at

your.views@neighbourhoodinvestor.com;■ Completing the form at the back of our customer feedback leaflet;

■ Writing to us;■ Speaking to a member of staff;■ You can also choose to have someone else feedback on your behalf such as a councillors & MPs.

Please ask if you need us to help you give feedback.

customer feedback received

“Thanked for our assistance with helpingtenant switch energy suppliers and dealingwith debts after the separation from partneralong with the budgeting work.”

“I receive the Refugee Support Serviceand would like to thank the team for allthe help my family and I have received.”

“From start to finish the service theHandyperson gave exceeded anything we hadever had from other housing associations andfeel confident that this level of service would be so beneficial to maintaining the tenancy.”

“My neighbour and I would like to say a bigheartfelt thank you to Plus Dane for showingconcern to their tenants during the recent badweather, asking the tenants did they haveplenty of heating and delivering small foodparcels to those who could not go out. What great landlords we have.”

compliments

It might seem like a long time ago now that the tree has gone and the decorations have been packedaway for another year, but there were some fabulous Christmas and Winter events organized acrossplus dane neighbourhoods in Merseyside and Cheshire. Sampson our Neighbourhood Hero penguin– sponsored as part of the Go Penguins public art project in Liverpool – was out and about in thecity through the winter, and has now taken up his new home at Shepherd’s Mill. Here we show youa selection of pictures which capture those magical moments, as you enjoyed parties, events, craftworkshops and the delivery of Christmas trees from our construction partner Cruden.

Winter events snapshots

plus dane UNiTY 19

Young people from plus dane’s Hungerford Road facility took part in a

DVD about homelessness – and also attended the premiere in style!

The DVD was produced by Connexions - Cheshire and Warrington to tackle the issues of

homelessness in Cheshire East. It was created as part of an ongoing project that involved a

number of young people from the Crewe Area. The premiere took place at The Reel Cinema in Crewe.

The DVD is part of a project that was designed as a preventative measure that would work to inform and

educate young people about homelessness and arm them with the facts before they make the decision to

leave home. This was developed after an increase in the number of young people who left home and

believed that they would automatically receive alternative accommodation was noticed by staff at

The HUB @ Connexions in Crewe. Re-education and prevention was the aim. The DVD was created entirely

by the young people, from concept through to completion. They worked with a video company and began by

creating a storyline using story boards, they chose people to interview and worked on the sound, lighting and

filming as well as taking the roles of the characters. The DVD is a very powerful resource and will now sit as

part of the teaching pack that can be used to educate hundreds of young people across Cheshire East.

Lucinda Booth, 20, said: “It has been a great way for people to listen, to educate and to prevent homelessness.”

Carla Luke, 19, said: “It gave me a great sense of worth helped me improve my confidence.

Without the plus dane group providing Hungerford Road supported accommodation unit we

may not have achieved what we have or would not be where we are today.”

Latara Philips, 20, added: “Young people get bad press so it’s great to show that we are not all

bad and no good! We are really proud to be able to help other young vulnerable people who may

find them selves in need. We feel really proud of what we have achieved and amazed that all the

schools will be using them as a tool to break down barriers and help them understand homelessness.”

Also from Hungerford Road, 17-year-old Carissa Tossell was a special guest on Parliament TV

down in London – another example of what our young people are capable of achieving.

The Evolve RAP (Residents Advisory Panel) and

the Evolve Youth Forum were jointly awarded a

Sefton Community Champions Award in

recognition of their intergenerational work.

The award was in

recognition of the

recently produced

Evolve DVD, which

reflects the Evolve

(Bootle) neighbourhood’s

past, present & future

– and really promotes

the positive message

of how neighbourhood

management led by

community members and

groups has enhanced the

area into a neighbourhood fit

for the future and for future generations!

Barbara Rouse, Vice Chair of the RAP and Chris

Yates, long established member of the Youth Forum,

received the award on behalf of Evolve and were

delighted with the honour.

The DVD features interviews with local

residents of all ages, sharing their

memories of the area, and also many

interviews with local young people about

what makes their neighbourhood

somewhere to be proud of. Many of the

interviews were conducted by members

of the Youth Forum.

All at plus dane were saddened to hear of the recent death of DorothyBarnett. Dorothy was a committedfriend and supporter of the group, and well-respected within the widerCongleton community.

She was a former Congleton TownMayor, and was also honoured as aTown Burgess in 1996, which gave herthe freedom of the borough.

Mike Doran, Managing Director forCheshire and Staffs, said: “We were verysad to hear the news of Dorothy’spassing. She has been a Board memberand Chair of the Tenants’ Federationsince stock transfer 11 years ago.Dorothy was very active on behalf ofDane and then plus dane tenants overmany years and will be sadly missed.One of Dorothy’s passions was thedevelopment of our services to olderpeople and she was immensely proud ofthe work we were doing to improve oursheltered accommodation.”

John Pollard, Chairman of the plus danegroup Board, added: “Dorothy and Iwere both Councillors and servedtogether on Congleton Town Council fora number of years. She was alsoinvolved with what was then DaneHousing, and was always a great stalwartof the organisation. She always lookedout for residents’ interests and waspassionate and committed in everythingshe did. She will be sorely missed.”

A tribute to Dorothy

21plus dane UNiTY

News from you...In this section, we bring news from you, our customers. If you have anything you would like to sharewith your neighbours, friends and other members of the plus dane community, please let us know.We’d love to hear all about your birthdays, anniversaries, achievements or special events.

Plus dane resident Leesa Bradshawhas launched her own business –childcare with a twist!

Leesa had noticed, from her ownexperience as a working mum, thatit was difficult to find childcarewhen working unsociable hourssuch as evenings or weekends.

Having already gained childcarequalifications and having worked asa teaching assistant in schools, shedecided to give it a go and startedLittle Orange Lizards.

She says: “Childcare is usually easyenough to find during normalworking hours, but lots of mumsand dads have jobs that aren’t innormal working hours – forexample night shifts, or weekendworking. Obviously it’s impossibleto work if you can’t leave your

children in safehands, and I’dfound it reallyfrustrating myself.

“So now I offer aservice where I willcare for children inthe daytime, orevenings, at weekendsor even overnight ifrequired. Once I’d had all the necessary checksdone I started, and so far it’s going really well. I love spending time withchildren, and hopefully by offering this, it will allowother parents to expand their working lives or take up jobs they previously wouldn’thave been able to manage.”

Childcare with a difference

Leesa, who lives in Widnes, can becontacted on 0151 424 2152 or07527 418144. Her e-mail addressis orange.lizard@live.co.uk

23plus dane UNiTY

Frank Peake, 90-year-old resident of St James Court inCongleton, sadly passed away in November last year. Frank was a well-loved character, who was known for riding his pushbike all over the area into his late 80s.

His son, Gerald, said: “He used to have a 1957 Royal Enfield150cc motorbike called Fred that took us all over the place.Dad had friends far and wide and one of the means of gettingto them was on his bike. The last one was a shopper-type with small wheels, but he didn’t let that stop him. That bikewent to places I’ve never even heard of!”

Frank also wrote a poem for UNiTY about his experiences of living in St James Court, which we are reproducing here:

Plus dane group recently established twonew worklessness pilots to support tenantsand residents into education, training andemployment in the Everton and Liverpool 8areas. The latter scheme will run for 12months and focus on the WindermereGreen area of Princes Park Ward in Liverpool8. Ian Brereton from the Liverpool CityCouncil Streets Ahead Team is based in thePark Road office and can be contacted on08001692988. Ian has specialist knowledgeof the local labour market and of theemployment sectors operating in theLiverpool 8 area.

The Everton Ways to Work pilot is inconjunction with Job Centre Plus and will beproviding named officers for all housingassociations to work with. The officers will bebased within the housing associations wherepossible, in addition to a range ofcommunity venues. Contact PaulaThompson on 01519554286 for details.Both services will provide a wide package ofsupport for local people.

Congratulations to the Older Persons Servicein Cheshire, who were recently awarded anA grade after an inspection by CheshireEast’s Supporting People team. The OlderPersons Team provides support to any olderor vulnerable person before they become aresident and thereafter. The team identifiestheir needs and coordinates any servicesthey may need, for example in health, care,adaptation or the use of a handypersonservice. The aim is to keep residents asindependent as possible in their home. The inspection gave the service Asthroughout, and said excellent feedback had been received from service users.

Hilary Birks, Service Manager, also paidtribute to customers who have helped shapethe service as part of the Older PersonsStrategic Group.

New worklessness pilots

‘A’ for Older PersonsService

Congratulations to Chris Harrison,Chairman of the Halton NeighbourhoodPanel and Castlefields resident, andBoard members Betty Dunderdale andFatima Ali, for passing the CharteredInstitute of Housing Level 3qualification. This is a demanding course so well done to all of them.

Farewell to Frank

Congratulations!

Here are just a few of theservices they aim to provide:

■ Working to preventhomelessness;

■ A range of support serviceswhich enable our customersto develop life skills to liveindependently;

■ We aim to improve access to health care and reducehospital admissions;

■ Improving opportunities forindependent living andcommunity involvement for vulnerable people andtheir families.

The teams do this in a variety ofways, working closely with theircustomers and other agencies totry and provide them with thesupport they need.

We provide high-qualityhomeless accommodation, forsingle people and families,including facilities for childrenthat have been praised by thenational charity Action forChildren. Hungerford Road inCrewe and Anne Conway Housein Liverpool both offer fantasticsupport for young people facinghomelessness, helping them tomove on and live independently.

We also offer accommodationand support services for highrisk/high need people, includingworking with ex-offenders to give them a fresh start.

Another way we help is tosupport our customers through a Tenancy Support Service –giving them the help they needto keep their tenancies and thesecurity of their own homes inoften difficult circumstances.

Sharon Smith, SupportedHousing Manager in Cheshire,said: “We all feel we are making a difference in the communitieswe serve in so many ways. Ourstandards are excellent and arenot matched in our area - we setthe bar for other providers. Therigorous inspection in November09 by our funders SupportingPeople endorsed this. Wereceived straight As across allsupport & accommodationinspected areas for all of our services.”

John Foster, Manager forServices to Older People andFamilies in Merseyside, said:“We offer support to the people who need it most –young people, people facinghomelessness, people involvedin anti-social behaviour, ex-offenders, and anybody inneed. By supporting thesepeople, either through services,accommodation or a package ofboth, we are not only helpingthem as individuals, but theneighbourhoods they live in.

“The whole team here isincredibly committed to whatthey do. They always showresilience and compassion, even in sometimes very difficultsituations, working together toachieve the best outcome for the people we are trying to help.We have been awarded twomajor new contracts this year,offering support to young people who are ex-offenders,and to people who need support to live independently in their own homes.”

Plus dane group operates a gas appliance safety check and service programme. In the interests of your own safety, it is important that we are allowedaccess to your property to check the gas supply, gas appliances and any associated chimney or flue systems within your home.

We are concerned that some customers are not giving us the access we need and in some cases, the checks might be overdue. Plus dane customers can check this by looking at the yellow copy of the landlord’s gas safety certificate, which was issued to every customer at the time of the last check.

Please note that this is a legal requirement – and vital for the safety of yourselves and others.

If you think you smell gas or fumes, act immediately:

■ Turn off the gas supply at the valve adjacent to your meter, unless it is in a cellar or confined space where there is also a smell – in which case vacate the premises;

■ Turn off appliances suspected of having a gas escape or emitting fumes;

■ Open doors and windows;■ Do not smoke or use a naked flame, mobile

phone or any other potential means of ignition;■ Do not turn electrical switches or appliances on or off■ Do not use any door entry system, open manually.

You can call the National Gas Emergency Freephone on 0800 111 999.

The Gas Emergency Service will dispatch a trainedoperative, and you will not be charged for the visit.

Do not re-open the gas supply again until action hasbeen taken by a Gas Safe registered person.

If the Gas EmergencyService disconnects orturns off your supplyor any appliances,contact us and wewill arrange for amember of ourGas ServicesTeam to carry outand remedial workneeded.

Always check the identity of

anybody calling at your home, either for a gas service visit or an

emergency visit – all registered operatives

will carry clear identity cards.

Gas checks–why they are important

plus dane UNiTY24

Our Supported Housing teams

across Merseyside and Cheshire play avital role within our

organisation.

Meet the team... Supported Housing

25plus dane UNiTY

plus dane UNiTY26

Alsager is a market town in Congleton, and has seven distinct areas – Radway, Cedar Avenue, Town Centre, Linley, Lyname, Hall Drive andCranberry Lane. It also incorporates the rural villages of Mow Cop, Scholar Green, Church Lawton, Rode Heath and Mount Pleasant.

A Neighbourhood Influence and Investment Plan hasbeen drawn up for Alsager which looks at some of theways we plan to make Alsager a better place to live.

The plan involves us delivering more than £2m ofimprovements in Alsager between 2009-11. Theimprovements can range from the physical – such as new bathrooms, rewiring and heating in ourproperties – to running a range of programmesdesigned to bring the community together andenhance neighbourhood spirit.

A new neighbourhood office will also be opening inAlsager, at Grove Court on the Radway estate, whichwas initially built for workers in the nearby RadwayGreen munitions factory.

In your neighbourhood....

Alsager

We told you in the last edition that we are currentlyreviewing our Equality and Diversity Strategy, and are looking for customers to get involved and tell us what they think about the services we deliver todifferent groups.

We serve a diverse range of customers, neighbourhoodsand staff who have different needs and aspirations. It isimportant that through the strategy we understand theneeds of each group so we can deliver services appropriateto them. We also want to use it to promote equality ofopportunity, community cohesion and eliminate unfair and unlawful discrimination.

Our vision for diversity is one where our customers and staff have an equal chance to access our servicesregardless of their:

■ Ethnicity; ■ Disability; ■ Gender; ■ Transgender status; ■ Age; ■ Religion or faith; ■ Sexuality.

If you are interested in telling us your views or becominginvolved in shaping the strategy, why not contact us? Forfurther information contact Claire Ryan on 0151 330 3497or email claire.ryan@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

A joint project between plus dane group, Kensington New Deal police and contractors Crudens has promoted greater feelings of security for elderly and vulnerable residents in the area.

Extra security devices such as locks, bolts and spyholeswere provided by the police, and Crudens will beinstalling them free of charge. They have also offered tohold workshops for residents to help them with minorhousehold maintenance issues. So far the project hasreceived great feedback from local people.

Security project in Kensington

27plus dane UNiTY

Lynda Doukanaris, Neighbourhood Housing Officer for Alsager, said: “I am really excited about opening the office and hope that it becomes the hub of theneighbourhood, where tenants and residents feel they can come and discuss issues, or indeed just to drop in for a chat to discuss ideas and share good news – or bad! It also means I am on hand to deal with things more quickly, and I can work on continuity of the partnership working I have with the police and social services.

“Radway is a lovely place to work, there is a wide range of people and whilst it does have a few challenges, in the main people are friendly and helpful and hard working and always ready to share a joke. I am certainly looking forward to the challenges of 2010.”

Lynda is also looking forward to working with local children, adults and the town council to develop a new play scheme in the area, which was recently given a grant. Another major project will be

working on the back garden areas of the flats in the courts that have historically been a problem, and looking for creative solutions.

Some of the activities and achievements in the Alsager area include:

■ Streetsafe projects with the police and otherpartners, where we visit homes in the areacarrying out checks on and fire alarms and other home issues;

■ Delivering an expert patient programme for15 residents, plus other residents who arenot our tenants. This has now evolved into a healthy lifestyles group;

■ A summer hog roast for isolated residents at Dennis Round Court, and supporting the court’s Social Committee to deliver more events;

■ Setting up a walking group for elderlyresidents from Alsager in conjunction with Age Concern;

■ Healthy taster sessions for elderly residents in Alsager;

■ Family Sports Day for families delivered in the Radway area;

■ Winter Carol Service for vulnerable residents who live on the Radway.

If you wouldlike to contact Lynda at all, she is on 07795 395433, or lynda.doukanaris@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

Plus dane groupBaltimore Buildings13-15 Rodney StreetLiverpool L1 9EFt: 0151 708 0674

Plus dane groupShepherds Mill Worrall Street Congleton Cheshire CW12 1DTt: 01260 281037

©2010 - This publication has been written & designed by plus dane group’s Knowledge,Innovation & Performance Team working alongside the Customer Communications Focus Panel

This document is available in other languages, onaudio format, in large print or in Braille by request.

We have twocompetitions in thisedition of UNiTY –one, the word search,is more suitable foryoung people.

The other is open to all. In both casesyou can win a £20 voucher – so get puzzling!

Please send yourentries in to us by Friday 23 April to be in with a chance of winning.

SGS-COC-005062

Photo-spot: can you spot the famous world landmark that we havepictured here? Parts of it are blocked out so it’s not too easy!

Competition

Time

If you have any comments about UNiTY magazine,please let us know - if you like it, tell us why, if not,tell us how we can make it better. We also welcomeany ideas for stories that you might have, andwould love to talk to people who would like to takepart in our regular columns or have news to share.You can contact us in the following ways:

Call our Communications Team on 0151 708 4653,or write to us via Debbie Johnson, CommunicationsTeam, plus dane group, Baltimore Buildings, 13-15 Rodney Street, Liverpool L1 9EF - this is also the address to send competition entries to.

You can e-mail us at:unity@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

www.neighbourhoodinvestor.com

Contact us!

Word search: see if you can find the following in our word search:

EASTER TULIP

BUNNY EGG

O Y N N U B Y

Y E J O T G P

G J A U V L Y

N G L S Y T I

G I E K T F D

P A Z U X E L

Q B N L K Y R