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December 2023 Starters and Leavers HouseProud Pledge
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2024 to all East Boro colleagues
Covid 19 update Customer Service is our priority ‘Twixmas’ Productivity Christmas crackers Wellbeing and Learn December Curried favourite Festive fun with kids
EAST BORO
www.ebht.org.uk PA R T O F
East Boro Housing Trust is a Charitable Registered Society under the Co operative and Community Benefits Societies Act 2014 No. 16946R
Merry Christmas 2023 Imagehannazasimova - Freepik
Welcome & Farewell Starters No starters Leavers
To all East Boro colleagues
Judy Warran Waverely Arts/crafts assistant
May I take this opportunity to wish all East Boro colleagues a merry Christmas and very best wishes for a Happy New Year 2024. Thank you all for your work and commitment to our customers and to East Boro and Aster in 2023. Thank you also to everyone who is working and supporting our customers over the festive period. It is very much appreciated by our customers because I know the difference that you make to them over the festive period.
Reminder: You will be paid
Wednesday 20 December
East Boro staff newsletter I’m always happy to include your birthdays, anniversaries, births and good news stories. If you would like to contribute to YOUR staff newsletter in any way please contact me, sue.hole@aster.co.uk
Thankyou from East Boro This year East Boro has increased your Christmas meal contribution to £40 per person. Colleagues can organise your own events with a minimum of two or more colleagues. Events must be held between 1 December 2023 and 21 January 2024 and receipts submitted to Cara Lewis by 22 January 2024. Receipts received after will not be accepted.
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I hope you all have an enjoyable time and may I again wish everyone the compliments of the season and the very best for the New Year ahead. Kevin Hodder With very best wishes, Kevin Chief Executive
EBHT Office opening times Christmas and New Year Monday 25 December (Bank Holiday) Closed Tuesday 26 December (Bank Holiday) Closed Wednesday 27 December 9am - 5pm Thursday 28 December 9am - 5pm Friday 29 December 9am - 5pm Monday 1 January 2024 (Bank Holiday) Closed Tuesday 2 January 9am - 5pm
We’ve signed up to the HouseProud Pledge
As part of The Aster Offer and Customer Services Modernisation programme, we’re committed to making our colleague and customer experience more inclusive. To help us do this, we’re proud to announce we’ve signed up to the HouseProud Pledge. This is a scheme that social housing providers (housing associations, local authorities and ALMOs) can sign up to, to demonstrate their commitment to LGBTQ+ resident equality and support. We’ll be working with our customer service teams and our LGBTQ+ Colleague Network to help inform next steps in achieving the first level of accreditation. If you would like to be part of this work, or join our LGBTQ+ Network, please contact Kathryn Jones, Head of Inclusion. kathryn.jones@aster.co.uk
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Merry Christmas 2023
There has been an increase in Coronavirus cases within our staff teams and housing schemes during October and November, however this is not unexpected considering the time of year and the trend of increases in case numbers across the Country during the autumn/winter months. East Boro adopts the Aster Group’s current approach to Coronavirus but with additional measures for our Care & Support services due to the vulnerability of our customers. In addition to the Aster Group approach, East Boro asks all Care & Support staff to isolate until they receive a negative lateral flow test, even if they feel well and we continue to provide lateral flow test kits to these staff teams. As we learn to live with COVID-19, we’re bringing the way we deal with related absences in line with how we deal with other respiratory illnesses like flu. All COVID-19 related absences should be recorded as a sickness absence and will now contribute to the Bradford Factor score. In line with current government guidance, any colleague displaying symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate for five days and return to work following this period if they feel well enough. On their return to work and for the following ten days, they should wear a face covering when in close contact with others to protect vulnerable colleagues and customers. Whilst Aster Group do not provide test kits to all colleagues, East Boro continue to provide tests kits to its Care & Support teams. East Boro will purchase and issue one box of test kits to all East Boro colleagues during January 2024, and will continue to provide tests kits to its Care & Support team colleagues as and when needed. Please continue to report positive Coronavirus cases to myself either via email or mobile (07787 296 071) We will continue to regularly review our Coronavirus procedures. Cara Lewis Support Services Manager & Executive Assistant to Chief Executive
Raise a FREE donation
for a charity every time you shop online! Some of you will know that I am a supporter of Forest Holme Hospice and since February this year, I have raised over £130 by using the Easyfundraising App when making online purchases and it hasn’t cost me a penny! Use Easyfundraising App/website and do your online shopping as normal. Because you have used the Easyfundraising App/website, the supplier pays a commission to Easyfundraising who then pass the donation to your chosen charity. It is very simple to use, completely free, and generates donations for a charity of your choice. Over 7,000 brands will donate. Visit the Easyfundraising website to find out more and sign up!
Cara
www.easyfundraising.org.uk
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Image by teksomolika ©Freepik
Merry Christmas 2023
Working over the festive period?
Here’s how to use your ‘Twixmas’ productively Many of our colleagues will either be back in the office, out on the road on calls or at their home-based desks for three days this December, attempting to work during the notoriously unproductive (for some) ‘Twixmas’ period. But rather than waiting until 2024 to get back into work mode, you can take advantage of the quiet working period to help make the first week of January less of a shock to the system and help you get a head start on any work goals you have for the year ahead.
Email admin Keeping on top of a busy email inbox can often feel like a full-time job in itself. The quiet festive period, offers the perfect opportunity to give your inbox an overhaul. Delete and unsubscribe from any newsletters, websites or marketing emails that you’ve been meaning to.
Clear out your desktop and online folders When our time is stretched (as it usually is), it can be too easy to save digital files across a host of random folders with ambiguous file names making them impossible to find the next time you need them. ‘Twixmas’ could be a great time to create a system that will work for you, a digital filing cabinet full of folders and sub-folders where everything you could possibly need is saved for easy access. Taking some of the time between Christmas and New Year to revamp your digital filing system and messy desktop once and for all, will be beneficial for returning to work in January.
Plan out goals and objectives for the year ahead Taking time during ‘Twixmas’ to take a step back and look at what you want to work towards gradually over the next twelve months, is another effective use of the three ‘Twixmas’ days. Plan out a realistic set of personal career goals that you’d like to prioritise in 2024.
Focus on your workplace wellbeing Wellbeing within the workplace is a hot topic at present and it’s worth reminding yourself – especially during the notoriously stressful and overwhelming festive period – that mental health is just as important as physical health. Perhaps ensure you are taking more regular breaks, or take your full lunch entitlement away from your computer or phone screen each day. Make a deal with yourself to park somewhere scenic for your lunch if you are out on the road.
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Ho! Ho! Ho!
Merry Christmas 2023
Festive Quiz It wouldn’t be the East Boro Christmas Staff Newsletter without the obligatory Christmas cracker jokes... so here they are! What do you call Santa when he’s on a break? A Santa pause. Do snow globes ever get scared? No, just shaken. What did one Christmas tree say to the other? You need to lighten up. What do snowmen eat for breakfast? Frosties.
Looking for a fun family brain teaser to take a break from TV? Why not try this Christmas themed quiz to activate those grey cells!
Did you hear about the angry snowman? It had a meltdown.
Answers at bottom of page 6.
What kind of music do elves listen to? Wrap music.
1.
Did you hear about the anxious snowman? He needed to chill out.
2. Misteltoe literally translates from Anglo Saxon as what on a stick?
What did one of Santa’s helpers say to the other? Let’s take an elfie.
3. What Christmas decoration was originally made from strands of silver?
What kind of salad do elves eat at the North Pole? Iceberg lettuce.
4. According to the folklore of Austria what horned figure punishes naughty children at Christmastime?
Where does Santa stay on his holidays? At a ho-ho-ho-tel. What did the salt say to the pepper on Christmas? Seasonings greetings! What did the policeman say when caught a snowman stealing? Freeze! How can you tell if a snowman doesn’t like you? He gives you the cold shoulder. Where do snowmen keep their money? In snowbanks.
Astronauts broadcast which Christmas song from space in 1965?
5. In which modern-day country was Saint Nicholas born? 6. In Christmas carol the 12 days of Christmas, what gift is offered on the seventh day? 7.
In the movie It’s A Wonderful Life, what happened every time a bell rang?
8. What’s the name of the main villain in The Nightmare Before Christmas?
What did Santa say to the comedian? You sleigh me.
9.
How do you invite Santa to a party? You request his presents.
10. What does Noel mean in Latin?
What do you call someone afraid of Santa? A Claus-trophic. What did one Christmas tree say to the other? I’m pining for you. Where do Christmas trees go to have fun? Tinseltown.
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Which royal first delivered the Royal Christmas Message?
11. A Roman holiday held between December 17 to the 23 had an influence on how Christmas was celebrated. Which God did it celebrate? 12. The custom of erecting a Christmas tree originated from which country?
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Wellbeing and Learn for January 2024
Merry Christmas 2023
what’s on
Book early to secure your place
EEandOL @ aster.co.uk
Date
Time
11/01/2024
11:00-13:00
Supporting wellbeing and managing sickness absence in your Team
19/01/2024
10:00-11:30
How to create a healthy work life balance
What’s on
Book early to secure your place
EEandOL @ aster.co.uk 11/01/2024
09:30-10:30
Getting ready to build performance
11/01/2024
10:00-12:30
Coaching as a leadership style session
15/01/2024
10:00-12:00
Managing poor performance
17/01/2024
14:00-15:35
Asters money advice tool webinar
23/01/2024
10:30-12:00
Introduction to Welfare Benefit
25/01/2024
10:00-12:00
A detailed guide to Universal Credit
30/01/2024
10:30-12:00
UC assessment periods
Help with mental health during the festive season Christmas advertising tries to get us to buy into a picture of Christmas. We are shown happy families surrounded by mountains of gifts to encourage us to eat, drink, be merry.. and spend!. But what if this is not your experience of Christmas? What if you’re worried about money and are finding it difficult to finance gifts and food? What if you are struggling to cope with Christmas socially? If you can, reach out to friends or family for support. If that’s not possible then talk to someone on one of the helplines listed below.
NHS
5
111 (24 hours) Samaritans
116123 (24 hours) HOPELINE
0800 068 4141
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Merry Christmas 2023
Easy peasy left over
turkey curry ©freepik
After the Christmas chaos and commotion has died down and you are left with a surplus of roast turkey, why not knock up an easy turkey curry during ‘Twixmas’?
What you will need •
Onions use frozen to save time if you have them
•
Garlic pre-made or frozen is fine
How to cook:
•
Add onions, garlic, ginger and curry paste to a pan with oil and cook gently for about 10 minutes. Add butternut squash, passata, about half of the stock and lentils.
Ginger as above
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Curry paste your preference or make it using onions, garlic, ginger, turmeric, curry powder and passata
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Butternut squash frozen pre-chopped for convenience or use any leftover vegetables
Serve it up with rice, poppadoms, samosas and more mango chutney. Garnish with coriander and greek yoghurt if you’re that way inclined.
•
Tinned tomatoes
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Vegetable stock
To slow cook:
•
Add everything into the slow cooker apart from cooked turkey, spinach and mango chutney.
Red lentils ready to cook lentils
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Leftover turkey
Put the lid on and cook for 5-6 hours on high or 8-9 on low.
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Mango chutney
Add the turkey and cook on high for 15-30 minutes until heated through.
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Baby spinach
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Sea salt.
it’s quick and easy, and cold turkey makes a really delicious curry! It’s also such a forgiving one-pot recipe as you can adjust the ingredients to fit the amount of turkey you have left. This is a stove top recipe but can easily be adapted to the slow cooker .
Add turkey and mango chutney. Cook for a further 5-10 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the spinach and pop the pan lid on for 5 minutes until wilted. Stir occasionally and add more of the stock as and when needed and cook for further 20-30 minutes.
Add the spinach and mango chutney just before serving.
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Quiz answers 1. Jingle Bells. 2. Dung. 3. Tinsel. 4. Krampus. 5. Turkey. 6. Seven swans-a-swimming. 7. Angel gets their wings. 8. Oogie boogie. 9. George V. 10. Birth. 11. Saturn. 12. Germany.
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Merry Christmas 2023
Hello all and best wishes for the festive season, If you have children, or grandchildren like me, here are a few ideas to keep them entertained, make great memories and look after your own wellbeing as well as creating lasting childhood memories.
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Christmas film night Choose family-friendly festive films, make some hot chocolate with marshmallows (of course) and snuggle up with blankets for a cosy film night.
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Christmas cookie decorating Bake sugar cookies in festive shapes and let the children decorate them with colourful icing, sprinkles and other fun toppings.
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Winter Wonderland Scavenger Hunt Create a list of winter and Christmas-themed items for a scavenger hunt around your home. Children can have fun searching for items like pinecones, snowmen or tree ornaments and of course Christmas sweets and chocolates!
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Gingerbread house decorating Build and decorate gingerbread houses together. You can bake one or buy one ready to be decorated. Use candies, frosting and other edible decorations to make whimsical and delicious creations.
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Christmas storytime Gather the family for a special festive story time. Read classic Christmas stories or , even better, create your own family Christmas tales together!
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Christmas karaoke Have a family karaoke night with Christmas tunes. Singing and dancing can be a fantastic way to lift everyone’s spirits as well as tiring out the little ones!
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Visit a local Christmas lights display Explore local neighbourhoods with impressive holiday light displays. Take a walk or drive around to enjoy the festive decorations.
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Letter to Father Christmas Help the little ones to write letters to Father Chritsmas. It’s a fantastic way for them to express their wishes and excitement for the season of giving and receiving.
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Festive pyjama party Have a pyjama day where the family stays in cosy holiday-themed PJs. You’ve worked hard all year, so that’s the perfect excuse! You can watch films, play games, Have a carpet picnic and enjoy the day in comfort. Daran Bailey Wellness and Resiliance Programme Lead
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