At Home Spring 2015 by PHP

Home 88 | Spring 2015

The magazine for Poole Housing Partnership residents

New homes finished Residents move into their new pads

Happy snapping! Social media comes to photographersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rescue

A plan for Poole

FREEE! INSIDrent

Yourdar for calen15/16 20

Find out how the town could look in the future

INSIDE

/PooleHousing www.YourPHP.org.uk

Home WELCOME ...to the Spring edition of At Home.

Alternative formats We can supply this information in large print, on audio CD or in your language. We can also send you a magnifier. Please call 01202 264436 to discuss your requirements.

As ever, there’s lots of news to share with you which I hope you’ll find interesting and entertaining. We were delighted to welcome the first residents to our Bearwood development, where we’ve built six energy-efficient family homes. With demand for affordable housing at an all-time high, it’s with a lot of pride that we handed over the keys to homes that set a new standard for council-rented properties in Poole. Read more on page 12. You can also catch up on the latest news from our Sterte refurbishment project (which is almost complete) on page 18 and learn about the provision of extra care at the new Trinidad Village currently being developed on Rossmore Road on page 14. Plus all the usual features you expect from At Home – advice from Your Money Team, tips from Mend It Mike, and ways for you to get involved in our activities!

Joe Logan Chief Executive

Cover image: Waynermills

At Home At Home is produced for Poole Housing Partnership residents. We would like to include your own news, views and articles in future issues of At Home. Please send them to the address below, call 01202 264436 or email phpcomms@poole.gov.uk. Poole Housing Partnership Ltd Beech House 28-30 Wimborne Road Poole BH15 2BU Designed by Perception Printed by The Print Agency Distributed by Postcare The copyright of At Home is owned by Poole Housing Partnership and the content should not be reproduced without permission. www.facebook.com/PooleHousing twitter.com/PooleHousing

At Home | Spring 2015

CHANGES TO AT HOME We hope you enjoy this issue of At Home, which is designed to keep you up to date with the latest developments at PHP and within your community. The magazine is currently produced three times a year: once in the Spring (this issue), once in the Summer and once in the Winter. The format of the magazine has worked well in the past, providing a way of distributing news to PHP residents across Poole.

But with more people accessing information via the internet, and the rising popularity of social media, we feel the time has come to reduce the number of magazines we publish. We’ve therefore taken the decision to focus on developing our online content. But don’t worry, we still plan to produce two editions of At Home a year: one in the Summer and one in the Winter. If you have any comments about the future of At Home, please contact us at phpcomms@poole.gov.uk.

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IN

Home

A new-look Poole town centre for 2031? ........6

Youngsters build new BMX track ................11

First residents move into new homes .......12

Happy Snappers delight at local support........20

Get to know PHPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nerve centre.............21

Sensory garden on the way to Belmont .......22

News just in............................................................................................................................................4 Are you ready for Bloom in June? ...........................................................................................................8 Getting involved gets even better .........................................................................................................9 Community hub launched at Beech House ...........................................................................................10 What is extra care?...............................................................................................................................14 Have you thought about downsizing? ..................................................................................................15 Spotlight on untangling your debts .....................................................................................................16 Bravo for balconies ...............................................................................................................................18 Finding the right connections ..............................................................................................................19 Disabled Information Team .................................................................................................................19 Mend It Mike .......................................................................................................................................23 Rent calendar 2015/16.........................................................................................................................24

At Home | Spring 2015

NEWS JUST IN

Mediators help people resolve their problems in a respectful way.

Kids love getting involved at Poole Town Community Garden.

Spring into action at your local garden With warmer weather and lighter days almost here, it’s a great time to get involved at one of Poole’s community food-growing projects. There are three PHP-supported gardens – in Turlin Moor, Poole Town and Alderney West – which are open round-theclock for residents to enjoy gardening, grow their own food and provide a chance to get know their neighbours. During the week, we hold gardening sessions which are open to all. Call into Turlin Moor Community Garden on Wednesdays (3.15-4.45pm) and Fridays (1.30-3.00pm), Poole Town Community Garden on Tuesdays (3.15-4.45pm) and Alderney West Community Garden on Thursdays (4.00-5.30pm). But that’s not all. Turlin Moor Community Garden will host an Easter-themed planting event on Sunday 12th April 2015, while Poole Town Community Garden’s community planting fun day takes place on Sunday 26th April 2015. For more details, go to www.yourphp.org.uk/newroots.

At Home | Spring 2015

Get help working things out PHP is looking for community-minded residents who would like to help us develop a brand new mediation service for local people. Mediation is a way of listening to both sides of a dispute, and helping friends, neighbours and colleagues find a mutually beneficial solution. Volunteer mediators need to be thoughtful, have good listening skills and be able to empathise with other people’s point of view. They may have to cope with people who are upset, vulnerable, angry or distressed. Most importantly, mediators need to be able to deal with issues without judging the person experiencing the problem. We hope to be able to train residents to become professional mediators, but initially we’re inviting residents to express an interest in coming along to a “taster” session. To find out more, please contact Sandra Willson on 01202 264422 or Lesly Curtis on 01202 264416 by Friday 24th April 2015.

Big donation for baby Bobby Residents at Dale Valley sheltered scheme have presented the parents of a sick local child with a £500 donation to help buy specialised equipment. As reported in the last issue of At Home, residents chose to support 21-month-old Bobby Griffin, who suffers from Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, by donating proceeds from their coffee mornings, bingo nights and prize raffles. The condition causes severe vomiting and Bobby has to visit hospital

several times a month. He also needs to be fed through a tube. The generous donation will help Bobby’s parents, Jamie and Leanne, buy a head support for his wheelchair and a special seat which will enable Bobby to join the family round the table at meal times. “Because Bobby can’t sit up on his own, little things like having a family meal or going food shopping can be a big challenge,” said Leanne, who cares for her son full-time. “But our life will be made that bit easier thanks to the residents’ donation.”

Leanne, Bobby and Jamie Griffin Jamie added: “We’re really grateful to all the residents at Dale Valley for what they’ve done to support Bobby. It means a lot to the whole family.”

Tuck into the Big Lunch Would you like to join your neighbours for an afternoon of food, fun and friendship, organised with support from PHP? Our Resident Involvement Team would like to hold a “Big Lunch” event in Poole Park in June this year. The idea originally came from the Eden Project and has spread nationally to encourage residents to socialise with people living in their localities. Since its inception in 2009, thousands of Big Lunches have been enjoyed up and down the country. And in 2014, 4.83m people took to their streets, gardens and community spaces to join in the fun. We want to hear from you if the event sounds like something you and your local community would like to try. We can help organise and promote your lunch. The most important thing is that the lunch includes as many of your neighbours as possible. Get in touch by calling 01202 264422 or emailing getinvolved.php@poole.gov.uk.

Fancy holding a Big Lunch in your community? Then get in touch!

At Home | Spring 2015

Up to 2,500 homes could be built in Poole over the next 15 years.

Poole could benefit from more retail and leisure units.

IT’S ALL PART OF THE MASTERPLAN What will Poole look like in 2031? Following consultation with the local community, Borough of Poole has published a document which sets out ambitious plans for the town centre’s development. Here’s a quick snapshot of how Poole could look in the future… Everyone’s talking about a Poole “masterplan” but what exactly is it? Ten years ago Borough of Poole launched a planning and design document to guide the rejuvenation and development of Poole town centre. The guidance shaped several successful projects which you can see today, including the Twin Sails Bridge, ASDA, Poole Quarter and the new RNLI buildings.

At Home | Spring 2015

Borough of Poole has since updated the document to bring everything up to date and provide forward-thinking advice up until 2031.

What does the plan aim to do? The plan is driven by some clear objectives: to extend the heart of Poole; improve connectivity across the town; strengthen Poole’s unique character; and diversify the town’s economic base.

In real terms, the plan recommends the development of 2,500 new homes, new retail and leisure facilities, improved waterfront access and public spaces, better pedestrian and cycle links, and more links to Poole’s port.

Why have a plan for Poole? Isn’t the town okay as it is? Like a lot of towns, Poole’s landscape suffers from poor integration between its historic landmarks and its more modern, urban features. Architecture from the 1960s and 1970s, which was considered attractive at the time, is now perceived as bland and uninspiring (the Dolphin Centre, train station and bus station being just a few examples).

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MASTERPLAN • Provide new facilities for Poole Rowing Club and Poole Sea Scouts. • Provide 24/7 links through the Dolphin Centre to connect the High Street and High Street North. • Remodel or relocate the bus station to create a high quality waiting area. The masterplan recommends the development of a new public quayside.

• Provide a new or refurbished train station. • Provide a pedestrian link over the railway line between Kingland Crescent and Sainsbury’s supermarket.

There’s generally a lack of good quality public spaces in the town, a lot of the current street furniture needs replacing, and not all of the waterfront is accessible. There’s a high number of vacant retail units (16% in 2013). Poole Town is the fourth most deprived ward in Poole, followed closely by Hamworthy, so the plan aims to change these areas for the better.

• Provide pedestrian connections between Lagland Street and the High Street. Principle areas of change in Poole town centre.

What areas could benefit from development? There are over 40 hectares of land which has development potential within the town centre. Borough of Poole has identified three “principle areas of change”, each with their own strengths and weaknesses: • The regeneration area (including the former power station site, former Sydenhams yard, land between Poole Bridge and Twin Sails Bridge, land between Twin Sails Bridge and the RNLI, Poole port, and Lower Hamworthy). • Town centre north (including the Dolphin Centre, Dolphin Pool, Kingland Road area, train station, Poole Stadium, and Sainsburys Go Active area). • Rest of the town centre (including Lifeboat Quay, area east of Hunger Hill, West Quay Road, Thistle hotel, and Lagland Street).

An improved retail experience should be offered at the Dolphin Centre. Borough of Poole has identified lots of potential improvements that could be made to these areas, from adding more trees and green spaces, to building cycle paths and underground car parks. You can read the guidance in full at Poole libraries and online at www.poole.gov.uk/planning-andbuildings/regeneration/regenerationmasterplan.

At Home | Spring 2015

ARE YOU READY FOR BLOOM IN JUNE? PHP’s gardening competition is making a comeback this year, and the time’s come to get your entry in!

ENTRY FORM Please enter me/us in the BLOOM IN JUNE gardening competition in the following category/ies (you may enter more than one category) Open to all Best front garden (1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes of vouchers £25, £20, £15)

If you read the last issue of At Home, you’ll know that our gardening competition – Bloom in June – is back with a bang. It couldn’t be easier to take part. Simply pick a category, complete the entry form opposite and send it to:

Best back garden (prizes as above) Best pot/container or basket garden (prizes as above) Open to young people and children Tallest sunflower (aged 15 and under) (1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes £25, £20, £15)

Resident Involvement Team FREEPOST PHP Alternatively, you can enter online at www.yourphp.org.uk/bloom.

Best display by a youth club (a single prize of £50) Best young gardener (aged 15 and under) (1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes £25, £20, £15) Open to community applications Best sheltered scheme communal garden (1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes £25, £20, £15)

The closing date for applications is Monday 1st June 2015. A judging panel will visit the gardens during the week commencing Monday 29th June 2015. (Please note if we have a large number of entries we may need to extend this timescale!) Winners will be announced in the next issue of At Home and entrants will be invited to a celebration event in September when we will present the winners with their prizes. Good luck!

Best community vegetable garden (1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes £25, £20, £15) Open to anyone who does not have a garden or who is unable to garden Best artistic interpretation of a garden e.g. painting, drawing, model or photo (a single prize of £20) Name Address Tel Email Age (if entering sunflower competition) Name of club or scheme (if entering on behalf of a community project)

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GETTING INVOLVED GETS EVEN BETTER We’ve introduced some fantastic new ways for you to get involved in what we do.

Last year, the Resident Involvement Team launched a document to give PHP residents more opportunities – and more support – to work on behalf of people in their communities. We rely on involved residents to distribute important information, gather feedback on services, organise events and help run estate inspections. Many of these residents, who work on a voluntary basis, attended our launch event, where we presented certificates of achievement to recognise their valuable contributions. The new resident involvement guidance document, which you can view at www.yourphp.org.uk/involve, describes the different ways you can have your say and what you can expect from us in return. Among the changes is the creation of four new panels. These are groups that meet on a regular basis to discuss different aspects of PHP’s work. They provide a fantastic way for you to directly influence our services.

The Home panel relates to repairs and maintenance, major works, decent homes, energy efficiency and adaptations. The Tenancy panel discusses empty properties, housing demand and allocations, tenancy management, under-occupation and overcrowding. The Tenant Involvement and Empowerment panel meets to talk about complaints and compliments, community groups, engagement of under represented groups, consultation at national and local level. The Neighbourhood and Community panel is centred around grounds maintenance, cleanliness of communal areas, fire safety, environment, volunteering, anti-social behaviour, community events and sheltered housing. The new panels will be up and running from April, so if you’d like to become a member, or just find out more information, please contact the team on 01202 264422 or email getinvolved.php@poole.gov.uk. And if you would like to keep in touch with the work we’re doing, and what’s happening in your neighbourhood, please let us know and we will add you to our resident involvement mailing list!

At Home | Spring 2015

COMMUNITY HUB LAUNCHED AT BEECH HOUSE Advice about housing, banking, debt, unemployment and volunteering is available all at the same place for the first time in Poole. The Worshipful Mayor of Poole, Cllr Peter Adams, has officially launched a “one stop shop” for residents needing advice about housing, banking, debt, unemployment and volunteering. Offices at Beech House – PHP’s HQ since 2004 – have been transformed to provide new homes for some high-profile and well-recognised local organisations, including Sandbourne Housing Association, Poole Citizens Advice Bureau, Coastal Community Savings & Loans, Poole Council for Voluntary Service, and Poole Well-being Collaborative. The ground floor and reception area has been fully refurbished and reconfigured, new meeting spaces added on all floors, and a brand new residents’ resource centre, where members of the community can access IT facilities and the internet for free, set up on the top floor. (They can also enjoy fantastic views of Poole Harbour!) PHP took over the head lease of the Wimborne Road site in 2013 and we will continue to operate much of our activities from our current offices. Our search for “partners” which would complement our services started last year, and it is hoped that residents will now be able to make use of several of the organisations during a single visit to Beech House. Su Spence, PHP’s Director of Finance and Resources, who led the refurbishment project, said: “We are really pleased to be able to launch the new community hub, which will add real benefit not just to PHP residents but to the whole community in Poole. We have already seen real improvements in the services we offer and things can only get better in the future.” Find out more at www.yourphp.org.uk/communityhub.

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Beech House is now home to several of Poole’s most useful and sought-out local organisations.

NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR BMX TRACK BMX dirt ramps have received an overhaul thanks to help from youngsters living in Newtown. Local children have got stuck into redeveloping a recreation area to make it more inviting for all residents. The old BMX area at Haskells Recreation Ground used to be detached from the main recreational space, which boasts a well-used football pitch and play area. But following consultation with local residents, including many young users of the area, the BMX section has now been re-modelled and re-landscaped. Initial works included the removal of fences and the thinning of the woodland to allow better views of the BMX dirt ramps and surrounding areas. In addition, the existing BMX ramps needed attention as they had become overgrown and were unsuitable for use to all but the most daring of riders. There are also plans for new steps and a gravel path to be installed.

Approximately 30 young people came forward after last year’s public consultation, wanting to get involved with saving and improving this space. In January this year, they took part in a council-led “design day” where the views of all users were listened to and plans were made. Youngsters worked with council officers and contractors to re-shape the soil mounds and create a much improved layout of ramps and jumps. Wheelbarrows, spades and shovels were wielded by the young people in tandem with the excavators and dumper trucks shifting large loads of top soil. They even had the opportunity to test the new ramps and jumps as the works were taking place.

accomplish, it was amazing to see what can be achieved. The end result is really rewarding.” Councillor Xena Dion, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Parks and Open Spaces, Borough of Poole, said: “It is great to see the local residents playing such a huge part in breathing new life into an important area of their community. “They are a credit to their generation and they should feel really proud of their achievements.” The BMX works, with a budget of approximately £10,000, are being funded by developer contributions and are part of a wider scheme to improve the open spaces and play areas in Newtown.

Local resident Joe Dowty said: “Once you put your back into the work that you wanted to

Youngsters work with staff from Borough of Poole to redevelop Haskells BMX track in Newtown.

At Home | Spring 2015

FAMILIES MOVE INTO NEW PHP HOMES Responding to the demand for more affordable housing in Poole, we’ve turned a former garage block site into six splendid family homes. Delighted residents now have “a lovely place to live” after the Mayor of Poole, Cllr Peter Adams, welcomed families to the first set of new, energy-efficient council homes to be built in the town for two decades. Borough of Poole, PHP and construction firm C.G. Fry & Son have worked together to transform a previously underused site at Bearwood into a development of six modern, family homes. Each home benefits from three bedrooms, a back garden and an allocated parking space. The site was identified as having excellent potential for redevelopment, particularly as the new homes, which have taken just 12 months to build, set a new standard for council-rented dwellings in Poole. The properties benefit from a contemporary internal and external design, attractive landscaping, and

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exciting energy-efficiency measures designed to reduce carbon emissions and help residents save money on their energy bills. The Mayor of Poole handed over the keys to the first family – Rebecca Lennard, 33, and her children Keeleigh, 12, and Oakley, 11, during a special launch event. Cutting the ribbon, Cllr Adams said: “What is important is not the houses but the people who now have a lovely place to live, provided by Borough of Poole and PHP.”

Joe Logan, Chief Executive, Poole Housing Partnership, said: “These fantastic homes set a new standard for council-rented properties in Poole. Built to a high specification and featuring state-ofthe-art energy efficiency measures, the homes have been developed with a sustainable future very much in mind. The project is just the start of an exciting programme to bring more much-needed affordable housing to Poole.”

PHP has worked with the community to minimise the impact of the building works. Following consultation with local people in late 2013, the plans were revised to incorporate more parking spaces to satisfy the needs of new and existing King John Avenue residents. Residents were also invited to an exclusive “open house” event to see inside the new homes, meet the project team and tell us about their experiences during the build.

Watch the build from start to finish on our website:

www.yourphp.org.uk/newhomes

BEST BITS • There’s air-source heat pump technology (above) in each home which provides heating and hot water • The homes all meet “Code 4” of the government’s national standard for the sustainable design and construction, meaning they have been built above the current minimum standards. • The homes have been thoroughly insulated to minimise heat loss and carbon emissions. • We’ve installed good-quality fencing, ground anchors and potting sheds to enhance the living environment.

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Trinidad Village will enable residents to live independently in a home of their own.

WHAT IS EXTRA CARE? As work continues on the new Trinidad Village development, we take a look at the need for extra care housing in Poole. If you’ve driven down Rossmore Road recently, you’ll have noticed a lot of activity on the Trinidad House site. The bungalows and common room facing the main road have been demolished and the first bricks will soon be laid for what will become a 54-unit extra care facility called Trinidad Village – a project developed by Borough of Poole, PHP and the Homes & Communities Agency. Extra care offers enhanced support and facilities to older people and adults with care and support needs to live independently in a home of their own.

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It brings together services offered in residential care with the accommodation and lifestyle provided by traditional, good-quality housing. Its focus is on quality of life, as well as quality of care. With the number of older people living in Poole rising, and an increasing number of very elderly people requiring higher levels of care, Trinidad Village will provide the level of support needed to enable these residents to remain part of their community. Trinidad Village is due to welcome its first residents in Summer 2016. You can stay up to date with the project at www.yourphp.org.uk/trinidad.

Extra care: • Enables residents to continue to self-care and enjoy their independence. • Offers privacy but still provides access to other services and facilities. • Offers a preferable choice to residential care. • Helps residents take care of themselves for longer, and medical care is brought in when needed. • Provides facilities, including a restaurant, spa and outside spaces, which both residents and the wider community can enjoy.

We can help residents move to smaller homes.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT DOWNSIZING? PHP is running a scheme to help residents move to smaller, more suitable homes. In the last 12 months, the Transfer Enablement Scheme has supported residents across Poole to downsize to a more suitable home of their choice. Set up following changes to welfare benefit, and to prevent residents falling into rent arrears, we’ve helped 54 households move to more manageable homes, including moving from a onebedroom general needs property to sheltered accommodation.

Our tenancy support officer can help residents with: • The Dorset HomeChoice application process. • Monitoring of the application and the bidding process. Once a home has been allocated, support will be given with: • Planning the move. • Informing utility companies. • Change of address forms. • Payment of removal costs. Each transfer is tailored to the resident’s needs, and we can visit you at home to go through the process with you.

Feedback from residents: Mr & Mrs Harris said: “We had a four-bed home which was far too big for us to manage, so we received help moving to sheltered accommodation. The support was wonderful and there was no hassle at all. On the day of the move, the company we used was very kind understanding and professional throughout. We love our new flat and it is great to be able to join in with the activities on site. Our way of life has improved 100%!” Miss Cooper said: “I received help with the application and then the bidding process, once allocated a flat of my choice. I had help with packing up and the removal costs were paid for. This is an absolutely great service I would not have had the confidence to move without it.” If you would like to know more about how the scheme works please contact Jane Holloway on 01202 264424 or 07500 669037 (Jane works Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays).

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SPOTLIGHT ON UNTANGLING YOUR DEBTS Are you struggling to manage your debts? Do you want to get it sorted but don’t know where to start? Then we’re here to help!

Access free debt advice

“THE RESTART SCHEME ENABLES YOU TO PAY YOUR CURRENT YEAR CHARGES AND AT THE END OF YEAR ONE, WESSEX WATER WILL REDUCE YOUR DEBT BY AN EQUIVALENT AMOUNT.”

PHP’s Your Money Team can help you to take your first steps to becoming debt-free. We can help to untangle your debts, and find the best solution for your needs, by putting you in touch with a FREE debt advice agency. It may be that you start with £1 offer letters to your creditors and move on to a longer-term solution where you pay the debt agency, which shares all your money among your creditors (be aware that there are many debt agencies that charge a fee and only part of your payment actually goes towards your debts). Examples of free debts agencies are: • Stepchange 0800 138 1111 (freephone, including many major mobile networks) • Payplan 0800 280 2816 (mobile calls may be cheaper on 020 7760 8980) • National Debt Line 0808 808 4000 (freephone, including many major mobile networks)

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• Christians Against Poverty 0800 328 0006 (visiting service provider)

Remember: Your Money Team is here to help you to take control of your money. If you need support with benefits, budgeting or managing your debts, please contact us on 01202 264400, or email yourmoney@poole.gov.uk.

Are you experiencing water debt? Water debt is very common but there are schemes available to help you. If you have a meter and use a lot of water you may be entitled to a reduction in your bill via WaterSure, a scheme which caps your bill. To be eligible, you must be on a certain benefit and either receive Child Benefit for three children, or suffer from a medical condition that means you use a significant amount of water. Find out more at www.wessexwater.co.uk. Wessex Water’s TAP assistance programme could help you if you are struggling to pay your water bill. There are a few schemes to choose from, depending on your situation. For example, the Restart Scheme enables you to pay your current year charges and at the end of year one, Wessex Water will reduce your debt by an equivalent amount. Then, in year two, if you continue to pay your current year charges, Wessex Water we will clear your remaining debt and you will be back on track. Please call 0345 600 3 600 to talk to a Wessex Water advisor.

Have you considered a Charis Grant? Need help with utility debt, other essential priority bills or household items? There are some grants available to pay off some or all of your debts (depending on what they are) – however, these schemes are designed to help those who most need it and whilst you can apply, it doesn’t mean you will automatically be successful. Charis Grants work with the following companies who provide the help: • British Gas • EDF Energy • nPower • First Utility • ScottishPower Online applications can be completed for some of the above please search for “Charis Grants” for more details or contact Your Money Team directly.

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Susan Young receives the keys to her new balcony from Keepmoat’s Joe Southwick and Clair Gaylard.

BRAVO FOR BALCONIES As the Sterte refurbishment nears completion, the first residents celebrate getting the keys to their new balconies. Happy Sterte residents now have access to brand-new, fully enclosed balconies, marking one of the final stages of PHP’s major refurbishment project. The balconies, which were once bleak and cramped, have been replaced with comfortable and attractive “outdoor” living spaces. Each balcony boasts almost 10m2 of space (which is about enough to create an extra room!) The spacious enclosures also protect the tower blocks from the effects of poor weather by addressing a problematic coldbridge area in each flat. As a result, the temperature of the rooms is likely to rise by several degrees. Almost all residents will be able to use the extra room throughout the year. The units all drain down to the ground through channels in the corner posts, while residents can also fold back the upper section to ventilate the space and keep the enclosures clean.

At Home | Spring 2015

The whole site at Sterte is being cleared as our contractor, Keepmoat, makes the final touches to the refurbished blocks. Work is due to start on the surrounding outside space, which faces Holes Bay Road, using a design chosen by Sterte residents. The landscaping work is expected to be complete in April 2015. PHP’s New Roots Co-ordinator Clare Sutton will also be working with residents to develop their own community foodgrowing project (similar to the PHPsupported garden in Alderney West), with raised beds for growing fruit and vegetables. Clare said: “All residents will be very welcome to come along to weekly gardening sessions, which PHP will support, or take part in whatever way suits them. We also plan to sow the wildflower meadow areas as part of a community project and, again, we very much hope lots of residents will want to be involved in this.”

Sterte residents can now enjoy a comfortable “outside” space.

FINDING THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS A new service aimed at sign-posting residents to sources of help and support has just launched in Poole.

Do you know someone who could benefit from access to non-medical local activities, social groups and advice? Poole Well-being Collaborative is a local organisation which could point you in the right direction. Its new initiative, Poole Social Prescription Service, provides free and confidential support based on the needs and interests of Poole residents, making it a personalised experience. The service is aimed at those who feel socially excluded, are out of work or unable to work due to sickness, experience high levels of anxiety or suffer from low confidence or selfesteem. It aims to reduce pressure on busy family doctors and find alternatives to help people experiencing depression and bereavement, among other issues.

Poole Well-being Collaborative can help direct you to sources of help and support in Poole.

Poole Social Prescription Service is open to anyone who lives in Poole, following referral from their GP, social worker, health care professional, housing officer or family member. You can also self-refer to the service. To find out more visit www.pwbcollaborative.org.uk/psps.

Disabled Information Team (DIT) Do you have a physical disability? Are you looking for support or a sympathetic ear? The Disabled Information Team could help you. DIT is a group of residents with disabilities who are able to help people who suffer with mobility, sight, hearing or mental health issues. The team is accredited through the Citizens Advice Bureau and will do their very best to advise and guide you through any problems you might have. To find out more, please call 01202

888255.

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Claire Wade presents the Happy Snappers with their new laptop.

POOLE PAPS BACK SNAPPING Camera-clicking residents receive new laptop – thanks to Facebook! A camera club has expressed its delight at the success of a social media campaign to help replace equipment stolen during a pre-Christmas break-in. Members of the Happy Snappers club, all aged 60 and over, were left devastated after their shared computer – containing many irreplaceable photographs – was stolen from the common room at PHP’s Cinnamon Lane sheltered scheme. The 12-strong group get together on a monthly basis to critique their work, and mount and display their favourite shots for fellow residents to enjoy. But the meetings were temporarily interrupted following the theft of the laptop, which wasn’t insured as it was stored in a communal area. When news of the break-in reached PHP, Community Involvement Officer Claire Wade wasted no time in reaching out to

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the local community for help getting the club up and running again. Claire’s crowdfunding project attracted significant interest on social media, eventually leading to a meeting with IT, media and marketing company 2xStream, which offered to donate a refurbished Apple laptop, preloaded with imageediting software, free of charge. Claire said: “The camera club provides a fantastic opportunity for older people to get together and enjoy sharing their passion for photography, so having their laptop stolen was a massive blow. But thanks to the support we received on

Facebook and Twitter, the message soon spread and the club now has the use of a superb new piece of kit.” Chair of Happy Snappers Cliff Densley, 82, said: “Happy Snappers has been running since 2005 and this was the first time we experienced having any of our equipment stolen. We’re delighted that the club has returned to business and usual.” Happy Snappers is open to all Poole residents over the age of 55. The club meets every month and doesn’t charge any fees to attend. To find out more please email Claire Wade or call 01202 264310.

TABLE TOP SALE Get down to Cinnamon Lane on Saturday 18th April 2015 from 10am for brick-a-brack, refreshments and a prize raffle. For details please call Jean May on 01202 674682.

INTRODUCING… THE HELPDESK The nerve centre of PHP is a group of hard-working, committed and knowledgeable members of staff who are dedicated to giving residents the best customer service experience. Meet PHP’s Helpdesk team! Who works on the Helpdesk? Our friendly team is made up of Customer Service Officers (CSOs) Abbey, Becky, Clare, Stacey, Elaine, Abi, Natasha, Rachael, Jen and Caroline, and Senior Customer Service Officer Angie. Each CSO is also a trained receptionist, so the team is based both on the Helpdesk and on Beech House reception.

What does the Helpdesk do? The team acts as a first point of contact for residents and people who work with PHP to provide help, support and assistance on a huge array of issues. From logging repair requests, to arranging inspections, processing orders and directing enquiries to relevant PHP departments, there isn’t much that the Helpdesk doesn’t get involved with! An important part of the CSO’s role is to keep up to date with developments within PHP so residents benefit from a “one stop shop” when they call up or visit us for help.

To facilitate this, each member of the team spends time working alongside colleagues in our Technical, Neighbourhood, Support and Sheltered teams to build their knowledge so they can answer residents’ enquiries quickly and efficiently.

When am I likely to see or talk to a member of the Helpdesk? When you call us, a CSO is likely to be the first person you speak to. Similarly, if you visit Beech House, a member of the team will be working on the reception desk and will be happy to help you. You may also hear from a CSO if we need to arrange a visit to your home – for example, a contractor to carry out any repair work.

How can I get in touch with the Helpdesk? It couldn’t be easier to get in touch with a member of the team. You can call 0800 652 3900 or 0300 200 3900 (from your mobile phone). Alternatively, you can email the team at repairs.php@poole.gov.uk or call into Beech House reception.

At Home | Spring 2015

How Belmont Court’s new sensory garden could look, with pathways, vegetable plot, summer house and BBQ area.

BELMONT’S NEW BACK GARDEN Residents at Belmont Court are set to benefit from an exciting new sensory garden to enjoy and explore. Work is underway to turn Belmont Court’s garden into a pleasant outside space to support rest, relaxation, fun and friendship.

But the new designs aim to enliven and inspire by dividing the garden into four distinct sensory zones, each with its own theme and distinct features.

Residents and staff at the extra care facility in Parkstone have been involved in planning the sensory garden, which will include a range of structural elements and types of planting – all designed to take people on a journey and create opportunities for stimulating experiences.

At the front of the building, seating areas, raised beds, trellis and evergreen planting will be introduced to enhance the existing open, avenue-like environment.

The existing outside space is made up of a simple hard-standing landscape which encircles the perimeter of the sheltered scheme. Residents and visitors currently use this path as a pedestrian circuit.

At Home | Spring 2015

A “wildlife walk” area, which will provide an elevated look-out so residents can enjoy spectacular views of Poole Harbour, will be developed at the north west side. We hope the woodland feel of this space will continue to attract squirrels, birds and other wildlife!

The garden will also bring the sights and smells of the Mediterranean to Poole by offering a new courtyard with a pergola, formal planting and small seating area. Evergreen pines, rosemary and euphorbias will produce attractive smells reminiscent of summer holidays. The main focus of the work, however, will be to build a wheelchair-accessible south garden which will benefit from a rose garden, vegetable plot (for residents to grow their own food), summer house, BBQ seating area, green lawn and insect garden. The first phase of the sensory garden is expected to open for residents to use in late Spring 2015.

Cut out and keep this page you never know when you might need it!

MEND IT MIKE PHP’s Director of Technical Services helps you get to grips with maintenance issues around your home.

If water is not coming out of all the holes in your shower head, it’s probably because limescale is building up inside it. Try rubbing the surface of the shower head to remove any limescale on the outside. If this doesn’t solve the problem, you may need to descale the inside. Here’s how:

1 If possible, unscrew the hose attachment from the shower head. There may be a retaining screw in the centre of the rose.

2 Soak the parts in a descaling agent or white vinegar in a bucket overnight. 3 When soaking is complete, run the shower to waste for one minute.

4 Re-assemble the parts, checking that the rubber washer for the hose is in place. This seals the joint and prevents it leaking.

Mike

If you have any maintenance problems you’d like solved please email us at phpcomms@poole.gov.uk and we’ll forward them to Mend It Mike!

Rent calendar 2015/16 Payment due dates Refer to this list to see when you need to make your rent payments, and tick them off once made. Please ensure you keep your receipts safe. Payment due date

Amount paid

Date paid

Payment due date

06/04/2015

05/10/2015

13/04/2015

12/10/2015

20/04/2015

19/10/2015

27/04/2015

26/10/2015

04/05/2015

02/11/2015

11/05/2015

09/11/2015

18/05/2015

16/11/2015

25/05/2015

23/11/2015

01/06/2015

30/11/2015

08/06/2015

07/12/2015

15/06/2015

14/12/2015

22/06/2015

21/12/2015

29/06/2015

28/12/2015

06/07/2015

04/01/2016

13/07/2015

11/01/2016

20/07/2015

18/01/2016

27/07/2015

25/01/2016

03/08/2015

01/02/2016

10/08/2015

08/02/2016

17/08/2015

15/02/2016

24/08/2015

22/02/2016

31/08/2015

29/02/2016

07/09/2015

07/03/2016

14/09/2015

14/03/2016

21/09/2015

21/03/2016

28/09/2015

28/03/2016

Amount paid

Date paid

Rent free week (NB If you have arrears you need to maintain your payments during these weeks.)