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YOUR MAGAZINE FROM
FOR RESIDENTS AND LEASEHOLDERS
k l a t
SUMMER 2016
SENSATIONAL
SEVENTIES
EDITION MAKE FLOWER CROWNS
AND SUN CATCHERS
GIVEAWAYS:
RECYCLING BAGS
LURKING TROLLS BOOKS
REVEALED: YOU TOLD US WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT
HOUSETALK
WIN TICKETS TO VICTORIOUS FESTIVAL
wn you cool Groove on do fluff off your cats, flick the your Demis stylus, dig out le a cheese n’ Roussos, nibb and slink pineapple one, sensational back into the us for our seventies with er special. sizzling summ skinney on all We’ve got the in Portsmouth that’s going on er months, over the summ our reader ’s the results on on local survey, news Pam helps activities, and a rather someone with . pongy problem flares and get Fish out your ! n this summer your groove o
TROLL-TACULAR PRIZES TO BE WON! Our award-winning campaign 'Beware of Lurking Trolls' has helped thousands of children to protect themselves when using the internet and digital devices.
nal ditio , a r t In tales Your child may have seen the fairy re do Trolls at school, or had a reading whe ive? sl session of the book which tells a Troll story demonstrating the dangers of the internet, and shows in simple terms how to stay safe.
We have 10 copies of the book up for grabs! To enter answer Melware’s question. The first 10 names picked at random will receive their very own Troll-tacular book!
For more information and free stuff to download, simply visit www.portsmouth.gov.uk and search for 'Trolls'. Closing date for entries: 1 August 2016.
:
In this issue
pg 3 y! craft Top tips - get pg 4 en re g s e o g b u H Somerstown pg 5 s lt su re Reader survey pg 6 rk Pa h ig Le in What’s on? pg 9 t n e m p lo Resident deve pg 8 Ask Pam pg 10 Money Talk pg 12 s Tickets WIN Victoriou pg 18 e im cr te a Reporting h pg 20 Out and about
You can get this Portsmouth City Council information in large print, Braille, audio or in another language by calling 023 9283 4479. House Talk is produced by Portsmouth City Council. www.portsmouth.gov.uk House Talk is printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable inks. e this magazine when you have finished with it.
for Portsmouth Please recycl
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Resident dev elopment team : Tel: 0800 032 1531 Email: Particip ation@portsm outhcc.gov.uk Somerstown C entral, Tyseley Road, Portsmouth PO 5 4EZ Leaseholder services (call by postcode) PO1, PO2, PO 7 .................. ... call 9283 45 PO3, PO4, PO 61 5 .................. ... call 9284 14 PO6, PO9, PO 86 8 .................. ... call 9283 48 45 Area offices: Buckland........ ..................... ... call 9260 65 Somerstown.... 00 ..................... . call 9260 63 Landport........ 00 ..................... ... call 9260 64 Leigh Park........ 00 ..................... . call 9230 69 Paulsgrove...... 00 ..................... .. call 9260 6030 Portsea.......... ..................... ... call 9260 62 Wecock Farm 00 ....................... .. call 9260 61 00 Out of hours ....................... call 9282 4244 www.facebo ok.com/love housetalk
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Advertisements: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of advertisements or sponsorship in this publication, Portsmouth City Council cannot accept any liability for errors and omissions. We will not accept any responsibility for claims made by advertisers and their inclusion in House Talk, and this should not be taken as an endorsement by Portsmouth City Council. Competitions: Competitions in House Talk are open only to residents who live in a Portsmouth City Council property. They are not open to employees of PCC. One entry per household.
s i p T Top The sun is out, and music is in the air. We've been inspired by the festival spirit of the 70s to bring you these top craft tips, beautifully made by children from Landport Adventure Playground.
Suncatchers
to make These pretty round sun catchers are easy cost very and are recycled from plastic lids so they by using et little and teach kids to care for our plan w away. household items we would normally thro What you need Transparent plastic lids Tissue paper Scissors White PVA glue
Boho Flower Crown
What you need
Jute rope/twine, scissors, artificial flowers of your choice, glue gun & glue sticks, or strong glue Method 1. Measure around your head wit h the jute, then cut three pieces about 1½ times big ger than the circumference of your head. Tie the three bits together on one end. 2. Place something heavy on the knotted end and loosely braid the jute together to ma ke a plait. Tie a knot in the end. 3. Place the braid around your hea d then glue the overlapping pieces together. Cut off the knotted ends. 4. Glue the flowers into place wh ere you want them in the braid. 5. Once you are happy with the pos ition of the flowers let it dry completely. Let you r hair down and wear it!
Brush Ribbon Sticky tape Method suncatcher 1. Cut a length of ribbon to hang the en and tape to the plastic lid (this will be hidd by the tissue paper). or more 2. Cut tissue paper into random patterns er. detailed shapes – whichever you pref pieces 3. Brush the glue onto the tissue paper may and push onto the lid (younger children ). find it easier to glue the lid instead Leave to dry. shine 4. Hang in your window and let the sun through!
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Stay gas safe
Solar panels spark a new era for green energy During the past 18 months, our housing energy team has installed solar PV panels at over 150 sites, which helps us to save money on energy bills and makes Portsmouth a greener city. The latest installations will generate around 1.5GWh of clean electricity annually, providing enough electricity to power 350 three bedroom properties. The panels enable us to save thousands of pounds every month and reduce our carbon footprint by more than 800 tonnes per year. During last November and December the biggest array was installed on Somerstown Central. 700 PV panels and six inverters were installed as part of a 175kW system on the gradual curving roof. The panels provide 24 hour free green electricity to the entire building. During installation, the team really had their work cut out for them, working in very poor weather to meet a complicated planning specification. This required the panels to be installed away from the edges of the roof and also away from the shadow of Edgbaston House. Thankfully the work was completed on time, over six weeks, and the impressive array is now almost invisible from ground level. With the longer days of sunshine, the system is already making a big dent in the building's electricity bills with over £20,000 expected savings this year. Further installations are planned in the coming months.
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Bottles containing gas, such as patio gas, barbecue gas and Calor ga s can become a fir e risk if stored inside flats and m aisonettes. These bottles mus t be stored and m aintained correctly to avoid the risk of explos io n, so please do not bring them in to your block. If yo u do so, you will breach your tena ncy agreement. A n ex plosion poses a huge risk to the safety of residents and the block. Using a gas-fuelle d heater could resu lt in condensation and mould in your property. If you re quire alternative heating please sp eak to your hous ing office. If you use medical gasses like oxygen please tell your scheme manager or housing office as these may need to be stored in a specific way, or we might need to advise the fire service.
GET ON YOUR BIKE!
r d ability can sign up fo Cyclists of any age an ily m Fa th dal Portsmou free tickets to the Pe 16 at Lakeside North Festival of Cycling 20 is is a on Sunday 3 July. Th Harbour, 11am–3pm d children, beginners an great opportunity for e th t ou th ng together wi families to enjoy cycli worry of vehicles. In addition to the 3km se traffic-free cycle cour ities tiv ac e fre there will be ri fa sa including a cycle ult nature trail, bike assa e course and balance bik assault course for preschoolers, a chance to ‘bling your bike’ and scenic picnic areas to enjoy a snack stop. rs Everyone who registe before the event will Brody at Pedal receive a free cycling Portsmo at uth 2015 up goody bag. Sign k; .u www.eventbrite.co th'. Select the search 'Pedal Portsmou require from the drop number of tickets you down box. k or w.portsmouth.gov.u For more info visit ww outh Facebook page. 'like' the Pedal Portsm
! s t l u s e r vey
ur Reader’s S
Do you always receive your quarterly issue of House Talk?
We invited you, ou r beloved readers, to give us feedback on the magazine in ou r winter issue, so th at we could find ou t how you feel abou t it and the approa ch we take. Check out the resu
lts below...
How easy/hard do you find House Talk to read?
Always
Usually
Easy
Sometimes
Neither hard nor easy
Rarely
Hard
Never How useful do you find House Talk for tenant and council information?
Very easy
Only a small number of respondents’ (3%) felt that the magazine was hard to read, with 94% finding the magazine either very easy to read or easy to read. Do you like the themed issue approach we take with each issue of House Talk?
Very useful
Reasonably useful
Yes, always
Yes, sometimes No
No one found the magazine not useful or very un-useful. Do you trust the information in House Talk?
Have you ever taken action due to something you have read in House Talk?
Always
Yes
Usually
No
Sometimes
Unsure
90% of those who completed the survey rated the magazine as good or very good. 7% were unsure, and 3% rated it poor. This indicates that most of our tenants and leaseholders like and value their House Talk!
Most people were happy with four issues per year and your favourite themed issue was the Winter 2014 80’s Christmas Special, which received 43% of the votes!
Thank you to everyone who filled
in our survey, we appreciate your
feedback!
house talk
5
? n o
s ' t a Wh
rk
at the rP centre, Leigh Pa
ay12spm d s r u h T y t f 10am – Cra 7 July Coasters nets 14 July Peg mag
poms 25 August Pom edgehog 1 September H
the Park 28 July Picnic in (Barton’s m 11.30am-1.30p ) Road play park 4 August oks Covered notebo 11 August g Cookie decoratin 18 August rating Money box deco
books
8 September ses Mobile phone ca Covered 15 September notebooks Cards 22 September Jewellery 29 September marks 6 October Book
ge. subject to chan Sessions may be . ok bo to re e cent Please contact th
Picnic
Thursd
Coffee club
By popular request w e have started a coffe e club. The club meets ever y Wednesday 1pm – 2.30pm. Scheduled activities inc lude chess club, adul t colouring, flower ar ranging, family histo ry, Police drop in, coffee, chat and more.
in the
ay 28 J
uly fro
Park
m 11.3 Food a 0am nd drin k and s will be o m provide e outdo d. or activ ities Contac t Heidi o n heidi.g 023 92 older@ 68 822 5 or em portsm a outhcc .gov.uk il
ST ALBANS PLAY
ACTION O T IN S G IN W S A E R A
ated the In April, we celebr ay area on opening of the pl Leigh Park with St.Albans Road in day launch. a successful play taken two The play area has n and years of consultatio e are delighted preparation so w l-received by that it was so wel site was local families. The outh City designed by Portsm s and built by Council's architect the original Reds Builders and sformed into area has been tran mmunity can something the co . truly be proud of
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include a large The play facilities de, exciting sandpit and hill sli t, zip wire, climbing equipmen g, roundabout giant basket swin g. New picnic and rotating swin installed and tables have been trees planted. underway to Plans are currently r the park with create a new sign fo ns School pupils. help from St. Alba
Great British
Bake Off
Following past success the Resident Development Centre is hosting a Great British Bake Off on Wednesday 13 July.
Simply make a sweet or savoury treat to bring along. Please arrive at 1.15pm to display your entry so judging can begin at 1.30pm. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes available. Spaces are limited so please contact Heidi as soon as possible to book on 023 9268 8225. The baked treats will be sold at the end of the event. All proceeds go to charity.
Fletcher Rawlings bags secure job When Fletcher Rawlings contacted the resident development team in October 2015, he had been out of work for a year following redundancy and he and his wife were struggling to support their young family. Fletcher visited the Leigh Park Resident Participation Centre in Sharps Road to find out what support was available. Fletcher had seen a number of security and doorsupervision roles that interested him, but he lacked the necessary SIA license, so resident development helped him find the appropriate qualification and paid the course fees. This enabled Fletcher to attend the course and achieve the qualification necessary for his license. We were also able to help Fletcher with transport costs and paid for his licence fee. Now Fletcher has a full-time and fulfilling career in the security industry working for a well-known company. He said: "I would recommend the resident development service to any tenants looking for work or training. The resident development officer was very knowledgeable and made the whole process really easy."
YOUNG PEOPLE A RE BUILDING THEIR CAREERS WITH CSCS QUALIF ICATION
In April, 10 young pe ople from Paulsgrove successfully passed their CSCS Level 1 He alth and Safety course at the Hillside Youth Centre in Cheltenham Road. We are proud to say th at every single young person passed with flying co lo urs and are now taking their CSCS exams and fin di ng employment in the construction industr y. We are really keen to arrange another cour se for young people in Paul sgrove. If you would lik e to work in the constru ction industry and ne ed a CSCS card, please contact Billy Ansell on 023 92 84 1519, or pop in to the Hills ide Youth Club, wee kday evenings 6pm – 9pm . For information abou t training and employ ment for Paulsgrove residents, or anywhere else ac ross the city, please call Billy or email billy.ansell@portsm outhcc.gov.uk.
Resident Development Service (RDS) open day
Are you a Portsmouth City Council resident looking for work?
Then come along to the Resident Development Centre drop-in on Tuesday 12 July between 10am and 12.30pm and see how we can help. For all enquiries and bookings, please contact: Heidi Golder on 07930 187285 / 02392 688225 or email heidi.golder@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. One-to-one appointments can be arranged.
s ey rv Su y it un m m Co e lic Po th ou sm rt Po l ra nt Ce r views about how The police are interested in you Portsmouth. they police the central areas of of or witness to a Whether you have been a victim t they know your crime or not, it is important tha needs of everyone in views on how to best meet the the community. enable them to The feedback you provide will ourhoods and allow identify issues within our neighb n needed to improve them to gather the informatio s that matter to you. service and set policing prioritie Fratton or Baffins Live in Charles Dickens, Nelson, links: wards? Please visit the following
www.surveymonkey.com/r/ tsea dickenscharles (Landport, Por and parts of Buckland) www.surveymonkey.com/r/ fratton (Fratton and Baffins) www.surveymonkey.com/r/ and nelsonward (Stamshaw, Tipner parts of Buckland) but still want to If you are not an internet user tsmouth Central participate, please pop into Por d copy. Police station to complete a har
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Pam
Ask Dear Pam,
Credit: The News
our balcony to get some Help! We like to sit out on ne at this time of year, fresh air and enjoy the sunshi ir balcony below us for only our neighbours use the t wafts up smells awful, barbequing. The smoke tha stings our eyes. stinks out my flat, and really ppened, hoping it was a I let it go the first time it ha a regular thing. I asked one-off, but then it became t got a load of aggro and them politely to stop, but jus m around. It gets too hot nasty looks when I'd see the in the summer, and now to have the windows closed e again I'm dreading the sam the weather's warming up thing happening this year. What can I do?
Pam Sa
ys...
Oh my love, this situation stinks - literally! You shouldn't have to feel that way in your own home due to other people's lack of consideration. When the weather's good it’s tempting for people to enjoy a barbecue on their balcony, but when you live in flats you have a responsibility towards your neighbours, and they need to respect that other people might find the smoke and smells offensive. More seriously though, barbeques create a potential fire hazard as you're in such a confined area. There's a real risk that the wind will blow hot embers around and cause a fire. If you have any more problems with your neighbours' barbeques you must tell your housing officer. They will contact your neighbour and explain their responsibilities - there are details of this under section 10 of your tenancy agreement. We don't want to spoil anyone's fun, so they will advise them to use a public space with a barbecue area like communal areas and gardens. For more information about where you can use a barbeque, please contact your local area housing office.
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Joyce Snow – 100 years young! Buckland resident Joyce Snow has celebrated her 100th birthday with a fantastic party and musical surprise. Joyce, who lives at John Marshall Court in Buckland, spent the day celebrating with friends and family. The community room was decked out especially for Joyce with balloons and bunting, and staff whipped up a delicious spread. Joyce and her neighbours were delighted when the Milton Park Primary School choir arrived, and were thrilled to hear the children's beautiful voices. Scheme manager Danny Ardrey said: "We've had a fantastic day celebrating Joyce's birthday. It's been a thrill for her to hear the children sing. I'd like to thank Head Teacher Julie Smith for arranging the visit today and creating lasting memories for everyone involved”. Joyce lived in Alresford before moving to Queens Road in Portsmouth 70 years ago with her husband, Danzy. They had two children – Richard and Cynthia, and are now blessed with eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild! Joyce has worked as a housemaid, post office clerk, switchboard operator and a dairy maid.
nour is issue! we pay ho recipes th f o o p s Join us as r u ssic with o to a 70s cla
o h o b Bev ’s r e n n i d s t h g de l i
Ah there you are, c’mon on in and join us for what I like to call a little afternoo n soiree actually, ye-up. Would you like a little drink? Cheese n’ pineapple one?
You, too, can have a retro boho party just like mine, with these tasty treats. I’ll pop on some Demis Roussos, he’s fantastic actually...
s u o i c a v i V ’s v Be Vol-au-vents 12 vol-au-vent cases 2 medium eggs, boiled for 10 minutes and cooled 2 tbsp mayonnaise 2 tbsp Greek yoghurt 1-2 tsp curry paste 1 or 2 thick slices of ham, roughly chopped
Shell and roughly chop up the eggs. Mix together the mayonnaise, yoghurt and curry paste. Carefully stir in the ham and egg. Spoon the mixture into the pastry cases and serve.
A lil’ Vim and Tonic t we're drinking
wha Because that's
25ml grape juice ge juice 25ml fresh oran 50ml Vimto
Mix, then add
actually!
ice to taste. tonic water and
CChheeeessee ‘‘nn’ ppiinneeaappppllee ’ oonneess Cut cube s of chee se and pin (fresh or eapple tinned) in to square Some che s. eses’ are crumbly, this is the this is it, danger, s o try Gou Edam. Sk da or ewer a cu be of eac cocktail s h w tick and s ith a erve. You try using can even pickled o nions ins tead of pineapple . Ye-up.
I’ve got ver y beautiful di ps... 200m
l may
onna ise t o ket Dash chup of and s Worceste quee r s h ire ze of Salt a lemo sauce n juic nd gr e ound 600 g black rams of pe pepp eled er and c ooke d pra wns 2tbsp
toma
Mix a
ll ing re blend dients to g er un Serve til sm ether in with o b Will y readstick oth. s or n ou do a that for m chos. e?
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k l a t y e mon Tax Credits - could you claim? Tax Credits will eventually be replaced by Universal Credit. Once on Universal Credit you'll be unable to claim Tax Credits.
• Hours at work change
If you're already receiving Tax Credits when you move over to Universal Credit, any extra money you get will be protected. It's thought almost a million people can claim but haven't.
• A young person (aged 16-18) leaves full time education
Check your eligibility at www.gov.uk/qualify-tax-credits
Changes may not mean your benefit goes down, and telling Tax Credits quickly means you won't lose out.
Don't forget your renewal Don't forget to complete your tax credit renewal form and return it by 31 July 2016. If you don't, your payments will stop and you could have an overpayment. If you didn’t recieve your renewal pack by 27 June call HMRC on 0345 300 3900. You can renew your claim by post, phone, or online at Gov.uk - just search 'managing your tax credits'. You might not have to renew your claim, but you need to check all your details are correct, so read the pack carefully. If your circumstances change you should report them quickly, otherwise you could be fined £300 or £3000 if you give wrong information. The main changes you must report are: • Changes in child care costs • You start or stop being a couple
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• Changes in income • A child starts or stops living with you
• You leave the UK for eight weeks • If someone in your household is awarded disability benefits
If you are overpaid you can ask HMRC to check their decision if you think it's wrong, or ask them to review the amount you repay each week.
Need advice? If you have any problems with Tax Credits, speak to your housing officer.
Council tax – single person discount fines
£384.62 a week for couples, and people with children. If your family receives more than the weekly cap from the following benefits, your housing benefit will reduce to get you back under the limit. • Child Benefit • Child Tax Credits • Employment and Support Allowance (Support Group exempt) • Housing Benefit • Incapacity Benefit • Income Support • Jobseeker's Allowance • Maternity Allowance Severe Disablement Allowance • Widowed Parent's Allowance and Bereavement Allowance The limit will now affect more families, especially those with three or more children. Example single parent with three children: Jobseeker's Allowance = £73.10
If you falsely claim to live alone to receive the single person discount, or give false information on a benefit claim, you could be fined. Contact the council tax team to make sure all your details are correct.
Child Benefit = £48.10
Benefit Cap
Weekly benefit income is more than benefit cap, so Housing Benefit reduced by: £10.21 per week
The amount of benefit you and your household get is limited by a cap. Later this year the cap will reduce to: £257.69 a week for single people,
Child Tax Credits = £170.52 Rent for three bedroom property = £103.11 Total income from benefits = £394.83
Example couple with three children:
• You, your partner or a child receive disability benefits
instead of making a new claim for Jobseeker's Allowance.
Jobseeker's Allowance = £114.85
• You or your partner receive Employment and Support Allowance (support Group)
Universal Credit is a bit different to benefits you might have claimed before:
• You receive Carer’s Allowance
• It includes money to help pay your rent so you won't need to claim Housing Benefit.
Child Benefit = £48.10 Child Tax Credits = £170.52 Rent for three bedroom property = £103.11
• You receive Guardian’s Allowance
Total income from benefits = £436.58
• You don't receive Housing Benefit
Weekly benefit income is more than benefit cap, so Housing Benefit reduced by: £51.96 per week
The new cap will start in autumn 2016, but it'll be rolled out gradually, so some people will be affected sooner than others.
If your benefit is capped you will have to pay the difference to stop any rent arrears. You won't be affected if:
Worried how the changes may affect you? Contact your housing officer for advice.
• You're over pension age
Universal Credit
• You're entitled to Working Tax Credits
Universal Credit is now here and some people will need to claim it
Christmas
e are Christmas needn't be a big expense. Ther to ths mon n ways to save money, and with seve plan you could: • Agree a spending limit for each other them • Make or bake gifts instead of purchasing • Decide not to get each other presents but instead spend some quality time together s. If Whatever you decide, planning early really help and s you don't, you could end up getting loan : spending on credit cards which can be expensive
• The whole amount is paid monthly to your bank so you'll need a bank account. • You need to make sure you pay your rent out of your benefit. If you think these differences might cause you problems, make this clear when you make your claim, or speak to your housing officer for help.
Pay to Stay?
The Money Advice Team have had queries about a new scheme that will se e the council rents of fa milies with an income of mor e than £30,000 go up. This is currently be ing debated by MPs and there ar e no definite plans for this to be introduced. We'll keep you updated as things develop.
For example, a loan of £600 from a doorstep est lender could cost you around £1,092 with inter le and you'll need to pay £21 per week for a who year to pay it back. But, if you've got £21 per week to save and you start saving now, you'll have over £500 saved by Christmas, with nothing to pay back!
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WI N Victorious Festival is set to return to Southsea Seafront on August bank holiday weekend, 27-28 August. Last year Victorious was shortlisted for ‘Best Major Festival’ and ‘Best Family Festival’ in the UK Festival Awards.
tickets!
free kids arena and family-friendly atmosphere, currently costing just £30/day. We have two tickets to give away for Saturday 27 August. To be in with a chance to win, just answer the following question:
This year is set to be even bigger, as the line-up is already brimming with major artists such as Manic Street Preachers, Travis, Editors, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Mark Ronson and Will Young.
What is the name of The Boomtown Rats lead singer?
Victorious Festival continues to be one of the best value festivals in the UK this summer with its incredible line-up, huge
c. Bob Gerhart
a. Bob Geldof b. Bob Sneldorf
Email your answer to participation@portsmouthcc.gov.uk, or like our page and message us at lovehousetalk on Facebook. Alternatively post your answer to: House Talk competition, Marketing and Communications, Floor 3, Civic Offices, Portsmouth PO1 2AL. Closing date Friday 22 July.
Great discounts on a host of sports and attractions
the PO1 If you are a Portsmouth resident living in job to PO6 areas and receive income support, king tax seekers allowance, housing benefit, wor , council credit, employment and support allowance credit, you tax support, pension credit or universal activities can get discounts at attractions and sports Card. across the city with a Portsmouth Leisure and You can enjoy money off many sporting ments, allot s, eum mus , cultural activities including golf l Roya the theatres, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Discounts Marines Museum and Blue Reef Aquarium. venues will vary and a complete list of participating be sent to you with your card. Leisure For more information search 'Portsmouth il Card' at www.portsmouth.gov.uk, ema k or visit culturalservices@portsmouthcc.gov.u your local housing office or library. 12
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Get back to a healthier YOU Promised yourself you'll lose weight? Quit smoking? Drink less? Or get fitter? Help is at hand!
One You is here to help you get back to a healthier you. The lifestyle choices you make today can decrease your risk of serious illnesses, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer, by as much as 60%. Making small changes now can improve your health right away, and double your chances of staying healthy as you get older. It's never too late to start. Search 'One You' at www.portsmouth.gov.uk to take a free health quiz and find out what support is available for you, so you can keep those promises to yourself.
Award-winning artist celebrates culture with Somerstown residents... In June Somerstown Central Hub hosted the launch of the ‘We Don’t Need Culture’ exhibition by artist Karl Rudziak. The exhibition celebrates the past twelve month’s portrait work for Karl, who produced a series of oil paintings and sketches of Somerstown residents. Karl has secured funding from Arts Council England to support the project for another year and add more subjects. The project was sparked by a conversation in Karl’s local pub which led him to reconsider the word ‘culture’. It aims to get people who don’t necessarily think of themselves as cultural to consider how culture spills into all areas of the community.
Visitors to the Hub can see the portraits of the 50+ Somerstown residents for free in the Hub as well as Karl’s portrait of Pompey’s most famous supporter, John Westwood, which was displayed at the National Portrait Gallery as part of the prestigious BP Portrait Award exhibition in 2009. The event also celebrated budding young Somerstown artists who entered a competition to paint their own portrait of someone they know. The competition has given the young people the chance to get creative in the community. The Lord Mayor gave out £650 worth of prizes on the night, plus runners-up prizes in each age category of £100, £75 and £25. The top prize, kindly donated by PATCH (People’s Action Team for Community Harmony), went to Shajid Enam, aged 14, who won a £100 Love2Shop voucher and a £100 arts supplies voucher from Hiscock’s Gallery. As well as winning cash prizes, winners have their portraits displayed alongside Karl’s for the whole community to enjoy.
Jo Bennett, our Commercial Property and Leasehold Services Manager, said: “I’m delighted that we were able to support Karl with this important project by hosting the launch event at Somerstown Central Hub. Karl has a natural talent for putting people at their ease and bringing out the best in their characters, which is really evident from these portraits.”
Free lunch! Under 13s get a free lun ch at our r fo s ing adventure playgrounds There are plenty of th fro m 25 July enjoy, til the end of August. children aged 6–13 to games, whether they’re into Run with Food Portsmouth ’s lunch sport or crafts, nature, health, is served 12-1pm on these a da in ys: rt simply fancy taking pa • Po rts ea on Mondays tivities. wide range of fun ac • to So ed me rstown on Tuesdays Children are encourag d an es oic ch • n Paulsgrove and Stamshaw make their ow n. tio ina on ag Wednesdays im eir use th • Buckland and Landport rounds are e adventure Adventure playg fre six s ha th ou m s rts ay Po on Thursdays Saturd open after school, on at better To s. playgrounds, and wh ay lid ho Thursdays there's also a fre and during school g the e healthy y time to visit than durin pla ing lud inc e, 3 course meal for the wh find out mor ch ea en wh s ay lid ole ho family, summer ww. provided by FoodCycle Po festival dates, visit w e play fre a sts ho rts d mo un uth, ro yg pla at King's Church, Fraser portsmouth.gov.uk. Ro ad , festival? Somerstown at 6pm.
Adven tu re Playgroun ds
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Employment support for young people in Paulsgrove
under and from Are you a young person, 19 or work, Paulsgrove, looking to get into education or training? along to our If the answer is yes, you can come g drop-in. nin employment, education and trai available to offer Progression adviser, Ruth Cook, is step into professional support to take that first g and work. education, apprenticeships, trainin ions, completing Ruth can help with researching opt er drop-ins are applications, CVs and interviews. Oth available across the city, too. Friday, 1–3pm The Hillside drop-ins are Monday to b, Cheltenham and 6.30–9pm, Hillside Youth Clu Road, PO6 3PY.
Community Orchard continues to blossom
The development of Cornwallis Community Orchard continues to take shape thanks to a group of hard-working volunteers.
This spring, former Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Cllr Frank Jonas, planted the first fruit tree. He said: "This is a fantastic project for urban green spac es which will be enjoyed by present and future generations. Its success is down to the hard work and co-operation of all those involved and their commitment to provide a natural haven and educational environment for all to enjoy." The fruit trees are now all in place and thriving in the summer sunshine, and the first little pink flowers and daisies are bringing colour to the meadow. The picnic benches and raised beds have now been installed ready for people to sit and enjoy the natural beauty of the orchard. Local residents have been looking after the area , maintaining the planting and, with the help of community wardens, are keeping it litter-free .
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Hilsea residents are riding high with new club A new monthly club in Hilsea has proved a resounding success for residents of Escur Close and The Ridings. Residents were keen to enjoy social activities together but were hampered by the lack of a community room. Scheme manager, Julie Rhodes, was also concerned that some residents were suffering from social isolation due to lack of activities and poor mobility, so she approached the resident development team for help. The club was set up in March and now members meet on the first Wednesday of every month at the nearby Ridings Scout Hall. The residents enjoy refreshments and cake, group games and activities for a small monthly donation. Resident development paid for the room hire, tea, cake and games/ equipment for the first three sessions to get the group started. Members celebrated a special meeting in June with the Townswomen's Guild to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday and the 68th anniversary of the Guild. Resident June Smith said: "The club is nice, friendly and a great opportunity to meet other neighbours you might not always see”. Resident Pat Potter said: "This is a great idea to meet other neighbours, have a chat, cup of tea and cake". Are there people in your block that you think may be suffering from social isolation? You could arrange a resident club to help them. For more information contact your resident development officer, find their contact details on page 2.
Make a caring connection
ting people who We've got a great way of connec g for caring work. need support with people lookin eone needs a It's called the PA Noticeboard. If som life – a personal person to help them with everyday of what they need. assistant or PA – they can post details for the job, and get People looking for work can apply advert. hired by the person who placed the port – whether that's It's ideal for people who need sup driving them to the looking after their daily care, or just what help they need, cinema once a week. They decide and employ their PA directly. rewarding work, It's also great for people looking for . with hours that fit with their lifestyle More info:
t h m ep o r f a st
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• tel: 023 9243 7896 outhcc.gov.uk • email: pa.noticeboard@portsm outhpan.co.uk • visit our website: www.portsm
Councils combine efforts for a stronger service
Earlier this year proposals were put forward for our housing service to work with Gos port Borough Council. Changes to hou sing law, rent levels, budgets, and the sale of hou sing stock, have had an impact in Gosport, and they began to look at new ways of working. In June, we reached an agreement with Gosport to create a shared arrangement for the management of their housing serv ice. James Hill, our deputy director of property and housing will cover the work of the housing serv ice manager, and lead on the creation of the sha red service arrangements. Julie Smith, area hou sing manager for Leigh Park, will provide cover for the work of the head of operations.
What does this mean for me? • Your day to day contact with our housing service will not change, and will con tinue as normal. • Gosport Borough Council rem ain an independent council and will retain a housing service, delivered in Gosport for the ir tenants and leaseholders. • The agreement is not a merge r, simply an arrangement for management and services.
Cllr Steve Wemysss, our Cabinet Me mber for Property and Housing said:
“I am really excited about this opp ortunity; the two services share much in commo n, and there is a lot to be gained from a joint app roach to our challenges.” We’ll keep you up to date with any developments as they progress.
Silver Jubilee rty at street pa ark nP Portsdow
1977
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Reading Well for young people Portsmouth's public libraries now stock a range of books as part of the Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme. The scheme provides information and advice to help young people understand and manage their mental health, physical and emotional wellbeing.
as memoirs, graphic novels and fiction. The books can be referred by health professionals as a stand-alone treatment, or can be recommended alongside medication and/or talking therapies as part of a supported treatment programme, or you can self-refer.
Reading Well Books on Prescription for young people provides 35 book titles containing advice, information and support for young people aged between 13 and 18. The books cover 12 topics and conditions including anxiety, depression, self-harm, body image and eating disorders, as well as life experiences such as bullying.
The scheme has reached 445,000 people over the past two years. Library issues of titles on the adult mental health list have increased by 97%, whilst those on the dementia list have increased by 346%. Around 6,500 prescribers are using the scheme on a regular basis.
The booklist features self-help and psycho-education material, as well
For more information contact readingwell@readingagency. org.uk or visit www.readingwell.org.uk.
Win a bathroom recycling bag Many items can be recycled from every room in your home. Plastic bottles (lids removed), paper and card, aerosols, drink and food cans – can all be recycled into your recycling bin. Enter our competition and you could win a bathroom recycling bag. Simply name three items you can recycle from your bathroom! Our bags come in a choice of three funky colours; yellow, green or blue. Just drop in your items to be recycled, then empty your bag into your recycling bin when it’s full. To enter, email your answer to BigRecycle@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or send your entry to: Recycling competition, Recycling, Civic Offices, Floor One Core Two, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth PO1 2AL Don't forget to include your name, address and phone number. One entry per household please.
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Portsmouth residents can recycle unwanted or broken small electrical items like toasters, hairdryers and irons. Just leave them in a carrier bag beside your green bin on your collection day. To find out more search ‘recycling’ at www.portsmouth.gov.uk.
Having a garden clear out? Green waste can be taken to Portsmouth’s recycling centre where it is composted into Pro-grow. Can’t get to the centre? If you live in Portsmouth, simply register for the Green Waste Club garden waste collection service, managed by our refuse and recycling contractor Biffa. The fortnightly home collections cost £42 per year. Call 0800 0858 286 to find out more, or to register.
TV crossword s 70 3
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3. Crime action TV drama with Bodie and Doyle 10. Series set in a London townhouse about a family and their servants 12. C omedy featuring miserly bedsit landlord Rigsby
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Across
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13. B BC sci fi series featuring characters Avon and Servalan
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Down
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1. C lassic comedy featuring a middleaged housewife frustrated with her mean and miserable husband
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2. S urreal comedy starring Tim BrookeTaylor, Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie 4. C omedy series about a father-and-son rag-and-bone business 5. F eelgood comedy about a couple who become self-sufficient in Surbiton 6. C hildren's series about a saggy old cloth cat 7. Show about a group of teenagers with special powers who protect the Earth
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8. D rama series about Flying Squad of London's Metropolitan Police 9. C hildren's show featuring Bungle, Zippy and George 11. John Steed and Purdey fight criminals bent on evil deeds and world domination
CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE and CAMERON MACKINTOSH present
Book
JULIAN FELLOWES New Music and Lyrics
GEORGE ANTHONY and STILES DREWE Original Songs
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14 JULY - 3 SEPTEMBER cft.org.uk 01243 781312
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Hate Crime:
Report it Hate crime is any criminal offence perceived by someone to be motivated by prejudice or hatred based on a person’s race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity. A hate crime can be physical violence, verbal abuse, online threats, obscene calls, criminal damage, arson, dumping of rubbish etc. Housing and property services' antisocial behaviour unit has a specialist caseworker to provide victims of hate crime with a high standard of practical support. The victim must be a Portsmouth City Council tenant or leaseholder. How do we support victims? As each case is different we develop a specific individual action plan which can include support throughout the criminal justice process, emotional support, advocacy, housing advice, evidence gathering and home and personal safety advice and signposting for victims in employment disputes.
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Direct Debit could win you £5,000 One lucky Portsmouth resident could scoop £5,000 now we’ve signed up to a national Direct Debit council tax campaign.
To be in with a chance of winning, register to pay your Council Tax bill by Direct Debit before 5pm on 30 September 2016.
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Using Direct Debit gives you peace of mind that payments are all taken care of.
Already pay by Direct Debit? You’ll already be automatically entered into the prize draw! The prize is being offered by Bacs Payment Schemes Limited (Bacs), the not-for-profit organisation behind Direct Debit in the UK. For more information visit www. portsmouth.gov.uk and search ‘direct debit’.
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HOROSCOPES
Aries (21 March – 19 April)
You are having self-control issues this month so it’s not a great time for diets, but still try not to overindulge. Be realistic about your weight and exercise goals. Visit our ‘getting active’ page at www.portsmouth.gov.uk. Taurus (20 April – 20 May) Overconfidence may cause relationship problems so listen more to your partner’s needs. Why not try some sporting activities together. Check if you are eligible for a Portsmouth Leisure Card at www.portsmouth.gov.uk. Gemini (21 May – 21 June) July is an ideal time to work from home and spend more time with your family, so investigate all the options. Resident development can help you with training and careers advice 0800 032 1531. Cancer (22 June – 22 July) You are becoming a highly-focused perfectionist, particularly when taking responsibility for money, work and personal relationships. Be careful not to be too critical of others who are less motivated than you. Leo (23 July – 22 August) You are in the mood for love and harmony and are feeling a great sense of togetherness, relaxation and romance. Make the most of sunny days with romantic walks along the beach or in the country. Virgo (23 August – 22 September) Be tactful and mindful of others’ feelings and try to compromise where you can. You could take a long time to make a decision and you may need to explain your reasons later. Advertisement
Libra (23 September – 22 October) July is a great time for learning, particularly in creative, spiritual or scientific studies, for personal development or to further your career. Foreign travel may improve your learning. Scorpio (23 October – 21 November) Knowledge gained from past jobs can come in handy at work for working out difficult tasks. If you are not technically-minded try to learn new skills to keep up with competition. Sagittarius (22 November – 21 December) Improve your filing system and organise any financial paperwork so all your important documents are in order. Your housing officer can help you out with money advice if you are struggling with bills, loans or credit card debts. Capricorn (22 December – 19 January)
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Your emotional needs may change in July and you may briefly drift away to find more personal space. You will bring back much more to your relationship when you are ready to return. Aquarius (20 January – 18 February) You may need to put in extra time at work and make sacrifices to save for something special. Your finances will dominate July, but stay focused and work hard to reach your goal. Pisces (19 February – 20 March) You will be itching to do something adventurous, so why not take the kids along to some summer holiday activities at adventure playgrounds?
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out&about ★ JUNE JUNE ★ ★ JULY JULY ★ ★ All the highlighted events are FREE!
JUNE 27–30 Portsmouth Schools’ Music Festival Guildhall, 6.30pm. schoolsmusic.org 30
Careers in the care sector event Jobs and training opportunities, 10am–2pm, Cascades.
JULY 2–3
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Live at the Bandstand: Beats & Swing Southsea Bandstand. 1pm– 4pm.
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Pedal Portsmouth Lakeside. 11am–3pm. See p14.
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Summer Fair Eastney Community Centre, Bransbury Park. 11am–3pm. 20p.
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Love Southsea Market Palmerston Road. Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 10am–5pm.
2-28 Evolve Exhibition Aug Aspex Gallery. 6–8pm.
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on show A new free exhibition at Portsmouth Museum covers 40 years of video gaming. Game Over: The Future of the Past is the largest private collection of TV games, home computers and consoles on display in the UK, from the first Pong game to the latest PlayStation. Starts 28 May.
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Free safety checks from 10am to 3.30pm
Guided Walk Portsmouth and the Battle of Jutland. D-Day Museum. £3, £1 Leisure Card Holder, Children free. 2.30pm.
Thursday 7 July 2016
Neighbourhood Forum Old Portsmouth and Gunwharf Quays. Becket Hall, Cathedral House. 7.30pm.
Thursday 1 September 2016
Pretty Muddy Run Southsea Common. 11am.
9–10 Thundercats Power Boat Race Castle Field. 10am–6pm.
Games
9–10 Beach Clean Blue Reef Aquarium. 10
Waterside Market Port Solent. 11am–5pm.
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Race for Life Southsea Common. 9am–2pm.
13–17 RC44 Portsmouth Cup Gunwharf Quays. Sailing event with state-of-the-art yachts moored at marina. Theatre Tours Groundlings Theatre. 1pm, 2.30pm. £5.
Tesco North Harbour
Thursday 4 August 2016 Asda Fratton Sainsbury’s Farlington For more information call 023 9268 8582 or search child car seats at www.portsmouth.gov.uk
e party Leaving th e you! ovely to se so soon? L with you, oggy bag d le tt li a ‘n’ Take of cheese ty n le p ’s there ones left! pineapple
13–16 The Two Gentlemen of Verona New Theatre Royal. 7.30pm, 1.30pm Sat. From £24.
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Free child car seat checks