Community Members Newsletter Winter 2015

COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015 Yet Another Good Year for Ayrshire Housing!

Ayrshire Housing’s AGM on Wednesday 9th September was packed with tenants and our friends from the wider community.

Chair Rhonda Leith said, “It’s been yet another good year for Ayrshire Housing. Our finances are sound and we are well prepared to face the challenges ahead. I’m pleased that we were able to keep the rent increase to 2.5% whilst still delivering a quality service and adding to our stock. Our performance is monitored each year by the Scottish Housing Regulator. I was really pleased to see their latest public report about us. It shows levels of service which are almost always better than those offered by other associations and the Councils in Ayrshire”.

The meeting heard about our latest development on King Street in Ayr which is getting lots of well deserved attention. A wide range of community ventures are also being supported. These range from sadly necessary services like the South Ayrshire Foodbank through to sponsoring local youth and sports clubs.

Rhonda paid tribute to the hard work of her fellow Board members. 3 had decided to retire at the meeting: tenants Rosina McRoberts, Carrie O’Donnell, and community member Mairi Low. The Board is delighted though that 3 new faces are joining the Board. Roy Martin joins in the community category and from amongst our tenants, Liz Craig and David McVittie. Finally, Rhonda spoke of the continued support of South Ayrshire Council. “As you know we are fortunate in having three Councillors on our Board. Ian Cavana and John Hampton have been solid supporters of our work for several years. In May, we lost Corri Wilson when she was elected as an MP. Corri is also one of our tenants and we trust that she will continue to promote our work in her new role. We were delighted that the Council quickly appointed William Grant to replace her”.

We can supply this document in a print size to suit. It is also available in Braille, audio and other formats, and in other languages. Our website also has several accessibility features which you may find useful. www.ayrshirehousing.org.uk Text Message 07527360360 Telephone 01292 880120 or Lo-Call 08452712327

OUR SEASONAL CARD You should have received a wee booklet from us with this newsletter. We have worked again with pupils at Ayr’s Kyle Academy who are completing their Higher photography course. With our designer Neil McGuire, they’ve created the six postcards for you to use during the year. The booklet also hansels in the New Year with a donation to the Ayr based homelessness initiative, Care and Share. Neil McGuire has kindly topped up this gift by foregoing part of his fee.

WE SUPPORT LOCAL AMATEUR FOOTBALLERS Ayrshire Housing has joined with Prestwick based Ashleigh Building to provide new tops for Ayr’s Wallacetoun Amateurs. The football team’s Jamie Tait said “the tops will be put to good use in our training sessions. We really appreciate the support we’ve received from these two local organisations”.

Stuart Reid Ayrshire Housing’s Vice-Chair added “we are delighted to support this very active team as part of our community grants scheme.” David Smith Ashleigh’s joint Managing Director said, “I’m delighted to engage with the local community as we build Ayrshire Housing’s latest development at Limonds Wynd in Wallacetoun”.

The 22 unit scheme designed by John Gilbert Architects is due to be completed by May of next year. The project incorporates the latest thinking on energy efficiency.

BEST CONTAINER GARDEN Girvan

BEST SHARED GARDEN Barr

BEST SHARED GARDEN Good Shepherd Court

The Winners of the Garden Competition 2015 are: In the container garden category, the joint winners are Ms McLean and Mr Sweeney both of Girvan.

In the shared garden category, the joint winners were Mr and Mrs Orr and Mr Cole of Barr, and Ms Rolwich and her neighbours at Good Shepherd Court, Ayr.

BEST SHARED GARDEN Barr

BEST SHARED GARDEN Good Shepherd Court

Commendations were awarded to Mr Dodrill and Mr Reid for their gardens; Mrs Maddox and Miss McIntyre for their window boxes; Mrs Currie for her container garden and Mr Slider for his small urban garden.

2