A big congratulations to Lexi O'Neil from Ayr who designed our front cover as part of our Spring Newsletter competition!
OURNEWCHIEFEXEC
three months at Ayrshire Housing
It has been a quick three months since I took up the post as the new Chief Executive and I have had a lovely warm welcome from staff and tenants and am excited about the work we are planning in the months ahead Our primary aim at Ayrshire Housing is to deliver excellent customer service and quality homes for our tenants and this will be the focus of the whole team We are undertaking stock condition surveys to help plan our asset investment programme for the next five years and will update our tenants once we have the information collated
I will be holding some meet and greet sessions in the next few months and hope to visit our communities to get a chance to hear your feedback and hopes for the future. Keep an eye out on social media and the website for the dates I look forward to meeting you soon
STAFFING UPDATE
Mitchell Connor (right) joined us in April 2024 as our new Property and Development Manager.
Thanks
What What yyou’ll ou’ll ffind ind iin n our our SSummer ummer EEdition dition
Michele Walsh (left) joined the Ayrshire Housing team in April as an Admin Trainee Be sure and give her a welcome hello if you see her friendly face!
RECRUITING FOR BOARD MEMBERS
JOIN OUR BOARD
We are recruiting tenants to join our Board at this year’s AGM on 4th September.
Becoming a Board member is a brilliant way to get involved in the running of the association and offers lots of transferrable skills as well as the chance to influence decisions affecting your community. No special skills are needed other than a genuine interest and the ability to attend Board meetings.
To be considered for one of the positions please complete the form on My Home or email us telling us why you are interested in joining the Board. Full induction and training will be provided and travel expenses are reimbursed.
Our AGM will take place on Wednesday 4th September from 6pm to 7.30pm in The Local. We will be awarding prizes for the annual competitions, long service awards as well as the usual AGM business. The full agenda can be found on our website. A light buffet will be available. Please let us know if you will be attending.
INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE
2 of our staff members, Kirsten Anderson and Shonya Gibson, have completed an Introduction to British Sign Language course to help assist with our deaf community.
Just like spoken languages, sign language changes depending on the country you’re in. Even though Britain and the USA both speak in English, their sign languages are very different! Differences can also be found in regional sign language – similar to how accents and dialects are reflected in speech. For help and advice, visit contactscotlandbsl.org
We are looking to see if our tenants would be interested in a tenant conference and we would love to get your feedback. You can complete the survey online on our website or on My Home. If you’d prefer, we can email you a link to the survey, just give us a call on 01292 880120 or email us at info@ayrshirehousing.org.uk.
Why it Matters?
COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES FROM Scottish SPCA
SSPCA don’t need people to meet any eligibility requirements
Rehoming
SSPCA are always looking for people to rehome animals, this is mostly done online and the website offers a full explanation of the process, and fees involved, as well as all the support on offer.
Fostering
SSPCA are looking for people across Scotland to join their team of volunteer animal foster carers. This allows animals who are struggling in the kennel environment to be in a far less stressful home environment, whilst they look for their forever home This is great for people who love animals but cannot have one of their own due to certain commitments, for example, financial, or don’t want the long-term responsibility Everything the animal needs while on foster will be provided, and fosterers always have support from the team.
Reduced microchipping of dogs, cats, and rabbits
There are many benefits to microchipping your animal such as permanent identification, increased chance of reunion, helps identify owners, helps prevent theft, and gives peace of mind. Dogs legally need to be microchipped. The SSPCA offer this for £17.
Pet Aid
The SSPCA’s initiative is to support people and pets who are struggling. Through Pet Aid, they can provide essential food supplies for animals through a network of food banks across most of Scotland Keeping pets and people together is an amazing way to protect animal welfare Nobody should have to give up their pet because they are unable to afford the items they need.
Vet Aid
The SSPCA is providing free veterinary support within communities, this is currently at a pilot stage. We aim to improve access to affordable veterinary care and advice to alleviate welfare issues, and to support families keeping their animals at home where they belong. This is accessed through referrals from our inspectorate team, but we are also looking for places within Ayrshire currently, to perform regular free health checks
Animal Guardians
Developed to help children who are showing concerning behaviours towards animals, the programme comprises of approximately 10 weekly one-to-one sessions with one of the Society’s youth engagement officers. Through adaptable games, activities and discussion, children improve their knowledge and understanding of animal emotions, needs and the responsibilities involved in caring for all animals
Advice
Our website has a vast variety of advice for all animals, including puppy and kitten advice, farming advice, and wildlife advice
Have you ever thought of volunteering?
Volunteering is a great way to gain valuable skills and make a real difference to the lives of animals in Scotland. More details can be found at www.scottishspca.org.
Be aware of TV Licensing Scams
People should STOP – CHECK – ASK if they receive any suspicious communications that appear to be from TV Licensing:
Scammers will attempt to trick you into giving away your personal or bank details. Always be wary of letters, emails, texts or phone calls that promise you money or a refund
STOP ASK CHECK
If you are ever unsure about a communication you have received, it is always best to ask someone –perhaps a friend or trusted advisor
Name: Kirsten Anderson
Has the sender spelt your name correctly, and are there any grammatical errors? Have they included the correct licence number? You can check this on the TV Licensing website
GET IN TOUCH
You can go to the TV Licensing website and sign in to your licence at tvl co uk/yourlicence to check if anything is wrong
Meet the team
Position: Finance Assistant
What would your last meal be? Haggis Macaroni and Cheese.
What is your favourite movie? Grease
What was your first job? Shop Assistant in a Local Spar
Who is the most famous person you’ve met? John Anderson - great last name!
If you had the chance to move to another country, where would you go and why? Australia to be closer to family.
Name: Emma McRae
Position: Investment Officer
What would your last meal be? Ham & Mushroom tagliatelle.
What is your favourite movie? Walk the line.
What was your first job? Waitress in a small pub in Kirkmichael.
Who is the most famous person you’ve met? Actor, James Nesbitt
If you had the chance to move to another country, where would you go and why? Canada as it has the same climate as Scotland!
Dog faeces are a primary food source for rats and attract rats to the area, so there may be wider impacts on the area in which you live
Dog Fouling Dog Fouling Be Prepared Be Prepared
Dog Fouling is classed as Antisocial Behaviour and allowing your dog to foul without picking up is a breach of your Tenancy Agreement.
Not lifting dog faeces can causes serious health issues if people, particularly children, have any contact
Dogs will be dogs and when they need to go, they need to go no matter where or when. When exercising your dog, you must always be prepared to pick up or clean up at all times. You should always carry at least 2 poo bags and you may be interested to know we can supply these to you. Accidents will happen so if you live in a block of flats or exercise your dog within the development, you must pick up or clean any mess immediately.
It is also extremely unpleasant for neighbours to smell and have faeces in a garden or communal area next to them.
We ask that you be a responsible dog owner and be prepared to pick or clean up at all times.
Permission can be withdrawn if you do not comply with the conditions of the permission granted
Where there is evidence of dog fouling, you can receive an £80 Fixed Penalty Notice by South, North and East Ayrshire Councilrising to £100 if unpaid after 28 days in South and East Ayrshire
You must obtain permission to keep a dog in advance of bringing it home If there is no bin in the area you are exercising your dog, you must pick it up, bring it home and place the bag in your green domestic waste bin
My Home Register Today!
My Home is safe and secure. No bank details are held on My Home and payments are made through a secure online gateway. You can register through our website www.ayrshirehousing.org.uk or you can request an email link which is valid for 24 hours. Secure access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
We would like to remind our tenants that our annual pet and garden competitions are open for 2024! All you need to do to enter is send us a photo of your pet or garden and you could be in with a chance to win a £50 voucher for a local pet shop or National Garden Centre.
Our good neighbour award is also still open for entries. We’d love to hear about your neighbour and how they make your neighbourhood even better. All competition winners will be announced at our AGM on Wednesday 4th September. We look forward to seeing you there!
Are you worried about your old benefits moving to Universal Credit?
There is a rolling programme inviting people to claim Universal Credit over the next couple of years An important leaflet is included with this Newsletter that will answer most of your questions.
A couple of things that you can do to make the transition easier is to make sure you maximise your entitlement to existing benefits before you make your UC application, so you might wish to delay your claim for UC to allow for any changes in circumstances that may affect you. However, please make sure you do not miss your deadline date.
Another thing to look out for is to make sure you provide all the information required by UC to ensure your first payment goes as smoothly and accurately as possible. You should never be worse off if you are going through this invitation route to claim universal Credit.
It is essential that you inform your Housing Officer of the change to Universal Credit as it can change the way you pay your rent. As it is such a big change for people to cope with, Ayrshire Housing will be holding a few information events initially in our office, from July 2024. You can register your interest in these events by contacting our office Please also let us know if you live out with Ayr so we can arrange events near you.
HOMESWAPPER
OUR NEW MUTUAL EXCHANGE SERVICE
Did you know, we have recently subscribed to HomeSwapper, the UK's largest online home-swapping platform? Tenants using the HomeSwapper service for a Mutual Exchange will have the opportunity to swap their home with another council or housing association anywhere in the UK – greatly expanding housing options for our tenants
The best part? This service is completely free for Ayrshire Housing tenants! HomeSwapper has over 540 partner landlords and 200,000 live adverts. It’s an easy-to-use service, with lots of help and support available.
For more information, please go to - ayrshirehousing.org.uk/find-ahome/mutual-exchange
Community Involvement
We’ ve had the pleasure of attending 2 fabulous Fun Days this year so far! We love being out and about in the community, please make sure and look out for us at upcoming fun days. Diane Turner from Ayr was lucky enough to guess how many marshmallows were in the jar andwonherselfanairfryer.
Repairs & Maintenance Update
Stock Investment Update
To ensure we have the most up to date information about your properties, which helps us to identify investment programmes such as kitchen and bathroom renewals, we are undertaking a stock condition survey. John Hendry (right) will be completing these and we will communicate with tenants to let you know when John will be in your area
Multiyear Investment Programmes
Lift modernisation – we are currently working to upgrade all our lifts, Blackfriars Court will be completed in June, and we will be upgrading all the lifts at South Harbour Street over the summer
Building fabric – we are focused on improving and renewing property windows and doors, this year we will be replacing timber windows and doors with UPVC windows and composite doors at Baird Road, Monkton, Earl Crescent, Dundonald and Highpark Road, Coylton. Detailed project information will be shared with all tenants. Future years programmes will be highlighted in upcoming newsletters.
Garden assistance scheme – a review of this scheme and it’s qualifying criteria is currently underway and we hope to complete this by Summer 2024. Tenants currently benefiting from the Scheme will be unaffected Any tenant who wishes to apply can still do so but will remain on the waiting list until after the review is completed.
FLYTIPPING
MOST OF US DISPOSE OF OUR WASTE USING PROPER AND SAFE ROUTES, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO CHOOSE TO DUMP THEIR LARGE ITEMS IN THE BIN STORES OR IN THE STREET. THIS IS FLY TIPPING.
FLY-TIPPING IS THE ILLEGAL DISPOSAL OF WASTE. ANYONE FLYTIPPING WASTE IS COMMITTING A SERIOUS OFFENCE AND FINES CAN BE UP TO £40,000.
IF YOU NEED TO DISPOSE OF EXTRA OR BULKY WASTE, YOU CAN CALL SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL ON 0300 123 0900.
IF AYRSHIRE HOUSING CAN ESTABLISH WHO HAS DUMPED THE ITEMS, THE TENANT WILL BE ISSUED WITH AN INVOICE FOR PAYMENT.
THE COST TO REMOVE LARGE ITEMS DUMPED IS EXPENSIVE AND THIS COMES FROM OUR MAINTENANCE BUDGET WHICH WILL REDUCE OUR BUDGET TO PROVIDE REPAIRS.
South Ayrshire Council Waste Collection Update
From July, Households in South Ayrshire, that want their brown bin to be emptied must purchase a garden waste permit for each bin from South Ayrshire Council. The service will begin on Monday 15th July and will follow the normal collection schedule. A garden waste permit costs £50 and covers one brown bin for 12 months. Anyone wishing to dispose of garden waste without a permit should bag it up and take it to a recycling centre. Contact South Ayrshire Council on 0300 123 0900 for more information.
