Issuu

inView

SPRING 2015

inView

Spring 2015

Inside

Bournville Village Trust’s quarterly resident newsletter Date announced for Bournville Festival Page 3

Volunteer Lilian shares her story Page 6

Village park springs to life Page 8

Competitions with prizes Page 12

More jobs to come as work continues at care village Dozens more jobs are to be created at Bournville’s care village College Green as work gets set to develop the latest stage of the state-of-the-art scheme.

ournville Village Trust will recruit staff from August to work with people with learning disabilities at 35 new homes being developed as part of the village. The part and full time jobs will range from a registered manager position to senior support workers, and support worker roles. Each apartment will feature one or two bedrooms, a spacious lounge, modern kitchen/ dining space and a wet room, with care and support from staff on hand as needed. In addition, there will be a communal space for residents to use for activities and events, as well as beautifully landscaped gardens and open spaces. Peter Roach, Chief Executive of Bournville

0300 333 6540

Village Trust, said: “The care village continues to go from strength to strength and we’re proud to announce a further raft of jobs that will help to boost employment in the area. “These fantastic independent living apartments will give people with learning

We’ll be looking to recruit people who are dedicated to working closely with residents and their family...

disabilities the chance to have a greater say about where they live and how they receive support. “To support this, we’ll be looking to recruit people who are dedicated to working closely with residents and their family to make sure that we provide support in a holistic and personcentred way.” Set to be completed by 2016, College Green is being built on the former site of Bournville College on the Bristol Road and will meet the needs of older people and others who need care and support. For more information about accommodation at the new learning disability homes or jobs, contact James Howard on 0300 333 6540 or email jameshoward@bvt. org.uk please reference InView-April

enquiries@bvt.org.uk

bvt.org.uk

‘Knitting nanas’ appeal for wool A group of real life ‘knitting nanas’ are appealing for donations of wool to help them make bonnets and blankets for babies in Africa. Affectionately named after the grannies in the Shreddies cereal advert, the group meet every Tuesday at Bournville House in Telford. They’d like to make more clothing for charity Greenfield Africa but they need donations of knitting wool.

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If you can help, or have ideas for projects the ‘knitting nanas’ could do, call Danielle from Bournville House, on 0121 667 1022.

The handy work of Telford’s ‘knitting nanas’

bournville village trust

inView

SPRING 2015

A word from the Chief Executive

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

no extra cost. Moving forward, we’d like to get regular feedback from you about the newsletter which is why we’ll be establishing a customer communications forum. You can read more about the forum on page 3. I hope you enjoy the first edition of the new look newsletter. We’d love to hear your thoughts on it. You can send your feedback to me by emailing clairemorrall@bvt.org.uk Happy reading!

inView

APRIL 2015

April 2015

Bournville Village Trust’s quarterly resident newsletter

Inside

et me start by introducing myself, my name is Claire and I’m the new Editor of InView magazine. Talking of ‘new things’, you might notice that InView is looking a little different and that’s down to you. You told us that you wanted more news from us on a more regular basis, which is why we’ll now be bringing you four editions of the magazine each year instead of two. We’ll also be bringing you more of the news that matters to you with new and exciting features such as ‘top tips’, a ‘what’s on’ guide, ‘meet the team’ and ‘you said, we did’. To make these changes, we’ve also refreshed the layout of the newsletter, moving from a magazine style to a newspaper format, to ensure that we can bring you more news at

Date announced for Bournville Festival Page 3

Volunteer Lilian shares her story Page 6

Village park springs to life Page 8

Competitions with prizes Page 12

0300 333 6540

We’ll be looking to recruit people who are dedicated to working closely with residents and their family...

enquiries@bvt.org.uk

bvt.org.uk

‘Knitting nanas’ appeal for wool A group of real life If you can help, or have ‘knitting nanas’ are ideas for projects the appealing for donations of ‘knitting nanas’ could wool to help them make do, call Danielle from bonnets and blankets for Bournville House, on babies in Africa. 0121 667 1022. Affectionately named after the grannies in the Shreddies cereal advert, the group meet every Tuesday at Bournville House in Telford. They’d like to make more clothing for charity Greenﬁeld Africa but they need donations The handy work of Telford’s of knitting wool. ‘knitting nanas’

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bournville village trust

s you’ll see from the front page of this newsletter, Bournville care village, which is being built on the former site of Bournville College, continues to move forward at pace. Once complete, it will herald a new era for the village – providing hundreds of new homes for older people and people with learning disabilities in Birmingham. Whilst we as a Trust may not develop as many homes as some housing associations, we are continuing to build here in Bournville and in Telford, which is not only important for the region, but for our country as a whole. According to the National Housing Federation, we as a country are currently only building half the number of homes that we need every year. The Federation has launched a campaign called Homes for Britain, which is calling on all political parties to commit to ending the housing crisis within a generation.

I’d encourage everyone to visit the Homes for Britain website homesforbritain.org.uk – to find out more about it and how you can get involved in the campaign. If you choose to support the campaign, we would love to hear from you. You

can email us at InView@ bvt.org.uk In the next edition of InView, I’ll also be answering your questions. If you have a question for me, please email InView@ bvt.org.uk with the subject header ‘Question for the Chief’.

MAILBAG Dear Editor, Thank you very much for the tickets to the Hippodrome panto that we won from the InView competition. We had an absolutely fantastic time. The whole thing was spectacular, from the scenery, special effects, the music and dancing to the enormous giant robot. Here’s a photo. Just me, I’m afraid as my family is very camera shy! Mrs H Noble, Bournville

Dear Editor, Had some great news from one of the residents today regarding the WiFi that we have at Christopher Taylor Court. Since he’s been here he’s been using Sky broadband. For some time, he’s been experiencing problems with his internet connection and decided to give our WiFi a lengthy try. It’s working top line for him. He’s discontinued his entire Sky facility and is now enjoying

perfect reception on his television and computer equipment, even when streaming movies in high definition. It’s going to save him pounds over the next few years. Great news if I might say so. Mr R Dalziel, Bournville Got something to share with readers? Send your letter to InView@ bvt.org.uk with the subject header ‘Letter’ or write to us at InView, C/O Claire Morrall, 350 Bournville Lane, Birmingham, B30 1QY.

inView

SPRING 2015

Date announced for Bournville Village Festival T

he date of the annual Bournville Village Festival - which attracts thousands of visitors – has been announced. Organised by Bournville Village Council, the fun-filled extravaganza will take place on Saturday 27th June at the Cadbury Recreation Ground, Linden Road. This year’s event will include a craft market selling jewellery, paintings, crafts and cakes and arena events such as marching bands and dance troupes. There will also be a host of side stalls, including one hosted by Bournville Village Trust, a flower and craft show and the traditional maypole dance presented by local school children and fancy dress. An exciting grand firework display will finish the event, which will run from 1.30pm to 11pm. For more information, visit bournvillevillagecouncil.org.uk

Pop-up shops launch in Shropshire

Kick-start your career in care Are you looking for a career in care and want to work for an organisation that will support you with an excellent training package? We’re looking for house-keepers and kitchen assistants to work for us on a casual basis, providing cover for sickness, holidays and training at our nursing home Selly Wood House in Bournville. In addition, we’re also recruiting residential support workers and nurse team leaders to work at the home, again on a casual basis. For more details about any of the roles, please visit the ‘Careers’ section of our website bvt.org.uk

Staff from BVT will set up shop at housing estates across Shropshire each month as part of efforts to boost resident engagement. The Stewardship and New Communities Team, will visit several estates where BVT has homes including Brookside, Woodside and St George’s. Colleagues from the team will be on hand to answer questions from residents and provide information about the Trust’s work and the opportunities to get involved. Fleur Hemming-Mount, Community Development and Involvement Officer at BVT, said: “Some of our smaller estates may only have a handful of BVT homes, which means that there’s not always the same opportunities to get involved as our larger schemes. “The aim of the pop-up shops is to give residents the chance to talk to us about a range of issues, be it wanting to get involved in community events to queries about their homes.” For more information about the pop-up shops, contact Fleur by calling 01952 293777.

Recruits needed for new customer communication forum To make sure that this newsletter, our websites and other materials are the best they can be, we’re launching a new customer communication forum and we need you. The forum will not only provide regular feedback on this newsletter, but will also help to review other customer communication such as our website, social media platforms and leaflets. If you’d like to find out more about the forum, or are interested in joining, please call Claire Morrall on 0121 667 1104 or email clairemorrall@bvt. org.uk

inView

SPRING 2015

MEET THE

TEAM 1: Who are you and what do you do? We are the Customer Services team and we answer calls that come into BVT. We respond to letters and emails and help with enquiries from visitors to our office. 2: How many people are in your team? There are eight members and each has an area of expertise, including estate management, rents, income recovery, anti-social behaviour, tenancy management, complaint handling and administration. Four members of the team have completed NVQ Level 3

in Customer Service, with two continuing to achieve a qualification in Team Leading. 3: What can you help me with? We offer advice on the services that BVT provide, including property alterations and the application process, estate management, tenancy and housing enquiries, rent payments by phone and balance enquiries and management charges. You can also call us to update your details, give feedback or enquire about garage, caravan and allotment lettings.

The lowdown on compliments and complaints At BVT we’re committed to providing the best possible service and encourage all forms of feedback, both complimentary and not so complimentary. We recognise that there may be times when our services fall short of your expectations and our own standards. If we do get things wrong, we want to try and put them right and to learn from our mistakes. In 2013, we received 11 formal complaints, these included: • 1 about anti-social behaviour • 5 about repairs

• 1 about estates in Birmingham • 1 about estates in Shropshire • 1 about lettings • 1 about tenancies • 1 about development. Of the 11 complaints, three were upheld which means that the service that we provided did not reach the standard a person could expect. For more information about making a complaint, including the various stages, you can read our Complaints, Comments and Compliments Leaflet on our website bvt.org.uk

4: When I call you what can I expect? A happy and friendly voice at the end of the phone. We have experts in our team who can help with complex enquiries and we’ll take the time to help you with your enquiry.

You said In each edition of InView magazine, we’ll tell you how we’re improving our services in response to your feedback.

5: What do your team enjoy most about the work that they do? We get great satisfaction from helping residents. We love the diverse enquiries that we get and we like it that no two days are ever the same.

6: How can I contact you? You can call us on 0300 333 6540 - option 2 - from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, email enquiries@bvt. org.uk or visit our office at 350 Bournville Lane, Birmingham.

You said: “We’d like to see job and apprenticeship opportunities with BVT advertised in the InView newsletter.”

we did

Moving on up with a mutual exchange Is your pad too big or too small? If you live in a rented home that just doesn’t meet your needs any more you could swap it for another. A mutual exchange allows two housing association or local

authority tenants to swap their tenancies, with the permission of their landlord/s. We work with Swap and Move, a national mutual exchange scheme, that is available to all tenants of social

landlords who want to move home. Once registered with Swap and Move, it will automatically match you to other tenants who you could swap homes with. To find out more, visit Swap and Move is available to all BVT tenants our website bvt.org.uk

We did: The latest phase of Bournville’s care village will create 80 new jobs, which you can read more about on the front page of this newsletter. On page three, you can also find information about jobs at our nursing home Selly Wood House. We also share news of our latest vacancies on our Facebook page and website.

inView

SPRING 2015

Uncovering the facts about Universal Credit What is Universal Credit? Universal Credit is a new single monthly payment for people in or out of work, which brings together a number of benefits and tax credits. It will replace Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit and Housing Benefit. Will it affect me? From 13 April 2015, if you live in Birmingham and from 1st June 2015 if you live in the Telford area and are single, newly unemployed and need

to claim benefits then you’ll receive Universal Credit. Between now and 2017 (date subject to change), Universal Credit will be brought in for everyone claiming the benefits and tax credits being replaced. How can I prepare for Universal Credit? If you don’t have one already, you’ll need a bank or building society account to receive your Universal Credit payment. If you qualify for help with your rent, it will stop being paid directly to the landlord which means that you’ll need to pay BVT yourself.

To be ready for this, make sure your bank or building society account lets you set up a direct debit to ensure that you can make regular and prompt payments. Lastly, most people will make their claim and manage payments online, if you’re not computer savvy contact the Job Centre, or your local library, who should be able to help you find a course.

Home office introduce right to rent checks Along with other housing associations, we will now be required to check that anyone applying for a home with us has the right to rent in the UK. The checks, which aim to stop rogue landlords renting their homes to illegal migrants often at extortionate rates, have been introduced by the Home Office following changes to the Immigration Act 2014. Elaine Blackburn, Head of Customer Services at BVT, said: “We already carry out

thorough checks so the new rules will not change the way that we work. “However, as a tenant you must now also provide proof to us that anyone living with you over the age of 18 is eligible, whether this be a lodger, family/friend or sub tenant if allowed.” The checks will only apply to new tenancies started after 1st December 2014. For more information, call our Customer Services Team on 0300 333 6540 or 01952 293777.

How can I get more advice? For more advice, call our Customer Services team on 0330 333 6540 or 01952 293777 or visit moneyadviceservice. org.uk

The Monitor

Like many housing organisations we have targets that we strive to achieve. The Monitor shows you how we’re performing and if we’re meeting our targets. Responsive repairs and maintenance (Oct-Dec 2014) % of tenants satisfied with repairs and maintenance service % of repairs completed within the target time % of gas services completed on time Average time to re-let empty homes

Emergency Urgent Routine

How we’re doing in Birmingham 94%

How we’re doing in Shropshire 89%

Our target

100% 100% 100% 94%

99% 99.6% 99% 96%

100% 100% 100% 100%

19 days

24 days

15 days

Ann Ryan, Head of Housing Services

96%

Read all about it – talking newspaper If you or someone you know has a visual impairment and finds it difficult to read conventional print then the Birmingham Talking Newspaper could be for you. A registered charity, the Newspaper

produces weekly audio recordings of local news, information and magazine articles for blind and partially sighted people throughout the city. The recordings are provided on a memory stick which fits into

a specially produced player that is sent to all new listeners for free. The service is also available online at btna.org.uk For more information, call Ian MacLaren on 0300 330 1404 or email info@btna.org.uk

Helping hand with job hunt journey A free online tool is now available to offer job-seekers a helping hand on their job hunting journey. Called My Work Search, the tool can help you to create a professional CV, search an extensive range of jobs and help you to write applications. Ann Ryan, Head of Housing Services at BVT, said: “My Work Search is a really helpful, easy-to-use tool that can support you to find work. Plus, if you’re in receipt of

unemployment benefits using My Work search will also notify the Job Centre Plus of your job seeking activity.” To use the service, all you need is an email address and access to the internet. If you don’t have access to the internet, we have two fully-equipped PC’s for use at our office at 350 Bournville Lane. If you’re interested in signing up to the service, please contact our Customer Services Team on 0300 333 6540 or 01952 293777.

inView

SPRING 2015

Reading and royalty - long-serving volunteer Lilian shares her story F

rom 1st to 7th June, it’s National Volunteers Week. To celebrate, we spoke to Bournville volunteer Lilian Coomber who has racked up 30 years of volunteering and met royalty. There are not many people who can say they’ve recommended a good read to royalty, but Bournville resident Lilian can. Lilian met the Prince of Wales at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she has volunteered since 1985, during one of his many visits to meet injured military patients. “I was walking along with my book trolley and I had no idea that Prince Charles was visiting,” said Lilian, who lives at sheltered housing scheme Rowheath House. “He came over and looked at all the books and I offered him one, which he politely declined. I was

so surprised to meet him, I wasn’t even sure how to address him.” It’s not just royalty that Lilian has met in her role as a volunteer for the hospital’s library service. The 89-year-old, who was married to Derek and has two children, has visited hundreds of patients over the past 30 years, offering them books and recommending a good read. Although she has volunteered in some way or another for most of her life, Lilian actively pursued volunteering after leaving her job as a sales ledger

It’s good company and you get to meet lots of different people...

clerk at Cadbury’s. From there, she started volunteering at Selly Oak Hospital, later moving onto the QE and the General Hospital until it changed to the Children’s Hospital. Lilian also volunteered at the visitor’s tea bar at Winson Green Prison and continues to visit sick and elderly people who attend her church. So what does the grandmother-of-two enjoy most about volunteering? “It’s good company and you get to meet lots of different people and make new friends,” she said. “I’m not the kind of person who can sit around and do nothing, volunteering keeps me busy and it’s very worthwhile.” You can find out more about volunteering by visiting volunteering.org.uk Have you got a story to share with readers? Email Editor Claire Morrall at InView@bvt.org.uk

The 89-year-old taking time out from volunteering

Let’s get digital Keeping her promise: Girl Guide awarded MBE A grandmother of two who has been a member of the Girl Guides since 1936 has celebrated being awarded an MBE. Joan Stoker marked the achievement with a special tea party at BVT’s Selly Wood House nursing home, where she lives. The 92-year-old, who has dedicated 75 years to carrying out ‘good deeds’, started as a volunteer with the Girl Guides when she was 14 years old.

Joan presented with flowers by BVT Chairman Duncan Cadbury

If the idea of turning on a computer leaves you feeling cold or surfing the web scares you, you’re not alone. According to Age UK, more than 14 million people in the UK are ‘digitally excluded’ and the majority are older people. There’s lots of benefits to getting online, here are our top five reasons to get to grips with the internet. 1: Save money: Comparison websites can help you to search for the best deals on a range of services, from car insurance and home contents cover to utility bills. 2: Get a better deal: Some companies offer money off products or services when you buy them online and there

are numerous websites that offer money-off vouchers for restaurants and attractions. 3: Get social: Social networking websites such as Facebook can help you to keep in touch with friends and family. You can share photographs, watch videos and meet new people or connect with old friends. 4: Keep informed: With a host of news and community websites, you can keep up-to-date with what’s happening in your city, country and across the world at the click of a button. 5: Indulge your hobbies: From gardening and gaming to painting and puzzles, if you’ve got a hobby there’s likeminded people that you can share it with online.

inView

SPRING 2015

Spring and summer fun in Shropshire This spring and summer are set to be fun for all the family with a host of events planned for BVT’s communities across Shropshire. Tots in Lightmoor Village can enjoy craft and cooking sessions at ‘Tea and Tots’ events throughout the year, with upcoming sessions taking place on 21st April at the Home Coffee House and Bistro and 5th May at the Oak Tree Centre. Ladies in Lightmoor can also join the ‘Lightmoor Ladies’ each month for an evening of socialising and making new friends, with the group meeting on 20th May at the Home Coffee House and Bistro. In Lawley, there will be a fun-filled summer event with a host of activities to keep the children entertained on 16th May. Don’t forget, if you live in a home managed by BVT in Shropshire, BVT staff will be setting up shop with ‘Popup Shops’ each month. You can read more about this on page 3.

along with a knitting group to encourage residents to socialise and keep active. Lisa Carnihan, Activities Officer at Selly Wood House, said: “The poetry and knitting groups are

Job-hunters a click closer to finding work A community hall in Birmingham has netted £5,000 to invest in new computers for job-hunters to use to find work. Phoenix Hall in Bordesley Village, managed by BVT, has been awarded the grant from the Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust. It will use it to replace old computers and purchase a new camera, projector, Arabic keyboard and updated computer software for its learning suite. Shabnam Mughal, Community Development Officer and Centre

Manager, said: “Thanks to this grant we’ll be able to replace the old computers with more modern equipment that will be easier and quicker for people to use.”

Shabnam Mughal, Centre Manager at Phoenix Hall

Could your skills benefit your community?

Poetry group launches at nursing home Budding bards at a Bournville nursing home are creating charming odes as part of a new poetry group which has been launched there. Selly Wood House started the poetry group

going well. We read poems and then discuss the memories and poems that we enjoy.” The poetry group, which has 12 members, meets weekly at the home which caters for people with residential, nursing or continuing health care needs. Registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the home has 44 bedrooms across three floors, a large communal lounge, dining room and activities room. For more information about Selly Wood House, visit our website bvt.org.uk

Shenley Youth and Community Trust, which manages Shenley Court Hall (SCH), is on the hunt for Trustees to join its Board to ensure the Hall continues to thrive. Based in Selly Oak, SCH is a community centre that hosts a range of community groups, activities and services. As well as a pre-school, out of school club and lunch club, it hosts a range of leisure groups including art classes and karate. If you live and/or work locally and have knowledge of youth work, community development, legal, human resources or equalities, or use the hall and have other skills

which may be useful, why not apply to join the Board? Chris Bonnard, Chairperson of SYCT, said: “Our aim is to cater for the social, recreational, educational and welfare needs of residents in Shenley and the surrounding areas of South Birmingham, helping to improve their quality and enjoyment of life.” The Board meets quarterly and trustees are volunteers, but receive expenses. For further information or to submit an expression of interest, call Chris on 0121 472 2594 or email chris_bonnard@ hotmail.com

Shenley Court Hall, which has a music studio, needs Board members

inView

SPRING 2015

Annual gas checks – it’s the law BVT is required, by law, to carry out an annual gas safety check on all our rented homes where we’ve installed gas appliances. To do this, we employ qualified Gas Safe Register engineers whose job it is to carry out these checks to ensure you and your family are safe and well. Unsafe gas appliances can produce a highly poisonous gas called Carbon Monoxide (CO) which can result in serious long term health problems and even death.

If you don’t give us access to carry out a check, we will be forced to seek a court injunction to allow us entry to your home. Please ensure that you keep gas check appointments and allow us access. For more information about gas safety, or to book an annual gas check, call us today on 0300 333 6540. Four facts about gas safety 1. C arbon monoxide has no taste, smell or colour.

2. A quarter of a million gas appliances installed in homes each year are done illegally. 3. Every year, over 200 people go to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, which leads to around 40 deaths. 4. A headache is the most common symptom of mild carbon monoxide poisoning. Other symptoms include dizziness, nausea, vomiting and tiredness. *Facts courtesy of the Gas Safe Register and NHS Choices

Gas safety checks protect you and your family

Sheltered housing available now If you’re aged over 60 and want to continue to live independently but with help at hand if needed then why not consider sheltered housing. There are four sheltered housing schemes in Bournville - the Quadrangle in Mary Vale Road, Christopher Taylor Court in Oak Farm Road, Rowheath House in Heath

Road and Rosefields in Maryland Drive, in Northfield. Sheltered housing is an excellent way of living in your own home with the added benefit of knowing that there is a range of assistance on hand when, or if, needed. It’s also a fantastic way to meet new people, socialise and take part in

activities or trips if you would like to. Plus, every apartment is connected to a 24-hour response service, meaning help is never far away in an emergency. For more information, or for an application form for sheltered housing, contact our Customer Services Team on 0300 333 6540 or email enquiries@bvt.org.uk

Putting their best brush forward – BEST technicians Jon (L) and Carl (R)

Village park springs to life A park in Lightmoor Village has been receiving some pampering to prepare it for the spring and summer months. Bournville Environmental Services Technicians have

repainted nine benches and seven bins in Woodlands Park. They have also started grass cutting, weeding, maintenance to hedges, shrub beds and courtyards across the village.

The Quadrangle, one of four sheltered housing schemes

Newsflash… in other lettings news We recently reviewed our waiting lists for homes in Bournville and all lists, except for sheltered housing, will remain closed until 2016 due to the very high number of applicants currently waiting to be re-housed. If you, or someone you know, is in urgent housing need, please contact Birmingham City Council at any neighbourhood office or visit birmingham.gov.uk

inView

SPRING 2015

Dog fouling – it’s down to you to pick up the poo W

e pride ourselves on our many acres of clean and open spaces in Bournville and Shropshire, as do many of you. However, recently there appears to have been an increase in dog fouling in open areas, particularly in Bournville, with dog owners not clearing up after their dogs. Richard Hughes, Estate Manager at BVT, said: “Dog waste doesn’t have to be placed in a special bin, it can be bagged and

put into general waste bins around our parks and open spaces. “Please help to keep where you live clean by taking that extra couple of minutes to pick up after your dog. With almost 100 bins in Bournville alone, there really is no excuse not to pick up after your dog. “ In Bournville, Birmingham City Council is responsible for all publicly-adopted areas, including most roads and footpaths as well as

grass verges and trees along highways. Some of the parks and open spaces also belong to the Council and they are responsible for their upkeep. If you see dog fouling on public footpaths and roads, you can report it to the Council via their website birmingham.gov. uk/straydogs In Shropshire, you can also report dog fouling to the Council at telford.gov. uk/info/20158/animals_ and_pests/97/dog_fouling

Roger Cadbury and campaigner David Bellamy at the opening of the eco-home

Lessons to learn from Eco Home Eight years ago we refurbished a 1920s home, installing a range of environmentallyfriendly features. Called the Eco Demonstrator Project, the initiative saw a host of ‘green’ technologies and products fitted to a terraced house in Bournville.

So what worked and could it benefit you today? • Insulation: This was fitted to walls, floors, ceilings and the roof of the eco home. No measure provided more benefit per pound spent than this insulation. • “A” rated double glazing: Installing double glazing can cut down on sound pollution as well as

improve thermal values. • Water conservation: Water saving toilets and flow restrictors on taps can save litres of water per year and can be especially beneficial when water is metered. For guidance on making changes to your home, please read the Design Guide/s on our website bvt.org.uk

Lloyd Gower, Landscapes Manager

Bringing your garden back into bloom After a cold winter our gardens can end up looking a little sorry for themselves. To bring your garden back into bloom ready for the spring and summer, our Landscapes Manager, Lloyd Gower (pictured), shares some top tips. • Service your garden machinery and make sure all parts are in good working order for the season ahead. • If the weather is warm, you may need to start to mow. Set the cutting height at its maximum, and only mow the grass when it’s dry. • Re-cut lawn edges to crisp up their appearance and save work later in the season. • Check tree ties and stakes and replace,

tighten or slacken where necessary. • Remove weeds from around the bases of young trees and shrubs. • Mulch and feed shrubs, trees, hedges and climbers after pruning to give them the energy they’ll need for the extra growth they will put on after cutting back. • Top dress beds and borders with a balanced fertiliser, such as ‘Growmore’ or ‘Blood, Fish and Bone’, to feed perennials as they begin to grow again. Please remember that all residents have a responsibility to keep gardens tidy and maintained. If you’re having difficulty doing this, please call our Customer Services team on 0300 333 6540.

Lightmoor Village reaches new milestone Lightmoor Village in Telford has reached a new milestone, with 400 new homes now complete. A full planning application to build a further 200 homes on the Horsehay site at Lightmoor is currently

awaiting approval from Telford and Wrekin Council. Once complete, the Village will feature 1,000 homes with a quarter for social rent – helping to house people who need good quality affordable homes.

10 inView

SPRING 2015

Five secrets about Selly Manor Museum Visitors discovering some of the secrets of Selly Manor

The Bath House didn’t make a splash for long

Picture from the past In each edition of InView, Gillian Ellis, Heritage Manager at BVT, will pull out a picture from our archives and reveal its fascinating past. In this edition, it’s the Bath House. A house in Bournville with great architectural merit is known as the Bath House and is situated in Laurel Grove. It’s history was revealed by the Birmingham Central Library three years ago. Constructed in 1897, it was paid for entirely by George Cadbury and, as its name indicates, was intended to allow members of the public to

take a bath, costing three old pence per bath. However, very soon after its opening, George insisted that each home should have its own bath. In the early designs, these took the form of a sunken bath in the kitchen or the famous ‘tip-up’ bath in a kitchen cupboard. A few years later, the houses built in Bournville had their own separate bathrooms meaning that the local demand for public bathing reduced significantly and subsequently the Bath House closed in 1912. It is now a private home.

Recipe - Old Fashioned Chocolate Concrete Ingredients • 200g plain flour • 200g sugar • 50g dairy free margarine • 50g lard (or you can use all margarine) • 50g cocoa • Pinch of salt

paper and push down with your hands until level. 5. Bake for about 20 minutes. 6. Remove from the oven and mark out slices with a knife. Sprinkle the top with a little caster sugar. 7. Gently slide out of tin (but still on the paper) onto a wire rack to cool

Method 1. Preheat oven to 180c ix all the dry 2. M ingredients into one bowl Recipe provided by ently melt the 3. G Yesterdays Tea Room margarine and lard, in Northfield which is then pour into the dry ingredients and mix in. now delivering buffets for events such as Then use your fingers weddings and parties to rub together the as well as lunch time a bles mix until it resem meals to businesses. crumble mixture. our into a brownie tin For more details visit 4. P lined with greaseproof yesterdaystearoom.co.uk

elly Manor Museum , made up of Selly Manor and Minworth Greaves, in Bournville has a fascinating and charming history just waiting for you to discover. Here are five facts you may not know about the Manor and medieval hall. 1: The oldest part of Selly Manor dates back to 1474, just before Henry VII founded the Tudor dynasty.

2: It was originally known as Smyths Tenement and was home to yeoman farmers who owned their own land and held a prominent position in the local area. 3: Minworth Greaves is thought to be the oldest building in Birmingham. 4: In the bedchamber of Selly Manor you’ll find a bed thought to have belonged to a Bishop

Entry to the stunning Tudor house is free for residents of the Trust

who first translated the Psalms into Welsh. 5: T he garret hides a Priest Hole where Catholics could hide from soldiers of the Crown. And did you know, if you’re a BVT resident you get free entry into the Museum with proof of address. To find out more visit sellymanormuseum. org.uk For upcoming events at Selly Manor Museum, turn to page 11.

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SPRING 2015

What’s on – Calendar of Events The latest events happening across Birmingham and Shropshire. APRIL

History Galleries, Dame Elizabeth Hall, Firbank Close, Bournville. 8pm onwards. For details, call Bob Booth on 0121 475 6814.

Thursday, 14th May. After School Ski Club (for ages 8-16), Ackers Adventure, Golden Hillock Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham. 6pm7.30pm. Cost £8 with pre-booking essential. Call 0121 772 5111 for details.

Saturday 16th May. Tuesday 21st April: Tea and Tots (cooking activities for youngsters), Home Coffee House and Bistro, Lightmoor Village, Telford. 9.30am-11.30am.

Lawley Village summer event (fun activities for all), Lawley Village, Telford.

Saturday 25th April:

Curious about Birmingham (selfguided, heritage walks with an optional treasure hunt), Birmingham City Centre. For more information, visit www.curiousabout.co.uk/ birmingham/index.php

Tuesday 2nd June. Tea and Tots (craft activities for youngsters), Oak Tree Centre, Lightmoor Village, Telford. 9.30am-11.30am.

Tuesday 2nd June. Sew, Knit & Natter (bring along craft work and make new friends), Hub Hazelwell, Vicarage Road, Kings Heath. 12pm-2.30pm. Cost £2

Tuesday 2nd June-Sunday 7th June. Linden Road Artists Exhibition, Selly Manor Museum, Maple Road, Bournville. Free admission to exhibition.

Saturday 6th June:

Festival of Chocolate (chocolate making workshops, craft sessions, demonstrations and storytelling), Selly Manor Museum, Maple Road, Bournville. 10am-4pm.

Wednesday 29th April (until 15th November):

JUNE

Bournville Society Outing to Herefordshire and the Golden Valley. For details, call Bob Booth on 0121 475 6814.

Wednesday, 20th May. Lightmoor Ladies (social group), Home Coffee House and Bistro, Lightmoor Village, Telford. 7pm-9pm.

Wednesday 10th June. Bingo Club, Shenley Court Hall, 200 Green Meadow Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham. 1.30pm-3.30pm.

Saturday 20th June. Circus Fun day (craft activities, circus skills, balloon modelling and face painting), Selly Manor Museum, Maple Road, Bournville. 11am-3pm.

MAY

Saturday 27th June. Bournville Festival, Cadbury Recreation Ground, Linden Road, Bournville. 1.30pm to 11pm.

Tuesday 30th June. Wednesday 27th May.

Tuesday 5th May. Chess Club, Shenley Court Hall, 200 Green Meadow Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham. 7pm-9pm.

Wednesday 6th May: Bournville Society Talk from JoAnn Curtis, Curator of Birmingham

The Lost History of Selly Manor (a talk about Selly Manor, from its medieval origins to its move to Bournville), Selly Manor Museum, Maple Road, Bournville. Cost £2.50

Tile decorating workshops, Jackfield Tile Museum, Jackfield Near Ironbridge, Shropshire. 10am until 2pm. Cost £5 per tile plus admission. For more information, call 01952 433424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk

Thursday 28th May. The Archaeology of Bournville (a talk about the archaeology of Bournville), Selly Manor Museum, Maple Road, Bournville. Free admission.

*Please note that BVT don’t endorse events, services or activities provided by third parties. Please contact venues/ organisations direct for more details.

12 inView

SPRING 2015

QUIZ

o be in with the chance of winning a £20 Love to Shop voucher, which can be redeemed at over 130 leading stores, complete the Quiz and return your answers to: Bournville Village Trust, C/O Claire Morrall, 350 Bournville Lane, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 1QY or email InView@bvt.org.uk –with subject header ‘Quiz’ by Friday 22nd May 2015. All correct entries will be placed into a prize draw with one winner chosen at random.

1. What is the capital city of China? 2. Gouda, Feta and Halloumi are all types of what? 3. The Taj Mahal can be found in which Indian city? 4. Actor Eddie Redmayne won best actor at this year’s Bafta awards for his portrayal of who? 5. What is the name of the author who wrote To Kill A Mockingbird? 6. Which technology company created the iPod, iPhone and iPad? 7. What is the title of the second studio album by English artist Adele? 8. In what year did Sir Tim Berners-Lee invent the World Wide Web? 9. Who captained England to victory in the 1966 FIFA World Cup final? 10. You’ll find the next answer to this question in this newsletter…what date will this year’s Bournville Festival take place?

Wordsearch T

o be in with the chance of winning a £20 Love to Shop voucher, which can be redeemed at over 130 leading stores, complete the wordsearch and return to: Bournville Village Trust, C/O Claire Morrall, 350 Bournville Lane, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 1QY by Friday 22nd May 2015 All correct entries will be placed into a prize draw with one winner chosen at random.

1: Daffodil 2: Rose 3: Tulip 4: Lily 5: Daisy 6: Carnation

7: Thistle 8: Lupin 9: Marigold 10: Orchid 11: Peony 12: Sunflower

If you require the information in this newsletter in a different language, large print or braille, please call 0300 333 6540 or email enquiries@bvt.org.uk 350 Bournville Lane, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 1QY Cherry Tree House, 1 Lightmoor Way, Lightmoor Village, Telford, TF4 3TX