Welcome to
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‘W
elcome to your summer edition of My Great Place! Unfortunately we’ve not seen the red-hot weather we’ve all been hoping for, but not even weeks of torrential downpours put a downer on some of your brilliant community events that have taken place these past few months.
NEWS & FEATURES 4-5 Meet our 10-year-old tenant beating all the odds 6-7 Your jubilant jubilee parties – pho to special 8-9 Summer events neighbourhood rou nd-up 10 Changes are just what the Green Doctor ordered 12-13 Customer awards / training academy graduation 14 Knutsford high flyers are ready for take-off 18-19 Community news from acr oss the regions 25 My great job... by Josh Halstead, app rentice 30 Garden tips to really get you buzzin g
From crazy and colourful jubilee parties (pages 6 and 7) to loads of outdoor events – including barbecues, gardening workshops and summer fun days (pages 8 and 9) – you’ve done your neighbourhoods proud by turning up in your masses and having a great time, whatever the weather. As ever, we’re pleased to see you enjoying yourselves and hope you continue to get involved! Turn to pages 23 and 24 to find out all the dates and details for upcoming events in your area. Our customer involvement crew are often at the heart of these great occasions, and they’ve been busy planning our Customer Awards 2012, which were presented in a wonderful ceremony at Media City in Manchester recently. We had asked you to tell us about your fantastic neighbours and you responded in great numbers, so the judges really had their work cut out selecting the nominees. Find out who won what and check out the photos from the day – which included the Great Places Training Academy graduation – on pages 12 and 13. Ethan Evans, a 10-year-old boy with a truly inspirational story to tell, was joint winner of the Young Tenant Of The Year category – and when you read his story on pages 4 and 5, you’ll see why he deserves it. Anyone who has come through so much at such a young age, and is still so positive, driven and determined to help others deserves huge congratulations. We know loads of you have brilliant stories to tell, so please get in touch to share yours – this is your magazine, after all! Call 0161 447 032 or email julia. graham@ greatplaces.org.uk if you have any comments or suggestions for future editions.
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Brand new look for Hawkshaw Cou rt haven Blackpool Kidz get their kicks for free
HELP, INFORMATION & ADVICE 14 All the emergency numbers you nee d to know 16-17 Welfare reform - beating the benefits cap 19 Our new Blackburn office opens its doors 25 Report anti-social behaviour round the clock 26 Your rent statement explained 28 Money-saving magic – loads of saving tips 29 Home improvements: when are you rs due? 31 Have you got the Great Places app yet? 31 Beware of bogus callers – catch the conmen!
STEPHEN SAYS our chief executive, page 14 WHAT’S ON, WHERE pages 22-23 WIN WIN WIN! 34
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WAYS TO GET INVOLVED 20-21 Come and get involved wit h us... here’s how! 24 Local Area Forums – details and dat es for you 27 Community reps at large – fancy sign ing up? 33 Have your say. Whatever it is, we wa nt to hear it!
GET IN TOUCH Julia Graham, editor 2
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