Shout it from the Rooftop 88 Spring 2016

Shout it from the

Magazine

Edition 87 Spring 2016

Get help find ing a job

page 2

Searching fo r Langley-Kem Liza p

page 14

Your Right to Buy explaine d

page 16

Happy 60th Wedding Anniversary page 20

Don’t forget the 2016 Garden Competition is coming up!

Emergency repairs and anti-social behaviour can be reported even when we are closed on 0800 0421 800

Call us free on 0800 0421 800 or visit our website at www.rooftopgroup.org

Welcome to the Spring issue of the Rooftop magazine.

This issue there’s more on the Government’s Right to Buy, how we’re continuing the search for the elusive author, Liza LangleyKemp, and lots of pictures of the events you took part in.

Don’t forget that there’s loads of other things to watch, listen to, and read on the Rooftop website including a digital version of the Magazine to leaf through on your tablet.

John Rockley, Head of Communications.

We’re in the Top 100 When you work for a company that values you, that helps you, and that does work you’re passionate about, you can do a better job, you can go ‘above and beyond’ what’s expected.

You can help people with their problems, you can support your customers and you can find new innovative ways of doing things.

It’s hugely important to value our staff as we value our customers.

That’s why Rooftop Housing Group are delighted to be in the list of The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-forProfit Organisations to work for.

On 24 February Rooftop Housing Group staff were told that they were number 26 of the Top 100.

We’re hugely proud of this because it means we can give the best services to you.

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Volunteering with Rooftop

There are lots of opportunities for local residents to volunteer with Rooftop – and you don’t have to be a Rooftop tenant to get involved. We welcome volunteers and know that their contribution is vital to our work. We have two types of volunteering opportunities.

All Rooftop volunteers receive expenses and training and you can do as much as you want to, from regular roles to four hours a year.

We want you to do what you’re able to do!

We also provide a reward scheme to recognise the contributions made by volunteers.

Improving services Help us improve the quality of our services to residents.

Scrutinise our services to improve customer satisfaction.

Tell us what you think about how we repair and maintain your home or give us a view on how we communicate with you.

Keep in contact with us about issues in your local neighbourhood.

Community volunteering Befriend an older or isolated resident in your local community.

Offer to help with our community transport scheme driving people to our programme of activities.

Help with health and well-being activities.

Become a digital champion – help your neighbour to get online.

Interested contact: Volunteer Coordinator on 0800 0421 800 extension 139.

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Looking for work advice?

As the Work Advisor at Rooftop I’ll support you with one-to-one job seeking skills.Together we look at what you want to achieve and design the support round you, to help you find the job you are looking for.

Lots of Rooftop residents have been supported in different ways on their journey into paid work.

Most jobs today are found on-line, which is so convenient and easy if you know what you’re doing.

If your IT skills aren’t that good I can help you to improve them, get you on-line and show you some of the best places to look on the internet If you’re claiming Job Seekers Allowance you’ll know how important it is to make sure you prove to the Job Centre that you are actively looking for work.

I encourage you to make sure you continually meet the requirements and can even suggest new job seeking activities you may not have even considered.

Approaching local employers yourself can be daunting, I can offer you practical tips on how to successfully contact possible employers yourself.

A good CV is really important in job searching, I can give you tips on how to write a CV so it gets you an interview and we’ll build up your confidence by working with you on interview techniques.

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How often have you struggled to complete an application form? I‘ve helped many tenants complete applications without too much frustration.

Work does pay. Once you’ve found the position you’ve worked hard to get I’ll continue to support you, make sure any other benefits you may be entitled to are claimed and prove that work pays.

You may not need all of the above support, the choice of what I help you with is yours. If you live in a Rooftop property and want this personal one-to-one support call me.

We have a Work Club at Broadway Library every Wednesday at 11.30 am. This is an opportunity to meet other people in the same position and to swap ideas and tips on job searching.

To arrange an initial meeting and chat, You can also call me on 0800 0421 800 or 07854 717459

Issue 87 Spring 2016

Evesham Job Fair

Evesham Library

Friday 29 April 2016 10:00am - 2:00pm

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Get set for Government changes

Last Summer the Government introduced changes to the way housing associations work. The drive behind the changes was to reduce government spend, particularly the benefits bill.

What could this mean for you?

What does this mean for Rooftop Housing?

From April 2016 there will be a 1% cut in your rent for The 1% rent cut will mean a reduction in our income general needs tenants. It will continue to go down by 1% by £3.1m. This is money we were expecting and had in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Other possible changes include: planned to spend on improving local homes and services, • A limit on benefit payments to households on as well as building new homes. £20,000 a year from April 2016.

We have no plans to reduce services or standards but it does mean we will have to reassess the balance between • A freeze on working age benefits until 2020. landlord and tenant responsibility.This will include paying • Restricting housing benefits for under 21’s. your rent in advance and on time, in line with the tenancy • A new national living wage for over 25’s of £7.20 an agreement, and undertaking repairs to the property that are the responsibility of the tenant. hour (April 2016) rising to £9 an hour by 2020.

• If your household income is over £30,000 a year, We are working to make sure we deliver all we planned by reducing our operating costs and becoming more from April 2017 you may pay a higher rent. efficient. We are also talking to local partners about • The ‘Right to Buy’ home purchase scheme will how we can work better together. extend to all housing association tenants, during 2016.

• Extending the local housing allowance. Unlike the current system this will include service charges.

Before some of these changes can take place legislation needs to change. We are waiting for details on how the changes will be introduced and what they mean for you and Rooftop. As soon as we know more we will let you know.

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Juliana Crowe, Housing and Communities Director

Abandoned Vehicles Abandoned vehicles are one of the things we look for when we carry out a neighbourhood inspection. If the vehicle is on Rooftop land the first check we make is that it has up-to-date road tax. With tax discs a thing of the past we can now check through the DVLA website using the vehicle make, model and registration.

remove it. If we have no registered keeper details or the registered keeper does not contact us, we arrange removal of the vehicle with a local salvage company.

If a vehicle is taxed and roadworthy, it cannot be treated as abandoned. However, if a vehicle is untaxed and/or not roadworthy the Housing Officer will put a sticker on the vehicle requesting the vehicle be removed or the vehicle owner contact Rooftop within a 7, 14 or 28 days timescale depending on the condition of the vehicle. If the vehicle is in a dangerous condition it can be removed within 24 hours.

For more information or to report an abandoned vehicle, please contact your Housing Officer.

No action can be taken where the abandoned vehicle is parked on land not owned by Rooftop or on an adopted highway.

Should the vehicle owner not take action and the vehicle remains on Rooftop land we have an agreement in place with the DVLA to share registered keeper details. The DVLA will only share information where we provide a clear reason for the request and have evidence of all the action taken.

Within four weeks the DVLA will provide information held on the registered keeper of the vehicle. If there are registered keeper details, we make contact advising that the vehicle is on Rooftop land and they have 7 days to

Lisa Kelley, Senior Housing Officer

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Neighbourhood inspections 2016 We want to ensure that your neighbourhoods are clean and safe for you to live in.

Your Housing Officer will be carrying out a series of Neighbourhood inspections this year to identify and resolve any issues there may be.

They will also use it as an opportunity to spot positive aspects of the neighbourhood and to recognise and reward residents for this.

Please feel free to come and have a chat with your Housing Officer when they are in your area.

Street

Area

Date

Time

April 2016 Lower Croft & Middle Lane

Cropthorne

04.04.16

10:30am

Roberts Lane & Hathaway Close

South Littleton

05.04.16

2:00pm

Queensmead and Orchard Close Tinkers Close Courtiers Drive, Minetts Avenue & St Micheals Avenue Sinclair Court, Magpie Court & Littleworth Walk Lime Tree Avenue Old Station Close May 2016 Blakes Hill & Cleeveton Row Harrington Court Cladswell Close St Aidans Close Elizabeth Road, Trinity Close, Barnards Close Synehurst Avenue Coombefield Road Summerfield Gardens & Blossomfield Close Cornmill & Millfield June 2016 Martin Avenue, Bredon Hill View, Damson Drive and Grengage Way Coldicotts Close St Peters Close Crown Close and Drive Broadmarston Road & New Road Coronation Street Evesham Road, Nightingale Lane and The Close Tolsey Gardens Maycroft and Lilac Close Choules Close Philipscote

Bredon Moreton In Marsh Bishops Cleeve Evesham Broadway Blakeney

05.04.16 07.04.16 11.04.16 12.04.16 21.04.16 26.04.16

10:30am 3:00pm 2.00pm 11:00am 3:00pm 11.00am

North Littleton Worcester Cookhill Cheltenham Evesham Badsey Wickhamford Hampton Elmley Castle

03.05.16 04.05.16 05.05.16 09.05.16 10.05.16 10.05.16 12.05.16 17.05.16 17.05.16

2:00pm 3.00pm 10:00am 2.00pm 11.00am 11.00am 2:00pm 3:00pm 2:30pm

Hampton Bretforton Pirton Bishops Cleeve Pebworth Evesham Cleeve Prior Gloucester Hampton Pershore Evesham

02.06.16 02.06.16 03.06.16 06.06.16 07.06.16 07.06.16 14.06.16 17.06.16 17.06.16 20.06.16 21.06.16

2:00pm 10:00am 11.00am 2.00pm 2:00pm 11:00am 11.00am 11.00am 10:00am 10.00am 3:30pm

Black and White Cottages

Aston Somerville

21.06.16

3:30pm

Alexandra Road

Hampton

29.06.16

4:00pm

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Issue 87 Spring 2016

Street July 2016 Westbourne, Harvard, Hudson, Beaufort End Alder Grove & Holmwood Gardens St Helena Court Wyckham Court and Blacksmiths Lane Glebe Cottages and Village Street Derby Court & Hopewell Street New Street Woodward Road & Close Hacketts Lane Battleton Road, Fairfield Road, Fairfield Place, Hemmingway August 2016 Orchard Road Craven House, Evesham Road, Heathfield Road, Kings Lane, Lloyd Close and St Egwins Road Chaston Close The Limes and Bayliss Road Orchard Grove Greenacre Way, Deans Court & The Lea Ferry Lane May Tree Road Mayfield Road Winchcombe Road September 2016 Brock Close & Bodnam Road Chambers House, Lewis House, Newall House and Mayfields Spion Kop & Pendas Meadow Manor Road, Manor Close Hill Close Avon Road Albion Street Betjeman Close Brittania Gardens Timberdown Hillside Close & College Road October 2016 Bewdley street, Haines Place, Henry Street, Avon Street, West Street

Area

Date

Time

Honeybourne Evesham Worcester Childswickham Harvington Gloucester Evesham Pershore Eckington Evesham

05.07.16 05.07.16 06.07.16 11.07.16 14.07.16 15.07.16 21.07.16 22.07.16 26.07.16 02.08.16

2:00pm 2:00pm 11.30am 10:00am 10:00am 2.00pm 10:00am 4.00pm 3:00pm 2:00pm

Pershore

02.08.16

Norton

03.08.16

2.00pm 3:30pm

Inkberrow Kemerton Littleworth Bishops Cleeve Offenham Lower Moor Pershore Sedgeberrow

16.08.16 16.08.16 18.08.16 18.08.16 19.08.16 26.08.16 31.08.16 31.08.16

3:30pm 10:00am 3.30pm 11.00am 10:00am 10:00am 9.30am 3:00pm

Cheltenham Redditch Pinvin Middle Littleton Westmancote Pershore Gloucester Pershore Stourport Wick Upton Snodsbury

05.09.16 05.09.16 05.09.16 06.09.16 07.09.16 13.09.16 13.09.16 16.09.16 19.09.16 20.09.16 22.09.16

2.00pm 4:00pm 10:30am 2:00pm 10:00am 11.00am 11.00am 3.30pm 11:00am 11:00am 2:00pm

Evesham

04.10.16

2:00pm

If you would like more information, please contact our senior Housing Officer, Lisa Kelley on 01386 420800 Ext 337 9

Shout it from the Rooftop

Grounds Maintenance Fortis will start grass cutting in March and will cut the grass approximately every 12 working days subject to weather. This means it could be mid April before some areas receive the first cut. The cutting season runs April to October and the main priority is grass cutting.

Residents are reminded that grass cuttings are generally mulched and left on site.

Shrub beds are trimmed to maintain access and weeded where required. Pruning and hedge trimming is undertaken mainly in the winter months.

Warm Walls Damp, condensation and associated mould can be a problem for any home as the weather gets colder, but it can be a particular problem if your house has solid walls.

Rooftop Housing Group has invested £5 million in conjunction with British Gas, who are part funding the works through ECO funding, to insulate its 700 homes with solid walls. By externally insulating the solid walls Rooftop Housing Group’s residents will have warmer homes and their energy bills could drop by around 30%.

That could be a real cash saving to each home of up to ÂŁ270 per year.

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Residents who have had the insulation fitted have told Rooftop that they have immediately noticed the improvement. Their homes are warmer and their bills have gone down.

Chris Morris, Head of Asset Management

Issue 87 Spring 2016

Bulky Waste Many services for Tewkesbury Borough residents are available on the Tewkesbury Borough Council website. This includes booking a ‘bulky waste’ collection.

Items of bulky waste are: furniture, appliances, audio-visual equipment, mattresses, carpets and lino and garden furniture. Anything else will not be collected.

You can book a collection slot online as long as you have a credit or debit card. For all other payment methods you must visit the Tewkesbury Borough Council offices.

To book a bulky waste collection online visit www.tewkesbury. gov.uk and click on ‘Resident’, then ‘Waste and recycling’, then ‘Bulky collections and household goods’.You will then need to register with the site (if you are not already registered). When you have registered you can book a standard collection slot which allows up to three items to be collected per slot.

A standard collection costs £20. If you receive housing benefit or council tax reduction it costs £10.

Items that will not be collected include: garden refuse, building materials, kitchen units/sink tops, radiators/storage heaters, doors/windows, garage doors, bathroom suites, sheds/ greenhouses, scrap wood/metal, car parts/batteries, fluorescent tubes, fencing and pianos.

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Insuring a brighter future

Rooftop Support and Care, who run Lydney Gateway, were delighted to receive a cheque for nearly £2000 from specialist insurer, Ecclesiastical.

The cheque was the culmination of both financial and practical help that Ecclesiastical has provided to, the Lydney Gateway Supported Housing project for Homeless Young People, aged 16 to 21years.

A team of staff from Ecclesiastical spent two days in November painting and gardening at Lydney Gateway. This was part of Ecclesiastical’s commitment to charity work in the community.

Nigel Light, one of the volunteers from Ecclesiastical, said “As well as helping transform areas of the project it’s given us an insight into the lives of young people who have not been as fortunate in their formative years as many of us...”

Mel Dafforn, Service Manager for Young People at Rooftop Support and Care, said “The staff and residents have been through a lot recently so it is fantastic to experience this kindness and generosity”.

Annette Bazeley, Link Worker at Rooftop Support and Care, commented that “The guys worked really hard and the two residents who worked with them loved it. The lounge looks great and the guys who worked in the garden worked really really hard too. They all came with smiles and lots of energy.”

Accepting the cheque on behalf of Rooftop Support and Care were young residents Aaron Snee and Connor Hutchinson.

They helped the Ecclesiastical team with the work along side Annette Bazeley.

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Issue 87 Spring 2016

Housing Innovation Award

Best of the web.

If you want to watch videos, listen to interviews, and experience our image galleries then go to the Rooftop website www.rooftopgroup.org.

Some of the highlights include Neil and Pam talking about what volunteering means to them.

Rooftop Housing Group, alongside Fortis Living, won the National Housing Innovation Award for Most Innovative In-House Repairs Contractor.

We were awarded the title in recognition of the way that Rooftop and Fortis are working together and the benefit this has on the wider community.

Working together with Fortis means that we will save a projected £7 million pounds over 10 years, and as a not-for-profit organisation those savings are reinvested into our projects. We were also recognised for using local labour which helps the local economy. We are looking to the future with apprenticeships that build the skills of the next generation, and allow us to give long term continuity of service.

You can see more pictures from the Rooftop Christmas celebrations and get the latest news on Rooftops new developments including good news for Gloucester.

Don’t forget to join in on Facebook – www.facebook. com/Rooftop-Housing-Group or follow us on Twitter @Rooftop_Housing

www.rooftopgroup.org

for the latest properties, your care choices, the latest careers with Rooftop, and lots more.

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Searching for Liza L

Let’s start as far back as I can get… Around ten years ago a Rooftop property became empty when the person living there passed away. After their relatives had cleared their belongings out, a blue folder containing a novel manuscript was left behind. The author wasn’t the tenant, the author didn’t appear to be a relative. We didn’t know what to do with it, so the novel was brought back to head office in Evesham.

The Communications Team had a look at it and tried to contact the telephone numbers written on the front of it, and write to the three addresses shown (two in London, one in Oxford) and they received no response.

The manuscript went into the cupboard and it waited.

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“ When I was clearing out a cupboard, the last thing I expected to find was an unpublished manuscript.

But I did.”

When the first attempt to find Liza Langley-Kemp was made there wasn’t social media, there wasn’t the great big hive mind. I put an appeal on to our Facebook page and waited to see the reaction. 10,000 views later we had started to build up a picture of the life of Liza.

After the story was featured on BBC Oxford, BBC Hereford & Worcester, BBC 3 Counties (we thought that there may be a Luton connection), The Evesham Journal and BBC Breakfast television we had an even better picture, but we still haven’t found her family.

a Langley-Kemp

This is what we know, or more accurately, what we think we know.

Elizabeth Kemp was the daughter of Walter Langley Kemp and Emily Tuckett, she was born in Holborn in 1927. She came to Evesham as an evacuee, and we assume, met Eric Bicknell. Eric was the son of Fred and May Bicknell who lived in Bengeworth, Evesham.

Eric and Elizabeth (Liza) married, Eric became a professor, and they had one child. Their daughter was called Siobhan, or possibly Liza, her birth is registered as Siobhan Elizabeth Wykes-Joyce Bicknell. Eric and Elizabeth split up, but Elizabeth still returned to visit May Bicknell in Evesham.

Elizabeth worked in a solicitors in Oxford for a time, but we don’t know what else happened in her life as the next confirmed record of her is, unfortunately, her death in 2001 in Evesham.

Siobhan (Liza) has been traced to Sheffield through her marriage. She was married to a man called Hess in the 70’s and the name of the marriage certificate is Wykes-Joyce, with no mention of the Bicknell. Then the trail goes a little cold. We don’t know where the Wykes-Joyce bit came from and can only speculate.

We think we have an address for her in London and I’ve written to her.

I hope she writes back, I hope she’s Liza’s daughter, but at this stage, I’m not holding my breath.

If you have any other information please do get in touch john.rockley@rooftopgroup.org John Rockley, Head of Communications

15

Shout it from the Rooftop

Right To Buy You may have seen in national and local press that the Government is committed to offering the Right to Buy to all Housing Association residents. This was an election manifesto promise and has been talked about at length since May last year.

Housing Associations have worked together across the country to find a way that gives people the Right to Buy, but will not damage the work that we do in providing new homes and delivering services in our communities.

During the autumn the National Housing Federation made an offer to Government that will bring forward a Voluntary Right to Buy Scheme. Rooftop will support this when the Government finally launch it.

There are several pilot Voluntary Right To Buy Schemes around the country. This is to trial how the scheme will work when the Government finally approve it. The trials are in London and the South West.

You can register your interest in buying your home through this scheme, a scheme that could give you up to 70% off the Open Market Value of your home. Discount is worked out on how long you have been a council or social housing tenant. If you are interested in registering, please contact Grace Seal at Rooftop on freephone 0800 0421 800 or email grace.seal@rooftopgroup.org with your name and address and ‘Right to Buy I am interested’ in the subject box.

These are exciting times, because if you do buy your home the money we receive and the discount given by Government will be used by us to build a new home for someone who needs it.

For those tenants who have the Preserved Right to Buy (tenants who transferred with their eligible home from Wychavon District Council in 1994) there is no change for you, you can buy your home now.

16

David Hannon, Development Director

Issue 87 Spring 2016

Going Digital

My name is Andrew Gibbins, the Digital Connector for Wychavon.

As part of the Go-ON Worcestershire partnership our aim is help people of all ages and backgrounds discover the benefits of being online. I’d like to invite you to join our computer workshops.

With the help of volunteer Digital Champions we hold workshops in the Wychavon area to learn basic computer skills in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Typically an hour long we step by step go through the use of: • Emails – this includes the setting up of a new email, guiding you through the various parts and functions, attachments and selfies.

How to identify and delete spam.

• Using a search engine to find web pages, news articles and photos of your chosen subject. Also how to do more advanced searches • How to browse the internet, wondering around without any particular subject in mind going to where your impulse takes you.

• Evaluate which websites to trust and other security concerns.

This includes Spyware, Trojans and Virus. A very important area of being online.

• It’s the intention of many companies to base more and more of their application and form filling online. We’ll show you how easy this is and the benefits it provides.

Our groups are small so one to one help is available.

This initiative covers the whole of Worcestershire so if you are from another area and I will put you in touch with the Digital Connector.

Digital Champions are volunteers whose mission to get people online.

Either 1 to 1 or in a group. A very rewarding and satisfying thing to do.

If you are interested in taking part in a course or becoming a Digital Champion.

Please contact me on 01386 420800 extension 263, send me a letter at Head Office or email me on Andrew.

Gibbins@Rooftopgroup.org Andrew Gibbins Rooftop Digital Connector

COULD YOU..

Help others become more confident online?

Help others make the most of their computer?

Help others find out more about the internet?

Become a Rooftop Digital Champion and help others get online!

Volunteer to become a Rooftop Digital Champion and with help from our digital connector we can teach you the skills to help others to work with computers and the internet.

For workshops and more information contact Andrew Gibbins on: Telephone: 01386 420800 ext 263 Email: Andrew.gibbins@rooftopgroup.org

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Rooftop Housing Group’s

involve your neighbourhood with this years new category!

Rooftop Housing Group would like to invite all residents, leaseholders and shared owners to enter our Garden Competition.

There will be five categories: • Best scheme or community garden • Best vegetable/fruit garden • Best container/hanging basket • Most improved garden • Best overall garden • Best street

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You may enter as many categories as you would like. Scoring will cover the structure of the garden, planting, maintenance and the overall layout and design. There will be prizes for the winner and runner up in each category.

Entries for the competition will need to be in by Monday 6 June 2016 and judging will take place from the end of June onwards.

To request an entry form and a pre-paid envelope, please contact Alex Williams on 01386 420800.Or visit www.rooftopgroup.org to download a form.

We look forward to seeing your beautiful gardens and will feature a selection of the best entries in the residents’ magazine this Autumn.

Spring gardening with Andy Andy’s our regular resident columnist.

Here’s his gardening tips for Spring…

Well spring is here at last after such a wet and cold winter. It’s so lovely to see the change in the seasons, what better way to start this springtime than with a verse from this famous poet: “I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o’er vales and hills, when all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils, beside the lake, beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze.” By William Wordsworth 1770-1850. One of the most famous spring poems by a true poet.

Every time I see beautiful spring daffodils I automatically think of that wonderful verse, it sums spring up so perfectly. So let’s have a look and see what we need to do in our garden.

Bulbs and Corms

Ornamental Shrubs

Prepare the site for a new lawn about a month before laying turf or sowing seed, mid to late spring is best although turf can be laid most times in the year. Roll lawns before mowing, repair damaged areas. In late spring give lawns a good scarify to remove dead grass and moss, apply spring weed and feed then begin mowing schedule. Remember to only give a light cut the first time.

Plant all shrubs in prepared ground or in containers when conditions permit, feed and mulch established shrubs in early spring.Transplant deciduous shrubs. Prune shrubs that flower on new wood and all hydrangeas in early March. In mid-spring carry out pruning and training on evergreens. Divide suckering shrubs in early spring.

Roses

When conditions permit, plant container grown and bare root roses in prepared ground. Prune large and cluster flowered bush roses,also standards and miniature varieties. Begin spraying against pests and diseases.

In early to mid spring plant snowdrops still in the green stage and summer flowering corms and bulbs in prepared ground or containers. Re-pot or top-dress bulbs and corms in pots. Take cuttings of begonias and dahlias, also divide dahlia tubers.

Ponds and Water Gardens

Plant aquatics, marginals and bog loving plants in late spring. Mid spring clear blanket weed and thin out oxygenating plants. In late spring divide marginal plants.

Lawns

The Vegetable garden

Perennials

In early spring plant perennial vegetables in prepared ground and container grown veg under cloches. Erect supports for peas and climbing beans, force rhubarb and chicory mulch planted vegetables. Sow tender vegetables from late spring.

Rock Gardens

Have a productive spring and enjoy your gardening.

If weather permits plant hardy perennials. Remove dead growth from half hardy plants and cut back shrubby varieties.Take basal cuttings and start taking stem cuttings.

In early spring plant out rock garden plants in prepared ground and in troughs. Feed established plants, cut back vigorous and straggly plants, plus any dead or dying matter. Divide mat and clump-forming plants and in late spring take softwood cuttings.

ANDY.

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Bulletin Board Happy 60th Wedding Anniversary

to Rooftop residents Mar ion and Andy Griffin.

They celebrated on Februa ry 4 with a bouquet from Rooftop, presented by Senior Housing Officer Lisa Kelley.

Maurice Miller, at 102, may be Rooftop’s oldest resident. He celebrated his birthday in fine style in January at his home in Ferry View, Evesham.

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Issue 87 Spring 2016

ooftop Christmas across R

time ago Christmas seems a long ys, when and just like the old da m to the you had to take your fil weeks to see Chem ists and wait for thumb over whether you’d left your snaps back. the lens, we’ve got our Enjoy the memories!

activ art in p g n i tak ted in s e r e t n I n: ct us o a t n o 1 800 C 2 4 0 p.org rou 080ro0 o oft pg . w ww

ities?

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Christmas Volunteer’s Party On December 17th Rooftop organized a Christmas party for all their volunteers’ to thank them for all the time and effort they have put in throughout the year.

Two volunteers went that extra mile and were awarded Silver Stars; they were Mark Pickering and Dave Johns.

An entertaining and puzzling quiz was organized which kept us all guessing for a while. We were also amused by a comical and musical sing-a-long.

If you have some spare time and feel like helping people, or can offer a service to those less fortunate, then please visit our website at www.rooftopgroup.org or email enquiries@rooftopgroup.org or freephone 0800 0421 800.

Pam Green, Volunteer

The Resident Reward Scheme There are many opportunities for volunteers to be involved with us at Rooftop.

This can be in one of two ways: • Volunteering to improve services • Volunteering to support the local community

Volunteering to improve services You can join a one-off activity (for example a focus group for a scrutiny review) or spend time as a member of the Customer Panel or another group giving regular feedback to Rooftop. Residents who get involved in this way receive points for the time they give. Once you have 500 points, you will be eligible for a £5 reward voucher. You can also ask for the £5 to be donated to a charity of your choice. Points will be recorded and rewarded during the year from April until the end of March.

Community volunteers

We really value the important work of volunteers who help out informally with a neighbour or give time to befriend an older resident. You may even have a skill you can help teach others, such as using a computer, or gardening. Community volunteers like these can be nominated by residents or staff for one of our 4 Shining Star awards: • Bronze Star - certificate and £10 gift voucher • Silver Star - certificate and £20 gift voucher and silver star paperweight • Gold Star - certificate, £25 gift voucher and gold star paperweight • Exceptional award - certificate, £50 gift voucher and crystal star paperweight, awarded for acts of exceptional good neighbourliness involving personal risk or long term commitment.

Want to get involved?

If you would like to nominate someone for a reward go to the Rooftop website and click on Residents’ Reward Scheme.

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Issue 87 Spring 2016

Community Day at St Oswalds Residents of all ages were brought together for a fun day of activities at St Oswalds Village, From Zumba to prize quizzes and an ‘egg drop challenge’ there was something to get everyone ‘eggcited!’

Chinese New Year!

Residents saw in the Chinese new year with a Dragon dance, kung fu displays and some very tasty food at the Chinese Resource Centre at St Oswalds in Gloucester

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TheSevern SevernValley ValleyRailway Railwayisisa aheritage heritagerailway railwayininShropshire Shropshireand and The Worcestershire.The The16-mile 16-mile(26 (26km) km)heritage heritageline lineruns runsalong alongthe theSevern Severn Worcestershire.

Valleyfrom fromBridgnorth BridgnorthtotoKidderminster, Kidderminster,crossing crossingthe theShropshire Shropshire Valley /Worcestershire border, following the course of the River Severn for muchofof /Worcestershire border, following the course of the River Severn for much route. itsitsroute.

Coachesfrom: from:Evesham EveshamatatTBC TBCand andPershore PershoreatatTBC TBC Coaches Return:TBC TBC Return:

Coachesfrom: from:Evesham Eveshamatat8:45am 8:45amand andPershore Pershoreatat9:15am 9:15am Coaches Returnbetween between5:00pm 5:00pmand and6:00pm 6:00pm Return

£30.00Residents Residents- -£32.00 £32.00Non NonResidents Residents £30.00 Fullpayment paymentisisrequired requiredbefore beforeWednesday Wednesday1st 1stApril April Full

£14.00Residents Residents- -£15.00 £15.00Non NonResidents Residents £14.00 Fullpayment paymentisisrequired requiredbefore beforeFriday Friday3rd 3rdJune June Full

AAnn IIn nddoor or s iinn ppro reeppaarshhooppppiin riinngg f ngg ttrrip foorr Ch ip ppeer Chrris rffeect isttm mas ct as!!

Coachesfrom: from:Evesham Eveshamatat8:45am 8:45amand andPershore Pershoreatat9:15am 9:15am Coaches Returnbetween between5:00pm 5:00pmand and6:00pm 6:00pm Return

Coachesfrom: from:Evesham Eveshamatat9:00am 9:00amand andPershore Pershoreatat9:30am 9:30am Coaches Returnbetween between5:00pm 5:00pmand and6:00pm 6:00pm Return

£27.00Residents Residents- -£28.50 £28.50Non NonResidents Residents £27.00 Fullpayment paymentisisrequired requiredbefore beforeFriday Friday7th 7thAugust August Full

£11.00Residents Residents- -£12.00 £12.00Non NonResidents Residents £11.00 Fullpayment paymentisisrequired requiredbefore beforeFriday Friday30th 30thSeptember September Full

For More Information and tickets please contact: Catherine Benwell:Telephone 01386 420800-227 / 07876839261 or Email catherine.benwell@rooftopgroup.org Kayleigh Juliff:Telephone 07854717431 or Email kayleigh.juliff@rooftopgroup.org Find all events and activities at www.rooftopgroup.org

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Every week Ferry View opens it’s doors to Tai Chi classes, helping keep everyone active.They don’t see themselves as just a class, they are an open group of friends, wanting to keep fit… plus tea and cake!

For more information contact the Active lifestyles team on

Every Monday come and join in with a seated exercise class at Bredon village hall. It’s not just healthy it’s a lot of fun too!

For more information contact the Active lifestyles team on

Rooftop Indoor Olympics The Managing Director of Clickers Archery Equipment impressed by the idea asked if he could deliver, set it up, deliver a lesson and take photographs – as they had never thought of it being an older persons ‘thing’!

We were approached by the Sports Partnership, Hereford & Worcestershire asking if they provided the equipment would we provide the facilities at some of our schemes to set up bowling classes.

After meeting with Evesham and Broadway Bowls clubs, two members agreed to come and deliver sessions over six weeks at three of our schemes. The scheme involved are Ferry View, Evesham, The Court, Broadway and Cherry Orchard House in Pershore.

As these classes were so successful we also were offered equipment for Archery to be held as an alternative to the bowling afternoon.

These sessions have become very popular with one resident at Ferry View saying “she had always wanted to do archery” and that it was on her ‘bucket list’.

To include as many people from the community as possible we are going to try New Age Bowls – which are a lighter set of bowls – at Bewdley Court to see if they are interested in entering a team and also offer it to ‘The Can Do’ Group that meet once a week at Ferry View.

As this is an Olympic year it was decided that to set up some competition between the schemes and host our very own Rooftop Indoor Olympics.

Held during the month of July and first week of August the Olympics will consist of Bowling, Archery and Darts. The competition will end with a medals ceremony on Friday 19 August at Ferry View, followed by a buffet lunch for the competitors accompanied by the Harvington Ukulele band.

The Rooftop Indoor Olympics is a FREE event hosted by Rooftop Housing Groups Active lifestyles team For more information regarding joining the sessions and entering the Rooftop Indoor Olympics please contact Caroline Maxwell and Active lifestyles team on

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Take time to make yourself a cuppa and relax with our puzzle pages!

Find the missing answer to our word search competition and you may even win a ÂŁ20 voucher!

Puzzle

You can use the form on the back to send back your entry, or email your answer to: comms.web@rooftopgroup.org

9 1 5 2 6 2 9

6

Sudoku

7 1 9 7 6

4

1 9 7 8 8 3 5 6

Just for fun, try our fiendish number puzzle

Spot the difference!

There are 10 differences in the two pictures on the left.

Can you spot them all?

Send us your photos Have you taken a photo that you’d really like to show off? Have you found a really old photo of the local area? Send them in to us!

This seasonal entry of a friendly robin nesting in a hose reel was taken by Andy Richardson of Evesham And all the entries will appear on our resident online gallery at www.rooftopgroup.org Please send your photos to:

Comms.web@rooftopgroup.org

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Issue 87 Spring 2016

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BUCKINGHAM CASTLE

CROWN ELIZABETH ENGLAND

LONDON MAJESTY MONARCH

PRINCESS QUEEN ROYAL THRONE

Can you find all the clues in BIRTHDAY LONDON Can you find the missing word? this word search celebrating BUCKINGHAM MAJESTY the queens 90th birthday?

CASTLE

MONARCH

Can you find all the clues in this word search celebrating the queens 90th birthday?

COACH PALACE One of the answers is not in CORGI PARTY One of the answers is not found on the grid, find the answer and you could win a £20 Tesco Voucher! the grid, find the missing word

CROWN

PRINCESS

voucher!

ENGLAND FAMILY GUARD

ROYAL THRONE

The found diagonal or even backwards.QUEEN and answers you couldcould win abe £20 Tescoup, down, ELIZABETH

The answers can be found up, Well done to last issue’s winners! down, diagonal or even The winner of Winters Wordsearch competition was backwards!

Mrs D Harris from Badsey and the missing answer was Crackers

Competition terms:

Please note that winners will be picked at random from the correct entries, by the Communications Panel, and their decision is final.

Closing date for entries is 30 June 2016

Responses Use our back page to send in your entries for our competitions and to ask Ian, our Gr you want to, including the ‘Your details’ section. Cut this back page out and send it to our address on the right of this page.

You can also email your competition entries or questions for the Group Chief Executive, to communications@rooftopgroup.org

www.rooftopgroup.org enquiries@rooftopgroup.org 0800 0421 800 Rooftop Housing Group 70 High Street Evesham WR11 4YD

Name Address

@Rooftop_Housing

Telephone

Rooftop Housing Group

Email

The closing date for the competition is 30 June 2016 Spring word search

answer:

9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday (except on Wednesday when we open at 9.30am).

Emergency repairs and anti-social behaviour can be reported even when we are closed on 0800 0421 800

Dear Ian...

If you would like the information in this magazine translated into another language, audio, or larger print please contact your housing officer.

If you would like to make a complaint, please complete the on line form on www.rooftopgroup.org or phone your housing officer and ask for our complaints form.