Rooftop Magazine Edition 89 - Spring / Summer 2017

Shout it from the

EDITION 89 SPRING/SUMMER 2017

Magazine

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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

We Can Help You We Can Help You Fly The Nest We Can Help You Fly The Nest

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Grounds Maintenance Over the winter months our grounds team has been busy carrying out winter maintenance works and enhancements to a number of sites, carrying on from the work we did over the last Autumn / Winter Period.

Grass cutting has now started again and you’ll see the gangs out and about. Grass cutting is generally done on a 12 -15 working day cycle. Any queries regarding grounds maintenance can be raised with your neighbourhood officers.

IN THIS

ISSUE EDITION 89 SPRING/SUMMER 2017

Emergency Repairs page 4 Community Funding page 5 How does the Community Fund help page 6-7 Building in Gloucester page 8-9 Apprenticeships page 10-11 Meet our Job Coaches page 12 Repairs & Maintenance page 13 Butternut Squash and a Vicar page 14-15 Andy’s Gardening Tips page 17 The Great Sunflower Challenge page 19 Neighbourhood Inspections page 20-21 Legacy Fund & Customer Panel update page 23 Life at Rooftop page 24-25 Christmas 2016 page 26 Shared Ownership page 27 Reconnections page 30 Walking Football page 32 Festival of Words page 33 Puzzle Pages page 34-35 3

EMERGENCY REPAIRS We appreciate anything that goes wrong in your home can be a concern for you and we do offer an emergency repair service where we come out to your home within 24 hours of the report.

Recently there’s been a rise from 10% emergency call-outs to 20%, and most of the emergency calls we get are not emergencies. This puts strain on the whole system; if our worker is dealing with something that isn’t an emergency they can’t go to the repair that IS an emergency. It is also an expensive way to deal with repairs An emergency repair is something that could cause danger to health, poses a risk to your safety or cause serious damage to property.

For emergency repairs we will aim to “make safe” only, for example isolate a severe leak.

If you have a total boiler failure we will provide temporary heaters.

We do rely on you when you describe a repair. If you’ve reported a repair and you’ve managed to fix the problem please also let us know so we can prioritise our resources most effectively.

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You can also help us help you, by making sure you’re aware of the location of isolation valves (stop cocks) and consumer units (fuse boxes) so you can use them in case of emergency.

If a permanent repair is needed the operative will send us a follow-on work request, which will then be booked as either a standard 20 working day or an urgent 5 working day job. That all depends on the likely effect to the property, or your welfare, if we delay carrying out this repair. When attending the emergency call out we ask our operatives to give you some idea about the likely priority of follow on repairs, but please be aware they can’t confirm when the follow-on appointment will be during the emergency call out.

Where possible we’ll contact you during the next working day to arrange any follow-on appointments.

We ask that you only contact us to chase any follow up works if you have not heard from us by the end of the next working day.

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The Rooftop Community Fund The Rooftop Community Fund is a scheme which is the responsibility of the Customer Panel. This group of residents works on your behalf to improve your housing and related services and the quality of life for residents and the wider community.

The Customer Panel have been given approval to distribute £100,000 from the Rent Restructure Reserve to projects which benefit residents in their local communities.

How to Apply for the Community Fund Applications should show that they benefit the wider community as well as having a benefit for our residents. Applications for funding can be for grants from £100 to £10,000. Here are some examples of what the fund could be used for: • improvements to parks, playgrounds and local green spaces • a local playgroup needing to purchase new toys and equipment • a re-fit for a village hall kitchen so that it can be better used by the local community Applications can be made by an individual resident on behalf of a group of residents, or by a community group only if two or more residents are involved with the project.

Once you send in your completed application form, a member of the Customer Panel will contact you to discuss your application. If further details or a visit to discuss the proposal is needed, they will organise a time to come and visit you. The application will then be discussed by the Customer Panel and you will be informed of their decision within 8 weeks.

We may be able to help you if you need assistance with making a purchase with your grant. We would like to hear back from you to find out how the activity or project went.

For full details and an application form go to www.rooftopgroup.org/ residents/neighbourhood-and-community The deadlines for applications are: • Monday 5 June 2017 • Monday 21 August 2017 • Monday 2 October 2017 • Monday 13 November 2017 And don’t forget that if you’re aged 16 to 25 and a Rooftop resident, or you’re getting support from Rooftop you could get a grant to help you into work or training.

We can help cover the costs of training or getting into work, and that could be as simple as new interview clothes or exam fees.

If you’ve already applied for other grants from the Job Centre, local charities, or local colleges and not been able to get help then please apply to us.

The Young People’s Fund gives grants of up to £300, but you can only get one grant per year.

You can find more information on our website www.rooftopgroup.org

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The Rooftop Community Fund Just Some of the Funds Recipients...

Evesham Vale Cardiac Rehab Group Evesham Vale Cardiac Rehab is a new local Charity, providing a facility for the survivors of heart attacks, and those who have undergone heart surgery, to recover full fitness, gain confidence, and return to playing a full part in society.

The Evesham Vale Cardiac Rehab (EVCR) group applied to Rooftop’s Community Fund for a grant to help them buy new specialist ‘low impact’ exercise equipment to work with people living with coronary heart disease.

Pershore Riverside Youth Centre Pershore Riverside Youth Centre (PRYC) is a genuine community facility. The focus is firmly on provision for young people, providing positive activities for all that want to join in, and focusing support and guidance for those that need it most.

Historically the operations, staff and building costs were paid for by County Council. However, all youth support has been victim to the cuts, and now PRYC is a 100% stand-alone organisation and has to generate all its own funding from activities and donations.

The Garage Art Group

The Garage Art group aims to promote health and wellbeing through the mediums of painting, drawing, textile and other visual arts.

They hold groups twice a day from Monday to Friday for all members of society including individuals with special needs, disabilities, and those suffering from a low point in their lives.

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SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

Rooftop Housing Group donated £5000 from the Community Fund to help people who have had a major cardiac event.

The cheque was presented by Andy Richardson from the Rooftop Customer Panel, to Gerry O’Donnell the Chairman of EVCR and John Darby, the EVCR secretary.

This donation will help ensure that this work continues in the community, and that Cardiac Rehab can be made more accessible.

Visit www.eveshamvalecardiacrehab.org.uk to learn more about this charity.

A cheque of £2940 was presented to Alex Mellor, the Centre’s Development Manager, to help maintain their fantastic facilities and continue providing a wide range of activities for the local community.

More information on the PRYC can be found at: www.pershoreriversidecentre.org

Just before Christmas we were delighted to award the group £2000 from the Community Fund, recognising the ways that they help people across the area.

The money will help provide the resources to ensure that the group can continue benefitting all its members.

To find out more about the Garage Art Group go to www.garageartgroup.com

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Building in Gloucester “That’s the first time we’ve had a straight answer to that question”.

David Hannon the Development Director at Rooftop had just appeared on BBC Radio Gloucestershire. He’d been invited to talk about our new development in the centre of Gloucester, work had begun clearing the site and people wanted to know what was going on.

Mark, the presenter, asked David to explain what “affordable” means in the context of Affordable rent.

“It means that we provide properties at 80% of the market rent” he told him. This appeared to be a breakthrough.

“I’ve asked people for years to define Affordable!”

We’d started giving straight answers, answers to questions like ‘what is affordable?’, ‘who are we for?’ and ‘what is going to happen on Black Dog Way?’.

If you say Black Dog Way to anyone in Gloucester, they’ll probably think about the eternal traffic jam, then they’ll think about the derelict KwikSave supermarket.

Twelve years ago KwikSave shut down, and almost immediately there was chatter about what would happen on the site. This was at a time when high-end canal side flats were being developed at The Docks and it appeared that Gloucester was going to see massive regeneration. Gloucester Quays Designer Outlet was built, the Northern Ring Road was completed, Kingsway estate finished… and nothing happened to KwikSave.

People tried, lots of people tried, but nothing was financially viable, nothing would work for open market economics, and it sat there, mouldering. As the south side of the city was beautified, the North got uglier in contrast.

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So why did Rooftop take this on?

The land had been owned by developers who, with the very best of intentions, thought that they could do something with it. The economics of building in the centre of a county city, particularly post 2008, just would not add up. After the crash of 2008 developers on the other side of Gloucester were having to cut their losses by selling properties below what was projected.

Black Dog Way sat there, with more speculation about what was happening, what would be built, and whether it would ever be used.

When the landowner approached us to see if we might be able to pull together the right sort of development for the site, we considered it. We’d been using a new approach, we’d been actively going out and land banking, not to see the investment rise, but to see housing need be reduced. After some serious number crunching, bouncing the plan back and forth from Development to Board and back again, we decided that we could do what others couldn’t.

The things that attracted us to Black Dog Way are the things that we’re most proud of. For example, we work closely with Gloucester City Council by helping young people in emergency housing need, young people who have exhausted all the other avenues open to them, young people who need that extra hand up into a tenancy. Our sites in Gloucester include Frampton Corner, which was built on land bought from the Gloucester Diocese.

Black Dog Way would be affordable city living for new households.

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The newly created Housing Zone in Gloucester meant that HCA funding was being targeted at exactly this sort of brownfield project, and since the Housing White Paper was published earlier this year it looks like we were well ahead of the policy curve. That wasn’t our intention, our intention was to provide homes for people in housing need and ease the burden on a failing housing market; there are simply not enough homes being built.

Quattro Architects produced a modern sleek and sturdily handsome design, and United Living were taken on as the contractor making it all happen.

It came at the right time for the local authority too.

Gloucester used to have a cattle market, a proper old cattle market, right in the centre of the city opposite the railway station. The market moved to the outskirts of the city in 1958 and closed completely in 2001.

Rooftop built a large Extra Care Village on part of that site some years ago, but that’s a whole other story…

The cattle market closed and a bus station was built on the site, with a parade of shops, and a ‘brutalist’ square with fountains and walkways. Like so many developments from the early 60s the bus station fell into disrepair. For the last 20 years, the first thing public transport users see of Gloucester is a multi-storey carpark and an empty parade of shops and offices.

Gloucester City Council are now redeveloping the area to be a gateway to the city and we’re going to be part of that. Their enthusiasm for what we’ve added to their plans has really paid dividends when it comes to funding and important political support.

We don’t want the pay, we want the people who have a need to have a home.

Suddenly David Hannon was on the radio, suddenly all eyes are on the development in the centre of Gloucester, suddenly there’s a huge amount of good will riding on this.

It’s a slight distraction because we’ve been developing in Gloucester for several years. When the BBC asked David “who are Rooftop and what do you do?” he could have replied “have you noticed your neighbours?”.

Oake’s House, the building next door to the BBC in Gloucester, is one of the developments we completed in 2015, as part of our ‘15 in 15’ development cycle, alongside Bagwell House,Weston Road, and Barnwood Road.

This is what Rooftop do really well, we help build communities.

And we have more on the way!

Buildings were coming down, walls were demolished, hoardings put up, and work had begun on the impossible site in Gloucester, the one that no one could make pay.

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Apprenticeships I previously worked as a factory operative as well as a cleaner and at Jobcentre Plus. During all those different jobs, I have gained a unique blend of skills relating to communication, customer service and administration.

My name is Carl, I am 21 and I live locally to Evesham.

I was inspired to join Rooftop Housing Group because I wanted to further develop my current customer service and administration skills. I was also inspired to join Rooftop Housing Group because I used to clean in an office environment and I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be on the other side of it, so to say, so when I saw the chance to join RHG I applied straight away and I have not looked back since.

I found out about the apprenticeship by a local advertisement at Evesham Jobcentre plus. I currently work in the housing team and my main job role is managing the rental lockup and garages, while also assisting with the supported living properties.

The main thing I would love to get out of my apprenticeship is a full-time or part-time job with Rooftop Housing Group as I have enjoyed working here a lot. I would love to continue my employment here. I would like to build upon my confidence on the telephone mainly because I have had little experience using a work-based telephone at any of my previous jobs. I feel that RHG is helping extensively with this skill because I am using the telephone a tremendous amount, communicating with both colleagues and members of the public. I also would like to expand my current knowledge in some areas such as the ins and outs of housing benefit and how it affects tenants and RHG themselves. I would also like to expand my knowledge of what entities help to formulate the social housing structure.

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SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

Making that jump from leaving lower sixth form to become an apprentice is one of the best decisions I’ve made. I decided to become an apprentice to open doors for my future and to get experience in the working world.

I have learnt new skills, developed my expertise and gained a vast amount of knowledge about how different companies work. I have learnt a range of basic administration skills such as working on spreadsheets and working with confidential information, all which will help with any career path that I decide on in the future.

I’m Aimee and I searched for apprenticeships after completing one year of sixth form, and I came across Rooftop on the apprentiships.gov website, where I applied for the job myself

At Rooftop I work in the community investment team as a business administrator apprentice. The team supports the community and carries out assessments to ensure people get the right help. My job role includes filing information, answering the telephone, sending out and preparing letters as well as arranging appointments for my team. I enjoy completing the jobs that I do as it gives me a chance to work individually and within a group. I have more confidence now when using the phones and have developed my communication skills, verbally and written. I also feel I have developed a close and trusting relationship with my colleagues. After I have completed my apprenticeship at Rooftop I hope to go on working within the community and maybe do a social work course at college. I enjoy supporting and helping people and would like to be able to do this in a future career.

I actually came across my role by accident when I was looking for a placement.

My role in Rooftop is to support the work of the repairs and asset management team.

We make sure that Rooftop properties are maintained for our tenants.

We do this through a variety of different ways; responsive repairs ensuring major/minor issues are dealt with, programmed maintenance which ensures the shelf life of kitchens, bathrooms etc.

My name is Adam and I’m from Evesham.

I’m studying for a Level 2 business administration apprenticeship with Rooftop Housing Group. Before this I was doing A-levels at Pershore High, and decided during my A2 year that university, the so-called traditional path after A-levels, was not right for me.

I’m currently helping with cyclical maintenance through maintaining an asbestos and compliance (fire alarm, emergency lighting) register. It’s certainly built my skills in dealing with contractors and data collection.

In addition to this I also help investigate and resolve repairs complaints, which is quite interesting as it has allowed me to play detective, gathering evidence to achieve resolutions. Alongside this I have been doing other ad-hoc duties such as word processing, laminating, scanning, phoning tenants etc. However mundane those tasks might appear, it has allowed me to build useful and versatile skills for any future job roles.

My role is still expanding and eventually I’ll be helping with the responsive repairs and dealing with tenant issues on the phone. So far my role has been an equal measure of enjoyable and challenging (in a good way), and ensures that I am both kept busy and on my toes for any issue that might happen.

Following on from my apprenticeship I would either like to seek further employment within Rooftop, and if this isn’t possible then I’d look for a job in an office based environment perhaps within a similar industry.

To find out more about Apprenticeships go to our YouTube channel and watch Lucy’s Story.

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Meet our Job Coaches Rooftop as part of Fusion, which is a collaboration of Worcestershire Housing Associations and Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS), has secured European Social Fund and Big Lottery Funding to deliver Employment Support across Worcestershire called “Building Better Opportunities.”

With support from a dedicated Job Coach every participant has a personal package of support based on their own individual circumstances and needs. By recognizing and building on strengths and abilities participants will gain confidence to enter the world of employment, training or volunteering.

We help people of all ages and abilities to get into employment, build their confidence, learn employability skills, do CVs , cover letters, interview skills to help them move closer towards gaining employment and also provide support in the work place if needed . We work on a one to one basis to help each client achieve their full potential.

Carol’s Story

Caroline - I previously worked in education as a lecturer and mentor supporting young people with any issues and helping them into work placements for 10 years. Before working in education I was a TV graphic designer working for ITV on live TV and news.

I feel that everyone has the capability to achieve given the right support and motivation.

Nick - My previous job was working for Pluss in Gloucester, providing in-work support for people with disabilities. This could range from arranging reasonable adjustments to hours and duties with employers, to taking a hands-on approach to coaching clients in how to do their job more efficiently.

Before that I worked in primary schools in one of the most deprived areas in Worcester.

When Carol came to see Caroline, apart from a brief time working in a supermarket she had been out of work for 27 years.

The job centre referred Carol to Caroline and the work began.

Carols lack of self-esteem had caused her confidence in getting a job to fade away.

Caroline arranged for some 1-2-1 computer training with Rooftop’s Digital Connector, practiced interview skills with her and by showing belief in Carol helped rebuild her shattered confidence.

Carol enrolled on college courses and built up skills to help her get back to

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work. Under her own steam, Carol also found herself some volunteer work at Oxfam. When an opportunity came up at the newly opening B&M Store she went for it.

Carol was successful and now she goes to work early every day with a spring in her step, she is smiling again and looks forward to getting up.

“I feel so much better and I’m meeting new people” she said, “I couldn’t have done this without Caroline she gave me the boost to go out and do this”.

Carol’s confidence is sky high now and she won’t be stopped, she’s looking for the ‘next step in her new found career’.

SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

Update on Scrutiny review of Repairs and Maintenance Residents completed a scrutiny review of how we carry out repairs and maintenance at Rooftop in January 2017. The review focused on how we carry out the service and how satisfied customers are with the service offered.

The Resident Excellence Panel who carried out the review noted that the creation of the Common Services Vehicle with Fortis Property Care created significant cost savings.

Meetings were held with staff at Rooftop and also at Fortis and a good practice visit took place to Severn Vale Housing to see how they provide their repairs service. The review looked in detail at how the service is provided. One area that was identified early in the review was that we could improve the quality of information provided to Fortis on what repair was required. During the time that the review was taking place, Rooftop moved the staff who take the repairs calls to sit alongside the Fortis staff, who are managing the work. This had the benefit of allowing queries to be dealt with quickly and staff knowledge of the requirements of Fortis as the contractor carrying out the work improved.

Other findings were that Rooftop needs to be clearer with residents what service they can expect to get.

Also that appointment times will be improved by the introduction of new hand held devices, which will improve mobile working and information on jobs that have not been completed first time. This information will be fed back directly to the Fortis system.

EDITION 89 SPRING/SUMMER 2017

The recommendations were accepted by the Board of Rooftop and cover the following areas: • Moving the Rooftop staff who take the telephone repair calls to sit alongside the Fortis Team.

• Make clear to residents that the first repairs visit may be an inspection visit to see what work needs to be done and order parts.

• Improvements to how we deal with online repair requests.

• Rooftop providing clearer information on the out of hours services and that it is for emergency repairs.

• Reviewing the high volume of emergency calls currently being reported (20%) and considering a simple emergency and ordinary repairs system.

• Looking at the reasons why repairs are not completed first time (after the inspection visit has been carried out).

• Reviewing with residents how the repairs needs of vulnerable and disabled residents are met.

• Continue to have a dedicated Rooftop staff member following up on repairs work that is not completed satisfactorily.

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Butternut Squash and a Vicar Just before Christmas 2016 John Rockley met some of the young people that live with us in Lydney.

“Does it matter if your family loves you?”

Sitting in the kitchen at Lydney Gateway, with Ben, Zack, Josh, Josh, Terri, Sarah, Pam and Nina, I’d asked a stupid question; and Ben knew it was a stupid question.

We were there because the recent Harvest Festival had produced some remarkable veg, veg that had been donated to the young people who live at the Gateway. They’d cooked, they’d enjoyed and now they were meeting the people who gave them the traditional Harvest gift of butternut.

Sarah Fenby, Priest in Charge of Lydney Parish, sat and ate some very good mince pies, “We’re building a community where everyone matters” she said, “I guess that’s what shapes everything we try to do in the community.”

It’s that sense of community that leads me into my stupid question…

“There’s lots of different sections of the community in a town like Lydney…” Sarah continued, “we have a regular summer fair where we like to share part of the profit with local organisations and we gave a gift [to Lydney Gateway] and that started our relationship.”

Lydney Gateway is one of Rooftop’s facilities where young people, who have become homeless, can get help and support and move on to the rest of their lives.

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So here it is, the stupid question…

I turn to Ben and Zack, who are both perched on the kitchen work surface in the way only young men can perch, that lazy confidence of owning a space, and I ask “Does it matter that you get support from these groups?”

I know…Stupid question.

“Does it matter if your family loves you?” Ben just about manages to keep the slight edge of scorn out of his voice. “Of course it’s important!”

“It’s nice to know someone cares” Zack adds.

All of us in the room know the main problem though; people are happy to support young children, people are happy to support families of any age, but when it comes to young adults there’s a thought that they’ve brought it on themselves, that they’re somehow less deserving.

They are forgotten.

Ben has a view “I think it’s something that’s become more apparent in the current generation, it’s not something that was common…but it’s getting more and more common, these units for this age range…My dad’s age and that, there was none of this, absolutely none of this.”

Ben slips himself off the kitchen counter and stands leaning as we all listen to him. He’s young, articulate, intelligent, and if you met him under any other circumstance you wouldn’t know he was living in Lydney Gateway.

SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

But then again, you wouldn’t know that any of them were.

I’m in my 40’s and everyone under the age of 25 looks the same to me.

Young… just young.

“It’s definitely a new issue” Ben continues, “It’s like homelessness, the longer it goes on the more methods there are to treat it.”

We chat about homelessness for a while, the way life can suddenly overtake you, the way that even though you think that you’re stable the worst could happen.

Pam, who’s a member of the congregation at Saint Mary’s in Lydney makes a good point, “When I was younger you were in the family unit, that was the way you were brought up; you looked after your own…but things have evolved since… people have moved away, you used to stay in the same community usually, but people move away and it’s the breaking up of that”.

Pam’s right, as is Zack when he says, “there’s lots of reasons…” there are, and sometimes it’s hard to work out what those reasons are.

We start talking about social media, about echo chambers, about only talking to the people that you have to talk to… and how we need to get out of that rut and start hearing other stories.

“We’re lucky that we have a big building” Sarah points out, “it’s the largest community space in Lydney so we can gather people, so the Harvest is one of those times when people gather, and the Christmas Tree Festival…people can gather and people do meet the rest of the community.” There’s a break when Terri one of the Rooftop Engagement Workers makes plans with the young men and the vicar for the Christmas Tree Festival.

EDITION 89 SPRING/SUMMER 2017

“You break down those barriers and suddenly there is something you can call community”.

Sarah Fenby, Priest in Charge of Lydney Parish is right. It’s what Lydney Gateway try to do, it has to be part of the wider community and in the Church there’s an opportunity to build that community.

One young man suddenly says “Are you here to convert me? ‘cus that’s what they said.”

We laugh as he realises he’s been conned, like young men do, spinning tales…he laughs too.

There is an element of conversion though. Rooftop and the Lydney Gateway want to convert everyone.

Convert the young people they help… from the homeless and the scared, and the troubled, to people who can live their own lives and contribute to a better world. They also want to convert their communities to look at the young people as people not thugs or thieves or trouble makers.

This young man had done what people do, he had assumed what he’d heard was true, he’d assumed that a vicar converts people against their will… he’d seen Sarah and Nina, in their ecclesiastical uniform and had made an assumption. Like we do when we see a young person in a hood, or lads laughing in a group… we assume the worst.

I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with for their Christmas Tree.

I’m looking forward to seeing how it will stand with all the other trees.

Unremarkable.

Just another tree.

Part of the community.

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Andy’s Gardening Tips Rooftop’s resident garden expert Andy Richardson is looking forward to the summer with some useful tips to help you enjoy spending time in your garden!

Well this is going to be a busy year, with the Rooftop Garden Competition to look forward to. It’s well worth entering with many great prizes to be won, also our brand-new Gardening Club which already has enthusiastic residents wanting to join. For further information have a look on the rooftop website where it will give you all the pointers you need to join the Garden Competition and the Gardening Club. With the better weather coming along its time to turn our thoughts to our gardens, so this time I’m going to concentrate on handy tips and a little know how which will hopefully save you some money and make your work in the garden a little easier.

• To protect against pests and disease,planting sage in and around your cabbages will help ward off unwanted insects.

• Plant borage in amongst your strawberries;this helps to give you strong and healthier plants.

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•

Pot marigolds secrete an insect repellent, so when planted with other plants they’ll help to protect them.

• To save money on mite dust, before sewing your seeds, roll them in a paraffin damp rag. It will help keep birds, mice, ants, and many other predators at bay.

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Next time you go walking on or around the hills pick some bracken, chop it fine and place it in the bottom of your pot when planting. Make sure the bracken is green; your plants will love it and it will save you money on expensive fertilisers.

• Dig old banana skins in and around your roses with some good horse manure and they will thank you with their blooms throughout the season. Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Camellias all love used tea leaves dug in around their roots.

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And finally, a useful money saving tip: purchase your seeds for next year at the end of the season just before the shops get their new stocks in. They will be half price or less and are still fine to use for at least another 12 months!!

Have a great season and happy gardening

Andy

SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

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

There will be seven categories: • Best community garden • Best vegetable/fruit garden • Best container/hanging basket • Most improved garden • Best overall garden • Best scheme • Childrens garden

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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 5 June 2017 and judging will take place within the first week of July.

To enter ask your Neighbourhood Officer for an entry form, or visit www.rooftopgroup.org to download a copy.

You will also find a copy of our terms and conditions on the website We look forward to seeing your beautiful gardens and will feature a selection of the best entries in the residents’ magazine this Autumn.

There will also be a Wildcard entry for great gardens or containers spotted in a Rooftop property but not entered.

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Rooftop Garden Competition 2017 Entry Form Name: Address:

Postcode: Tel.No:

Mobile:

Email:

Please tick all categories you wish to enter for.  Best Overall Garden

 Best Fruit/Vegetable Plot (no allotments)

 Most Improved Garden – please provide photos of what your garden looked like before you improved it (maximum 5 photos)

 Best Children’s Garden

 Best Container (hanging baskets, tubs, pots or other containers)

 Best Scheme Garden  Best Street (please give the names and addresses of at least 2 neighbours entering with you).

Name 1:

Name 2:

Address:

Address:

Postcode:

Postcode:

There will also be a Wildcard entry for great gardens or containers spotted in a Rooftop property but not entered.

Please return your form to Lisa Sutton at Rooftop, 70 High Street, Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 4YD or email it to lisa.sutton@rooftopgroup.org If you have any queries please contact Lisa on 01386 420800 ext 337.

Gardening Competition Terms and Conditions 1. The competition is open to all Rooftop residents aged 16 or over, except Rooftop employees, their close relatives and anyone connected with the competition.

Entrants under 16 may enter with their family and will require parental or guardian consent. Proof of age, identity and eligibility may be required.

2. The competition will run to Monday 5 June 2017.

Entries after that time will not count.

3. Entrants need to ask their Neighbourhood Officer for an application form or visit www.rooftopgroup.org and download the entry form.

4. Entries will be submitted via post, email, and in person with a completed entry form.

5. No other method of entry will be accepted. Only one entry is allowed per entrant (the first, any subsequent entries will be disregarded).

6. The entries will be viewed and seven winners chosen by a panel of Rooftop representatives.

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7. The winners will be announced before Monday 31 July 2017.

8. Entrants must be available via the contact information they have provided. If, after reasonable attempts a winner cannot be contacted within 24 hours, that entrant’s participation in the competition ends. If the chosen winner cannot take up the prize as stated, then the prize will be offered to the next best finalist and they shall be deemed the winner.

9. There is no cash alternative to the prizes offered.

10. Rooftop's decision as to entrants taking part and winners is final. No correspondence relating to the competition will be entered into.

11. Entrants agree to take part in any post-competition publicity if required. Your email address, name, age and any other personal details will be handled by Rooftop in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Rooftop will only ever use your personal details for the purposes of administering this competition. Your personal details

will only be kept for as long as necessary to fulfil these purposes. Please see Rooftop’s Privacy Policy: www.rooftopgroup.org/privacy 12. All entries must be the original work of the entrant.

13. Rooftop reserves the right to: (i) amend these terms and conditions and vary the competition rules including but not limited to the opening and closing times; (ii) disqualify any entrant who breaches the rules, displays rude, insulting or inappropriate behaviour at any point (including prize fulfilment) or has acted fraudulently in any way and; (iii) cancel the competition, at any stage, if in its opinion it is deemed necessary or if circumstances arise outside its control.

14. Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when registering.

15. The competition is run by Rooftop Housing Group.

The applicable law is that of England and Wales.

SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

Great Sunflower CHALLENGE Half of all the Magazines posted this issue have a special gift, a packet of Sunflower Seeds.

These are no ordinary seeds, these are for the great Sunflower Challenge!

There are few finer sights than a giant sunflower standing proud, head up in the late summer. We want to make Rooftop’s communities the sunniest we can!

This year you can join the challenge and grow the tallest sunflower in all the land (OK, just in Rooftop).

If you haven’t received a packet of seeds then your neighbours should, so ask them for a couple of seeds, and if you do have a packet of seeds then share them with your neighbours!

The sunshine needs to be spread about…

There are full growing and planting instructions on the seed packets, and once you have them in the garden or in a pot, take some pictures, video the growing, keep us updated with how your sunflowers are going.

There will be a prize for the tallest sunflower, so plant the seeds and keep them watered and watch them grow!

The closing date is 31 August 2017.

To enter send us your pictures (of the whole plant not just the head), send us your videos, with the measurements, or show your Neighbourhood Officer.

Pictures need to be emailed to comms.web@rooftopgroup.org or posted to the address on the back of the magazine. Mark them “Great Sunflower Challenge”.

The same terms and conditions as for the Gardening Competition apply for the Sunflower Challenge, though the judging will be done by Neighbourhood Officers, who will come and measure your sunflower.

Gardening Club We’ve been given a plot of land which we intend to turn into a community allotment and garden. Anyone who would like to come and help – doesn’t have to be a Rooftop resident – please join us at our meetings, where, currently, we’re planning and discussing what we can do. We’re looking for some funding opportunities to buy fencing, tools and to be able to clear the ground.

EDITION 89 SPRING/SUMMER 2017

This is a fantastic project for people who love gardening and growing fruit and vegetables. The allotment will be wheelchair friendly and we’re going to build some raised beds and have a patio / seating area.

Please come along and join in for a very informal get together and refreshments, where everyone is welcome.

The meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month at Charles Close community room 10:00am-11:30am.

If you would like more information please contact Caroline Maxwell 01386 420800 extension 186 / 07854717419 or Dawn Dean 01386 420800 extension 142 / 07876839257

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Neighbourhood inspections 2017 We want to ensure that your neighbourhoods are clean and safe for you to live in.

Your Neighbourhood 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 Neighbourhood Officer when they are in your area.

May 2017 Street

Area

Date

Time

Linwoth Road, Minetts Avenue, Dale Walk and St. Michaels Avenue

Bishop’s Cleeve

01.05.2017

2pm

Elmley Road

Ashton Under Hill

02.05.2017

10.30am

Green Leys and The Lankets Churchfield and Abberley St The Chantry and Chequers Lane Albert Rd, Henry St, Avon St, Edward St Lazton Crescent Railground

Badsey Dudley Fladbury Evesham Bengeworth Pershore

03.05.2017 09.05.2017 09.05.2017 10.05.2017 11.05.2017 12.05.2017

2.30pm 2pm 2.30pm 10am 2.30pm 3.30pm

Philipscote

Bengeworth

18.05.2017

10am

Fairwater Close Farleigh Road The Close Rynal PLace, De La Bere and the Hodges Glencoe Road Meadow Rise

Evesham Pershore Wyre Piddle Evesham Bengeworth Lydney

18.05.2017 23.05.2017 23.05.2017 24.05.2017 25.05.2017 25.05.2017

2pm 11am 2.30pm 10am 10am 2pm

Street Crown Close, Crown Drive Wheelers Walk

Area Bishop’s Cleeve Stroud

Date 01.06.2017 05.06.2017

Time 10am 11am

Abbey Road

Pershore

05.06.2017

3pm

High House Drive and Ross Crescent Spion Kop and Owletts End Hill View Heathfield Rd, St Egwins Rd, Lloyd Close and Evesham Rd Woodleigh and Station Close Harrington Court Whittingham House St Helena Court College Rd Ragley Rd Tinkers Close Bevans Lane

Inkberrow Pinvin Defford Norton Drakes Broughton Worcester Droitwich Worcester Upton Snodsbury Harvington Moreton in Marsh Hinton on the Green

05.06.2017 06.06.2017 06.06.2017 07.06.2017 07.06.2017 08.06.2017 08.06.2017 09.06.2017 12.06.2017 13.06.2017 15.06.2017 17.06.2017

2.30pm 2.30pm 2.30pm 10am 2.30pm 2.30pm 12pm 2.30pm 2.30pm 2pm 10am 11am

Burkes Court and Swindon Rd

Cheltenham

19.06.2017

11am

Kent Close

Hampton

21.06.2017

2.30pm

Malthouse Cottages

Harvington

28.06.2017

2pm

Mill Avenue

Broadway

29.06.2017

10am

June 2017

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SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

July 2017 Street

Area

Date

Time

Bewdley St, William Crescent, St Lawrence Rd Clayfield Road, Ivy Lane and Coldicotts Bridgemans Close Deans Way, Deans Court, The Lea and Greenacre Way Meadows End Newlands Henry Fowler Close, Rightons Court Long Street

Evesham Bretforton Broadway Bishop’s Cleeve Hampton Pershore Evesham Dursley

05.07.2017 05.07.2017 06.07.2017 07.07.2017 11.07.2017 11.07.2017 18.07.2017 19.07.2017

10am 2.30pm 10am 10am 2.30pm 2.30pm 10am 2pm

Pensham Hill

Pensham

26.07.2017

2.30pm

Britannia Gardens Park Street

Stourport Kidderminster

28.07.2017 28.07.2017

10am 2pm

Area Beckford Evesham Middle Littleton Pershore Pershore Honeybourne Wythall Pershore Solihul Redditch Redditch Four Pools

Date 01.08.2017 02.08.2017 02.08.2017 04.08.2017 09.08.2017 16.08.2017 22.08.2017 22.08.2017 22.08.2017 24.08.2017 25.08.2017 29.08.2017

Time 10am 10am 2.30pm 3pm 10.30am 2.30pm 10am 11am 2pm 10am 10am 10am

Area Kemerton North Littleton Redditch Redditch

Date 05.09.2017 06.09.2017 13.09.2017 13.09.2017

Time 10am 2.30pm 10am 3pm

Area Middle Littleton Four Pools Four Pools

Date 04.10.2017 19.10.2017 17.11.2017

Time 2.30pm 2pm 10am

August 2017 Street Western Hill, Blacksmith Lane and Sweden Lane Pinder Heights Top Croft Row and School Lane Hurst Road and Hurst Park Cottages Mill Lane and Mill Lane Close Grove Avenue, Shepherds Walk and Clun Forrest Way Houndsfield Lane Meadow Walk Gables Close Pitchcombe Close The Ridgeway Woodlands

September 2017 Street School Close Blakes Hill and Cleeveton Row Corner Lane The Mayfields

October & November 2017 Street The Titheway and Manor road St James Drive St Wulstans and St Michaels

if you would like more information, please contact our senior Neighbourhood Officer, Lisa Sutton on 01386 420800 Ext 337 EDITION 89 SPRING/SUMMER 2017

21

2017 Str

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Please note: The content of this program was correct at the time of publication, however alterations may be necessary should circumstances dictate.

The Bishop’s Cleeve Street Fair Committee accepts no responsibility, however arising, for any loss, damage or injury sustained.

22

SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

A Kind Stranger When an Evesham local passed away she decided to leave much of her estate to charities and local organisations.

Our Ferry View residents were delighted to receive a generous donation from a kind stranger. We couldn’t be more thankful for the gift, here’s how it was used…

Residents voted to invest in their health with some outdoor gym equipment.

For rainy days and cold nights, the residents chose to have new cinema room.

For sunny days and green fingers the residents have chosen a Summer house.

Local artist Joe Walton was commissioned to bring colour to the corridors and communal areas.

EDITION 89 SPRING/SUMMER 2017

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Rooftop Life For Halloween we supported the Bengeworth Community at their party, there were lots of scary sights… and that’s just the people who work at Rooftop.

For Children in Need Rooftop staff paid to dress down, wearing the clothes that they’d wear for their favourite activity… which is why so many people came to work in their pyjamas.

I think they may need to get more sleep.

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SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

This year we were delighted to be one of the Top 100 Not-For-Profit Companies to work for in the country. Jodie Edwards, Boris Worrall and Julia Harrison were amongst the Rooftop staff who went to receive the prize. Back in the office some of us celebrated with Cake… lots of cake…

Love was in the air at Ferry View this Valentine’s Day. Singing, dancing, and a little tipple helped the celebrations move along wonderfully.

EDITION 89 SPRING/SUMMER 2017

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Christmas 2016 It may nearly be summer, but this is the first time we can look back on Christmas together. We had traditional Carols at Almonry Close, Broadway United Reformed Church, Bredon Village Hall, and Ferry View‌ which, as always, had been decorated by the fine people from HWFR. There was also music from two of the greatest, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, (well pretty good impersonators at least!!)

This last festive season Rooftop both gave and received, we put together a reverse Advent Calendar where staff gave people in need gifts rather than to each other, and Diane Bennett from Caring Hands in The Vale and her team donated Christmas Hampers to people in need using our RAFT service.

It’ll all start again soon!

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SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

ROOFTOP SHARED OWNERSHIP ‘Houses to build Homes In’ Shared ownership is a fantastic opportunity for those who want to get on the property ladder but are unable to buy a home outright on the open market. It allows you to buy a share in a new build home on a part buy/ part rent basis.

Eligibility Who is eligible?

• You should be able to afford to cost of the rent and the mortgage • Your household income is less then £80,000 a year • You are at least 18 years of age.

• You are able to secure a mortgage with an approved lender • You have a minimum cash deposit of 5% -10% depending on the mortgage provider.

• You have £1,500 to cover legal and moving expenses.

Priorities are given to:• First time buyers • Military Personnel • Any existing shared owner How can I apply?

Shared ownership works by allowing buyers to get a mortgage to purchase a percentage of the property and then pay rent on the remaining share.

Rooftop offer share for sales normally on 50:50 basis but this can be negotiated to suit your need.The bigger the share you purchase the less rent you will pay. You can purchase further shares in the future, this is known as staircasing.

•

•

Complete Shared ownership application with the homebuy agents on www.helptobuymidlands.co.uk Complete application for Home Choice Plus www.homechoiceplus@wychavon

Affordability Once you have completed the above, Rooftop will need carry out an affordability Assessment. You will need to provide the following documents:•

• • • •

•

Completed Financial statement showing your income and expenditure A copy of your approval letter from Help to Buy Copy of your last 3 months payslips Copy of your last 3 months bank statements Mortgage in principle from Bank or Building Society.

Self-employed need to provide last 2 years audited accounts.

For further information on shared ownership, and the properties that we have for sale visit our website at www.rooftopgroup.org

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ROOFTOP SHARED OWNERSHIP

Kirsty’s Story For those who don’t know, can you explain how shared ownership works?

Shared ownership is great because we only needed to put down 5% deposit and for us that was much more doable; we own 40% of the property. We knew we had to pay rent but just the fact that we were paying a mortgage to our own house made it a better option.

Rooftop gave us loads of support and that made the process easier. We had all the information and great people around us.

Kirsty, thank you for talking to me today. You have a lovely home; can you tell me how you got here?

Paying rent and a mortgage sounds expensive, do you find the scheme affordable?

We were living with our parents and decided we wanted to buy our own house; however, living round here near the Cotswolds it’s really expensive to buy.

Then we found out about shared ownership and we thought it was amazing, because we didn’t want to rent and we didn’t have the money to buy a full price house. It just wasn’t feasible. With shared ownership it’s your own home - you are paying a mortgage on it.

We did worry that paying rent and a mortgage could work out more expensive. Looking at rental properties you can pay a lot of money for a house that isn’t yours and you don’t own. I think people can think it’s going to be double the price – it’s not at all. We are just paying a little bit of rent and a little bit of mortgage and it has worked out cheaper for us.

We started looking for houses and we were lucky enough to find this one.

Why were you living with your parents?

I moved in with my parents because after university you have a lot of debts. Moving back home allowed me to save, but a lot of my friends are still with their parents or renting.

How did you know about shared ownership?

I found out about shared ownership on the internet but I didn’t know much about it. After talking to a mortgage advisor, I got a lot of information which opened up this whole new world. We looked for a house on the internet all the time, but unfortunately there aren’t many around.

What did you think when you first saw the house?

When we first came to look round we absolutely fell in love; we couldn’t believe how big and spacious it was.

Coming to a newbuild everybody says they’re postage stamps. We couldn’t believe how big the house was and we’ve got a really big garden. Having a newbuild is just incredible. You move into this brand spanking new house which is beautiful.You don’t have to do anything to it.

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What do you think are the benefits of Shared Ownership?

It opens up so many doors and opportunities, you’re not stuck in a rental property where you’re paying a humungous amount of rent and trying to save for a property. We wanted to stay in this amazing area which we love – the edge of the Cotswolds. Doing shared ownership has allowed us to have our own property and stay in the area we want to.

What are your plans for the future?

We do want children and this is a three-bed house. We can staircase in this property (buy more equity). We always wanted a shared ownership we could staircase in so that we can buy back more of the property and hopefully it can become 100% ours. It’s a great first home, a great way to get onto the ladder. I don’t see how we could have done it any other way.

And finally, what would you say to those considering shared ownership?

I can’t recommend it enough. If we didn’t find this shared ownership house I think we’d still be living with our parents. I don’t think many people know about shared ownership, but I do believe it’s the way forward.

SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

ROOFTOP SHARED OWNERSHIP

Nick’s Story You have a beautiful home, talk me through why you wanted to be in Cleeve Prior?

I work in the village. My brother runs a business from Cleeve and I do the web design. It’s mostly about my Job, the further away I go the further I’d have to travel every day.

Did you live in Cleeve Prior previously?

My parents moved here in 85. I was about 16 when we moved in. I went to college in Bournemouth and lived down in Bournemouth for a while – I do get out of the village every now and then.

So what was your living situation before you had this shared ownership house?

What appealed to you about the Shared Ownership scheme?

I was a classic sofa surfer, I was staying quite a lot of the time with my parents, because that’s where we have the office that we work out of. I’d be there for a few days, then sleeping at one of my friends’ places and also sleeping at my girlfriends as well. Just basically moving around.

I needed my own place, that was my priority, but it wasn’t particularly planned. It was an opportunity that came up and I was in a position to take it. There’s no way I could afford to buy outright, I would never have been able to get a loan for that. Shared Ownership bridges the gap, it kind of fitted my situation. You only have to borrow half the money, I pay rent on half but I’m still building up equity. It’s nice to know your savings aren’t gone – they’re just in the house, plus you’ve got the opportunity to buy it outright later if your situation allows.

Did you ever apply for social renting?

No, I thought I was outside of the brackets of being in need of social housing.

Did you look at private rent?

Occasionally houses do come up for rent in the village but the price, as you can imagine, is too expensive.

When I originally started looking I didn’t even consider Cleeve Prior purely because prices are so high. I don’t know the stats but I’m guessing pretty much most of the kids move out of the village.

I was looking around online and these houses were on the Wychavon website. The rented ones were filled very quickly, but shared ownership is actually less expensive than if I rented privately.

Once you knew you liked it how did you find the process?

The trickiest bit was the actual system. You have to register with “Help To Buy Midlands” as well as the council website. But it’s not as bureaucratic as you think.There are people that can help you with it. I used a specialist mortgage advisor and solicitors.

My names on the deed, it’s all the same as buying a standard house, it does seem daunting but once you get the advice it’s straightforward.

What was your fist impression when you viewed the property?

I walked in and I was sold straight away. It came completely fitted out – carpets, units, cooker and a fridge …even a dishwasher… It doesn’t feel like social housing.

EDITION 89 SPRING/SUMMER 2017

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Are you, or do you know someone who is over 50, lonely or isolated?

There is a free service in Worcestershire that can help.

Reconnections supports people in your community to connect with people, places and activities. Whether it’s someone who comes to visit and has time to chat over a cup of tea, some company to get out of the house, or help to attend a group or activity that interests you, the Reconnections volunteer team may be able to help.

Our volunteers are ready to be matched. Let us know if you or a friend/neighbour could benefit from our help.

Perhaps you would like to join us as a volunteer? Either way it is easy to get in touch. Give us a call on 01905 740954. If you want to apply as a volunteer you can do this online here:www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RECONNECTIONS You can find out more about us on our website:www.reconnectionsservice.org.uk

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I do miss my friend who died. She used to pop in all the time. It would be nice to have someone to visit for a chat again...

Reconnections client

I met my first ‘client’ this morning… what a really lovely man. Had a great time just chatting with him for 2 hours and very much looking forward to doing it again.

Reconnections volunteer

SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

Join Rooftop for a trip to Webbs of Wychbold. Take time to explore the gardens, visit the stores and enjoy a spot of lunch!

Departs from Evesham and Pershore For more information please contact Kayleigh Juliff on 01386 420800 or Email: Kayleigh.Juliff@rooftopgroup.org

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Walking Football When we thought about starting a Walking Football team who knew it would grow so fast?

Walking Football is a slow-paced version of the beautiful game aimed at the over 50s.

The Club is being organised by Rooftop Housing Group. If you miss the days on the pitch but retired due to age, health or disability it could be for you! Walking Football is a great reason to get out of the house, you’ll have fun, get some exercise and meet a great group of people. Even our New Group Chief Exec Boris Worrall (he’s not quite 50 yet) has had a go. The team was set up in September and we’ve had so much fun that we’re expanding to Bishop’s Cleeve and other areas. All the sessions are held on Wednesdays, one in Evesham at Wallace House, Oat Street and one in Bishop’s Cleeve at Newlands Park, Southam Lane.

If you’d like to join in all you have to do is get in touch…

Contact Will Pember on 07847676203 or williampember@sky.com

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Spoken Words Are you a huge Harry Potter fan? Do you have a passion for Mills and Boon? Perhaps you love Ed Sheeran’s expression or Robert Frost’s description? Whatever’s by your bed or on your itunes we surround ourselves with words.

This summer Evesham will celebrate with its second Festival of Words; an exciting list of Best-Selling Authors, Musicians, StoryTellers and Poets will be making appearances and holding workshops. Our Community Fund has recently donated to the festival and funded a children’s day. The children’s day is on Saturday 1 July at Evesham Library and features award winning and international story-tellers Richard O’Neill and Gavin Young.

The festival runs from Friday 30 June - Sunday 2 July and is going to be a promising platform for local talent.

To get your tickets to any of the festival events or to read more about the Festival of Words visit www.eveshamfestivalofwords.org

EDITION 89 SPRING/SUMMER 2017

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e l z z Pu PAGES Take a break, sit down with a cup of tea and enjoy our puzzle pages!

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Find the words from the bottom in the Summer word search grid. The wordsthe canwords be forwards or backwards, Find from the bottom vertical, horizontal, or diagonal. in the Summer word search grid.

When the puzzle is complete, The words can be forwardsthere or will be one word left over.

Tell us or backwards, vertical, horizontal, what the word is and you could win diagonal. a £20 High Street Voucher!

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When the puzzle is complete, there will be one word left over.

Tell us what the word is and you could win a £20 High Street Voucher!

AUGUST BARBECUE BEACH AUGUST SEASIDE BARBECUE BIKINI BEACH BOAT SEASIDE CAMPING BIKINI

BOAT CAMPING FESTIVAL FISHING FUN

FESTIVAL JULY FISHING JUNE FUN SHORTS HOLIDAYS HAT HOT SUNGLASSES HOLIDAYS ICECREAM SUNTAN HOT JULY SWIMMING JUNE ICECREAM TENT

SHORTS SUNGLASSES SUNTAN SWIMMING SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP TENT

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Can you find the ten differences betwen the two pictures?

SUDOKU

Rooftop

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Can you find the 10 differences these two pictures?

Can you find the 10 differences these two pictures?

CONGRATULATIONS

STEPHANIE BRADLEY! As winner of last edition’s word search competition, you will receive a £20 High Street voucher.

The answer not found on the grid was Luck.

Solution Solution

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE ANSWER Solution

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 Monday 4 September 2017.

Can you find the 10 differences between these two pictures?

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

EDITION 89 SPRING/SUMMER 2017

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Competition entries Use our back page to send in your entries for our competition.

Just fill in the details below and send it to our address on the right of this page.

You can also email your competition entries to comms.webb@rooftopgroup.org Name Address

Telephone Email Word search Answer

Keep up to date with all Rooftop news and information on our website at: www.rooftopgroup.org.

Visit the websites resident login where you can also pay your rent, check your balance, report repairs and book appointments with your Neighbourhood Officer.

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

@Rooftop_Housing

Rooftop Housing Group

Our head office is open from 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

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

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