Shout it from the Rooftop 86 winter 2015

Shout it from the

Edition 86 Winter 2015

Magazine 15 in 15 The latest op e

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ning

A new home for Oliver

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Rooftop win The Queen’s Award

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

Rooftop Offices are closed from 12.30pm on Thursday 24 December until 9.00am Monday 4 January 2016.

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

Shout it from the Rooftop

Welcome to the winter edition of the Rooftop magazine. It’s nearly Christmas so you can find a list of events in this issue, we’re also looking at the ways that we help people into new homes, and how we tackle people causing anti-social behaviour.

You will also find advice for dealing with condensation and what happened when we set up a Swap-Shop for the exchange of Rooftop properties.

Have a safe and warm winter.

Rooftop Housing Group, as part of The Matrix Housing Partnership, wins

Queens Award for Enterprise

The Matrix Housing Partnership, which Rooftop is a member, became the first housing association to receive the UK’s highest accolade for business earlier this year. It was honoured in the Sustainable Development category for its valuable role as a social landlord, providing safe and sustainable housing.

“The prestigious accolade is testament to the fantastic achievements of the Partnership – providing top quality housing and meeting the needs of all of the customers in our region and we were delighted to meet HRH the Duke of Kent and to share with him the great work of our Partnership.”

The Award was presented by HRH the Duke of Kent on Thursday, 22 October when he visited the LoCaL Homes factory in Walsall to see first-hand where many of the homes built by the Partnership are manufactured.

The Queen’s Award recommendations committee, chaired by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, commended the Matrix Housing Partnership’s measures to reduce environmental impact, increase its customers’ income and create employment and training opportunities.

HRH the Duke of Kent met with representatives from the Matrix Housing Partnership, enjoyed a tour of the factory and met residents from the nearby Innovation Way development.

Also commended was the home building programme, which has seen the successful completion of over 800 new homes over the past year, helping to deliver much needed affordable housing in the region, as well as stimulating growth and jobs.

Nicola Inchbald, Chair of Matrix Housing Partnership and Chair of Rooftop Housing Group, said: “We’re not only delighted to be the first ever housing association to be awarded with the Queen’s Award but to receive a visit from HRH the Duke of Kent is the icing on the cake for us.”

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The Matrix Housing Partnership is made up of the Accord Group, Rooftop Housing Group, Trent and Dove, Trident Social Investment Group as well as WATMOS Community Homes and Black Country Housing Group. Together the Partnership manages more than 30,000 homes and provides a range of services to people across the West Midlands.

Issue 86 Autumn 2016

Have you ever wanted to swap your home for something more ‘you’?

On Saturday 3 October 2015, we hosted our first home swap event that told people about mutual exchange and helped them raise their chance of finding a successful swap.

The best thing is that we’re able to ‘jiggle’ the information to try and do some multi-swaps where there is not a simple two way match. It’s turned into a swapping jigsaw…

The event was a great success and people are already Before the event, we targeted everyone already registered asking us whether we’ll be holding another event next on HomeSwapper, Homechoice Plus and everyone within year. We very much hope so and hope to see even more our housing stock who has a spare room. 158 tenants people there. registered and they were sent postcards to complete In the meantime, if you are interested in finding out more details of their current home and details of their ideal about mutual exchange, please contact your Housing home. That way, people who couldn’t come to the event Officer.You can also register for a mutual exchange free of could still have a chance of finding a swap. charge at www.homeswapper.co.uk.

We advertised the event on our website, on our social media pages, with posters and word of mouth. Our Senior Housing Officer, Lisa Kelley was even interviewed on BBC Radio Gloucestershire (you can still see it on our website).

On the day, our partner agencies, Homeswapper, Wychavon DC and Sanctuary Housing came along, the completed postcards were pinned onto boards that showed which village or town they were in. We had cakes and refreshments at the ready.

We also had a face painter to entertain the children (and yes the staff got involved to)!

At 11am when the doors opened we already had a queue of expectant people eager to see what was on offer. For the first two hours there was a flurry of activity and our staff were rushed off their feet giving advice and assistance to all who came.

We closed the event at 4pm and worked out that over 100 people had come along. We even had people who hadn’t pre-registered that completed postcards on the day.

Since the event, there has been a peak in activity on HomeSwapper, with 20 people being authorised to register on the site. We’ve also had lots of queries around mutual exchange and at least three applications to exchange as a direct result of the event.

Home swapping the basics If you rent your home from Rooftop Housing Group, you can swap your home. We call swapping your home with another tenant a ‘mutual exchange’.

You can exchange your home with others in any local authority area and from a different housing association or council, subject to consent from your landlord.

Swapping your home Exchanges are often a quicker way for you to move home rather than waiting for a transfer. They are a ‘self help’ option because it is up to you to find someone to exchange with. All you will need is consent from your landlord.

A mutual exchange can be a good option if you are looking to move away from the area because of a new job or to look after a family member where you may not be eligible to join the local waiting list.

How do I carry out a mutual exchange?

You can register and search for an exchange with other social housing residents, using a national website called ‘Homeswapper’.You can visit their website at www.homeswapper.co.uk.

If we, and any other landlord involved, agrees to the exchange taking place, then we will give you written permission and you can go ahead and swap.

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Get Online I’ve met a couple of people recently who were really positive about how Rooftop had helped them get online.

My favourite was an Evesham resident who was struggling with finding work – I was pleased when he came in - he told me that he had been sent by the Job Centre to the local library to join a course to learn more about computers. Chatting with him I found that the library course wasn’t running at that time and so the library staff, knowing we offer support at Rooftop, had sent him along to our offices to find out more. We arranged for him to have some one to one sessions to help him get online and he left the office really delighted that he was soon going to get some personal support. We also offered him help through our Work Advisor with some training on how to search for jobs online.

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Research carried out by has highlighted that 49,000 people within the County were not using the internet.

A lot of people assume this is older people and it doesn’t matter.

It does matter.

It makes a big difference... as the 95 year old lady who attends the Broadway Neighbours Online Group would tell you. She loves attending the group and enjoys learning and socialising. Shopping online is also great she tells me, especially in the Winter. Rooftop residents who use the touchscreen access points in our older people schemes tend to use them to check out the local bus times and what the weather is doing.

Essential information quickly available.

Issue 86 Autumn 2016

Young people too can need support to get online – often linked to developing the skills to job search or prepare a high quality CV. At Rooftop we love residents to log on and report repairs online, or check their rent account balances. With welfare reforms it’s increasingly important that residents have access to complete benefit applications such as Universal Credit online.

Rooftop’s approach has been simple – we aim to provide personal training and support, public access points – with free WI-FI, and affordable kit – such as provided by recycled computer schemes.

We’re really happy to be promoting BT Basic which is available to residents for £9.99 a month and gives residents on income-based benefits an affordable phone and internet package.

To help you get on-line we’re pleased to welcome Andrew Gibbins, a Rooftop resident, who is our new Digital Connector.

Andy will be working particularly in the Wychavon area helping residents and other bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb partners to increase the number of volunteer digital champions and places to get online for free.

A digital champion is a volunteer who helps residents to find out how to use a computer including advice on getting online using the internet. We are keen for residents to be able to access Rooftop services through our website, but also that people can search for work, or contact friends and family. Internet shopping and paying bills online is also popular and can save you money.

We’re looking for others who can help neighbours and show them the basics. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer digital champion or want help and advice you can contact Andrew Gibbins on 0800 0421800.

Check out Learn My Way – it’s a great training website free to use for anyone starting out online http://www.learnmyway.com/ Kate Gallant Community Investment Manager

MP helps Digital Champions Nigel Huddleston MP who came along to visit Broadway Library during Get On-Line week. He met Audrey, a member of the Church Neighbours Online Group who, at 95, loves using her i-pad and is eager to learn. John McGregor a digital champion at Rooftop discussed his volunteering role with Mr Huddleston who said “I really think this is a useful and practical initiative and I hope it gets more and more people on line.”

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Dora Matthews House Opening

The family of the late Coleford volunteering legend Dora Matthews was delighted to be asked to cut the ribbon at the official opening of Rooftop’s Housing’s new Extra Care Facility in Coleford.

David Hannon, Development Director for Rooftop Housing Group said “We were delighted to name this new facility after Dora Matthews, she was at the heart of this community, like the building named for her.”

At the same time as cutting the ribbon, Maureen Bell also unveiled a bench dedicated to the memory of Dora and to Maureen’s son Stewart, who passed away in 2010.

Situated at the front of the site is the wellbeing centre.

This is a focal point for residents where a café, activities centre and laundry are all located. The centre is for Dora Matthews House is a joint project between the the use of all residents but will also form a hub for the Homes and Communities Agency, Forest of Dean District local community where specialist advice and a range of Council, Gloucestershire County Council, Rooftop activities will be provided.

Housing Group and Heritage Care, and it provides 44 self-contained one and two bedroom apartments and five, two bedroom dormer bungalows.

Maureen Bell and Brian Matthews, Dora’s daughter and son, cut the ribbon in front of an audience of invited guests including three generations of the Matthews’ family. Maureen said “my mum would be so proud that this home is part of Coleford, it’s not just for the people who’ll live here but for the whole community”.

Dora Matthews, who passed away last year was a tireless volunteer, she was part of the first youth club in Coleford and was Chair of the Dr Charley Lunch Club for 40 years. In 2009 she was named as a “Town Treasure” for her services to the community.

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Issue 86 Autumn 2016

Who Was Dora Matthews?

Dora Matthews was a life long forest resident, born in 1923 and raised four miles south of Coleford in the village of Bream. Always active Dora’s life was constantly full of family and friends.

Dora moved to Coleford soon after her marriage to Ronald Matthews on 17 August 1946 and instantly became a dynamic presence in the local community. Joining the Community Association Committee she collected money door to door to raise funds for the new community centre which was to be built on Bank Street. Dora’s efforts helped ensure the necessary funding, and the centre was opened by the Duchess of Gloucester in 1967.

Not satisfied assisting with the creation of the new community centre, Dora actively encouraged the groups within the building. She became one of the centre’s most dedicated volunteers, serving both on committees, and behind the coffee bar.

When Dr Vernon Charley, chemist at Carters Royal Forest Factory and the man responsible for the development of Ribena, established a luncheon club for the elderly, Dora was elected Chairman and held the position until her death in 2014.

Always remaining modest Dora put down the success of the centre to the dedication of the team of volunteers. Asking any of the volunteers however, they would say the success was due to Dora’s energy and motivation.

Dora’s hard work and dedication to the community of Coleford was recognised in 2005 with an invitation to the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. In 2009 she received an award from the Mayor of Coleford, where she was also named as a “Town Treasure” for her services to the community. An honour which she treasured as she said the recognition of her fellow foresters meant much, much more.

The new community centre at the Main Place was completed in 2010 with Dora given the honour of opening the new building.

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Highlights On-Line Go to www.rooftopgroup.org to listen to David Hannon talking on the radio, how we helped Mandy (featured in this issue) find a new home after looking for three years, and what happened when Senior Housing Officer, Lisa met BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s David Smith.

This edition’s highlight is the wonderful story of Sue and Win from “Friends Of Jubilee Gardens”.

Getting in touch with Rooftop is free.

Really free. Since July of this year mobile phone companies have stopped charging their customers for dialling 0800 freephone numbers. The thing is, not everyone saw the news. We get a lot of people contacting our offices for general enquiries on our Evesham number when they could be contacting us without spending a penny.

If you have a computer you can get in touch via our twitter feed @Rooftop_housing or by finding us on Facebook, but the quickest and easiest way is via our website www.rooftopgroup.org and click on ‘Contact Us’.

If you don’t have a computer or you don’t have access to the internet where you are, then call our freephone number from your landline or your mobile.

0800 0421 800 So, you can put away the semaphore flags, the aldis lamps and the crystal balls. It’s never been cheaper to contact us.

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They’re completely committed to helping their local community and we’ve helped them do just that.

You can find out how they got involved, what it’s like to win a major award and their reaction to finding out that they’ve been living in Bengeworth for more than 100 years between them!

www.rooftopgroup.org

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

Issue 86 Autumn 2016

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Repairs and maintenance Now that it’s winter you can help stop condensation, remember Rooftop only has a requirement to provide you with the facility to control the condensation. eep the temperature up at home. You don’t need • Kmuch.

The advice is between 12 to 14 degrees for at least 14 hours a day. It makes sure the building stays above ‘dew point’ which is when moisture collects.

If you have extractor fans use them, and keep them on until the steam has all gone or until they stop.

If you have ‘trickle vents’ on windows keep them open.

Try not to dry washing indoors. Putting wet washing on radiators creates a lot of moisture in the air as the water leaves the clothing.

If you get condensation, control it by drying, then using soap and water or products you’ll find in DIY shops to clean the area.

• • • •

Repairs

Appointments we make for your repairs are now more efficient and most importantly, more accurate.

Jane and Tom who take our repairs calls think the new system (Optitime) has really improved things for residents. It does some clever things…

Factors in travel time, helps us use workers with the right skills who are already in the area so they can say “I can see there’s already a plumber near you on the 28th, would that be good for you?’.

It encourages us to arrange appointments on the same day as other appointments that may have already been arranged so you don’t have to take time out across several days.

As well as setting AM, PM, and All Day Availability, it can be set up to ‘avoid school runs’.

It updates our other systems so appointment letters are sent out the same day that appointments are made.

We know more about the actual work done, rather than averaging out costs.

• • • • •

New repairs and maintenance service standards working with the

Customer Panel we have recently agreed two further standards. You will find them on our website alongside the Golden Standards at www.rooftopgroup.org

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Issue 86 Autumn 2016

External Wall Insulation

Sweep up to stay safe

Real fires that burn coal, wood or solid material are ‘solid fuel fires’ and these need regular maintenance. If you have a wood burner, stove or solid fuel heating system you’ll have an annual service and safety check as part of your tenancy. However, if you have an open fire as an extra form of heating (you also have central heating that’s gas, oil or electric) then it’s your responsibility to have your chimney swept and maintained to a safe standard.

If your chimney isn’t properly maintained it can cause a build up of deadly carbon monoxide. To help stay safe…

Empty and check the ash can every day Flue ways at the back of the boiler should be cleaned once a week. Only do this when the fire is out and it’s gone cold.

Throat plates should be removed and cleaned monthly.

Get your chimney swept at least once a year by a recommended chimney sweep, preferably a member of the National Association of Chimney Sweeps, Guild of Master Sweeps or Association of Professional Independent Chimney Sweeps.

• • • •

There’s a lot of scaffolding around many of our properties at the moment. We’re partnering with British Gas who are installing external wall insulation on 600 homes and have already completed around 450!

We do understand that it can be disruptive for you in the short term but you’ll benefit from your property being warmer during the winter and cooler during the summer and a reduction in fuel bills as it will take less energy to heat.

Your responsibilities

We often get asked to carry out repairs that are your responsibility.

As a reminder it is worth noting that Rooftop do not carry out the following jobs: Replace broken glass to doors and windows unless there is a fault in the glazing (we can carry out glass replacement but there will be a charge).

Replace toilet seats Replace light bulbs Pest control Dividing fences between properties Repairs to any slabbed or paved area that is not a main access to the property A more comprehensive list is available in our repairs handbook.

Copies are available on request.

Many residents have used the Age UK Handyman Service to carry out small jobs, they can be contacted on 01386 422700.

Changing colour You may have noticed that some of the Fortis vans have changed colour from blue to silver. You’ll see more of these over the next few months. Fortis operatives have also got new identification and clothing.

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Mandy’s story

When you have a growing family, space can be a problem.

The little children that used to race around the house are now great big adults… Imagine how hard it can be when you have growing children with disabilities.

Mandy has just moved into a bungalow found for her

by Rooftop’s Housing Officer Becki. Mandy knew that she had to move and had spent three years searching on the choice-based lettings system but nothing appropriate had come up.

“We lived in a house” said Mandy, “It was OK it was fairly big.” The issue for Mandy wasn’t just the size of house it was the type of house. “Oliver (Mandy’s youngest son) mainly in a wheelchair and he has problems with his legs… so it was mainly carrying him up and down stairs. ”Oliver lives with severe autism and, as Mandy describes, he has ‘focal seizures’.“His health is not going to get better, we’ve been told it’s going to get worse.

We sat in a meeting with a group of professionals and we discussed it and that’s the first time ever I’ve broken down and said ‘the reality of this is it’s going to get worse it’s not going to improve’. Focal seizures, I’ve just been told resemble a stroke. It can paralyse the one side of the body for 24 hours”.

Becki Parkes, knew there was a need to move, and as luck had it, also knew of a property that could work for the family “I asked about it” she said “and I was given the keys and we went and had a look round. We just couldn’t believe how perfect it was for the family.

Edward (Mandy’s older son who lives with Asperger’s) and Amanda would have their own rooms upstairs, and Oliver had a perfect room downstairs with provision for a wet room. It was just a ‘no-brainer’ actually.” It’s not a quick process and it’s only in exceptional circumstances that a direct match to a property is done. There are reports, meetings and direct approval by the Housing and Communities Director to go through, but when Mandy saw the house for the first time Becki says she was “over the moon”.

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Issue 86 Autumn 2016

For children with complex needs like Mandy’s sons there has to be a period of acclimatisation to anything new, but when Edward and Oliver saw the house Becki was amazed at the reaction, “that was the first time ever that I’ve seen Oliver laughing and smiling and running around, he looked so happy we knew then that it was the perfect property for them.”

Mandy says that from the moment they moved in life has changed for the better, she doesn’t have to carry Oliver up the stairs, and she knows that when he does have a seizure she can cope with bathing and basic care. She also sees that just having her own space, where she can sleep and be rested for the next day, has helped her own quality of life so she can better help her family.

Becki is philosophical about what she’s achieved “My job is to make sure people have the right accommodation for their needs, that’s my job.” But she knows that Mandy, Edward and Oliver can now live a better quality of life, as she says “That’s what a housing officer’s job is”.

You can see a video of Mandy and Becki on our website www.rooftopgroup.org

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Tenancy Fraud Forum Rooftop Housing Group are members of both the Gloucestershire Tenancy Fraud Forum and the newly created Mercian Tenancy Fraud Forum. Both forums include all the major landlords within Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Hereford and Powys.

This year John Sutton one of Rooftop’s Area Managers is the current chair of the Mercian group.

In 2012 the then Audit Commission estimated that 50,000 homes were being illegally sublet in England costing the Public Purse over £900 million. This estimate was three times higher than any other benefit fraud and was reported as the single largest fraud loss in local Government.

There are many forms of fraud within social housing including; abandonment, illegal subletting, wrongly claimed succession (where a family member wrongly claims to be living at the property when the tenant dies) and not using the house as there main home.

Recently the Government stated that it was committed to extending the Right To Buy (RTB) to housing association tenants. with assured tenancies. Whilst at this stage we do not know exactly how this will work and how many residents will take up the scheme, Rooftop and its fellow forum members are working hard to put robust systems in place to ensure that no fraudulent RTB claims are made.

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This includes running all potential applicants through a Government website aimed at tackling fraud, to ensure that those people who claim to be living at an address, really are there!

Did you also know that if a property that is sold under the RTB scheme is sold on again within the first five years, you must pay back a proportion of the original discount to us? Again Rooftop have processes and systems in place to ensure that discounts are repaid and the Public Purse is protected.

If you suspect that someone in your neighbourhood is committing tenancy fraud then please get in touch. We need to ensure that those who are entitled to social housing get the home that they deserve. You can do this anonymously through our website or through the Gloucestershire Tenancy Fraud Forum’s dedicated website www.tellustoday.co.uk

drugs Issue 86 Autumn 2016

and Local Communities The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 provides the legal framework for tackling drug misuse and the police have the responsibility for enforcing the powers. All concerns relating to drugs are a potential criminal offence and should always be reported to the Police using the local number 101, or to the confidential national Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Criminal offences include the possession and supply of controlled drugs like cocaine and cannabis.

At Rooftop we are very aware of the impact on our communities by those who choose to use and deal in illegal drugs. We therefore work very closely with our partner agencies, including the police, when drug issues are reported to us. However, we are not a substitute for the police, and there is little we can do as a landlord unless the police themselves take action.

The new Antisocial Behaviour Crime & Policing Act 2014 has introduced some radical changes to the way in which landlords, together with our partner agencies, can effectively tackle those who engage in drug-related crime in our communities.

Help and support

Where tenants are willing to change their behaviour and engage with the appropriate support services, we can work closely with them and other agencies, to help them sustain their tenancies and turn their lives around. The removal of dealers from the community is one of the ways in which we can actively work towards this aim.

Our Tenancy Enforcement Officer linked up with police recently to tackle drugs issues in our properties. Across our community in the last 12 months, six households have been investigated for offences of possession with intent to supply illegal drugs.

Two of the cases were in Gloucester where we worked in partnership with Project Solace, a multi-agency team set up to tackle anti-social behaviour in Gloucester. One of the cases involved a potential ‘closure order’ which allows the police or council to quickly close premises which are being used or likely to be used to commit nuisance or disorder.

The second case involved a joint operation with Rooftop and the police. A tenant in Gloucester was found to be growing cannabis plants with a street value in excess of ÂŁ20,000 and had caused substantial damage to the property.

Both tenants chose to terminate their tenancies rather than face the reality of enforcement action.

Worcestershire police have identified a recent trend where drug dealers are intimidating vulnerable residents and misusing the property. Rooftop is taking part in a pilot scheme with the police to identify and proactively safeguard vulnerable residents whose premises are being targeted by suspected dealers.

This is a clear message that we will support those vulnerable residents who accept our help to sustain their tenancies. However, if any of our residents are caught and convicted of relevant offences, we will act quickly to ensure they are removed from our community.

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Shout it from the Rooftop

The Fraudster and T Rooftop Housing deals with all sorts of issues that go along with being your landlord, some of them are easily solved, others are more complex.

Take tenancy fraud for example, there’s a lot of time and intricate work involved in tackling the problem. However, once the fraud has been dealt with there are some really positive outcomes.

Our Tenancy Fraud and Enforcement Officer recently helped a young man find his first home, and this is their story in their own words (the tenant involved wished to remain anonymous).

“I’m Terry Shutt, Tenancy Fraud and Enforcement Officer. Part of my work requires me to investigate when people are living in properties where they are committing tenancy fraud.

One particular example was that we identified a situation where a flat had been given over to a man who was dealing drugs from the premises. We investigated the anti-social behaviour attached to the drug dealing and then the tenancy fraud. As a result we took the property back and recirculated it into the stock, it was then allocated to a young individual who’d been sofa surfing for approximately 11 months.

We’re not just interested in getting back bricks and mortar, we’re actually interested in getting back homes for people… we deal with social housing need not social housing want; so we try to get the right people in the right places and make effective use of the housing stock… It’s a people business, we’re here because of that, getting the right people in the right houses…

Tenancy fraud is a criminal offence and not only that, this individual was dealing drugs from the property which was causing other problems for the surrounding area. We managed to kill two birds with one stone, we eliminated the tenancy fraud aspect and also cleared that area of a very active drug dealer AND provided a home for a young man who’d been homeless for 11 months.

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It’s been a really positive experience, and then having met the individual… because I deal with the individuals committing the frauds but I tend not to see the individuals who move back into the properties… there was quite a buzz from that, it was good… a good positive feeling.”

So how did it affect the tenant who’s now in the flat?

“I was living with my auntie and it was an over-crowded environment, there were, like, seven of us living in the same house. She said that I wouldn’t be able to stay there because it was too over-crowded. So I was on the housing list for ages trying to get somewhere to go… and I ended up getting my own place and I moved into there, but it was really bad before that; my auntie was struggling to feed me as well as everybody else… there were too many of us, and because of the overcrowding they had to get me a place as quick as possible.

It feels a lot better now that I’ve got my own place.

I’ve got my own freedom… it’s my own rules… yes it is hard … It’s not easy living on your own; you’ve got all the things to pay by yourself, but, it is a lot better knowing you have got your own place that you can manage. You haven’t got to worry about other people doing things for you because you can now do it yourself.

My auntie helps with everything but I know everything’s easier for her because she hasn’t got to worry about all my issues as well… but she is still there to help me when I need help.

Issue 86 Autumn 2016

d The Sofa Surfer

It was really exciting actually, it’s new, and this is where I’m going to live and you get to choose what you’re going to do with it, and how you’re going to decorate it. As you walk through it’s like ‘yes this is the beginning of your own new life’.

You’re not a kid no more, you’ve got to do things for yourself… adulthood instead of being a child, and adulthood is a lot harder than being a child, and that’s what half of the people these days need to understand; growing up isn’t an easy sort of thing. When you live with mum and dad it’s easy, everything’s sort of done for you, but when you live on your own it’s not as easy as that no more.You can still have a laugh and see your friends but when it comes down to it you’ve got to be a grownup as well, because if you’re not you’re going to lose everything if you’re not careful. …I had to grow up because if you live by yourself you’ve got to grow up. You can’t be a kid no more, things aren’t easy… you don’t get pocket money and all that, you get money as and when it’s paid to you and if you don’t manage that money correctly you’re not going to pay your bills, you’re not going to stay where you are because you can’t manage things.

I don’t want to go back, but I’m glad I’ve got people who can help me when they can, but I wouldn’t want to go back… it took me so long to get to where I am now I wouldn’t want to go back to square one… It’d be annoying to have to do it all over again!

Loads of people that are older than me don’t understand, people that have their own places, that are at college, think it’s easy.They think it’s all great, and when people visit me they’re like “oh yeh, everything’s going well here” but they don’t understand the struggles, managing your own money, the bills, then what you’ve got left then you can use it on you!...

My advice? Don’t mess it up, know what you’re doing…I’m hopeful for the future, I’ve had a few issues along the way but I should be able to sort them out… if I put my head down, I’ll sort them out…”

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Community Page Customer Panel update

New build homes

We held the AGM for the Customer Panel in early September and celebrated another successful year of activity including a stunning 7,500 hours of volunteering in local communities and to improve Rooftop services.

In early October Customer Panel and our five new Rooftop apprentices went on a tour of some of the new build homes with staff from our Development Team. They also enjoyed the opportunity to visit some residents in their new homes. The weather was wet but that didn’t dampen enthusiasm for looking at some of the fantastic new homes.

Changes to the business plan Ian Hughes, the Rooftop Group Chief Executive, joined the Panel to update them on the Rooftop business plan which was being revised following changes made by the Government to reduce rents. We are introducing savings in a number of areas for instance to replacement programmes for planned maintenance such as external painting of homes. The Panel discussed the Government proposals which will enable some residents to buy their homes from Rooftop.

Scrutiny reviews

The Resident Excellence Panel are currently looking at how we collect rents and provide work and money advice to residents. The recommendations will be reported in January 2016. Look out for an article in the next magazine on how services have changed at Rooftop as a result of the scrutiny reviews. The Panel are now looking at which services require scrutiny in the next three year programme of reviews. If there is Making homes more energy efficient a service you think needs reviewing please let the Panel Rooftop are currently working on a new Environmental know by emailing REPanel@rooftopgroup.org Strategy and the members contributed ideas about how we could help residents to make savings on fuel bills and ensure homes are as energy efficient as possible.

Interested in getting involved?

Rooftop is keen to have residents involved in the management of their homes. If you are interested please contact Kate Gallant, Community Investment Manager on 0800 0421 800 extension 116. The first stage is to pop into the office and learn more about the opportunities. We welcome the views of all our residents.

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Issue 86 Autumn 2016

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

Here’s his gardening tips for Winter…

Where has this year gone?

It only seems a moment ago that we started the gardening season, now Winter is almost upon us.

The lawn

This quote sums up the garden in winter;

Tubs and containers

“It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, and the soul of the sunbeam This crisp winter air is full of it.” ~ John Burroughs, “Winter Sunshine”.

So let’s see what work we still have to do in the garden.

Ornamental trees

Plant container-grown deciduous bare root and root ball trees, and mulch when conditions permit. In early Winter protect your tender trees and cut out dead and diseased wood.

Prepare the site for a new lawn and lay turf when the conditions allow. Clear fallen leaves from established lawns and get lawn mowers, strimmers and other equipment serviced for the new season!!

Don’t forget to empty, clean and disinfect tubs and containers. Refill them with winter flowering pansies, violas, primulas and spring bulbs.

The Vegetable garden

Dig and manure any empty beds and use protective fleece or coverings to protect plants from frost. If the weather permits prepare seed beds for spring sowing.

Don’t forget now is the time to order your new plants, seeds, including potato seeds, pots, trays and labels.

Roses

prune and remove old cuttings and leaves, check any stakes and ties and prune climbing roses, tying in new shoots.

Bulbous plants

In midwinter prepare the soil for summer-flowering bulbs to be planted in the spring. Start your dahlia tubers into growth under-cover ready for cuttings or division.

Well that’s it for another year see you in the spring, have a great xmas and new year.

ANDY.

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Shout it from the Rooftop

Bulletin Board #HousingDay

#HousingDay celebrates the positive impact of social ho using on thousands of people ac ross the UK and on 18 No vember Rooftop supported this wi th a morning of activities.

Residents were invited to take part in interactive sessions, teach ing the use of tablets and how to get online with social media .

The day was also about pro moting winter warmth with advice on energy saving and winter benefits.

There was also a knitted ‘w arm home’ competition wh ich was won by Pam Randall who received a £50 voucher.

On 9 Oct. The Pershore and District Royal Naval Association went on a trip to The Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton. The trip was funded by a successful application to Rooftop’s Community Fund.

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Issue 86 Autumn 2016

Rememb rance Day at Fe rry View Ferry View Residents and staff at embrance in Evesham held a Rem ell as event last month. As w utes silence observing the two min lks on the they were treated to ta ial lunch First World War, a spec orld (who’re catered by Working W ople with a tra ining centre for pe d a sing-alearning difficulties), an long with Trish.

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

If you get a moment, make yourself a cuppa, sit down and try your hand at our puzzles.

Puzzle

You can use the form on the back of your magazine to enter your answers and you may even win a £20 Tesco voucher!

Sudoku

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 professional looking shot that you’d like to show off? Found a really old photo of the local area? Send them in to us! We’ll print the best one in the magazine – perhaps even on the cover! And all 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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festive word search?

One of the answers is not found on Issue Autumn the86 grid, find 2016 the answer and you could win a £20 Tesco Voucher!

The answers could be found up, down, diagonal or even backwards.

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Can you find the missing word?

Can you find all the clues in this festive word search?

ADVENT BOXING DAY CHOCOLATE One of the answers is not found MISTLETOE ADVENT CHRISTMAS on the grid, DAY find the answer and PRESENTS BOXING CRACKERS you could win a £20 Tesco DECORATIONS PUDDING CHOCOLATE Voucher!

ELF REINDEER CHRISTMAS EVE The answers could be found up, RUDOLPH CRACKERS FIRE down, diagonal or even backwards. SANTA DECORATIONS HOLLY MINCEPIE SLEIGH ELF

MISTLETOE PRESENTS PUDDING REINDEER RUDOLPH SANTA SLEIGH STOCKING TURKEY YULE LOG

STOCKING EVE TURKEY FIRE YULE LOG HOLLY Well done to last issue’s winners!

MINCEPIE Autumn Wordsearch The answer was: Scarecrows The winner was: Jenny Linton from Eckington Autumn mystery objects The answers were: Disc brake and Vaccum cleaner head The winner was: Gary Taylor from Bishops Cleeve

Rooftop Offices are closed from 12.30pm on Thursday 24 December until 9.00am Monday 4 January 2016.

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

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 Friday 29 January 2016 23

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

Name

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

Address

@Rooftop_Housing

Telephone

Rooftop Housing Group

Email

The closing date for the competition is Friday 29 January Chrismas word search answer:

Dear Ian...

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

Rooftop Offices are closed from 12.30pm on Thursday 24 December until 9.00am Monday 4 January 2016.

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 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.