Barnet Homes and Opendoor Homes Residents’ Magazine Issue 75 | Summer 2022
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IN THIS ISSUE 03 Welcome From our Chief Executive 04 Art for Estates Bringing urban art to estates 05 Gardening Our Finest Flowers Competition 06 Celebrating The Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations 07 Resident Snapshot Supporting neighbours at Grahame Park 08 The Resident Board An update from our Board Chair 09 Our performance Learning from your feedback
Our Jubilee celebrations; page 6
GET IN TOUCH envelope TALK2US@BARNETHOMES.ORG phone 020 8080 6587 (8AM - 6PM, TRANSLATORS AVAILABLE)
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BARNETHOMES.ORG | OPENDOORHOMES.ORG
PAY YOUR RENT OR SERVICE CHARGE 0845 356 3456 (24 hours) or barnet.gov.uk ASSIST SERVICE 020 8359 4841 or assist@barnethomes.org OUR OFFICE 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, NW9 4EW COMPLAINTS The Barnet Group is committed to continuously improving what we do and the way we do it as a result of feedback from customers, and the people we support and their families. The Barnet Group aims to listen to and learn from our customers, enabling us to address any service failures, identify areas for improvement or areas of good practice, and monitor services in a customer-focused way. We welcome complaints and feedback from our customers to help us do this. Feedback can be given to us by email, in writing, by telephone, and in person. Please visit barnethomes.org/complaints or use the information above to contact the Complaints Team.
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10 Major Works Ensuring your health and wellbeing 12 BOOST A helping hand 14 Community Awards Meet our 2021 winners 17 Covid-19 Recovery Community Fund Supporting communities 18 Your money Supporting you with the cost of living 20 Get Involved Help shape our services 21 Drop in Our housing surgeries 22 BOOST Their annual review 23 Summer activities For young people 24 Apprenticeships Start your career with us 25 Support Help is there for you 26 Moving home Your options 27 Fire safety Keeping your BBQs safe 28 The Friendly Place Mental health support
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THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
TIM MULVENNA
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Summer 2022 of your magazine.
and signage. You can find out what they’ve been doing on page 10.
We are well aware that the cost of living crisis continues to make things difficult for many people. We have dedicated much of this magazine to sharing how we can help you. If it’s benefits support, employment or training, we have the right people to help you out. Please do not think that you are alone - we’re here to help and will do everything we can to make sure you feel financially safe.
Earlier this year we celebrated our 2021 Community Awards. I’m always blown away by the amount of hard work and dedication the people of Barnet put into supporting their communities, so I’m delighted to be able to share some of the winners’ stories with you here. Turn to page 14 to find out who our winners were, and the difference they make to Barnet.
As well as making sure you feel financially safe, our top priority is ensuring your homes remain safe and secure. Our Major Works team has been working tirelessly since the tragic Grenfell Tower fire on our high and medium rise buildings across the borough. This includes installing sprinklers, replacing fire doors and improving lighting
It’s this time of the year that our residents’ gardens are looking at their absolute best. We love to show them off in our Finest Flowers competition, and there’s still time to enter this year’s festival of bloom. Just turn to page five to find out how. Enjoy your summer, Tim
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STREET ART
ART FOR ESTATES
Public Art Gallery arrives in Grahame Park
We have partnered with Global Street Art for an exciting project that is transforming some of the walls around the Grahame Park Estate into public art galleries. Art for Estates is a programme that increases the amount of public art in housing estates with no cost to Barnet Homes or residents. World-class artists, looking for places to paint murals on appropriate wall spaces are matched with organisations like ours to bring vibrant colours into the community. We have done a lot of research and talked to other housing organisations to get their feedback before we piloted the project. “These walls make the estate look much better than before; it brings colour. I could
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stand and look at the pieces for hours. You see, no one has defaced the artworks. This is great, it means they are admiring it” Chris, Estate Manager. To see more about the project, use the hashtags #artforestate or #globalstreetart on Instagram. We are keen to expand this project to other estates and invite you to provide suggestions on locations you feel would benefit from some inspiring, colourful art. Suggestions can be emailed to getinvolved@barnethomes.org or get.involved@opendoorhomes.org
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GARDENING
SHOW OFF YOUR HARD WORK!
Finest Flowers Competition 2022 The last two years have been very challenging on so many levels but there have been some very positive changes that have happened in Barnet. The lock downs have brought communities closer as groups of residents worked together to transform their communal spaces into beautiful community gardens. It is proven that gardening has a great positive impact on mental and physical health and can reduce loneliness as well as creating beautiful spaces. New gardening
clubs have sprung up around the borough and they are all set to enter this years ‘Finest Flowers’ competition! We are happy to announce that we shall be resuming our judging in person this year, and this will take place on the 22 July and the closing date for entries is Friday 15 July. If you would like to enter visit our website and click on the link or email us at getinvolved@barnethomes.org or get.involved@opendoorhomes.org
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CELEBRATING
QUEEN ELIZABETH II
Platinum Jubilee celebrations This year saw Her Majesty The Queen become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. To mark this historic 70-year reign, celebrations took place across Britain over the extended bank holiday weekend in June. Many Barnet Homes residents joined in these celebrations, some attended street parties, and those attending our day centres or living in our sheltered schemes got together to organise their own afternoon teas, or ‘Big Jubilee Lunches’. Here are some images of our tenants from around Barnet.
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RESIDENT SNAPSHOT
SHINING A LIGHT ON OUR RESIDENTS
Supporting neighbours at Grahame Park I was watching the Pride of Britain awards on the telly, and I thought I want to do something like that, I want to be a pillar of the community. How did you find out about this role? I went to a job fair for volunteering, and I met someone who said I’d be the ideal candidate for the chef at the FUSE youth project in the Grahame Park Estate. I got the role and I started volunteering here about four years ago. I come along every Friday and I cook a hot meal for the 20 to 35 kids that use the centre after school. And I also cook for them in the school holidays. What do you most like about being a volunteer chef here? Even though I’m a parent of so many children, I don’t feel appreciated at home, but I feel appreciated here. It doesn’t matter what I cook, there’s always children here that like it, they don’t get a chance to eat food like this at home. Some kids like spice, some kids are used to very plain food, I mix it up! Some kid came up to me today and said you know, you’re an excellent chef - it made my heart melt! But seriously, we know very well that for some kids who attend this youth club it is the only food they’re going to get. They almost always ask, is there seconds?
Meet Michelle, a Barnet Homes resident living on the Grahame Park Estate in Colindale. She is a volunteer chef at FUSE youth project situated in the old library in the concourse of the Grahame Park estate.
I love volunteering here. I’ve always had a caring nature, and because I’d been through a difficult life when I was a teenager, I always said to myself I’ll never see anyone suffer if I can help it.
Mother of seven Michelle, moved into the Grahame Park estate six years ago, and has been leading a very active life in her local community ever since. We caught up with Michelle at the FUSE youth project, where she volunteers every Friday as their chef, cooking free hot meals for children and young adults aged 8-16.
In appreciation of Michelle’s dedication to the youth club and to feeding children from low income families, Barnet Homes have recognised Michelle with her very own pride of Barnet Homes Award for Volunteer of the Year. Congratulations Michelle, you are a pillar of the community!
As a busy mum, what made you want to volunteer for the FUSE youth project?
For more news on the winners of our Community Awards please turn to page 14.
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THE RESIDENT BOARD
YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
A message from our Resident Board Chair Dear Resident, I hope you are keeping well. Our Resident Board has had a very busy Spring, working with Barnet Homes to improve services for tenants and leaseholders. Our first meeting for the year was held on 2nd March with Heads of Service from Barnet Homes, who presented reports on how they have been performing over the past three months. Complaints: The Resident Board requested further information on complaints upheld, partially upheld, or not upheld to get a clear picture of how the complaints have been handled and what stages they are at. Leasehold Services: The Resident Board requested that the management costs are explained for service charges, and provide a written explanation on what the management costs mean in relation to major works. High Level Customer Priorities Improvement Plan: The Resident Board felt the improvement plan is good, however requested that the updates be more concise, providing an explanation on any actions which were delayed or not started, amend target dates and to include a RAG (Red, Amber, Green) rating on progress to the plan. Fire and Safety: In April the Fire and Safety Team provided an overview of their service and the works being undertaken by contractors to ensure homes remain safe. The presentation covered types of Fire Risk Assessments carried out on buildings, safety measures in place that reduce the risk of fire and smoke spreading in homes, including fire doors. Finally, in Spring the Resident Board attended a session to help shape the new ‘Customer Experience Strategy’. It continues to be a very busy but a rewarding time for members on the Resident Board and we are still looking for new tenants to join our productive group. If you are interested and would like some further information on what is involved and the level of commitment, please contact Deborah Beckford on 020 8359 5307 or email getinvolved@barnethomes.org. Have a great Summer and keep well and safe. Best wishes, Aruna Bhatt Resident Chair Board
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OUR PERFORMANCE
YOU SAID, WE DID
Learning from your feedback impact in 2021/22, and as a result of this Barnet Homes received fewer complaints about the Gas service and about the work of Operational Inspectors.
In 2020/21, Barnet Homes received 1,316 Stage 1 complaints. Of these, 137 were escalated to Stage 2 of our complaints process. We answered 93% of Stage 1 complaints and 86% of Stage 2 complaints within our target of 10 working days. Opendoor Homes received 68 Stage 1 complaints. Of these, 21 were escalated to Stage 2 of our complaints process. We answered 88% of Stage 1 complaints and 90% of Stage 2 complaints within our target of 10 working days. The most common cause of complaints across all of our services was poor communication, and we are working to make improvements to your experience. We know that repairs are very important to you, and delays that were usually caused by staff shortages or the impact of COVID-19 on our ability to complete them as quickly as you or we would like also left some residents dissatisfied. Some of our improvement works from the previous year had a positive
You said… you were experiencing delays in repairs being completed. We… stopped working with one contractor which was found to be too slow in addressing a build-up of works that was originally affected by COVID-19, leading to complaints about this. We also worked to recruit more staff to fill gaps in our service, and started having a monthly meeting to identify improvement actions for works in progress, which has been very successful in reducing the number of overdue jobs. You said… we were not responding to Right to Buy queries fast enough. We… recruited a new senior housing officer to focus on Right to Buy performance, and we started working more closely with the council’s legal team which is also involved in the process, with the aim of improving how quickly we deal with these enquiries. You said… you were experiencing difficulty getting through on the phone to or staying connected to our Customer Contact team. We… worked with our IT provider to put in place an interim fix for the issues with our telephony system, and we are continuing to work with them testing solutions that will make the system more stable and improve your experience.
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MAJOR WORKS
KEEPING YOU SAFE AND SECURE
Ensuring your continued health and wellbeing “The Major Works team plays a crucial role in ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of our residents. We make sure that homes are fit to live in, for residents now and in the future. I’d like to share some of the ways we’re doing this, and some of the key projects we’re working on at the moment.” Thomas Carrol, Senior Programme Contracts Manager at Barnet Homes, tells us about the important role of the Major Works Team. Some headlines from 2021/22 • We carried out electrical rising mains works on 35 blocks, with 50 more currently on-site • Refurbishment of two sheltered housing schemes, with a focus on fire safety • We completed electrical testing to 2,272 homes which included over 80 full rewires • Works on three blocks to address structural issues • External repairs and redecorations to over 1,000 homes, • Adapting 182 properties to make them more suitable to less-abled residents • Ongoing stock condition surveys to plan for the future. We will carry out twice the amount of surveys in 2022/23 than in previous years. • We are also managing the borough-wide rollout of high-speed fibre broadband in partnership with LBB and Community Fibre. Sustainability The Major Works team is at the forefront of Barnet Homes’ plans to significantly reduce carbon emissions and reduce fuel poverty in the borough. Our first target is to improve all homes which are ‘difficult to heat’ by 2030; five years earlier than the Government target. Our ultimate aim is to play our part in stopping climate change and meet carbon zero by 2050. To achieve this, we will be carrying out works to highly insulate our homes using expert installers. As well as these insulation programmes, Barnet Homes will be installing low-carbon renewable
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systems such as solar panels and heat pumps to replace gas boilers. For residents, this means a more comfortable home that is warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer and improved air quality. They will also know that by supporting these works they are helping the environment. We are preparing to obtain grant funding to contribute towards these costs, and have already obtained a Green Homes Grant (GHG) to carry out some of these energy efficiency works. We have added to this funding with our own money. With such a lot of stock needing energy improvement, it was difficult to select where best to start, but have decided to start on works in areas of high fuel poverty and in particular on some of our non-traditional built houses. There is not enough money to do everything we want to do in a single phase, but it is the first in what will be a total of two or three phases of work. Major Works are not just retrofitting our homes, we are also working with the London Borough of Barnet on their sustainable strategy targets. This includes facilitating sustainable warmth grants for people on low incomes living in private sector homes within Barnet so they can also live in energy efficient homes. In this way we are helping Barnet Homes build a Barnet that’s fit for today’s communities and the next generation of residents, today!
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An update on fire safety Following the tragic events of the Grenfell Tower disaster, Barnet Homes created a Fire Safety team. The aim of this team is to safeguard and keep safe our residents in their own homes by reviewing the buildings and undertaking various fire safety measures where required. Our initial priority was the highrise blocks, over 18m. Three such tower blocks were Templewood, Harpenmead and Granville Point in London NW2. These blocks each consist of 60 residential dwellings housing Barnet Homes tenants and leaseholders. The following works were carried out: • Installation of a sprinkler system including new tanks and pumps • Upgrade to the existing smoke alarm system • Fire compartmentation within each property and communal areas • New front entrance doors to each dwelling • Replacement of communal fire doors and screens, along with new doors to electrical intake, chute rooms, sprinkler valve and cupboards • Improved signage. Vallectric were the nominated contractor to carry out the works and quickly engaged with residents through their Resident Liaison Officers (RLOs). This involved discussing the works, how it would be implemented and what impact it would have on the residents. Close working between Barnet Homes and the Granville Estate Resident Association (GERA) ensured that works were successfully completed to the properties within 9 months. Whilst the works are nearing completion, we are undertaking many other projects. • Other works carried out by the Fire Safety team includes: • Replacement of non-compliant front entrance doors • Improved smoke and CO alarm installations. • Fire safety works to care homes, sheltered schemes and hostels. • Building a Safer Future – Building Safety Cases. • Fire risk assessments and remediations. • Fire door inspections • Cladding remediation. • EWS1 and structural investigations. • Programming of 5 year low/medium rise fire safety works.
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HERE TO SUPPORT YOU
A helping hand from
BOOST is the first point of contact for financial, employment and wellbeing help for local people and includes welfare benefit advisers, discretionary housing payments, and housing advice. Household Support Fund The government has provided local authorities across England with funding to support residents most in need to help with rising living costs. For households without children or aged over 55 the Household Support Fund can be accessed via BOOST, Age UK Barnet or Citizens Advice Barnet. You can contact these organisations using the details below • BOOST 020 359 2442 or boost@barnet.gov.uk • Age UK Household Support team 020 8203 5040 or support@ageukbarnet. org.uk • CAB 080 8250 5708 or barnetcab.org.uk
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For families with school age children talk to the child’s school or early years setting or visit barnet.gov.uk/householdsupportfund Free Broadband Subscription This scheme has been set up to support Barnet borough residents who do not have access to broadband in their home with a free 12-month subscription. Call BOOST on 020 8359 2442. Debt Citizens Advice can offer the local first point of contact and are in BOOST at Burnt Oak Library on Tuesdays and at Grahame Park on Mondays Contact CAB - https://barnetcab.org.uk/ 0808 250 5708 (freephone) or online referral barnetcab. org.uk/get-advice/email-us/referrals/ Council Tax Arrears Support is available to help clients deal with Council Tax team from BOOST
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Over seven years BOOST helped 1,463 people into employment.
Keep checking our website for Summer Job Fair Info
The BOOST project gives all Barnet residents free support with: employment, benefits, skills and training, wellbeing and mindfulness, CVs and interviews, volunteering, the benefit cap, digital skills, and links to lots of specialist partners.
European Social Fund Project The BOOST European Social Fund Project provides specialised employment support and training for Barnet residents. We can work with anyone aged 18 and above, who are out of work, and want to access employment and training opportunities. We support people to find the right job and sustain employment as well as access to a variety of training opportunities.
Visit us at boostbarnet.org or call: 020 8359 2442 By registering with us you get access to all our free services: - weekly job bulletins - weekly webinars - your own dedicated employment advisor - get access to our skilled benefit advisors - help with anything digital until it clicks - services dedicated to 16-24 years old Starting from June 2022 we will be offering our services in more locations: Mondays – Chipping Barnet Library Tuesdays – East Finchley Library Wednesdays – North Finchley Library
Please note this is a 6-month project. After 6 months we will review the participant’s journey and refer them back to the original referrer if necessary. For more information you can contact us on 020 8208 4290. Alternatively, you can email us at esfboost@barnet.gov.uk
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AWARDS
YOUR COMMUNITY’S HEROES
Meet the winners of the 2021 Community Awards
The FUSE Team, winners of the Voluntary Sector / Charity Group of the Year
‘It gives me great pleasure to announce these incredible winners of the Barnet Homes 2021 Community Awards. After another year in which the Covid-19 pandemic has had a real effect on the people of Barnet. Once again, our community has stepped up to support their neighbours, going above and beyond to make sure everyone is as safe and as well as possible. Warmest congratulations to everyone!’ Tim Mulvenna, CEO The Barnet Group. FUSE youth project leader, Harriet Boamah and her team of seven part-time staff have been providing support to children and young people that live in the Grahame Park, West Hendon and Stonegrove estates. They do this through provision of youth clubs, after school dropin centres and free hot meals, trips away, a homework club, and support to families most in need with essential food supplies. FUSE were the winners of our Voluntary Sector/Charity Group of the Year Award. Harriet explained, ‘The statistics on social
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Good Neighbour Award Winner, Anne Flynn (centre)
deprivation on the Grahame Park Estate speak for themselves. The local food banks serve more than 400 people a week. We’re all playing our part in the community with others such as Living Way Ministry, Unitas, and Youth Realities. Although the Grahame Park estate is not much to look at, there is actually a lot of community cohesion going on here.’ Good Neighbour Award goes to Anne Flynn, manager and resident at Little Larkins, a sheltered housing scheme in Barnet for twentyfour tenants aged between 62-86. On receiving her award Anne said, ‘While most of the residents are independent and do their own thing, when Covid started, nine of us formed our own bubble. I took care of the needs of this vulnerable group during a difficult time. And we’re all still here!’ Winner of the under 25s Volunteer of the Year award is Zakaria Boutafala. Zakaria said, ‘I volunteered at my local foodbank run by the
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Covid-19 Inspirational Person, Shanker Modha (centre)
Under 25s Volunteer of the Year Zakaria Boutafala (right)
The Barnet Walking Football Team, Group of the Year
Burnt Oak Womens group. It was such an eye opener to help and just have a little chat with people every week and to see them have a smile under their masks - really made me happy and honestly proud to volunteer.’
This year’s Covid-19 Inspirational Person winner is Shanker Modha. Shanker is an accountant by day for the musical industry, and in his spare time, he’s a singer supporting the Brahmin community of Hindus in north London.
Group of the Year winners are The Barnet Football Walking Team The Barnet Football Walking Team has 140 players aged between 54 to 86 years old, they come along weekly to play in a safe and healthy environment. It’s not just football, they’ve been recognised for their charity work for Mind in Barnet, the Dementia Club Barnet and with local food banks.
When the first lockdown happened in March 2020, Shanker decided to provide after funeral prayer services on Zoom for bereaved families that had lost family members to COVID-19. Shanker explained, ‘I bought a zoom licence and have continued supporting families for the past 2 years, we’re still reaching 500 people weekly.’
On winning the award, Coordinator Shaun Sherrick said, ‘Thank you to Barnet Homes for this award. Our slow-paced version of the beautiful game helps to keep our members mentally and physically fit. If anyone would like to join this active community football group, please email barnetwft@yahoo.com
Social Value Contractor of the Year Here at the Barnet Group, we continue to be grateful for the ongoing support we receive from our contractors year on year, especially with their annual sponsorship of our Community Awards and their investment into our Covid-19 Recovery Community Fund that assists us in supporting our customers and service users.
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COMMUNITY AWARDS
Social Value Contractor of the Year, Quinn London
This year a number of our contractors continue to go above and beyond in supporting us, our communities as well as providing great customer service in our building, maintenance, and fire safety works. We received a number of nominations from colleagues for the outstanding work from the following contractors: Vallectric, WG Wiggington, Quinn London, Re-Gen. This year’s winner of our social value contractor of the year goes to Quinn London Ltd. Sizi Sibanda, Social Values Manager of Quinn London said, ‘QLL are incredibly pleased to accept the Social Contractor of the Year award
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CELEBRATING BARNET’S HEROES
Community Awards 2022 It is never too early to start nominating for our 2022 Community Awards. If you have a neighbour who is helpful and goes the extra mile or know a young person who volunteers, please take the time to nominate them by visiting barnethomes. org or opendoorhomes.org. We will be celebrating the winners in person for the first time in two years, at our annual Community Awards event in January 2023.
from The Barnet Group! Over the past year we have been able to partner with local organisation BOOST who were able to employ nine local people into positions across our business and we are working on replicating this model for local employment across all large projects. We are looking forward to delivering more social value in the community by further engaging with local initiatives and local schools next year.’
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You could host a community event like this one!
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Covid-19 Recovery Community Fund 2022 The Covid-19 Recovery Community Fund is funded by our contractor partners as part of their social value investment to support Barnet based community projects during Covid-19 and will continue to do so throughout 2022. If you have an idea for a community project or community social get together event or know of a Barnet based group that would benefit from the fund, please visit our website and click on the community section and then Covid-19 Recovery Fund. You can apply for up to £250 by filling out our online form which will ask for the following details: • What the funding will cover • When and where you plan to hold your event • How many people are likely to attend • How much funding you are requesting All applications will have to demonstrate: • The event aims to bring the community together • That it is inclusive to all • That you have an achievable outcome To apply, complete our online application by visiting either Barnet Homes or Opendoor Homes websites. For any enquiries or assistance in completing the online form, residents or service users of Barnet Homes or Your Choice Barnet can email getinvolved@barnethomes.org. Opendoor Homes residents can email get.involved@opendoorhomes.org.
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YOUR MONEY
SUPPORTING YOU THIS SUMMER
Cost of Living Crisis Support for Barnet residents
If you are struggling to pay your rent or fuel bills, you can call our Income Collection Team who may be able to help. Phone: 020 8080 6587 Website: barnethomes.org/contact-us We provide advice on: • • • •
Paying your rent, including arrears management and budgeting Benefit and income maximisation making sure you are claiming all that you are entitled to Energy advice and tips, and how to access national support schemes. Financial support - how you can manage debt, and which other routes of financial support are available for you.
Barnet Homes will be offering Free Budgeting Advice Sessions from June 2022 onwards. If you are interested in attending a session please contact
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your Income Collection Officer or email talktous@barnethomes.org, where an appointment or session will be offered to you. Getting DWP benefits or Tax Credits? Then this will affect you… Between May 2022 and late 2024 persons of working age claiming legacy benefits (Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA-IB), Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESAIR), Housing Benefit (HB) and Tax Credits) will receive notification letters from the DWP explaining that they need to make a claim for Universal Credit (UC) within a threemonth deadline date. Couples will be sent separate notification letters. Pensioners (who don’t have a partner of working age) and supported housing customers will continue to be entitled to receive HB once they migrate to UC. People claiming UC under the managed migration process are entitled to apply for an ‘Advance Payment’
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due to the five week delay in receiving their first UC payment, and a UC top up payment called ‘transitional protection’ if their UC entitlement will be less than the amount they receive for their legacy Benefits. It is important to make your UC claim once notified by the DWP as your legacy Benefits will automatically stop after three months and you may lose the transitional protection, if you were entitled. The UC claim is made and managed online.
Our Income Collec tion Team are here to help, call them on 020 8080 6587
It is important once you are notified by the DWP to seek help in good time if needed to make a UC claim or if you don’t have a device to make the UC application, Barnet Homes and our partners at BOOST can help you with this. If you need assistance, please contact us on 020 8610 3538.
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GET INVOLVED
HAVE YOUR SAY ON OUR SERVICES
Get involved and contribute towards shaping our services We would like to thank all of our Tenants and Leaseholders who are signed up to take part in helping us shape our housing services. Last year we invited our involved residents to provide their thoughts and views on a number of our services by taking part in a survey, attending focus groups and virtual meetings. Residents contributed to a range of policies, strategies and reviews of our services that included: • How we communicate with residents • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and strategy • Managing Anti-Social Behaviour • Unacceptable and Unreasonable Behaviour • Supporting vulnerable tenants We have a busy schedule of policies, strategies, and service reviews in which we welcome your involvement and contribution. To take part, visit the ‘Get involved’ page on Barnet Homes or Opendoor Homes websites to register your interest or email getinvolved@barnethomes.org or get.involved@opendoorhomes. org for us to send you a link to the registration form.
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Drop into one of our housing surgeries Barnet Homes and Opendoor Homes were very pleased to hold their first walk-in Housing Surgery since before the Covid-19 pandemic on May 19 at the North Road Community Centre in Edgware. The housing surgery is a chance for tenants and leaseholders to come along to discuss any housing related issues or queries that they may have in a face-to-face environment. The next Housing Surgery will held on Thursday 29 September 2022 between 3pm8pm at St Mary’s Church Hall, 279 High Road, East Finchley N2 8HG. On the day there will be representatives from the following services: • Housing Management • Repairs and Gas • Major Works / Property services • Anti- Social Behaviour • Leasehold services • Estate services • BOOST employment support service • Involvement opportunities Please feel free to pop in and see the team if you have any questions or queries.
Get Together, get Involved! Our virtual meeting We have held two ‘Get Together, Get Involved’ sessions this year. One looked at the Customer Experience Strategy and the other was on fire and safety. Both were well attended and well received. The date of our next Get Together Get Involved session is on Thursday 14 July, 6.30-7.30pm. The theme of this session is our Successful Tenancy Strategy which looks at the rise in cost of living and how we are supporting residents to manage their bills and rent. We will have a guest speaker from our BOOST team – it’s a session not to be missed if you are experiencing financial challenges! All Barnet Homes and Opendoor Homes residents are invited, to book your place please email getinvolved@ barnethomes.org or get.involved@opnedoorhomes.org.
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BOOST annual review
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BACE
BARNET | ACTIVE | CREATIVE | ENGAGING
Summer activities for young people
School holidays can be pressure points for some families due to increased costs and reduced incomes. Barnet. Active. Creative. Engaging (BACE) Holidays provides engaging and healthy activities with an emphasis on physical, emotional, and nutritional wellbeing during the school holidays. Activities may include football, cricket, arts, and crafts, performing arts and lots more.
venues and programme visit barnetyouth. uk/BACEHolidays
BACE Holidays is funded by the Department for Education and run by Barnet Council and Young Barnet. The programme provides holiday support for children and young people between aged 5-16 years old who receive free school meets in Barnet. BACE summer programme runs from 25 July to 26 August in many schools across the borough including Canada Vanilla Young People Centre. For a full list of
Follow us… You can also access a wealth of community activities and events taking place across by following us on Instagram @ tbg_community1 or Twitter @community_ TBG
F.U.S.E Youth Project also have activities on offer that include a variety of sports, crafts, youth forums, off-site trips, cooking, hair and beauty, and other youth-focused activities for those living in Stonegrove, Grahame Park or West Hendon. For more information visit fuseyouthproject.com
If you do not have a social media account, you can email us at getinvolved@ barnethomes.org or get.involved@ opendoorhomes.org
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Start your career with us
The Barnet Group is looking for talented people to join our growing business We have 10 apprenticeship opportunities in Barnet Homes If you love learning, but also want to gain experience in the workplace whilst getting paid, then you should consider an apprenticeship. By the end of the programme, you will have acquired the skills, knowledge and experience, as well as a relevant qualification, to perform a skilled role. 80% of your time will be spent working in a real job which gives you the experience you need to excel in your chosen sector.
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envelope boost@barnet.gov.uk | phone 020 8359 2442
The other 20% of your time will be spent on off-the-job training which may be delivered in several ways: face to face, online, through projects or through supervision and mentoring Minimum criteria: GCSE Level 4 in Mathematics and English. You will receive qualifications in: • Property Management level 2 • Customer service level 2 • Safeguarding Level 2 • CIH Chartered Institute of Housing Level 2 If you want to find out more contact us: boost@barnet.gov.uk
ATHOME - SUMMER 2022
SUPPORT
HELP IS THERE FOR YOU
Other support services you can access
Below are contact details for support services you can access, including food, debt support, and help with utilities. Free School Meals barnet.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-meals-travel-and-benefits/free-schoolmeals Food banks in Barnet barnet.gov.uk/directories/food-banks Household Support £150 Council Tax rebate – already applied directly to those in Band A – D on Direct Debit or by voucher redemption to others. barnet.gov.uk/rebate Energy Bills Support Scheme Domestic electricity customers in Great Britain will receive a £400 grant which will appear as a credit from energy suppliers from October 2022 onwards. gov.uk/government/news/ energy-bills-support-scheme-explainer Water Providers have a range of offers for those needing help, again contact your supplier first to see what they can do: water.org.uk/households/help-with-my-bills Benefits calculator If you are unsure what benefits are available there are a range of benefits calculators that you can access to help you find what support is available: gov.uk/benefits-calculators
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ATHOME - SUMMER 2022
MOVING HOME
TIME FOR A CHANGE?
Downsizing to a smaller property Are you living in a property which is too big for you? Our Fresh Start scheme helps secure tenants to downsize to a smaller property. Through the scheme, we offer between £1,500 to £4,000 to eligible tenants who downsize to a smaller property. Please note that if you have rent arrears, this will be deducted from your Fresh Start payment. If you are affected by the Under Occupancy Charge, we can assist you to downsize to a smaller property to reduce or remove the charge. Downsizing to a smaller home could also save you money on your heating bills. If you are interested in downsizing, please contact the Fresh Start Team on 020 8359 4695.
Do you want to be beside the seaside? The Seaside and Country Homes Scheme helps Council and Housing Association tenants to move out of London. There are one and two-bedroom properties available in areas across the country, including in Lincolnshire, Devon, Cornwall and Essex. The scheme also helps households to find properties in rural areas. You may qualify for the scheme if you are: • A single person aged 55 or above. Or, • A two-person household where at least one of you is aged 55 or above. Any members of the household who are under 55 must either be the partner, joint tenant or registered carer of the lead applicant. For more information: Go to london.gov.uk and search for “seaside and country homes” Ending your tenancy If you wish to end your tenancy, you must give 4 weeks’ written notice and fill out a ‘termination of tenancy’ form. This form can be found on our website (go to barnethomes.org and search for “ending a tenancy”). You will need to return the form and the keys - including fobs, main entrance keys and keys to pram sheds - to Barnet Homes before the end of the four-week notice period, by 12pm on the Monday when the tenancy is due to expire. Please leave gas cards and electricity keys in the property as they will not work in your new property. You will need to clear the property and leave it in the condition in which it was let (aside from general wear and tear). If you have any questions about ending your tenancy, please contact us using the details below.
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globe barnethomes.org | phone 020 8080 6587 | envelope talktous@barnethomes.org
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FIRE SAFETY
LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF AND OTHERS
BBQ safety Tips for safer BBQs Everyone loves a long, sunny evening having fun with friends and cooking on an open fire. But how do you stay BBQ safe? Six ways to stay BBQ safe: • Never use a BBQ – including disposables – indoors or on your balcony. • Be careful where you position your BBQ – we suggest on level ground, well away from anything flammable like sheds, fences, trees, or tents. • Don’t use petrol, paraffin or any flammable liquids on your BBQ – firelighters are a much safer option. • Carefully supervise children – little ones can all too easily trip and fall, while older children might hurt themselves trying to help. • Be pet-aware – dogs (and some cats!) love to snaffle sausages and can cause accidents getting under your feet. To be really safe, keep pets indoors, or at least out of the immediate vicinity of the BBQ. • BBQs can stay hot for hours after cooking, so make sure it’s fully cooled down before moving it. Remember! BBQs give off carbon monoxide fumes for several hours after they go out, so don’t bring them indoors with you. For more tailored advice of staying safe from fires, visit london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/home-fire-safety
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the friendly place every fortnight in burnt oak - contact us for details
Looking after our mental health is crucial in contributing to our overall wellbeing. One local group who champion positive health and encourage people to socialise in Barnet is The Friendly Place. The Friendly place is a mental health support group that meets twice a month and reduces social isolation of those known to Barnet Homes’ Floating Support services. Residents who would otherwise not have contact with others meet, chat and have lunch together. They are able to speak to a member of staff who can offer low-level support or signpost to appropriate services. Preventing loneliness strengthens communities and tackles social isolation, The Friendly Place offers that to those who would otherwise not engage with other community groups. The Friendly Place meets fortnightly at Burnt Oak Library. Please note that clients need to be referred to this service. For more information please email lydia.oyeniran@barnethomes.org or tracy.johnson@barnet.gov.uk The Friendly Place is made possible by The Barnet Group’s Covid-19 Recovery Fund, which has funded the initiative for this year.