Team News | Your Stories | Organisation Updates August 2022
3 A letter from Garry 4 Confident with Cyber campaign 6 Father of three gets new home 7 Terri tries paddleboarding 8 Parkside newlyweds raise money for charity 9 Artspace Cinderford receives TRI grant 10 New physiotherapy service from Medicash 11 Sam makes his BBC debut 12 Meet Rosie the dog 13 Zero Emissions Day 14 What's on in September 16 A warm welcome and a fond farewell 18 Operations team changes 22 Recognition nominations Contents 2
I hope you’ve been able to enjoy some time off this summer, and managed to avoid the worst of the heatwaves. It's great to finally be able to sleep comfortably again!
I am sure that our welfare debt and benefit team, will continue to provide the excellent advice and guidance they have done all year and we will continue to look at ways we provide additional help where we can. Don’t forget, if you or a tenant are concerned about the current situation our wellbeing and support service from Life and Progress is available 24/7 for free.
focused on reducing the repairs backlog that had built up during the pandemic. The Centigen team has been working incredibly hard to clear this and over 1,000 jobs have been completed on top of the normal flow of work significantly reducing the outstanding workload. This is a fantastic achievement, and once the remaining jobs have been cleared, we will be able to continue our focus on delivering a high-quality repairs service for our tenants.
As I mentioned in the reward briefings, we are an anchor organisation, and our focus remains on continuing to be here for the long-term benefit of the communities we Beingserve.
A letter from Garry Garry
I would also like to say a big thank you to Martin and Annmarie who have worked hard on delivering the proposal and putting together the resources to share with you all.
However, as the colder months start to get closer, many of our tenants and colleagues may be feeling anxious about the rising cost-of living and the impact this will have on their energy bills. We believe that everyone should have a warm, safe, affordable home and will need to do everything we can to provide support for those that need it most this winter.
I am passionate about creating a great place to work for us all and believe that this is the bedrock of providing a highquality service to our communities. The next few months will be difficult but we will continue to work through this together for the benefit of our organisation, tenants and each other.
I would like to thank everyone who attended the reward and recognitions sessions last week and asked such great, engaging questions about the proposals. I believe having the right reward structure in place will help us demonstrate how much we value the work you do and ensure we can reward those who go the extra mile to deliver for our customers and our organisation.
a strong and sustainable organisation is a key part of that and we have had a busy few months. We expect to hear the results of our in-depth assessment with the Regulator shortly and will get more detailed feedback in a follow-up meeting with them next We’vemonth.alsobeen
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by James Osborne As part of our Confident with Cyber campaign, each month we will cover a new topic about cyber security with some useful tips and knowledge for staying safe both in the workplace and at home.
If you would like to suggest a cyber security topic you think you’d benefit from knowing more about or have any questions about cyber security, please get in touch with the IT team who will be happy to help! You can also find more cyber security advice and guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre August's(NCSC).topicis
an important one! This month is all about usernames and passwords.
Confident with Cyber : Usernames and passwords
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Below is the current best practice for choosing passwords
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We can now identify passwords that have already been seen in a cyber breach, even if it looked like a secure password. Which is why you will receive an email asking you to pick another one if your chosen password appears on the list.
Use this password search tool to see if your password is one of the hundreds of millions of realworld passwords that have been exposed in data breaches. These passwords are unsuitable for use because they are at much greater risk of being used to take over other accounts.
• Pick something long and unique, for example three unrelated words with spaces, numbers or special characters like ‘seal paper-mango’, but avoid common combinations such as ‘sootyandsweep’.
• Keep passwords confidential and only use them on one account.
As technology has advanced, and the tools cyber criminals and their computers use have gotten smarter, best practice for usernames and passwords has to be smarter too.
Password security is important, so it’s vital you keep them safe and secure. Guard them with your life, or at least as well as your bank card!
This is because if someone has access to one of the connected accounts, they could easily access all the others that are linked.
Usernames and passwords are still a fundamental cyber security control.
• Use multi-factor-authentication when available. Being responsible with your passwords can help keep you and the organisation safe from cyberattacks and data breaches.
Want to know if your password is actually safe?
Did you know you can actually search for your password and see if it’s at risk. Here are some online tools that test the strength and security of passwords. Use this password strength checker to see how long it would take for a computer to crack it. You can also check the length and variety of the password.
What makes a good password?
Most services and systems require you to have at least a username and password to gain access to your account, but some online accounts can be linked together which can present a cyber security risk.
Father of three 'over the moon' with new home in Twigworth
As a single father of three, who had been living with his mum, our new Shared Ownership resident was ‘over the moon’ and delighted to get the keys to his new home. As we handed over the keys, we also gave him a TwoCan gift box, which contains some lovely treats and moving day essentials to make moving day extra special!
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Instead of wedding presents, the couple generously requested that their guests donate to the Great Western Ambulance Service Charity.
The cheque was presented at a Parkside coffee morning, where members from the charity gave a presentation explaining how the funds will be used to support their work.
Thanks to family, friends and tenants of the Parkside & Friends Group, the happy couple managed to raise an incredible £730!
Good luck and best wishes for the future, Christine and Nigel!
ParksidecharitytenantsChristine and Nigel got married in April this year and celebrated with a party at their communal centre.
Parkside newlyweds raise £730 for
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“We
Terri goes paddleboarding!
Terri has been spending her summer trying out new water sports! recently brought a paddleboard and got stuck in (luckily managing not to fall in!) My daughter Harley was happy being rowed along but eventually she had a go herself. It was a new experience, which made for a fun day “Nextout.” up, our three-seater kayak!"
Adults and children in the Forest of Dean will be able to learn circus skills at Artspace Cinderford thanks to a Community Grant from Two Rivers Initiatives.
Clowning around with circus skills at Artspace Cinderford
Artspace Cinderford received a £5,000 grant to provide a free 10-week circus programme designed to engage parents and children, helping them learn a new skill and bringing people together in a fun and interesting environment.
While their kids learn circus skills in the art workshop, parents will be able to take part in creative sessions in the performance room, safe in the knowledge that everyone will be looked after and having fun.
Photos will be taken of the artwork produced and these will be made into a digital exhibition, which will be shared on the Artspace Cinderford website.
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Sessions start on 29 September and will be available for ten weeks on Thursdays, 6:30pm - 8:00pm.
• Access to a physiotherapy assessment 24/7, 365 days a year from any smart device. • Using cutting edge technology it can adapt to over 3,000 different scenarios ensuring you get the right treatment, at the right time. • It will be able to identify if an injury can be self managed or if you need to see a specialist face to face. • It will support you throughout your recovery, tracking your progress and ensuring you stay engaged, so you can recover sooner. New digital physiotherapy service available from Medicash The new feature, called Phio, can be found on the Medicash app and includes:: You can find out more about Phio by watching the Medicash videos here: Digital Physiotherapy Access Digital Physiotherapy Engage 10
Earlier this month, we were approached by the BBC with an exciting opportunity to take part in a documentary about the cost of living. They visited our Decarbonisation Pilot project in Blakeney to show how the scheme will benefit tenants and support them with their energy bills this coming winter.
The documentary will be aired across the South West and the West Midlands in October as part of the We Are England series, and you might even spot a cameo appearance by Richard Carey too!
Sam bravely stepped up to take part in interviews about the project and share what we have learned so far with two developers from Birmingham who are looking to run similar projects in their homes. Well done, Sam!
Sam makes his BBC debut!
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Jennifer in the finance team has shared some adorable photos or her dog, Rosie.
Of course, she still has her moments and continues to do her zoomies around the house in the
"We first met Rosie during the first lockdown in 2020, when she was just a nine-week-old Shepuppy."isa cross between a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and a Pug. Now two years old, she's Jen's little right-hand lady. She’s very sweet and friendly with other dogs and children, though the two cats she shares her home with are not so keen!
Rosieevening! the dog is all grown up!
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at achieving our net zero goals right across the Group too. As you know our Rivers Meet office is built to BREEAM Excellent standards and we were ranked fifteenth in the Top Sustainable Housing Providers by Housing Digital in 2021.
We are committed to being a, net zero carbon organisation by 2050 and are working on a number of projects that will enable us to reach that important goal.
Zero Emissions Day is observed annually around the world on 21 September. It focusses on 'giving our planet a day off each year' and raising awareness of the impact we have on our environment.
These include our decabonisation pilot project in Blakeney, which is coming to an end and a similar project at a new site in Huntley, which will be part funded from a grant as part of the Wave 1grant from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
Alongside this, we are looking at achieving a sustainability accreditation later in the year, improving the Energy Performance Certificate rating of our existing homes and looking at how we can build more sustainably in the future. Every small step takes us a little bit closer to becoming a net zero organisation by 2050.
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Zero Emissions Day - 21 September
Through these projects, we aim to reduce the carbon emissions of our homes and, as a result reduce the energy needed to heat them which will help tenants with the rising costs of Weenergy.arelooking
Cheltenham Mind Body Spirit Show – Pitville Pump Room, Cheltenham 3 FeaturesSeptembermany top local mind body spirit wellbeing experts with lots of old favourites and many interesting newcomers. Over fifty exhibitors and thirty talks, demonstrations and workshops, inside and out. One on one readings, holistic therapists, retailers selling crystals, jewellery, arts and crafts, other spiritual and holistic goods. Also includes talks/workshops on spiritual and holistic issues, self- help and healthy living, movement and a demonstration of mediumship.
What's on in September
Badminton House Open Gardens – Badminton, South Wander4GloucestershireSeptembertheformalgardens, explore the Orangery and get lost inside the Walled Garden. There is a great variety of plants to view, from the formal beds on the east side of the house, designed by Russell Page, to the South Garden with its water squares, hedges, beds and borders.
Summer Family Activities - Gloucester Cathedral 2 AllSeptemberarewelcome to come and join in the summer family fun! Taking place in the Chapter House, there will be a number of different craft activities to try, with all materials provided. These sessions are free but donations are gratefully received.
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10 September: The Greatest Showman - Experience the dazzling sights and sounds of this fantastic family musical on our outdoor big screen, and sing along to all those huge hits.
VotedUntilGloucester29Septemberoneofthetop five exhibitions in the UK by The Times, this incredible exhibition explores the legacy of the world’s most famous ship, revealing the unforgettable story of the tragic liner. Includes genuine artefacts from the Titanic, her sister ships, owners the White Star Line, plus memorabilia from the 1997 James Cameron movie.
Enjoy9Cirencester-10Septemberthelakesidesetting at the beautiful Cotswold Country Park and Beach as the Open Air Cinema presents two summer blockbusters.
Open Air Cinema - Cotswold Country Park & Beach,
9 September: Jurassic Park – Watch Spielberg’s dinos-on-the-rampage thrill ride, as the mighty Jurassic Park roars on the open-air big screen.
‘Run the Rainbow’ for Longfield Hospice – Cotswold Airport, Cirencester 24 ComeSeptemberprepared for powdered paint, foam, music and inflatables, as participants run, walk or skip through the Run the Rainbow challenge. Featuring a 5K route suitable for the whole family, it’s the perfect summer day out and a great opportunity to fundraise for Longfield Hospice.
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Titanic Honour & Glory Exhibition at the Museum of
Welcome Katherine! 16
A warm welcome
Jason Pollitt Jason has joined the Centigen team as a Multi Trade Operative and will be working with Glen Howells in the voids team.
Julie Matthews Julie has joined the contact centre as a Contact Centre Advisor. Welcome KatherineJulie!
Doe Katherine has joined the finance team as Management Accountant (Financial Performance).
Welcome Jason!
Katherine has worked in the not-for profit sector previously, but this is the first time she has worked for a housing association. She is really looking forward to the experience!
A fond farewell Paul Parkhouse
Paul has left the Centigen team as a Multi Trade Operative. Good luck and best wishesAndrewPaul! Stokes Andrew has now left his role as a Repairs Administrator. We wish him good luck and best wishes for the future.
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Mary Hemming We also say goodbye to Mary Hemming. who has now retired in her role of Scheme Coordinator. To celebrate her incredible service of 36 years, Mary enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea at The Speech House in Coleford with the HomePlus Team. Enjoy retirement, Mary! We wish you all the best.
Operations teams changes
We believe that everyone should have a warm, safe, affordable home when they need it. To make this happen we need to ensure that we have the right people in the right roles to deliver our services. As you know, we recently reviewed the resource in our operations directorate and made some proposals to make sure we are building the right team for the future of our organisation.
We spoke to those affected by the changes and worked together to create a structure that will clarify roles and responsibilities and make sure we have enough resources in the right places to continue to provide homes in the communities in which we work. We were really pleased with the positive response and constructive feedback we received throughout the consultation and can now confirm the changes to the structures of our assets and housing teams.
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As you can see there are a number of new roles within the structures, and I am please to confirm that many of our colleagues will be stepping into these new roles. You can see the key appointments we have already made on page 20.
See larger versions of the assests and housing structure charts.
One of the key themes behind the changes is accountability. This means taking personal responsibility for making sure we do what we are responsible for.
The changes will come into effect from Thursday 1 September 2022.
We have also started the recruitment process for those roles which are now vacant –these are advertised on our website .
If you are interested in applying for any of these roles, please get in touch with the relevant Assistant Director. Alongside the newly created roles, you will notice that there have also been some changes to reporting lines for existing roles, everyone affected has been spoken with to ensure as smooth a transition as possible.
As we recruit people into new roles, there may be moments at which you are not completely sure whose responsibility something is, if this is the case please ask! And please bear with us as we get things in place and get used to the new ways of working. We are working for as smooth a transition as we can, but if you have any concerns that we are missing something or have any questions about the changes, please raise it with your manager, or one of the Assistant Directors.
As a senior member of the assets team, Nick will deliver a high quality, Value for Money planned, reactive and void maintenance service. He will manage the team and work delivered by both in-house and external contractors ensuring that they are competent, safe, and customer focused and ensure that annual plans are delivered within budget and that they meet all relevant legal and Group standards.
As a senior lead within the organisation, Chris will be responsible for the delivery of all matters relating to asset management and building safety.
Asset Investment Manager – Sam Batt Sam will play a key role in supporting the organisation plan for future investment. He will lead a team focused on the collection, interpretation, and management of key assets related data and the design, implementation, and monitoring of improvement programmes across the Heportfolio.willbe the operational lead on our net zero carbon journey and will provide expertise in this area, our EPC surveys and data and the wider decarbonisation and sustainability work across the Group.
Void Maintenance Team Leader – Ian Rawlings
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He will take the lead role on medium- and long-term financial planning for the department and use innovation and collaboration to bring about service improvements.
HeadAssetsofAssets and Building Safety – Chris Watkins
Head of Property Services – Nick Taylor
Ian will deliver the void maintenance services, ensuring that properties are surveyed, works undertaken and returned into management within prescribed timescales and budgets. He will also lead on the implementation of the programme of physical adaptations made to our homes and work closely with the Reactive Maintenance Team Leader to ensure that a first-class repairs, maintenance, and estate management service is delivered to tenants. These are the key changes that have been made within the assets and housing teams following the recent redesign consultation.
Operations teams key changes from
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Neighbourhood Team Leader – Justine Skitt
IncomeHousingManager – Emma Watkins
Emma will be focused on the collection, validation and manipulation of all data Two Rivers Housing collects and maintains on its property Workingportfolio.closely
HomePlus Team Leader – Leanne Buffin Leanne will coordinate the work of the HomePlus team to enable the organisation to meet customer needs and Group objectives. She will also deliver a high quality, intensive housing management service for vulnerable tenants within a number of specified supported schemes.
Asset Analyst – Emma Redwood
She will also lead on the management and improvement of our Active X MIS Asset Management Database and our stock condition programme.
As a key member of the housing team, Emma will deliver a high quality, Value for Money, customer focused income collection and letting service. She will lead the team, provide expert, specialist knowledge of the services we offer and deliver an ambitious plan for our income and lettings service, which supports our Customer and Digital Strategies.
with the Head of Assets and Building Safety and the Asset Investment Manager, she will develop long-term financial investment plans for Two Rivers Housing and work at a detailed level examining the performance of its property portfolio.
In a new, more focussed role, Justine will supervise and encourage her team to deliver a high quality, high performing, Value for Money neighbourhood housing service. She will also use her expert knowledge and strong people management skills to support the delivery of our Customer and Digital Strategies.
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Recognition
I am so relieved that the outcome has been in my favour and a recognition that they had made a mistake. The stress has been tremendous and words are insufficient to thank Rebecca and Two Rivers Housing for this much needed support!
Lisa Finnegan
A tenant has passed on his thanks to Lisa Finnegan for 'always being so lovely' to him and his father.
Nominated by a tenant
Nominated by a tenant
Rebecca James I wish for Rebecca James to be recognised for the incredible work she has achieved in helping our customers to deal with DWP and Benefits. I don't know what I would have done without Rebecca as I had no one to fight the DWP and Benefits on mistakes they made. Rebecca has worked on my case for many years and has been doggedly determined that they would not succeed.
Nominated by a tenant
nominations
Thank you Gwyn for all of your hard work and support for this tenant.
Gwyn Yarlett
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A tenant has praised Leighton and Dhugal, saying they did a good job and that the grass "looks amazing!"
Gwyn has been supporting a tenant at Parkside by obtaining a grant to replace some expensive mobility scooter batteries. The grant meant that the tenant is now able to access and be part of the community again and can complete activities such as shopping, socialising and leisure activities. Without this grant the tenant would have lost their independence and freedom.
Nominated by Rachael Brooke Leighton Wright and Dhugal Fenwick
Follow us on social media and help us share our work in the community TwoRiversHousing TwoRiversHousing TRHousing Your magazine. Your stories. We want to hear from you! If you have any pictures, stories or updates you want to share in Two Talk, send them over to communications@2rh.org.uk. Do you need to talk? Everyone has bad days and on those bad days we want you to know that you are not alone. Speak to a colleague, your manager, or use our confidential EAP service. 0800 083 3375 username:www.lap-access.co.uktworivershousingpassword:employee Employee benefits You can save money on your food shopping, holidays, days out and more with our staff discounts. www.medicash.org/extraswww.sodexohub. employeebenefitsplatform.com Not sure how to sign up? Get in touch with Simon Wheeler-Jones 24
