INSIDE 10 year InTouch special Issue 41

DontDont getget lockedlocked outout ofof youryour homehome page 5 ‘King‘King ofof Comedy’Comedy’ returnsreturns toto PlymouthPlymouth forfor pantopanto page 7 Residents’Residents’ AwardsAwards page 8 year Anniversary edition Welcome

Welcome to this special edition of In Touch, which marks ten years of Plymouth Community Homes as a housing association.

I joined the Board in 2017 when PCH had largely completed its journey to being a dynamic independent organisation and also delivered on its transfer promises.

This was achieved under the previous Chair Elaine Pellow and the initial Chair Peter Ebsworth and I want to pay tribute to them and all the staff and Board Members involved. You’ll receive a special keepsake supplement in this issue which highlights our milestones over the last decade and focuses on stories from our tenants. We hope you like it.

Part of the role of Chair is to attend events with other housing associations. I always return thinking how much better PCH is than others, Plymouth Couple really living up to our values rather than acting like a large faceless organisation as so many do. are TV regulars The Board and staff are committed to putting tenants at the heart of what we do and our staff are out there on the ground on a daily basis. And let’s not forget the back office staff who provide essential support to our frontline teams.

It was also inspiring at the recent Beacon Awards to see how our tenants support their communities and take opportunities to develop themselves. Read our special report about this. To show we haven’t forgotten about Christmas, we’re giving a lucky reader a family ticket to the Theatre Royal’s pantomime, Cinderella. Read page 7 to find out how to enter.

Have an excellent festive season and a prosperous New Year! Peter with Al Murray Next time you’re watching a panel or quiz show, take a close look at the audience to see if you can spot this couple.

Austin Farm husband and wife Peter and Maggie Gray are regular audience members on TV sitcoms and panel shows.

And it doesn’t end there - think of a modern-day comic and you can almost guarantee that Peter and Maggie will have seen them live.

Tim Vine, Lee Mack, Michael McIntyre, Al Murray, Sarah Millican, Katherine Ryan, Jimmy Carr and Josh Widdicombe are just a few of the household names the Grays have seen over the years.

They’ve been in the audience of Not Going Out, QI, Pointless, and Open All Hours to name just a few.

Peter said: “I love to interact! Dara O’Brien is really good at interacting if you’re in the front row. Even at the sitcoms and game shows the presenters and actors talk to the audience. On Not Going Out, Lee Mack is very good at interacting between takes.

“On Pointless, the bit you don’t see on TV is that once a couple has been eliminated, they stop filming to unscrew the podium. While that’s going on, there are lots of jokes from Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman.”

Peter’s bushy beard is guaranteed to get him a mention – he’s been called Captain Bird’s Eye and Father Christmas by some comperes.

Maggie said: “I’m fascinated by the mechanics of TV and how it’s all put together. That’s the bit you don’t see on television.

“The down side is you have to queue for ages to get in. You need to be there early. Tickets don’t always guarantee entry – they always oversubscribe as people often don’t turn up.”

Although many shows only appear on our screens for 30 minutes, the Grays have spent up to 90 minutes in the studio due to all the retakes.

The couple, who have lived in a PCH home for more than 20 years, have been interested in live shows, theatre and recordings since they got married 47 years ago. Peter with Tim Vine 33 Top honours for keen gardeners Hard work by residents to keep their green spaces looking colourful and attractive has seen them win Outstanding awards by top gardening judges.

Gardens and open spaces at West Hoe and Morley Court Flats and the Pembroke Street Estate have won the top honour in the South West in Bloom: It’s Your Neighbourhood award.

The ‘soul bike’ outside West Hoe Flats has been spray painted by our Rangers and filled with flowers, prompting people walking past to pose for selfies in front of it.

Resident Anne Moore said: “Doing this keeps us active and we really enjoy doing it. We didn’t expect to win. We all love to garden. My husband made the window boxes, which look really good. Next year we want to go bigger and better.”

Brian Parker, Environmental Services Supervisor, said: “This is wonderful news. I’m pleased for all involved.”

Ranger Adrian Vasnic spent a lot of time working on the bike and nicknamed it the Soul Bike after a similar one in Jamaica.

Fellow Ranger John Hamlyn picked up old plants from the North Prospect regeneration and replanted them at West Hoe.

Housing Officer Marissa Maloney said: “It has been a team effort across the Homes and Neighbourhoods department working in collaboration with the residents of West Hoe to get this great result.”

Morley Court residents were recognised for their unique roof garden in the heart of the city centre.

The garden includes play area, a greenhouse and raised beds, with flowers, fruit and vegetables grown – these are picked and distributed to residents.

Pembroke Street residents won the award for the outdoor spaces at their estate.

Will Watts, Pembroke Estate Management Board Manager, said: “The award is for the whole estate and recognises the efforts of staff and residents. It’s something we enter each year and have been seeing our score improve year on year.” 8 Top honours for keen gardeners

Ian Clark Face of the fixers

What’s your name and It’s interesting and I’m always Don’t get what do you do? learning something new. locked out I’m Ian Clark and I look after Are there any unusual / water hygiene for PCH. funny calls you’ve ever had while at PCH? of your home! How long have you been working at PCH? I was once called to rescue someone’s pet rat – it had dis- There’s nothing more annoying than misplacing your keys and I’ve worked for PCH (and the appeared down the toilet (I soon finding yourself locked out of your council before it) for 30 years in flushed it out!) house or flat. January. What do you like doing when When tenants move into one of Have things changed much in you’re not working? our homes, we give out two sets that time? of keys. Outside of work my interests are Things are a lot more efficient cars, socialising and spending We always recommend you get than they used to be. There’s time with my great nephew and spare sets cut as we don’t keep more technology now too. niece, Eli and Jessie. copies of any keys for our homes.

What attracted you to And finally, are you doing As we manage more than 15,000 the organisation? anything to celebrate your properties, we’d need a building 30 years with us? the size of an aircraft hangar to accommodate them all! I was self-employed before and was attracted by fixed hours and At Plymouth City Council, when If you call us asking us to gain paid holiday. you’d reached 20 years, you used entry and change the door lock to have a cup of tea with the Lord barrel, we’ll have to charge you. How many visits / jobs do Mayor and cucumber sandwiches. you do a day, I’ve been dropping a few hints – This will normally cost around £70 approximately? I’m not that keen on sausage rolls (rising to £95 out of hours) so it’s but I quite like a ham sandwich! definitely worth having a spare set I visit approximately 15-20 homes cut and keeping them somewhere a day. safe to save yourself money.

What are the best parts of your job? We’ve opened our show homes at Briarwood – our second to last phase of the North Prospect regeneration.

Briarwood – also known as Phase 5 – is due to be completed in the spring and will boast 143 new homes.

Of these, 31 will be allocated for shared ownership sales through SO Living, 46 will be available for affordable rent and 66 will be sold on the open market.

Two Briarwood show homes were unveiled at an event earlier this autumn.

PCH Chief Executive John Clark said: “We’re pleased to be able to continue the nationally-acclaimed regeneration of North Prospect by providing much-needed energy efficient and affordable homes at Briarwood.

“It’s brilliant to now have the show homes and marketing suite open, so local people wanting to buy their own home have a range of options available to them in a great part of the city.

“We’re grateful for the funding support we’ve received from Homes England and Plymouth City Council and we look forward to working in continued partnership with them, Kier Living and others to deliver the final phases of this vital regeneration programme.”

SO Living Sales and Marketing Manager Tracey White said: “The Briarwood development has generated plenty of interest already and the lovely show homes will give people an idea of the layouts and space of the homes. Our sales team will be based at the marketing suite two days a week to help people with their enquiries.”

This stage of the regeneration has been made possible thanks to £3m grant funding from Homes England and £950,000 from Plymouth City Council. ‘King of Comedy’ returns to Plymouth for panto

Brian Conley loves Plymouth. He’s tos are as popular as ever: “From a taken to the Theatre Royal Plymouth stage three-year-old to a 90-year-old, everyone numerous times over the years and can’t can have a family experience,” said Brian. wait to step out in front of Plymouth’s ‘great’ audiences once again as Buttons “Last year, there was a dad in the in this year’s pantomime, Cinderella. audience with his two little kids, and he was crying because he just thought ‘what “They tell me that I have starred in more a wonderful moment that the kids will nev- productions at Theatre Royal Plymouth er forget’. That’s what it’s all about – when than any other performer,” said Brian, you’ve got to put your phone down and who first played Buttons at the theatre you can’t take a photo, you can live in the in 1999.“I’ve done loads of big shows in moment and experience what is Plymouth: Barnum, Chitty Chitty Bang happening here and now. Bang, Hairspray, Oliver, Jolson – it’s like a second home to me, and I love it. “That’s what we can bring, and that’s what has kept pantomime so really there, “It’s a great audience, and a beautiful because it’s something that the whole theatre. You feel like you’re really on top family can sit and enjoy and have a good of the audience, so there’s plenty of fun to laugh.” So will there be some Plymouth be had. And fun is what pantomime is all jokes thrown in there? “Oh yeah, there’ll about.” Brian has made the role of cheeky be topical jokes in there and bits that re- little chappie Buttons very much his own, late to the city. And I’m looking forward to and he’s clearly the driving force behind seeing the big statue outside the theatre, this production of Cinderella, writing the there’ll be some references to that, that’s comedy routines and keeping the fast for sure!” pace going, from curtain up to curtain down: “I don’t hang about, from the Brian and his family have visited Plymouth moment it starts, I’m out to drive it to the so many times over the years that they end,” he said. know all the best places to take in a walk and see the views: “We enjoy the Hoe and “The thing to remember is that a pan- the Barbican, but with two shows a day, tomime is a vehicle to hang as much I won’t be getting much time off,” said comedy on as possible, it has to be Brian. comedy driven. You can’t have any long, drawn-out songs – and if there is singing, Cinderella is at Theatre Royal from 20 something funny has got to be happening December to 18 January. Contact the box at the same time.” office on01752 267222. www.theatreroyal. com/whats-on/cinderella/ Brian believes there’s a reason why pan

We’re giving away a family ticket (two adults and two children) to the 8 January production of Cinderella. If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning this great prize, send your name, address and phone number to: Communications (Cinderella competition), Plumer House, Tailyour Road, Plymouth, PL6 5DH or email [email protected]. The deadline for all entries is Tuesday 31 December. People who put their communities before themselves were the winners at last month’s Residents’ Awards.

North Prospect resident Tracey Swabey went home with a Special Recognition Award in honour of the work she does for those less fortunate than herself.

She regularly collects donations for the needy, puts on events for residents and volunteers at the Timebank.

She said: “I don’t have much money but I have friends who own shops so I go round and ask for donations and we wrap them up. We go round North Prospect and give presents to as many people as we can. I just think, there are always people worse off than yourself.”

The Chair’s Choice winners were Mount Wise Towers residents John and Leanne Fox. They attend all residents’ meetings and even baked a fairy tale castle cake for our contractors, Mi-space.

John said: “We were not expecting this. We hardly ever win anything – we won £180 on the bingo at Blackpool once but that doesn’t compare to this.”

Emma Boyle won the Good Neighbour Award for supporting her community and regularly suggesting improvements in her area.

She said: “I’m so shocked to win. I don’t do this to win awards. It just takes one person to do something.”

Nick Lewis, PCH Chair, said: “These awards aim to recognise the important contributions residents make to their communities as well as their own personal achievements, and act as inspiration to other residents.” A big thank you to our sponsors Mi-space, Bell Group, Kier, St Luke’s Hospice, AA Woods and Plymouth Raiders.

The winners are:

Good Neighbour Award: Emma Boyle

Healthy Planet Award: Ross Nicholls

Community Group or Partnership Award: Plymouth Raiders and Pembroke Street

Young Tenant of the Year: Eleanor

People’s Choice Award: Stacey

Chair’s Choice Award: John and Leanne Fox

Special Recognition Awards: Alistair Hooper, Leroy Pope, Tracey Swabey, Ford Gym, Rose Hodgson, Morley Court Residents’ Association, David Feinduono Homes need to have more than four walls

That was the takeaway message from this year’s South West Residents’ Design Conference.

The annual conference is a chance for residents to give feedback on the design and layout of new homes and hear what housing associations are up to.

During an interactive session led by Plymouth University architecture students, delegates – made up of social housing tenants from across the region – discussed what they thought was important in a new home. Residents from Teign, LiveWest, Ocean, Coastline and PCH attended.

Residents said homes needed to ‘extend beyond four walls’ to create a community while there was also support for more communal outdoor areas.

PCH Head of Development Andrew Lawrie presented feedback from last year’s Resident Satisfaction Survey, sent to all residents moving into one of our new-build homes.

Feeling safe was the most important feature for respondents while size and storage space was also a priority.

The day also included a talk by social historian John Boughton, author of Municipal Dreams: The Rise and Fall of Council Housing, who explained social housing was formed from the slums of the late 1800s.

He explained how during the post-war years, ‘housing visitors’ – usually single women – used to visit estates to inspect residents’ homes.

They would go through every room to check tenants had cleaned the house thoroughly and that gardens were well tended.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue’s Brian Harvey spoke to the conference about fire safety in tower blocks. Who would think that drinking coffee and eating cake could raise so much for charity?

Sheltered housing resident Phyllis Hughes’ lifelong hobby has helped raise much-needed funds for the Royal British Legion.

Phyllis, of Innes House, sold a print of one of her original paintings.

The poppy painting was auctioned off for £65 at the Minerva pub in Looe Street after the Remembrance Day commemorations. But our kind-hearted residents have helped to raise Phyllis is now hoping to raise more money thousands of pounds by doing just that. for the charity next year with one of her paintings centred around the Falklands Our sheltered housing schemes held coffee mornings in conflict. aid of cancer charity Macmillan as part of the charity’s annual World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

Generous Innes House residents raised more than £3,000 alone.

Washing lines

We’re responsible for replacing washing lines and dryers in communal areas and sheltered housing flats and bungalows.

If you don’t live in one of these properties and you need a new dryer or washing line, you’ll need to supply it yourself. However, we will continue to supply and fit pulleys and top lines to all pole-to-pole washing lines.

If you need a washing line or dryer fitted, you can use our Handyperson Scheme (call 0808 230 6500).

You’ll need to make sure you have the line or dryer when you book. Want to ‘Make’ a difference? Volunteer for Mayflower 400

Become a Mayflower Maker and be part of the

Sport & Wellbeing commemorative year in Plymouth.

Culture & Arts As ambassadors of Mayflower 400, Mayflower Makers Trails and Elizabethan will help raise awareness of the commemorative House year, help others to participate in the cultural events programme and provide support at events and wider activities.

This is your chance to do something for your city and your community. Help make sure everyone has a great experience of Mayflower 400.

Sign up to be a Mayflower Maker today, visit: www.mayflower400uk.org/volunteering to find out all about it!

Contact: [email protected]

@mayflower400uk #Mayflower400 #GetOnBoard2020 OCean delight

They’re a staple part of the British diet – burgers and kebabs and other tasty food especially here in Plymouth – but not normally options. a cuisine you’d expect to get delivered to your house. Is he worried the growing interest for worldwide cuisine will mean fish and chips no longer have Fish and chip shop owner Mr Ibrahim is a ‘plaice’ in the market? changing all that though by offering delivery. “Fish and chips will never go out of fashion,” he Mr Ibrahim, who runs Ocean Delight in St. said, “They will always be in demand.” Pancras Avenue, Pennycross, says he’s offering a valuable service to his customers. Ocean Delight also delivers six days a week to local care homes and businesses whose work- He said: “In the local area there are a lot of older ers are working night shifts and buy food in. people who can’t get out so we thought we’d start doing deliveries. They’ve been going up You can call them on 01752 778989, or place an and up. order online at www.oceandelight.co.uk.

“We had another branch and had lots of orders coming in from Pennycross, Honicknowle, North The business is one of more than 170 Prospect and the surrounding areas so we commercial premises we own across the thought we’d come here.” city. If you’d like to find out more about renting a business from us, contact Mr Ibrahim, who runs the business with his 0808 230 6500. family, sold up his previous shop. They also offer

Lyn Tapscott’s Christmas wonderland scene is back for the fifth year running.

Lyn’s much-loved festive decorations now have their own dedicated space in the window at her Ron King House home.

The village scene includes a working train, moving carousel and tiny figurine making snow angels. There’s even an adjoining ski slope.

Yuletide lover Lyn spent five days setting up the display at her flat, and forked out £100 on extra decorations this year.

This year’s display has been supplemented by a big wheel, gazebo, bridge, sleigh and extra people.

Lyn said: “It’s popular. The other tenants at Ron King always like to come round and have a look at it.”

“I love doing it – it’s just a shame it’s all got to come down after Christmas. EXTRA TIME HUB

Because the best time is your time… From Wednesday 30th October, come and join us every Wednesday at: Would you like to meet like- Green Taverners’ Suite, Home Park 1.30pm – 3.30pm minded people in your area First session FREE and bring your free time alive? Contact Ben Kerswell on 01752 562561 for more information. We are bringing retired and Green Taverners’ Suite, Plymouth Argyle FC, Home Park, Plymouth, PL2 3DQ semi-retired people together to Email: [email protected] meet people, socialise and do @PAFCCommunityTr Argyle Community Trust www.argylecommunitytrust.co.uk the things they enjoy. Supporting partners Why not join us?

Garden help The assisted gardens service helps people who may be disabled or can’t easily manage their gardens. means a lot Chris Jones, of Southway, is one of our assisted gardens customers. She receives nine grass cuts and two hedge cuts a year. She said: “I wouldn’t be without it. I’ve been here since 1974 and I used to do the to Chris garden myself but I can’t now. I love it here. I just do a few pots myself.” If you would like to use the Assisted Gardens service, please call our Environmental Services team on 0808 230 6500. EXTRA TIME HUB Thai boxing

Because the best time is your time… From Wednesday 30th October, come and join us every Wednesday at: Would you like to meet like- Green Taverners’ Suite, Home Park 1.30pm – 3.30pm minded people in your area First session FREE and bring your free time alive? Contact Ben Kerswell on 01752 562561 for more information. We are bringing retired and Green Taverners’ Suite, Plymouth Argyle FC, Home Park, Plymouth, PL2 3DQ semi-retired people together to Email: [email protected] meet people, socialise and do @PAFCCommunityTr Argyle Community Trust www.argylecommunitytrust.co.uk the things they enjoy. Going down to the gym doesn’t “It would be great to build a team Kristina added: “Our future plan is Supporting partners need to be expensive – and it and go to competitions.” to work with people with learning Why not join us? doesn’t need to be intimidating. disabilities and challenging Thai boxing, or Muay Thai, is a behaviours on all spectrums. That’s the message from Whitleigh martial art developed in Thailand. resident Kristina Hopper, who has It’s known as the ‘art of eight limbs’ “I truly believe that our place can set up her own Thai boxing club in because participants use fists, contribute to the local community the city, the Korona Gym in elbows, knees and shins. and bring us all together.” Ernesettle. Kristina, who has lived in a PCH For more information, go to: http:// It’s an affordable gym which she’s home for just over a year, is koronathaiboxinggymandfitness- hoping will appeal to a wide originally Russian and has been centre.co.uk/ audience. living in the UK for 13 years.

She said: “I think this will She started boxing in her The club currently runs particularly attract women. There homeland when she was just 15. beginner sessions on are quite a lot of male-dominated “I’ve always been a bit of a tomboy Wednesdays and Fridays from gyms. and liked martial arts,” she said. 6pm to 7pm. “This place could offer great things When she came to the UK she to the local community. I’m going went on to gain a British Tittle and Advanced classes take place to set up a playroom so mums can become an Amateur World on Mondays, Wednesdays and come and work out while their kids Champion in the sport. Fridays from 7pm to 8.30pm are amused. and Saturday from 11am to She said: “I had my first son in 12.30pm. “Thai boxing is a great way to get 2006 and wanted to get fit after rid of all your frustration and my pregnancy and make friends. The first session is free and tension. It helps flexibility and It really helped me to get out and then it’s £5. posture and weight loss. There’s meet new people. It got my confi- also great fun and banter! dence back. Kids are catered for too – on Mondays 4-12 year olds can “It can serve as a good “I had my second son in 2017. I anti-depressant for some couldn’t commit to full-time training attend from 6pm to 6.45pm people. It’s a respectful sport with while looking after my boys and I for just £2.50. no bullying. was also at university and working. make it happen InTouch Issue 31 Summer 2017

Going for gold!

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Inside this issue ...... Let’s talk about it Rent arrears at Development Food for thought Page 3 lowest ever update Page 18 Page 9 Page 14

make it happen make it happen InTouch InTouch Issue rin 201 Issue 29 Winter 2017 InTouch Issue 38 Spring 2019

We’re always keen to hear what you’re up to, so if you’d like to tell us about something we can include in In Touch, we’d love to hear it.

Who’s won First Email news@ a Beacon Passivhaus Get in touchAward? homesplymouthcommunityhomes. Page 9 ready Page co.uk. T 0808 230 6500 / 01752 237990 E Inside this issue [email protected] this issue ......

...... Beacon Awards atest tablet How are The Beacon We need Revised PCH Food for Thought Meet the Board winner we doing? Coff ee House shop hours Page 11 Member people like you! w plymouthcommunityhomes.co.ukPage 5 Page 1 Page 11 Page 12 Page 4 Page 5 Page 12 twitter.com/PlymCommHomes facebook.com/PlymouthCommunityHomes youtube.com/user/plymouthch