WIN TICKETS TO SEE TIM VINE IN CINDERELLA AT IN OH XTRA!

FIRE SAFETY SPECIAL

THE autumn edition #106 CONNECTION FULL FIBRE BROADBAND FOR OUR CROYDON RESIDENTS Croydon’s aim to become a ‘smart city’ and digital hub moved a step closer as it signed off on an agreement with two network providers to supply its residential blocks with access to affordable fibre broadband internet. After months of intense planning and negotiation, the council can now begin to close the ‘digital divide’ for residents who have been unable to take advantage of the benefits of full fibre broadband such as high speed internet connectivity and competitively priced television packages, having now finalised arrangements with suppliers, DAVID LEAN LISTINGS The is a fantastic Community Fibre and Open Reach. House Online: www.croydon.gov.uk/ independent cinema and community The council is determined that housing/residents/ohnews run venue which shows a range of everyone should have the same Tel: 020 8768 06100 ext. 47350 movies from current mainstream opportunity to access technology, as favourites to art-house hits. it plays an ever more important role DATE FOR YOUR DIARY! The recently refurbished cinema, in in modern life. Our new health & safety panel is on offers special The installation comes at no cost Wednesday 23 October, 6.30pm- screenings for those with dementia, to the council or residents, with 8.30pm at Bernard Wetherill House, hearing impairment and mothers residents only paying if they choose 8 Mint Walk, Croydon, CR0 8EA. If with babies. Open House Online our to subscribe to a package. Free Wi-Fi you’re passionate about health and email newsletter will feature films will be provided in communal areas safety in your homes or buidlings for the coming month to keep you of sheltered housing and council or have concerns to raise, contact up to date with all the latest movies. owned community buildings. Also in [email protected] We will also be offering our residents the pipeline, as part of the project, or call 020 87266100 ext. 47350 to the opportunity to win free tickets. So are apprenticeships for Croydon confirm your place. don’t miss out, sign up to our mailing residents and support for residents list to receive Open House and Open who are new to digital technology and what it can provide. SAFETY DAY FUN FIRE 7 SIMPLE STEPS TO HELP SAFETY KEEP YOU SAFE Fire can start anywhere in the bin. Keep matches and lighters heat resistant holders. FOR EVERYONE home so it’s sensible to have away from children. REAL LIFE FIRE Keep them away from Each year the Fire Brigade’s Crossfire team an awareness of the potential materials that may catch fire organises the All Ages Family Safety Challenge dangers that can lead to a fire and Busy lives often mean such as curtains, furniture, (AAFSC) in co-operation with Croydon’s the steps you can take to prevent kitchens are the hub of One tenant in a Croydon papers and clothes. Keep Community Development team. The AAFFSC, unnecessary risks. The Fire the home. Small lapses block of flats matches and lighters away 3 Home fire safety visits provide now in its eighth year, is a project designed to Brigade issue simple advice and in concentration in the had removed from children. fire safety advice, this includes improve safety in Croydon’s households. It covers guidance to house holders which kitchen can lead to internal fire information on prevention, Fire suit challenge a variety of safety topics including fire, internet, can help you stay safe from harm. serious fire risk. Never leave pans doors when A safe bedtime ritual detection and escape. road and first aid, providing valuable health and unattended when cooking. they were will help ensure you Free smoke alarms and specialist safety information Early detection is vital so Don’t cook if you are tired, have decorating. Fire sleep free of worry: Close alarms can also be fitted where 6 to community members of all fit smoke alarms in your been drinking alcohol or taking doors in the home can help to all doors as this helps to needed. ages and includes practical lounge/ living room, medication that might make you slow the spread of smoke and prevent fire and smoke 1 Book a home fire safety visit: workshops. Any community bedrooms, landings and drowsy. fire. So when a fire broke out spreading. Switch off and unplug Freephone: 0800 028 4428 group can get involved and can hallways. Also fit a heat If the pan does catch fire don’t due to a faulty microwave the electrical items such as TVs. Avoid Email: smokealarms@london- sign up to safety workshops alarm in your kitchen. It is tackle the fire yourself or try to blaze spread quickly through charging devices like mobile phones fire.gov.uk which build up to a final event in important to ensure smoke alarms move the pan. Never throw water the flat and could not be when you sleep. Make sure candles Text /SMS: 07860 021 319 February half-term, which tests Quiz challenge are fitted in the right place – don’t onto it as this can create a fireball. contained. Luckily the tenant are out before you go to bed. the safety knowledge of entrants fit a smoke alarm in the bathroom If you can do so safely – turn off the and her three children were Check your cooker and heaters are with a mixture of fun quizzes and as steam can cause false warnings. heat. Leave the room and close the not at home when the fire took turned off. challenges. Always follow the manufacturer’s door.Shout to warn others to get place. Sadly, the family pet dog If you’re a member of a community fitting instructions. Heat alarms out, stay out and call 999. died due to smoke inhalation. Should the worst happen group and would like to take part, detect the increase in temperature and fire break out in your contact a member of our community caused by a fire but will not be set With phone chargers, 7 home follow this advice: development team for further off by cooking fumes. games consoles and electrical items off when they are If any of your smoke information. It’s great fun and could 4 household appliances, it’s not in use. Heating and lighting in alarms go off, get out and save lives. important to be aware the form of a gas/electric heater or call 999. Shout ‘FIRE’ to warn others Email: community.development@ Smoking is the most of the potential dangers candles make for a pleasant home and don’t stop to pick up valuables. Life saving challenge croydon.gov.uk common cause of fatal that can be caused by misusing environment but be aware of the Check closed doors with the back of Tel: 020 8768 06100 ext. 60459 2 fire in the home so the electrical equipment. Never risks that they present. The intense your hand. Do not open the door if it best way to reduce the overload electrical sockets. heat of a heater can start a fire so feels warm – the fire may be on the risk is not to smoke! If If you have to use a fused in-line ensure you: Sit at least one metre other side. Smoke can kill, get down 2 you’re not ready to quit you can adaptor or extension lead – know away from heaters. Keep heaters as low as possible where the air will BOOK A FREE SAFETY VISIT follow these suggestions: the limits. well away from anything that can be clearer. If your escape is blocked Home fire safety visits provide fire safety advice, Smoke outside and always make Don’t leave items on continuous catch alight and never use them to by fire it may be safer to stay put including information on fire prevention, detection and sure cigarettes are put out properly. charge. Keep electrical appliances dry clothes. and wait to be rescued. escape. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) can also fit free Never smoke in bed or anywhere clean and in good working order. The naked flame of a candle has smoke alarms and specialist alarms where needed. you could fall asleep. Do not leave more obvious risk so ensure that For more details on fire safety any type of lit cigarette or pipe Only leave essential you follow these basic guides: in the home: www.london-fire. To book a home fire safety visit contact the LFB: unattended. Use proper appliances switched on, Candles, tea lights and incense gov.uk/safety/the-home/ Freephone: 0800 028 4428 ashtrays and never 5 such as the fridge or should only be placed in stable, Email: [email protected] 2 throw hot ash into the freezer. Turn all other 33 eXTRA IS YOUR DRYER DANGEROUS? HOUSING In this Fire Safety special edition • If your tumble dryer is QUICK FIX TIPS # 2: HOW TO REPLACE THE BATTERY IN A SMOKE ALARM of Open House we want to affected, unplug the ROUND UP (Please note: to play this video you will need Adobe Reader software which uses a Flash player) alert you to an announcement machine and then contact by applicance manufacturers Whirlpool on 0800 151 Whirlpool who have announced 0905 to arrange a free NEED HELP TO The London Fire Brigade that a number of its tumble dryers replacement. DOWNSIZE? recommend that all homes have been found to be unsafe. are fitted with smoke alarms If you are living in a property It is estimated by the government but it’s important that these PROTECT YOUR that has become too big for your are maintained or they will that 750 fires have been caused needs, you are eligible for help in not work when you need by the dryers produced by the PROPERTY downsizing to a smaller property. company in the last 11 years. If a Croydon Council tenant them most. Did you know that Croydon moves to smaller accommodation Here in the second of our Some tumble dryers sold under Council does not insure your in the borough we will pay for the videos from our repairs the Whirlpool brands of Hotpoint, home contents? cost of removals and pay £2,000 team, we show you how to Indesit, Creda, Swan and Proline Replacing your possessions for each bedroom that becomes safely change a battery in a made between 2004 and 2015 are as a result of fire, theft or available through the exchange. smoke alarm. For more help being recalled. accidental damage can be very For more details contact our and information: repairs. under occupation officer. Email If you are concerned that you own expensive so we have teamed [email protected] up with Allianz Insurance [email protected] a dryer that fits this description Tel: 0208 726 6100 ext.10006. you should: to offer you affordable and flexible insurance to protect • Go to the Whirlpool webpage the most important things in FAIRFIELD OPENS and check the model of tumble your home. To find out more The opening ceremony for the dryer (www.whirlpool.co.uk). phone: 020 8726 6100. newly refurbished Fairfield Halls • Call 0800 151 0905 to check Web: www.croydon.gov. took place in September as the whether the tumble dyer uk/housing/counciltenants/ venue geared up to open its doors needs to be replaced. insurance to the public in October. The star studded event was attended by Dame Judi Dench, who opened the , and London Mayor Sadiq Khan who opened the building. HAVE YOUR SAY ON The refurbishment is the first COURT CLEAN UP phase in the development of a new cultural quarter in Croydon’s This August a team of volunteers from Croydon Council REPAIRS SERVICES teamed up to take part in a “Don’t Mess with Croydon” Croydon’s repairs & maintenance town centre – a major milestone in It is important that we find out community clean-up event with residents of Laxton contract with Axis Europe which the town’s ongoing regeneration. residents’ views as part of this Court, to tidy their garden space. The started in April 2014 delivering To win tickets to this year’s panto, process. The link at the bottom residents of the sheltered housing block, take great responsive repairs, voids, gas and Cinderella, see p8 in OH eXTRA. of this article takes you to a short pride in the garden, which they share with Kettering communal boiler servicing and survey where you will have the Court. Sadly, the garden had deteriorated and rubbish JOIN OUR TEAM OF INVOLVED RESIDENTS maintenance to all council owned opportunity to tell us what you had been dumped by fly-tippers. Sign up to get involved at: homes is coming up for review in think of the service and if you have OH XTRA! www.croydon.gov.uk/residentinvolvementform March 2021. e any feedback on what, if anything, To continue reading Open The twenty-five strong volunteer team helped spruce A comprehensive review is could be improved. House eXTRA, our new online up the gardens so that the residents could continue to & THE CHANCE TO WIN A currently being carried out so Feedback is confidential and you supplement, or to download this grow vegetables and enjoy the outdoor space again. By the council can decide whether do not have to provide your name edition, visit: www.croydon.gov. the end of the day and after a lot of digging the team to extend the existing contract or address. uk/housing/residents/ohnews accumulated 70 bags of green waste, fly tipped items for a further four years or to take https://getinvolved.croydon. or go to our facebook and litter. the opportunity to look at other £50 govuk/survey/903 page: www.facebook.com/ To get involved with a community clean up, check SHOPPING VOUCHER options for the delivery of this Paper surveys are available on croydonresidentinvolvement out the council’s website: www.croydon.gov.uk/ PRIZE DRAW WINNERS contract. request from Fiona Harding. Phone If you’re unable to go online, environment/dontmess/community-clean-ups-in- Peter Cooper, Thornton Heath, Ann Cox, , 020 8726 6000 ext. 62246. please contact us to receive the action. Email: [email protected] or Tel: 020 Kathy Doherty, Addiscombe full eight page printed magazine. 8726 6200 / 07825 103788 4 Tel: 020 8726 6100 ext. 47350. 5 EXHIBITION eXTRA Friday 2 August saw the launch of the Chris Stock. The exhibition featured 100 years of council housing exhibition a range of memorabilia, historical LIBRARY: 1-14 OCT 2019 in Croydon Clocktower. The event was documents and first-hand accounts LIBRARY: 16-28 OCT 2019 attended by residents, local historians, by Croydon residents as well as an YEARS council staff and dignitaries who came THORNTON HEATH LIBRARY: 29 OCT- 11 NOV 2019 interactive installation from local to celebrate and acknowledge the PURLEY LIBRARY: 12 -25 NOV 2019 important role council housing has artist, Pins, which gave visitors a OF COUNCIL played for so many Croydon residents. chance to contribute to the display. LIBRARY: 26 NOV-9 DEC 2019 The event was officially opened by The exhibition is now touring local ASHBURTON LIBRARY 10 -23 DEC 2019 Cllr Alison Butler, Cllr Oliver Lewis and libraries and will be available to resident involvement team manager, view in the followng locations: CENTRAL LIBRARY 7-20 JAN 2020 100 HOUSING

INTERACTIVE FEATURE MAKING THE MURAL

6 7 eXTRA ss RESIDENT MEMORIES INVOLVED RESIDENT “My name is Kim Watkins. I was born 1st March 1957 in Petrena Johnson, known as Mayday Hospital, Croydon. Petra, was elected to the post After living in Bermondsey we of vice-chair of the Tenant and moved into my first Croydon Leaseholder Panel earlier this home in 1966, a three year. A proud mother, she is bedroom house in Oak Bank, extremely passionate about her Fieldway, New Addington. My community, which is why she sisters and I went to Castle Hill School. decided to become involved. When we first moved to Fieldway there weren’t any shops on the estate. We used to go to an old coach Originally from Jamaica, she adopted the UK as her converted into a shop for convenience foods as in home almost two decades ago. Petrena believes in those days the only other way of buying was from a giving back to her community by getting involved. milkman and a bread man. As children we spent a lot of time in the back garden She is extremely proud to be a resident of Croydon for entertainment. I remember we made a tent and and wants to see it get city status eventually. from an old blanket thrown over the washing line She is committed to helping it become one of the and bricks were used to hold it in place until Mum best places to live, work, study and play in London. needed the line for washing; great fun for me and my sisters. We were always having fun on our swing “I volunteered for the Tenant and Leaseholder and sometimes we’d make jam sandwiches and have Panel because I want to help shape the direction a bottle of orange juice for a picnic. in which the borough is heading and I aim to give After about six months in our new home we my new role as Vice-Chair my full involvement and exchanged to another three bedroom house in unwavering commitment, assisting wherever I can.” Burford Way, New Addington. When we moved to Burford Way where there was TLP is held at the Town Hall and is open for anyone a coal man as well. I remember Mum always ran to attend. out of money on a Thursday and would ask the It’s also broadcast live on the council’s website at milk man for eggs / bacon and a loaf of bread and (https://www.croydon.gov.uk/democracy/dande/ he would always help her to make sure we had tea broadcasts). If there’s something you’d like raised that day. Dad would come home with his wages in a at the meeting, just email resident.involvement@ brown envelope and the milkman was paid back the croydon.gov.uk or call 020 8726 6100 ext. 47350). following day...how times have changed now.” (This is an extract from Kim’s account on our Facebook NEXT TLP MEETINGS: 15 October 2019 page www.facebook.com/residentinvolvement) 11 February 2020 WIN FREE PANTO TICKETS Fancy four free tickets to this year’s star studded panto at the all new Fairfield Halls? Oh yes you would? Then simply send the word ‘Cinderella’ to us by email or post with your name and address and we will draw the winner at random. It could be you ‘going to the ball.’

This year’s pantomime, Cinderella, is the perfect festive family outing and stars comedian Tim Vine, Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba and children’s favourite Cat Sandion from CBeebies. For more details visit: www.fairfield.co.uk/ whats-on/cinderella/

Send the word Cinderella with your name and address to: Email: [email protected] Address: residentinvolvement, Zone 3A, BWH, 8 Mint Walk, Croydon, CR0 8EA Full prize draw T&C’s available on our website or on request: www.croydon.gov.uk/ housing/residents/prize-draw-terms-and-conditions