The Voice Magazine

AUTUMN 2018

www.sanctuary-scotland.co.uk AUTUMNAUTUMN | |2018 2012 | |PAGE PAGE PB 1 AUTUMN | 2018 | PAGE 1 Kirklandneuk Primary pupils recently filled a time Janine and Colin receive their certificates capsule to bury beside Sanctuary’s site in Station from our director Pat Cahill Road, Renfrew

Area manager Colin Downie and housing officer Janine Pulling received our most recent staff ottish e encourage all residen ts t c o use the S award for helping a tenant in distress. W Fire and Rescue Service’s FREE home safety Colin and Janine handled the incident “swiftly, check service. professionally and compassionately”, arranging medical assistance to prevent the tenant from A firefighter will inspect your home and fit smoke alarms free-of-charge if you need them. harming themself or others. Both the tenant and , their family later contacted us to thank Colin To arrange a free home safety check and Janine. phone 0800 0731 999 or text FIRE to 80800

Anything to tell us? If you have a question or comment about our services, please contact our Customer Service Centre (CSC) using Sanctuary Scotland’s way of working changed between. Since the CSC’s introduction in April both the contact details in the table below. in April when we made full use of our Customer have been able to make more visits to our tenants in Service Centre (CSC). Since then the CSC is the the North East. Freephone 0800 131 3348 (landline) or 0300 123 3511 (mobile) first point-of-contact if you need to ask any Maureen said: “It’s a different way of working but the questions or make any comments. use of the CSC combined with the roll-out of tablets Housing email address [email protected] By phoning 0800 131 3348 you can pay your rent, has freed us up from the office. report a repair and make a complaint, among other “The tablets allow us to go online there and then Repairs email address [email protected] things. Our housing teams are based in Aberdeen, during a home visit and see a tenant’s account in Cumbernauld, Dundee and Glasgow. Now that our real time. The tablets have been great for enabling Post Sanctuary Scotland CSC deals with routine enquiries, housing officers us to answer questions without having to return to Marybone House are free to get out and about more to meet with the office, which is what tenants want. 2 Marybone residents. Liverpool L3 2BY “It’s good for us to be out and about and to be seen Housing officers Maureen Michie and Denise Parry in the community.” The CSC is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If your enquiry is not urgent your call may be answered more cover Peterhead, Fraserburgh and our homes in quickly in the evening or at the weekend. Monday morning is generally the CSC’s busiest period, with wait times longer as a result.

Local residents are building four apprentices under his wing. Square for social rent will include four-bedroom houses and careers thanks to a £27 million Richard, of Sanctuary’s site housing project in Glasgow. wheelchair-accessible bungalows. contractor CCG Scotland, said: The 178 houses being created by “I grew up here so it’s great to Ten 2-bedroom houses being built Sanctuary Homes in Nitshill are see Newfield Square being for a Glasgow City Council low- giving community members a redeveloped. energy home pilot project will be chance to progress. available for mid-market rent. Cllr Susan Aitken, Peter Martin of Sanctuary and Cllr Angus Millar at the regenerated Anderston “I’ve now been with CCG for 17 The properties in Newfield years and it’s projects like this Visit www.sanctuary-homes. co.uk/developments/newfield- Sanctuary’s masterplan to create hundreds of Linda, 61, said: “I was virtually housebound at my old Square also address a shortage of that help sustain careers in the square for more information affordable homes in central Glasgow has now flat so living here has been life-changing. affordable family housing. construction industry.” on the 76 houses available for been completed. “I can now get out and about thanks to the lift in my Plumber Richard Smith is helping The 92 homes at Newfield affordable sale. Keys to the final phase’s 206 flats have been handed close. My flat’s a good size and was also adapted to Sanctuary transform Newfield over, changing residents’ lives for the better. suit me before I moved in. Square, having lived on the old site A short video on the project can be Sanctuary Scotland worked with the local community, “I’m delighted to be here.” for 12 years. viewed on YouTube by visiting Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council to The final phase includes three child play areas. A The former apprentice, 36, now https://youtu.be/MZZkwEvBmVw transform Anderston’s housing stock. stays a short walk away and has section of Argyle Street lost to pedestrians and cyclists The 10-year project saw many 1960s buildings in the 1960s was also restored, creating an unbroken demolished and replaced with 540 affordable homes. thoroughfare from the city centre to Finnieston. Sanctuary residents at our supported facility in Holland Street, Aberdeen recently benefited from The final phase included 87 flats for social rent and We will formally complete our regeneration of an animal therapy project. 119 for mid-market rent. Anderston with the installation of public art in A visit from friendly ponies and dogs saw Helen Campbell-Adeyanju moved into a ground-floor December. residents report feelings of improved Sanctuary flat with her husband, daughter and two mental wellbeing. sons. Hazel Karpinski, the service’s senior Helen, 43, said: “We feel like we’ve won the lottery. Our support manager, said: “The ponies and sons are autistic and the ground-floor flat means they dogs were very patient and allowed us to are able to go outside and interact with other children. cuddle and stroke them. “The boys have come on leaps and bounds in our “The visit had such a therapeutic outcome short time here. The sense of community is helped by for everyone, staff included, and enabled the number of areas put in for families to meet up and us to engage people in conversation mix.” about the care of animals and what we Linda McAuley’s move from a top-floor tenement flat How the site used to look would like to do and see next.” has given her a new lease of life.

The UK Government will soon introduce the full service version of Universal Credit (UC) in “Why have I received a letter about my rent account?” Aberdeen, Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire. When your rent account falls into arrears, even by a small This will mean many more Sanctuary Scotland tenants having to claim UC. UC is designed to replace amount, a letter is automatically sent to you. This gives you the Tax Credits, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Employment & Support Allowance (income-related) and opportunity to bring your rent account back into credit, in line Jobseekers Allowance (income-based). with your tenancy agreement.

Universal Credit (UC) full service roll-out schedule

“Can I pay in arrears?” September 2018 Glasgow (Govan, Laurieston and Newlands job centres) No, your account must be paid weekly in advance. If you pay monthly you should ensure that your account does not go into Renfrewshire (Johnstone, Paisley and Renfrew job centres) arrears at any point in between payments. East Renfrewshire (Barrhead job centre) Caroline Kurlender, welfare rights officer October 2018 Aberdeen (Aberdeen job centre)

“What do I do if I can’t pay my rent?” Glasgow (Partick and Springburn job centres) As soon as you realise there is a problem, it’s really important that you phone us on 0800 131 3348. If you don’t pay your rent, you If you attend one of the job account to be able to claim. it difficult toait w for your first are at risk of losing your home. centres listed above you will However in certain situations payment, though this would have to claim UC if you are tenants can make an application need to be paid back within 6 or making a claim for benefits for for UC over the phone – if you 12 months. the first time or if you have had are unsure please phone 0800 In Scotland new UC claimants “Can I get my Universal Credit paid direct to you?” a change in your circumstances 131 3348 and ask to speak with will be offered the option of (become unemployed, are your local welfare rights officer. You can ask for your rent to be paid directly to Sanctuary Scotland having their housing element taken off Employment Support after you have had your first UC payment. Alternatively, please The first payment of UC will paid direct to their landlord Allowance, become responsible phone 0800 131 3348 to arrange your regular monthly payment. not normally be made until five and we encourage you to do for a first child, etc). You will weeks after the date of claim and this. You also have the option not need to apply for UC if further payments are normally of splitting payments to receive you are old enough to qualify made on a monthly basis. These two payments per month rather for Pension Credit, or if you “Can I get a rent statement?” payments will include a housing than one. These options are only are responsible for three or element, which is intended to offered in the second month of Yes of course. We no longer automatically send out annual rent more children. cover your rent, but will be paid a claim so you would still have to statements, but we are happy to send you one if you request it. UC claims have to be made and to you rather than your landlord. make arrangements to pay your Saima Akhtar, managed online. You will need You can request an advance rent at the start of your claim. welfare rights officer an email address and a bank payment of UC if you will find

Why do we ask for your rent in advance? Top Tips if claiming UC:

Paying your rent in advance is an important If you make this payment on 31 October you • Phone 0800 131 3348 to make • If you do not understand how your part of sustaining your tenancy. Paying in will effectively be a month in arrears. This arrangements to pay your rent. award has been calculated, or your advance is a condition of your agreement with would trigger a process which could result benefit is sanctioned or reduced for any us and means you never fall into arrears. Rent in you losing your home. Please phone our • Remember to apply for Council Tax Reduction through your council as UC other reason, phone 0800 131 3348 and paid monthly is due on the 1st of the month. Customer Service Centre on 0800 131 3348 make an appointment with your local Weekly payments are due every Monday. to set up a payment arrangement for your does not include any amount to cover Council Tax payments. welfare rights officer. For October, you need to pay your rent on or particular circumstances. before 1 October to avoid falling into arrears.

AUTUMNAUTUMN | |2018 2012 | |PAGE PAGE 6 1 AUTUMN | 2018 | PAGE 7 The Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 will soon bring Congratulations to Glasgow’s Ian Rowan, the about changes which impact on Sanctuary Taking over a tenancy after overall winner of our West of Scotland garden Scotland tenants. Most changes take effect from 1 competition. May 2019. a tenant’s death (known as Ian received a shield, certificate and £70 of vouchers Telling us about changes to your Succession) for his pride and joy in Priesthill. The changes below take effect from 1 Ian, now a two-time overall winner, said: “I’m delighted household November 2019. to get the shield again for my efforts in the garden. To protect your tenancy rights it is important to tell “It’s hard work but relaxing at the same time and gets us about any changes to your household at the time Unmarried partners me out of the house. that change takes place. When someone moves in to or out of your home, let us know and we will To succeed a tenancy the property should have “I haven’t spent my voucher yet but I’ll buy something acknowledge your notification. been the unmarried partner’s only or principal for my garden for next year.” home for at least 12 months. The 12 month Subletting period starts from the date we are told the partner lives at the property. From 1 November 2019 to sublet all or part of your home you will need to have been the tenant of your Family members home for at least the 12 months prior to your request. If you were not the tenant throughout the whole of To succeed a tenancy the property should have that period, the property should have been your only been the family member’s only or principal or principal home during those 12 months, for the home for at least 12 months. The 12 month full duration of which we knew you were a tenant. period starts from the date we are told the family member lives at the property. As well as meeting the above criteria, you also need our consent as your landlord. Ian in his winning garden Carers Each area winner received a £20 voucher. The full list Assignation (passing your tenancy To succeed a tenancy the property should have of area winners is below. to someone else) been the carer’s only or principal home for at least 12 months. The 12 month period starts Jacqueline and From 1 November 2019 to pass your tenancy to from the date we are told the carer lives at Linwood Paul McAdam someone else: the property. • The property must have been your only or Shortroods Samuel Leonard principal home during the previous 12 months Gallowhill Maria Bradley • The person you want to pass your tenancy to must have lived at the property for at least the Jaroslaw and Urszula Renfrew previous 12 months Antisocial Behaviour Rudnicki • A person’s 12 month qualifying period Rosshall Noel Houston begins from the date we are told they live in From 1 May 2019 the Act makes it easier to end a tenancy for antisocial behaviour. We the property. Pollok Elaine Donaghy will be able to end a tenancy if someone As well as meeting the above criteria, you also need living in or visiting the home is convicted of Priesthill Foamslags Ian Rowan our consent as your landlord. a serious offence in the area of the house. A serious offence is defined as one ‘punishable Muirshiel William Hill Joint Tenancy by imprisonment’ which seriously impacts Regina and To add a joint tenant from 1 November 2019: your neighbours or others in the community. Priesthill New Build Andrzej Siwiec • The proposed joint tenant should have lived at The offence does not need to result in a prison sentence for us to end the tenancy. the property as their only or principal home for Anderston David Murray the 12 months before you apply From 1 May 2019 we will also have more powers Curle Street Rosie McCabe • The 12 month period begins from the date you to serve a notice converting your Scottish tell us that person is living in your property. Secure Tenancy to a Short Scottish Secure Tenancy for antisocial behaviour. This would Lenzie Jane Neill Congratulations to Dundee-based As well as meeting the above criteria, you also need give perpetrators of antisocial behaviour fewer housing officer Gary Robertson, the Edinburgh Christine Haldane our consent as your landlord. rights and less protection from eviction. recipient of Sanctuary Scotland’s staff member of the year award Anderston Allotments Margaret Laneres

AUTUMNAUTUMN | |2018 2012 | |PAGE PAGE 8 1 AUTUMN | 2018 | PAGE 9 A Dundee charity is celebrating a £93,000 funding boost ahead of its shop’s 10th birthday. The Ardler Village Trust is to get £73,121 from the Big Lottery and £20,300 from the People and Communities Fund to continue serving the local community. The Trust’s shop in Turnberry Avenue has raised £190,000 since it opened on 3rd September 2008. An open morning on Wednesday 5th September showcased the contribution the store has made to the community. Local Sanctuary tenant Bill Farnan, 77, has volunteered in the shop since day one. • delivering a calendar of social Bill said: “I have loved every minute and community events of it, it’s been great meeting and • creating a bank of volunteers mixing with people. to develop and deliver these “We’ve a really good staff plus our events. regulars who come in all the time. Sanctuary residents in Aberdeen have Among other benefits the People transformed a wall near their homes into a “When we opened I wasn’t too and Communities Fund grant creative community art space. sure how it would go but it’s been enables the Trust to continue its Jade Duffield teamed up with Donside a great success. People love the ‘one stop shop’ for a year, providing shop, they really do.” Community Association (DCA) to decorate a 60 a central point for information and metre section of hoarding with murals. The Big Lottery grant runs over services, a programme of drop A £1,000 donation from Sanctuary’s Grand Ideas three years and enables the AVT in sessions and opportunities for Fund helped pay for the transformation. to continue a host of community volunteer development. activities including: Jade, a first-year communication design student Sanctuary Scotland provides the at Robert Gordon University, said: “The splatter • organising and running shop unit free-of-charge to the local groups zone project has been an amazing experience, Trust as a legacy benefit of our area not just a learning curve for myself but also a great • developing the community regeneration, plus £5,000 a year “Untapped Shop volunteer Bill Farnan opportunity for the community to come together growing space towards the charity’s running costs. artistic abilities, and be creative. hard work and “The workshops that we provided were brilliant fun has Our aids and adaptations service can adapt your • have a long-term condition thoroughly enjoyed and everyone agrees that been evident home to make everyday tasks easier. having the hoardings painted with such beautiful throughout, • struggle with everyday activities artwork has truly made a difference.” with kids, young We provide equipment from handrails to specialist • are restricted by their environment. Project manager Jade, 19, and DCA chair Jane people and adults items designed for people with specific disabilities. participating We also give advice and support to residents needing Approved works are carried out by our own Fullerton formally launched the exhibition on 25 August during the Donside Fun Day. in a number of major adaptations, such as a stair lift or level-access tradesmen or a contractor. workshops. shower. For major adaptations you need to be A section of hoarding was set aside for children to A member of staff will discuss your request with you “The village has benefited greatly from both assessed by an Occupational Therapist or acquire the and tell you how long it will take. We aim to complete draw with chalk. professional opinion of another agency. This can be this inclusive, community experience and also small changes within 28 days. Big changes, like the Jane said: “It has been tremendous to see arranged by contacting your local council’s social work the finished result. It has truly brought art to the installation of a level-access shower, may take longer. creativity, talent and enthusiasm displayed by so department or your GP. heart of this community and will be enjoyed by For more information please phone our Customer many in the community. everyone who lives here and passes through.” Aids and adaptations are available to all residents Service Centre on 0800 131 3348 or ask your living in Sanctuary’s rented properties who: housing officer.

AUTUMNAUTUMN | |2018 2012 | |PAGE PAGE 10 1 AUTUMN | 2018 | PAGE 11 Glasgow pupils created art to mark the anniversary of the historic local battle that forced Mary Queen of Scots to flee to England. The children of Battlefield Primary answered Sanctuary’s battle cry to acknowledge the 450th anniversary of the Battle of Langside. We transformed a section of hoarding around the city’s former Victoria Infirmary into a gallery of the pupils’ work. Sanctuary will begin building more We are seeking the ideas than 400 new flats on the of Cumbernauld residents site next year. for community projects to support as a benefit of the 111 homes Sanctuary is building with Engie in Hume Road and Berryhill Road. Our fund is open to charities, residents’ groups and voluntary organisations working in Cumbernauld. Applications will be considered up to a maximum value of £5,000 per project. To apply or ask for more information, please phone our community development officer Anthony Morrow on 07483 905111 or email Anthony.Morrow@ sanctuary-housing.co.uk

Our Customer Service Centre is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including public holidays. Please phone 0800 131 3348 (landline) or 0300 123 3511 (mobile) if you wish to report a repair or discuss a housing matter. Alternatively, if the matter isn’t urgent you can: • email [email protected] (for housing matters) • email [email protected] (for repairs matters) • write to Sanctuary Scotland, Marybone House, 2 Marybone, Liverpool L3 2BY • visit www.sanctuary-scotland.co.uk and search for the information you need.

This newsletter can be translated into other languages, large print and Braille or recorded on to an audio CD. Please phone the Customer Service Centre for details.

Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association Limited, a charity registered in Scotland No. SC024549 and a Registered Society No. 2508RS, is a subsidiary of Sanctuary Housing Association, an exempt charity AUTUMNAUTUMN | |2018 2012 | |PAGE PAGE 12 1 AUTUMN | 2018 | PAGE PB