ClanmilSUMMER 2015: ISSUE 12 Communiqué Helping our Tenants become “Savvy Savers” Clanmil has launched an innovative new scheme offering our tenants an opportunity

and incentive to start saving. Jacqueline Macques, one of the first people to sign up to our new Savvy Saver scheme, with Clanmil Money Advisor Eddie Smith. he Savvy Saver scheme only 46% saying they Tis designed to promote have savings compared financial capability by to 70% of homeowners. encouraging tenants to The Savvy Saver scheme start saving regularly and runs in conjunction with Housing Associations has been introduced with local Credit Unions and the help of a donation of every tenant who signs up Top Programme for £15k from Danske Bank. will have their membership Government Target by 20% fee paid and a £5 deposit Consumer Council made to their account We are delighted to be part our growing commitment research carried out in to get them started. To of the successful delivery of to community investment, November 2014 shows encourage tenants to keep much needed new homes often through partnership that social tenants saving regularly, those by housing associations with the voluntary sector. struggle financially more who save at least £5 per in , with A recent exercise by than any other group, week in their Savvy Saver 6,101 social housing starts PricewaterhouseCoopers with 49% worried about account for 12 weeks will and 3,965 new shared has also illustrated making ends meet and receive a £20 bonus. ownership homes over the capacity of housing the last four years. We associations in Northern are also glad to have the Ireland to contribute Safer Stronger Communities opportunity to feed into significantly through stock the discussion on Social transfer. This would Clanmil is working with CRJ’s Safer Stronger Housing Reform, both create an opportunity for Communities project and South Housing through the NI Federation homes to be modernised Association in an exciting new initiative to of Housing Associations quickly, efficiently transform The Demesne housing scheme in and through our attendance and cost effectively, into the first “Restorative Estate” in the UK. at meetings/consultations. directly impacting on It is, we believe, so the quality of life for the The Restorative Estate which they have agreed important that the people living in them. initiative is an early to use CRJ’s Restorative strengths of housing We look forward to intervention approach Process should any further associations are recognised being in a position to to dealing with issues, issues arise in the area. in developing housing embrace the changes that and is community Restorative Justice policy, including the are coming and working led at all stages. brings people together, high quality of services together with both our Residents in The and helps them to get to provided to customers; housing association Demesne have shown their the root of the problem our collective skills in and Housing Executive support by signing up to a to achieve a long term raising private finance and colleagues to provide Community Charter in resolution for everyone. providing new homes; and much needed homes. Forging Ahead with New Homes In recent months we have welcomed 75 families to their new homes at Ballyvester Grove in Bangor, Greenwell Mews in Newtownards and Beechview Courtyard in Crumlin.

All of the new homes have Northern Ireland in been built to high energy , Londonderry, efficiency standards and Newtownards, , designed to ensure added Dromore, , security for tenants and , , flexibility of adaptation if Crumlin, Ballynahinch, required at a later date. Kircubbin and . In addition, work Details of Clanmil’s is continuing on the new homes development construction of more programme are available than 500 much needed at www.clanmil.org/ Mayor of and North , Alderman Alan Graham joined Clanmil Chief Executive Clare McCarty to welcome Matthew Moore and his son new homes throughout current-developments.php Luis to their new home at Ballyvester Grove.

Committed to promoting and Homes to be Proud Of delivering Integrated Housing Clanmil is currently implementing a major five year maintenance programme that will see over £8 million The Life and Times survey showed that over 70% of invested in our homes. people in Northern Ireland would prefer to live in a mixed-community. Despite this, opportunities are Over the past year we’ve to their homes and so far limited, with 90% of Housing Executive neighbourhoods completed: most are delighted with the defined as “highly polarised”. • over 400 kitchen improvements. replacements This substantial In recent years Clanmil tenants who decide to • in excess of 210 window investment demonstrates has established Shared live there as a Shared and door replacements our on-going commitment Future housing in Future neighbourhood. • loft insulation in 161 to providing our tenants Causeway Meadows, In addition, tenants homes with homes they can be Lisburn at Springfarm, from The Curzon shared • cavity wall insulation in proud of. Antrim and at The Curzon their experiences of 65 homes in Belfast and we are working with Clanmil to • heating upgrades in 32 working to achieve more. develop their scheme homes BELOW: Betty Potter As part of OFMDFM’s as a Shared Space and Our dedicated tenant is delighted with the new kitchen in her Together: Building a United Professor John Brewer liaison officer is helping Community strategy two from Queen’s University apartment at The Imperial our residents through any independent living scheme new Clanmil housing chaired a discussion disruption during work in . developments have been that has supported the selected for promotion as development of a Charter potential Shared Future for Felden. schemes - Felden in The Charter will be an and Killard important tool in ensuring in Newtownards. These that all who live at Felden schemes offer exciting understand what is opportunities to deliver expected of them and what integrated housing. they can expect of others Clanmil is committed living in their Shared to working with the local Future neighbourhood. community and, at a recent Coming from that event at The Curzon, discussion were 4 Ps - political and community Perseverance, Patience, representatives local to Participation and Pride the Felden site discussed – upon which the Charter the need to support will be based.

If you would like further information on any of the articles featured, or if you would like to discuss any other aspect of Clanmil’s work, please contact us at – Clanmil Housing Association, Northern Whig House, 3 Waring Street, Belfast, BT1 2DX Tel: 028 9087 6000 Fax: 028 9087 6001e-mail: [email protected] web: www.clanmil.org Follow us on Twitter @ClanmilHousing