£1Million Big Lottery Funding Helps Improve Financial
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ISSUE 43 Snowsport was just one of the sporting activities in ng homes Changing Lives programme involving Springburn Academy, John Paul Academy, All Saints’ Secondary and St Roch’s Secondary. Full story and more pictures on page 5. £1million Big Lottery funding helps improve financial skills he Big Lottery has come up Lottery, it will make a real difference Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Glasgow and its residents.” with £1million to help people to people’s lives in the North of the city Jobs and the Economy, said: “First Key stakeholders in the project also T throughout Glasgow to get and beyond.” of all, I am absolutely delighted that include GHA and the Glasgow and help and support to improve their Delivered in partnership with this application was successful. It West of Scotland Forum of Housing financial skills. Greater Easterhouse Money Advice means that as a City we are able to Associations. The major investment comes at a Project (GEMAP) and other Housing support our most vulnerable residents Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, time when many people are under Associations the project aims to reach in relation to the devastating impacts Maureen McGinn, said: “I am delighted increasing financial pressures as a over 3,000 people throughout the city. result of welfare reform. Tony Quinn from GEMAP said: As lead partner ng homes will “We are delighted to be part of this “This is life changing money that manage the three year Glasgow innovative partnership with ng homes Big Partnership for Welfare Project to tackle exclusion and poverty.” will benefit those people and which will benefit tenants who are Those who take part in the project experiencing financial exclusion and will agree a personal financial plan communities most in need” difficulties. with an advisor which can include Ann Marie Devlin, Depute CEO of opening a bank account, savings of welfare reforms and increasing that ng homes is one of the latest ng homes said: “This is great news planning or even a switch to more financial pressures. groups to receive an award from our for our customers. Over the past affordable energy. “I am also delighted that this project Investing in Communities fund. This is few years we have offered money Group workshops will also focus will take a strategic city wide approach life changing money that will benefit advice in our offices and with the Big on topics such as welfare reform, and will draw on the already well those people and communities most Partnership for Welfare Project we will budgeting and financial advice, developed partnership approach to in need. This grant will make a big be able to reach more families on low banking and affordable loans. The working in Glasgow. I also commend difference where it is needed most incomes and help them to improve project aims to increase access for the role which staff in Development and I wish ng homes every success as their financial skills.” people to key financial products and Regeneration Services played in it goes on to develop and expand its Chairperson of ng homes John including bank accounts, credit union helping to develop and co-ordinate project.” Fury said: “We are always looking at accounts and affordable loans. this application in partnership with ng A Project Co-ordinator and ways to help our customers especially The project has been developed homes, GEMAP and the wider RSL’s in Development Officer have now been in these difficult economic times so in consultation and involvement the city. Finally, I look forward to the appointed and further updates on we welcome the funding from the Big with Glasgow City Council. Bailie project developing and delivering for progress will feature in future issues. ng2 update Chinese Allied Page 6 New Year Investment Page 7 Pages 8 & 9 LIVE LEARN WORK VISIT INVEST LIVE LEARN WORK VISIT INVEST LIVE LEARN WORK VISIT INVEST LIVE LEARN WORK VISIT INVEST LIVE LEARN WORK VISIT INVEST Comments, Compliments & Complaints ng homes recognise that from time to time some things can go wrong and our aim is to rectify matters and improve our service. Our Complaints Handling Procedure was developed by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in partnership with the housing sector. A copy of a guide to our complaints procedure is available at our offices or you can phone us and ask us to send you one out. tenants scrutinise MAKING A COMPLAINT If you would like to make a complaint you can do so in the following ways: housing services Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0141 560 6000 group of tenants are North Glasgow will benefit from the services that we provide.” Online: www.nghomes.net ensuring ng homes their work.” To be an effective member of Post/Visit: A delivers the best possible Working in partnership with the panel tenants should have Ned Donaldson House, 50 Reidhouse Street, services to its customers the Tenant Participation Advisory the ability to work independently Springburn, Glasgow, G21 4LS and also highlighting where Service (TPAS) (Scotland) the and as part of a team. Members improvements need to be Panel point out what’s good and should be able to understand Saracen House, 139 Saracen Street, made. what could be improved upon in and analyse reports and Possilpark, Glasgow, G22 5AZ Tenants Scrutiny Panels are North Glasgow. information, have good verbal, HOW ARE WE DOING? made up of tenants whose aim Colin Cassie, from TPAS written and IT skills, be able From October 2014 to March 2015, ng homes is to have greater transparency (Scotland) who has been working to express views clearly in received 88 complaints. Of those, 67 were at Stage in how Housing Associations with the panel said: “At last meetings and be objective and 1 (frontline) and 21 at Stage 2 (serious/complex or operate and to help put tenants year’s tenants’ conference we able to challenge constructively unresolved at Stage 1). at the heart of the organisation. talked about opportunities for whilst respecting others views. Our Management Board receives information The panel look in detail at the tenants to work with ng homes Members of the panel will about complaints performance and monitors the housing services that ng homes to scrutinise and assess services. receive appropriate training. actions that ng homes is taking to improve our deliver to all tenants and they The estate walkabout is the first Springburn resident Cathy policies and services to tenants, factored owners and give an independent view of step in doing that. It will lead Paxton said: “In return for your other customers in response to complaints received. how they perform and how its to the setting of new service commitment you get the chance COMPLIMENTS processes work. This group standards that tenants can to learn new skills and to be part During the 6 month period we received many remains distinct from existing be involved in measuring. But of shaping the future of services compliments including: “Thank you for listening and Focus Groups. importantly, it focusses on issues provided by ng homes.” understanding” - Tenant, Balmore Square. “Thank you Assistant Director of Housing that tenants have told us matter For more information on for all your help” - Tenant, Barmulloch Road. Operations Lynne Cooper said: most to them.” ng homes and its services: Complaints performance “The members highlight what Vice Chairperson of ng homes call 0141 560 6000 or email OCTOBER 2014 TO MARCH 2015 we as a housing association are Bill Rossine, a local tenant and [email protected] doing well and also what we a member of the Panel said: TPAS (Scotland) is the national Service area... need to improve on. The Panel “Those on the panel have a tenant and landlord participation meet regularly and so far they genuine interest in assisting ng advisory service for Scotland. Investment Factoring have been focussing on Central homes to improve its services More information can be found Repairs Springburn in terms of estate to customers and it’s a great on the TPAS Website 2% management but all areas of opportunity to have your say on www.tpasscotland.org.uk 15% Housing 55% Services 28% FOCUS ON YOUR AREA Complaints Upheld... Would you like to meet regularly with others POSSILPARK/PARKHOUSE will meet at in your area to discuss any issues affecting 2pm in Saracen house on the following where you live? Thursdays - 21st May, 16th July, 17th Upheld 76% If the answer is yes then we would like to September and 19th November. 24% hear from you. MULTI STOREY FLATS AREA FOCUS GROUP Not Upheld Focus Groups are currently running in will meet at 2pm in Ron Davey Enterprise Springburn and Possilpark. Centre, 10 Vulcan Street, Springburn, Glasgow, We would like to find out the issues that G21 4BP on the following Thursdays - 18th are most important to you and how we can June, 13th August, 8th October, 3rd December. help. For more information about the focus Lynne Cooper, Assistant Director of Performance v Target Timescales... groups please contact your housing officer. Housing Operations said: “So far tenants have Resolved SPRINGBURN / BALORNOCK FOCUS raised a number of important issues which within target GROUP meetings will be held at 11am in will be followed up by the Association. We’ve timescale 86% Ron Davey Enterprise Centre, 10 Vulcan also had representatives from Police Scotland Resolved outwith target 14% Street, Springburn, Glasgow, G21 4BP on the and Land and Environmental Services along to timescale following Wednesdays - 24th June 2015, 19th the focus groups so it’s a good opportunity to August, 14th October and 9th December. hear from other service providers too.” 2 NORTH news LIVE LEARN WORK VISIT INVEST LIVE LEARN WORK VISIT INVEST LIVE LEARN WORK VISIT INVEST LIVE LEARN WORK VISIT INVEST LIVE LEARN WORK VISIT INVEST ng homes is celebrating over ten years of Customer Service Excellence as a result of its latest review.