Neighbourhood Matters Issue 11: Winter 2020 3
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MattersNeighbourhood Issue 11: Winter 2020 Newmural brightens community Hellofromthe newChair of theBoard What’s it like beingaNeighbourhood Officer? Newhomes in NorthPetherton 17665.01_Homes_In_Sedgemoor_Magazine_Winter_2020 v3.indd 1 19/11/2020 16:02 Cheddar,Axbridge and North Sedgemoor Villages Hello... Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, Brean and Berrow Welcometothis wintereditionofNeighbourhood Mattersafter what hasbeenthe strangestsix Hamp, North Petherton and South Bridgwater Villages and La Ciotat months ever! Idohopeyou have kept safe Lettings,ShelteredHousing andwelland arestartingto andCommunity Enabler teams Sydenham and the Levels adjust to anew ‘normal’. to deliver greatservicestoyou. Because many of us have been Youmay know some of the parted from ournearest and team whoworkexclusively in Woolavington, Puriton and dearest, it is importantwestay your area;ifyou don’t, please Polden and Parrett Villages connectedand support each introduceyourselfifyou see otherthroughthese them outand aboutastheyare challengingtimes. always cheerful andhappy to Bridgwater Central and help where they can. West Bridgwater Villages IjoinedHomes in Sedgemoor (HiS)14years agothisOctober We arereallykeentohear and, Imustsay,I‘ve seen many from youifyou wouldliketo changesthroughout that time. becomeinvolvedaspartofour Corporate News Ihaveheldanumber of roles Board or oneofour Service andbeeninvolvedinlotsof Improvement Groups.Asa differentareas of thebusiness. tenant-focused organisation, IamcurrentlyDirectorof it’s importanttousthatwe have customerswho areable Neighbourhoodsand am proud to scrutinise what we do in key to be workingfor such a areasofthe business.Ifyou fantasticorganisation with wouldliketoget involved so many greatpeople. or just want some more My main role is to lead and information, please letus support ourNeighbourhood know;weprovide learning and Management, Income and developmentopportunities Resource Reg. No. 2110 2 17665.01_Homes_In_Sedgemoor_Magazine_Winter_2020 v3.indd 2 19/11/2020 16:02 that mayhelpyou in otherareas people that highlighthow we of your life too. have allfeltduringthese peculiar times. We will be showingand As part of my role,Iworkvery promotingthe outcomesfrom closelywithmanyofour local theseactivitiesasshort films so partners andstakeholdersto please look outfor them on our create anddevelop new socialmedia pages. Lotsmore communityprojects in activitiesare beingplanned, Sedgemoor. In 2019,HiS,working includingeight more creative with Somerset Film, the isolationart andcraft sessions CommunityCouncil for leadingintoChristmas.Wewould Somerset,The Bridgwater Senior also love to hear aboutwhatyou Citizens Forumand Bridgwater areinterested in andwhere we Town Council, were awarded programmeofactivitiesunder cansupport localprojects get £1.1moverfouryears by theArts thetheme of Creative Lives offthe ground.You cancontact Council, to promoteand invest Under Lockdownhas helped and theproject team by emailing in arts andculture across encouraged everyone,whatever [email protected] or by Sedgemoor. Theproject is called their ageorability,toget calling ourCommunity Enablers Seed andthe vision sets outa involvedinalocal creative on 0800585 360. ten-yearplanthataimstoenable project. Youmay have seenthe everyone to getinvolvedinart Sketchbooks Unlocked in EveryteamatHiS provides a andculturalactivitieswherever partnershipwiththe Arts servicetoyou whetherdirectly they liveinSedgemoorand Quarter in Cheddar.Theyhave a or indirectly, anddespite the whatever their ability.HiS is the Facebookgroup where youcan Covid-19challenges we have all lead organisation andit’sbeen shareyourworkwithothers. If had to face,asanorganisation, we have notbeenidle. We hope really exciting to be part of this youare participating, we would youenjoy catchinguponwhat project. Earlyin2020, some of love youtoshare your work with we’vebeenupto. ourinitial planshad to be us;ifno, whynot as it’s agreat changeddue to thelockdownin waytoconnect with others who Best wishes March, howeverdespite this,a love to putpenciltopaper? Otherprojects have includedthe Claire comingtogetherofaLet’sDance Claire Tough, Sedgemoorgroup;Creative Isolationthatprovidedeight DirectorofNeighbourhoods activity workshopstomake somethingfun andreducethe feelings of isolation; Joyful Noises Didyou know... andMoments of Stillness bring together contributions from local Youcould be entitled to the Warm HomesDiscountifyou receive PensionCreditorother means-tested benefits? Call our Energy SupportAdvisor,Maria, on 0800585 360tofind out! Didyou know... TheRentFreeWeeks this year areDecember 14 and December 21.For more informationand to see if you benefit omfr therent-break, visitour website. Neighbourhood Matters Issue 11: Winter 2020 3 17665.01_Homes_In_Sedgemoor_Magazine_Winter_2020 v3.indd 3 19/11/2020 16:02 Hellofromthe newChair of Communal flooring theBoard We have recently evaluated ourcommunalflooring offer, It is agreat pleasure andundertakensometrial installsofvarious flooring in to be writing to you communal areas. forthe first time Membersofthe Assetand as Chair of the Neighbourhood teams, alongsideour cleaning and Board followingmy installcontractor,were part appointmentatthe of theevaluation. lastBoard meeting. Floors were chosen fortheir look, beinghard wearingand abilityto Iwould firstly like to thankChris to be involved in an organisation keep clean. ThePropertyServices Moseley,mypredecessor,for his Iknewabout duetoprevious Group, made up of customers, commitment to HiSand also for contacts andknewtobe mettooversee theselection, hisLifetimeAchievement Award progressiveaswellasrecognised andwere happywiththe results. at therecentTenant Participation forbeing customer andcolleague andAdvisoryServices(TPAS) focused.Iappreciate fullythat Keepingsafe annual awards. living in Gloucestershiremeans My ownstory is of recent at presentIhave limitedlocal this Christmas retirementafter 37 yearsworking knowledge,but Iamseeking to in community housingwiththe rectifythatwiththe support and help of others. Did youknowthatthreemillion last 15 at Cheltenham Borough households leaveChristmas tree Homes(CBH),another Arms It is clearlyadifficulttime lights on whileout,orasleepat Length ManagementOrganisation foreveryonewithsomuch night, andthatinsurerssee bigger (ALMO).Mylasteight yearsat uncertaintyand worry. Iwill fire claimnumbers in December CBHwere as CEOhaving workalongside colleagues who than anyother month? previouslybeenDeputyCEO and workfor HiSaswellasfellow Here aresometop tips to help Assistant CEO(Operations). Board members, customer preventfires: Throughout my career in representatives andSedgemoor •Turnoff thelights housing, my passionhas always District Counciltodeliver on the •Pickafreshtree beenbased around people and ambitions andproposals already in place. Ihavealready been •Keepthe tree away from heat their life experiences, be that as customers, colleagues,or incredibly impressedbythe •Makesurelightsmeetthe commitment anddedication rightstandards partners.Ihavechaired many of customer representatives, •Never overloadaplug socket multi-agency partnershipsat localand national level and includingtheir involvement in •Makesureelectrics arein my recruitmentprocess. gogoodod cocondnditiitionon firmlybelieve in thevalue of collaboration. My best wishes to youall and Iapplied forthisposition as it please stay safe. wasagreatopportunity forme Paul Stephenson 4 Neighbourhood Matters Issue 11: Winter 2020 17665.01_Homes_In_Sedgemoor_Magazine_Winter_2020 v3.indd 4 19/11/2020 16:02 Cheddar,Axbridge and North Newhomes in Sedgemoor Villages Brent Knoll We arepleased to have received the keys to sevennew homesinOrchard Grove, BrentKnoll. They rangefromone-bedroom flats throughtoa four-bedroom home. Thesehomes aresubject to aSection 106 Agreement, meaningtheyhavebeenadvertised with apriorityfor thosepeoplewho have a localconnectiontothe parishes of BrentKnoll andthenBurnhamWithout. It’s greatfor us to lethighqualitynew homesto ourcustomers,but also fantastictohelpaddress some of theaffordablehousing shortagesinour ruralcommunities. Thecouncil has an ambitiousdevelopmentplan andweare really committedtoensuringwe remain their partnerofchoiceand allnew andpurchased homesremain accessible and affordable to localpeople. Corona CheddarValleyGroup As theCovid-19pandemic spread around theworld groupcomprising of call handlers andfrontline earlierthisyear, communities across thecountryset volunteers. Thegroup has had thousandsofcalls, up support groups,includingthe Corona Cheddar loggednearly800 requestsfor help,and transacted ValleyGroup. more than £11,000. Theresponsefromthe community on Facebook Alot hasbeenachievedsince thegroup’s conception, wasamazing, however, noteveryonecould engage anditiscurrentlyformulating plansfor itspost- this way, so atelephone hotlineoperatedby pandemic future. volunteer call handlers wasset up. Thegroup distributedinformation cardsthroughout Cheddar,Axbridge, Cross,Compton Bishop,Rackley andWeare to connectwithpeoplenot online.A secondcard also introduced thechatline, supported by Rotary Club of Mendip andCheddar Vale Lions Club members. To minimise face-to-face contactapaymentsystem wasintroduced to allowcallhandlerstotake payments andreimbursevolunteers. Corona Cheddar Valley Grouphas also established afund to help people struggling financially. TheFacebookgroup hasmorethan2,000 members andmorethan100 people areregisteredwiththe Neighbourhood Matters Issue 11: Winter 2020 5 17665.01_Homes_In_Sedgemoor_Magazine_Winter_2020 v3.indd 5 19/11/2020