FreeFree ✱ ✱Bi-monthly bi-monthly ✱ ✱In-house in-house news news & &events events ✱ ✱Summer April 2021 2021 ✱ ✱issue Issue N oN 7o 8

BE A STAR IN THE BARNSBURY STORY BHA GARDENING COMPETITION Help us steer Barnsbury It is finally warming up after the coldest spring in 50 years so by HA's future direction mid-July your window boxes, balconies and patio gardens Earlier last year we teamed up with community should be looking hugely welcoming. And that's when storytellers take stock exchange to help us better our panel of judges will be out understand what each of you wants and expects from inspecting pots and plots for the BHA gardening competion. us and how you would like us to better serve you We're offering a £25 voucher to be spent at the Camden Garden Centre for the winners of each of these categories. We will be giving the overall winner a second voucher, worth £50: ✿ best small garden in a patio or balcony What works: ✿ best window box take stock ✿ exchange has best container garden already run (win bonus points for using workshops repurposed materials) with 100s of ✿ most bee or bird-friendly community display of plants groups across ✿ most exotic display east of unusual plants. Our judges will be out and about PIC: TAKE STOCK EXCHANGE STOCK PIC: TAKE looking for the most impressive take stock exchange (TSX) has each person’s account. The result is displays in mid-July. Keep an eye worked with communities across east a shared sense of history that makes out for posters on a noticeboard London to help neighbours better the tricky task of agreeing what you near you and let us know if you understand and value each other. want as a community much easier. think your plot, or a neighbour's, TSX has run workshops with our deserves a visit from the judges. Fresh, fun and entertaining staff, board members and resident They do this in a way that is fresh, panel. Now the team wants to meet fun and entertaining, drawing out you and an invitation is already on its and sharing people’s stories with way to some of you. others who live near them. Feedback from others in east People discover what they have London who have worked with in common, often to their surprise. take stock exchange is uniformly They also get a better sense of how positive so we too hope you’ll find and why others behave as they do. doing so enjoyable and welcome TSX then weaves together, into after a grim and depressing year. one fascinating story, strands from F continued on page 2

Find out more ✱ barnsbury.org 1 ✱ Summer 2021 TELL US IF YOUR Vaccine delays and new YOUR RIGHT TO BE HEARD Agreeing a shared sense of direction HOME NEEDS A REPAIR variants prompt caution Informed, engaged and fired up: We very much hope that over If you need a top-down push for a stronger the next few months we and you repair and have As London slowly opens up for business again you will can, together, agree a future not yet logged it voice for social housing tenants see our team out and about on your estates a bit more. direction for Barnsbury HA. please get in We want a better feel for what touch with us. Our offices, however, are for now staying closed From down, there is a big push to give you, as a community, want from us. We have obligations locally to To report any repair during One of the stand out lessons of this Delta variant now detected in social housing tenants a stronger voice. It is set out house people on limited incomes normal office hours, you can pandemic is that letting down your and neighbouring boroughs, we think who live or work locally so we call us on q . clearly in a new government white paper, The Charter 020 7704 2324 guard rapidly leads to a jump in it safer to keep staff working remotely. need to find a way to balance infection rates. Some of our staff are Coffee mornings, keep fit and the for Social Housing Tenants. It is a priority too in a new this with what you tell us you Outside office hours please yet to be vaccinated and with the like will also for now stay on ice. want. There will be differences report emergency repairs to code of governance published by the National Housing but the starting point is talking. the service run for us by ISHA: Report your repairs Federation, adopted earlier this year by our own board That is where take stock Mon-Thurs 5:30pm to 9:30am We are still working through a exchange comes in (see left). q repairs backlog but please don’t hold We very much hope you will 0772 530 2389 Tenant-led decisions have long been the lives of those of you who live in 5:30pm on Friday back from reporting more repairs. accept your invitation to their Weekends, a Barnsbury HA strength. We were our homes and use our services. to 9:30am on Monday We would rather know what we still workshops. But we also hope an early adopter of having tenants Over the past couple of years we q . have to deal with than get a surprise you will find, and enjoy, many 0300 131 7300 elected to our board, and one of have tried hard to do a better job of further down the line. As always, other ways to influence our work You should be seeing more of our the few non-profit landlords outside explaining ourselves and sharing our emergency and urgent repairs go and decisions for the better. team out and about on estates the cooperative movement to be news and information. B straight to the front of the queue. continued from page one managed for many years wholly or We have also set up more ways WHO SETS THE AGENDA? Help us steer Barnsbury partly by tenants. for you to put across your views and If you want to ideas so you can choose to chip in, set up your own HA's future direction we are happy to provide Panel calls for new members with dive in or just keep an eye on what's group Best of good intentions places where you can meet, or This wasn’t without complications. happening - whatever suits you best. Over June and July some of you support with online meetings, fresh ideas and plenty of energy But a strong tenant voice keeps us And of course we actively support will be invited to take part in small and help with admin and costs. on our toes and reminds us that forums you have set up like the group talks with TSX and other The resident panel has shown itself every decision we make impacts on tenants and residents associations. neighbours, or you can volunteer to be an extremely effective way for One was so happy with the result to join them. You’ll be asked what tenants to improve our services and after we took up her case she said you think of life as our tenant and influence our plans. But members she felt like "a pig in chiffon"! what you’d like changed and why. say they would welcome new and ’ younger members with fresh ideas. The workshops may take place in 'We’ve been able to resolve issues learning about Barnsbury HA's full Pic/n/mix: choose WRITE COFFEE GIVE person or online, depending on for tenants who felt their situation had range of properties. I've only just ARTICLES MORNING FEEDBACK Covid-19 levels. Ideally you would from the menu or not been properly heard, or the extent realised we have some in the Cally.' attend two sessions. Each work- of their personal matters addressed,’ Most of the panel members now invent a new way shop will last for one to two hours. JOIN A FILL IN FUN says panellist Janice Walsh. also serve on our two tenants and to 'have your say' T&RA SURVEYS DAYS Discussions from the workshops ‘One was so happy with the result residents associations, two (Janice will be recreated as an outdoor after we took up her case she said included) are on our board and one storytelling event, hopefully this she felt like "a pig in chiffon"!’ is on our audit and risk committee. autumn, giving a hearing for the ‘Being on the panel is easier,’ views of you and your neighbours. Mutual benefits Janice says. ‘There’s less reading to LEAD: BE A BOARD, COMMITTEE OR PANEL MEMBER And you'll get a free meal! The benefits, she adds, are two-way. do and you bring your experience as COLLABORATE: TAKE PART IN SCRUTINY, TASK & FINISH GROUPS ‘If you’re at the start of your career or a tenant to any matter coming up.’ If this sounds like your cup of tea thinking of going into any profession CO-CREATE: JOIN FOCUS GROUPS ON REPAIRS OR OUR WEBSITE please email [email protected] then on the panel you’ll pick up new The panel meets four times a year and TSX will get in touch with you. skills and a wider understanding of with senior staff and some board CHIP IN: FILL IN SURVEYS, GO TO LOCAL MEETINGS If you’d rather talk by phone, call how things work.’ members. If you could spare a few OPT IN: AGREE TO, IN FUTURE, TAKE PART ON SPECIFIC MATTERS Anna at TSX on -07854 423 991. ‘You'll also find you are better evenings each year, plus a bit of informed about Barnsbury HA and reading time before meetings, or BE AWARE: READ OUR NEWSLETTERS You can find out more about TSX what could be done differently and want to know more please email here: takestockexchange.co.uk we get to see a broader picture, like us at [email protected]

Find out more ✱ barnsbury.org 2 ✱ Summer 2021 Find out more ✱ barnsbury.org 3 ✱ Summer 2021 Housing ombudsman LOCAL HISTORY ROUND UP by working on the docks. Clink of mugs as View Life became even tougher names and shames after her dad died when Margaret landlords for tenant celebrates escape from lockdown Pop through The Hole in the was just 11. Her mum persevered, even managing to keep all three girls complaint failures Wall for a glimpse of a happier in secondary school an extra year. One sister moved to another flat A new legal power given last rough-round-the-edges Islington on the square when she married, September to the Housing clearly a Milner Square tradition, but Ombudsman Service for in the late 1960s the council began has already resulted in slapped Do treat yourself if you haven't seen Through the Hole in to buy and renovate Milner Square wrists for 10 social landlords who and other older Islington houses. failed to properly handle complaints the Wall, Susan Oudot's hugely touching documentary Most of the residents were moved from 11 tenants. on life in Milner Square before and after World War II to newer estates or outside London. Margaret had qualified as a nurse Ombudsman investigating after training at the Whittington and Formal investigations are now he documentary looks back to her luck was in. 'I got a flat underway into two of the landlords, an Islington better known for here with my own both London councils, under the T its poverty and shockingly bad bathroom and front door.' ombudsman’s complaint handling housing. The upside, however, was a She enjoyed her work failure order. powerful community spirit recalled by but loved her flat too so In one case, the council decided former Milner Square residents, many was careful to stay an easy not to deal with a complaint from a Oudot's own family, who are taken commute from Milner tenant about delayed repairs he had back to barely recognisable homes Square, ending her career first reported in August 2019 until the to be asked about their early years. with a 20-year stint at the outstanding works were finished. Elizabeth Avenue practice Younger residents from flats for key workers at Highbury View recently shared coffee and biscuits with older tenants at the first coffee morning in over a year. Milner Square stalwart off New North Road. Oudot also meets one who never left. Husband James came HOW TO COMPLAIN TO US A company called Mobilise has been asking residents here their thoughts on Barnsbury HA tenant Margaret Cryne along later down the line what they'd like changed but also how they feel about living and socialising with Margaret and James on their wedding day You can file a complaint, or a different age groups. We'll report on this in the next issue ofBarnsbury News. has stayed put since arriving aged after a chance encounter compliment, or just report a problem two weeks in January 1941. square built for the well-heeled but on a train to Scotland. James was via our website at barnsbury.org Margaret's mum had earlier been long abandoned to poorer families. visiting family. Margaret was heading The ombudsman can help if you evacuated to a maternity hospital in If money was in very short supply, north to visit Scotland. want some help preparing your New government charter sets out Welwyn Garden City just months friendship was not. 'Everyone was In keeping with the square's older complaint, and can advise on after bombs had rained down on poor but we looked out for each community spirit James now serves outcomes and actions that might an expanded set of tenant rights Islington during the October Blitz. other - and if you misbehaved your as a volunteer on our resident panel. put things right for you. 'My earliest memory was being mum was told!' Margaret says. And if Milner Square is no longer It is now also willing to step in The government has published a ✱ be treated with respect, backed pulled out of bed and held wrapped 'Our family was close-knit and the teeming playground of Oudot's before your complaint has gone new charter setting out steps it by stronger consumer standards in blankets by my mum on the steps there was a lot of love. Dad made documentary, and the paintwork is through all the stages of our process says it will take to make sure all ✱ have your complaints dealt with to the basement,' Margaret tells us. sure we did spelling tests in the now uniformly fresh, in the Barnsbury if nothing has been done to stop a social housing residents are safe, promptly and fairly, with a strong The steps offered safety from flying evening and he and mum did jigsaws HA corner that is home to Margaret problem getting worse. listened to, live in good quality ombudsman giving you swift glass, as did the square's three air with us. Dad was very particular and James it is still neighbourly. homes, and have ways to put and fair redress when needed raid shelters. But the shelters would about our place being decorated and 'There are six flats here and we TAKING A COMPLAINT UP things right if they go wrong. ✱ have your voice heard by later bring a new problem. 'They clean but a lot had distemper peeling are really happy with our neighbours. WITH THE OMBUDSMAN It is a very long document but your landlord, at meetings didn't close the shelters after the war off. And each house had four families, We're not in and out of each other's includes some welcome changes for example, on panels or so rats flourished,' Margaret adds. only one toilet and no bathroom.' homes,' Margaret says, 'but we do Any of you can take a complaint to some a response to past mistakes. as a member of its board. Oudot also lived in the square She tells Oudot of weekly trips to look out for each other, meet up the ombudsman service if you first though Margaret better remembers the public baths in Caledonian Road, every so often and we get on well.' raised it with us and are not happy Principles of The Charter for her parents, specifically Oudot's with washes in a tin tub in between. Poverty in Islington has not gone, with our final response. The Charter for Social Housing Residents Social Housing To download mum's chilling death, run down on a When war came along her dad, she adds, despite its many wealthy We will refer you to the housing Residents Social Housing a copy of the pedestrian crossing on Upper Street. disabled by childhood tuberculosis, and well-known residents. 'But I'm ombudsman if you ask us to. But you Social housing tenants, it says, The Charter for Social Housing Residents White Paper White Paper charter follow Oudot herself doesn't dwell on the was unable to join the army. With very lucky to have this flat and I have can also contact the service directly should have the right to: this link: subject but nor does she shy away bricklaying jobs thin on the ground, happy memories,' she says. 'There yourself. See our website for details. ✱ be safe in your home https://tinyurl. from the other hardships of life on a he carried on supporting his family are some sad as well, but that's life.' If you contact the service about a ✱ know how your landlord com/49tr568r decision we've made on a complaint performs and spends its money you must first wait eight weeks after so you can hold it to account WATCH FOR YOURSELF Huge thanks to Margaret and getting our ‘final response’. ✱ have a good quality home You can watch Through the Hole in the Wall, a documentary James for speaking to Barnsbury and neighbourhood to live in and to Janice Walsh for www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk by Susan Oudot, online at https://vimeo.com/138173028 News alerting us to the documentary.

Find out more ✱ barnsbury.org 4 ✱ Summer 2021 Find out more ✱ barnsbury.org 5 ✱ Summer 2021

ROUND THE HOUSES: SERVICE NEWS A helping & Life & Progress: free help 24/7 Life Progress GREEN DOCTORShand can make a huge The Tenant Support & tenant support and Wellbeing Service is with all matters vexing, from CONTRACTdifference HAS BEEN available 24/7, 365 days a year, over the Welcome to your family woes to legal worries wellbeing service Changing the way we telephone and online. tenant support and EXTENDED!wellbeing service The service aims to answer your questions quickly and

will also refer you to the most appropriate source

of support, including Many of the best employers now offer their staff free Call them on freephone serve you on estates counselling, legal,

Our contract with the financial, childcare and in-work benefits. So we too have signed up to a service Green consumer experts. J 0330 094 8845 or go to

Doctors service was due to end offering free help, but this one is for tenants.

Tackling stress & anxiety Over the past few weeks more of our staff have been this month but it was proving www.barnsbury.org and click

Parental Challenges Your Tenant Support & Wellbeing Service from Life & Progress is here to help you. Issues covered such good value we’ve agreed Health & wellbeing advice Life & Progress gives free, confidential help with a huge able to get out and about and it's been a joy getting The service provides practical information, Your Life & Progress TSWS can gather on resident support. resources, and counselling to help you information and offer support on a wide range to sign up for anotherbalance year. your work, family and personal life. of work, family and personal issues, including Around-the-clock support range of problems, among them isolation, grieving, Available no matter when or where, anytime, but not limited to: to see many of you in person. Viv Astall reports A lot of you have toldany day, ussupport isGreen just a telephone call away. • Health and wellbeing information depression, being a parent or caring for an older relative, A link to the service includes You can even find support online. There is • Mental health and wellbeing no limit to the number of issues you can Doctors have helped gainyou support onswitch and there is no cost to use • Relationships coping with a disability, legal or financial matters and more. the service. • Family matters a username and password • Managing debt to a cheaper supplier, saving • Workplace issues We have heard more than once that We’ll mainly be looking to check: • Your rights as a consumer It is available by phone or online 24-hours a day, seven money on fuel bills. • and much more... you can use to log in. standards slipped over lockdown days a week. It is free and it is entirely confidential. ✱ how well cleaning is being done Accessing the service

The service can be accessed at any time so we drew up a plan which we have simply by calling into the service on the ✱ if anything in shared areas needs Freephone number. now run past the resident panel. Green Doctors is free for Upon speaking to a trained service Counselling representative, you will be supported and they to repaired or replaced You are encouraged to contact the service will help you determine the best course of action These are the main points. Barnsbury HA tenantsas soon as anand issue presents itself and before to resolve your issue. matters become more serious. ✱ that paths, planting etc are clean SlowYou may benefit fromwalk simply talking with to the freedom: The service can offer support to help you service representative, or you may wish to could save you preciouscope successfully with life events, helping receive more specialist support or counselling. NEW ESTATE OFFICER and well maintained you stay happy, healthy and fully focussed please don’t spoil it now! on life and work. Whatever your situation the service will help pennies. To book a chat with – and if appropriate, put you in touch with an TENANCY SUPPORT AND WELFARE

✱ any risks to health or safety. expert who will assist you with the issues you J Support and advice when are facing. Most of your homes are on estates them call 0300 365 00you need03 it 24 or hours a day, We’re all keen to shake free from or part of small clusters of flats so Our walkabouts will need local email greendoctorsLDN@365 days a year lockdown but please think of your Call us today Freephone www.tsws-assist.co.uk The past year has hit incomes hard. Many of you have fallen we will be taking on an estate officer experts, and that means you, so groundwork.org.uk neighboursUsername: barnsburytenant before letting your hair in confidence 0330 094 8845 Password: support behind with your rent and the number applying for universal who will make sure services like please join us. You can also point down. This week the Islington cleaning and repairs are done to a out things you're not happy about Gazette ran a story claiming Islington credit for the first time has risen sharply high standard. They will also be your and tell us what could be improved. Selfish minority cause a is second only in London for noise go-to person if things go wrong or We'd also like your help agreeing health risk and eye-sore complaints. The source of this (an Your first time face-to-face Help through hard times you think we could and should do the standard you'd like set for your insurance company) was maybe with universal credit something differently. patch and we'd like you judging A small number of thoughtless questionable but, for too many of We have been able to help make what meets and what fails the grade. people are flytipping bulky items you, noise is a constant problem. One of the many shocks of the last life a little easier for more of you by TWICE-A-YEAR ESTATE We will draw up and circulate an on our estates, Morland Mews We have Parkguard out on patrol year for many of you has been securing crisis payments, a grant WALKABOUTS action plan after each walkabout to especially, and leaving rubbish trying to keep a lid on antisocial your first experience of claiming towards your rent and, for some We’ve started going out in teams make sure problems get sorted. and recycling bags around despite behaviour but we'd rather not have universal credit. Some of you have new tenants, money from our own to check on estates and get your The dates and time of walkabouts our installing new recycling bins. to resort to heavy tactics. had to claim welfare for the first hardship fund to cover the cost of feedback. But we want this to be a will shortly be published on our This attracts rats and makes the So please keep the volume down time ever. Others have moved on electrical goods or furniture. regular thing, and we really want as website. Summer walkabouts will place look awful for your neighbours. if you're playing music or watching to universal credit from housing There are many different sources many of you as possible to walk be in the afternoon or early evening. Rubbish and recycling bags should TV (or similar). Don't leave music benefit because your personal of help but knowing which way to around with us so you can tell us In winter they’ll be in the morning. only be put on on collection days. playing when you go out and keep circumstances have changed. turn is confusing. That’s where we what the problems are and point out A board member or two may also the volume down when others are Universal credit was meant to come in. If you are struggling with anything we might miss or that has join us on the walkabouts as may If you want to get rid of large items trying to sleep – babies, shiftworkers make a difficult system simpler. a tenancy matter, poor health, rent call Islington Council, which will slipped under our radar. associates with relevant expertise. J and sick people included. Very few would say it does that. or money problems or maybe you collect them, on 020 7527 7272. We’re now working on our own have another query, please call us. If you spot anyone flytipping J Fire safety risks: security guide to this benefit, which we We can help you claim welfare RAISING THE CLEANING STANDARD please call us on 020 7704 2324. grilles and barbecues hope will explain it fairly simply. benefits or a one-off grant, tell you But please be prepared. More of where to find a food bank or may This work has until now been done by a contractor but we Getting hold of us by phone Please do not have barbecues on you may have to claim this benefit. be able to find a way to help with think it would be better if we employed the cleaner. They They are a serious fire should now be easier balconies. It is not generous, it can take your bills or managing a debt. would be part of a team with caretaker Spencer Benoit. risk. Security grilles are also weeks before a payment comes The resident panel backs this move but has also told us: Adding a fourth phone line to our . unsafe if a fire breaks out through and any delay in making i ✱ the cleaning will have to 'look good' system has, we hope, made it easier Some of you have in recent a claim means more lost income. ✱ we must be crystal clear what we mean by 'looks good' to call us by phone and for your calls months had grilles fitted to your Contact our housing manager ✱ and you should be the judge of what 'looks good'. to be transferrred. Our sudden shift outside door and you should now Asif Mahmood at Asif@ We don’t want rent arrears to So we’d like at least one volunteer in each block to rate to home-working caused hiccups also have had a letter from us asking barnsbury.org or housing add to your worries so, if you the cleaning one to 10, probably once a week. early on and a few of you rightly you to remove the grilles. assistant Priscilla Adjei-Assante can, start setting aside a modest There are no plans now to change the window cleaning complained. If you are still having Security grilles do not make your at [email protected] or sum each month to tide you and grounds maintenance arrangements. Health and trouble getting through please let us home secure. They do make it much call Asif or Priscilla on J020 through if the worst happens. safety is covered by estate handyman Steve Woodgates. know. Any staff out on estates will be harder to get out quickly if you need 7704 2324, option 2. happy to pass on a message. to escape a fire.

Find out more ✱ barnsbury.org 6 ✱ Summer 2021 Find out more ✱ barnsbury.org 7 ✱ Summer 2021 OUT AND ABOUT IN ISLINGTON Guided walks to historic Islington Champion call out for University of the are back on track new gardening group Third Age: feed your Guided walks around Islington (and at Morland Mews brain after retiring beyond) have also started up again and we are reliably informed that Local councillor Rowena Champion If you are no longer working full-time they are well worth the £5 or £6 is keen to get a gardening group because of your age or health, you charge. For Covid safety, masks and going at Morland Mews. might find activities run by or with social distancing are still observed. your local U3A group an excellent and enjoyable way to keep your brain and body in good shape. U3A stands for the University of the Third Age. But don't expect exams or tutorials. Instead U3A offers something for all tastes, from

PICS: CHARLIE ROUND-TURNER pub lunches, bird watching, coffee mornings, nature walks or cycling Gardening is a lovely way to enjoy One walk, illustrated with a photo of to talks on culture, current affairs, nature first hand. It is great for your our own office, looks back over 500 architecture and much more. physical and mental health and it's years at the legacy of Richard Some activities are still being done marvellous for birds, bees, bugs, Cloudesley. If you fancy something online, using Zoom, but they have bats and the planet. Not to mention bloodier, there is Burnings, Butchery also started proper events with real making your estate look and smell and the Black Death. This last one people again at venues dotted lovely and feel more welcoming. No can also be followed online for those across Islington. experience is needed and everyone unable or unwilling to face the great is welcome to join. outdoors. You can find Islington U3A's website at islingtonu3a.org. If you live on or near the estate For details of walks coming up If you're undecided about joining and want to join the group please see https://islingtonguidedwalks. many activities are open to non- email Cllr Champion on rowena. com/our-walks/ members. To find out more, call [email protected] U3A Islington on-07784 336 219.

HAVE YOUR SAY WITH OUR DOMESTIC ABUSE: NEW BARNSBURY FORUM NEED HELP NOW?

BARNSBURY NEWS O SOLACE IN ISLINGTON REGULAR SURVEYS O CALL THE LONDON FREEPHONE 'READABILITY' CHECKS O q0808 802 5565 IF YOU ARE IN DANGER Would you like to help plan and NOW CALL THE POLICE write for Barnsbury News? How about taking part in regular q999 surveys? If you have the time, could you read through our policies to check they are clear If you need help call Solace in and helpful? If you have other Islington for free, confidential suggestions, do tell us. support. Solace helps men and women. q020 3795 5070 or E Email us at info@barnsbury. advocacy@solacewomensaid. org or call J020 7704 2324. org, Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm.

Find out more ✱ barnsbury.org 8 ✱ Summer 2021