Autumn / Winter 2020 (PDF)

Tenant Wythenshawe Approved

Autumn/ Winter 2020

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Photo: Adama Jalloh from CEO Page 2 Nick Horne

WPLC Becomes

Page Vaccination 2 Hub

Help with your Finances at A Local Page Inspiration 8 Christmas Find out more on page 7 Get the WCHG App

CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR OFFICE OPENING If you or anyone you know Wednesday 23 December: Open 9.00am-5.00pm would like this publication Thursday 24 December, Christmas Eve: Open 9.00am-1.00pm Friday 25 December, Christmas Day: Closed IN LARGE TYPE or audio format please Monday 28 December (Bank Holiday): Closed contact us on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 December: Closed 0800 633 5500 Thursday 31 December, New Year’s Eve: Closed 0300 111 0000 Friday 1 January 2021, New Year’s Day: Closed Monday 4 January: Open 9.00am-5.00pm To report an emergency repair please call 0800 633 5500 or 0300 111 0000 page 2 Our News www.wchg.org.uk Our News page 3

2020 - An Extraordinary Year Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre For all of us 2020 has been an support our tenants and their communities. As we extraordinary year in which the leave 2020 and look to the future, we will continue to honoured to become one of the first vaccination hubs in Manchester play a leading role in creating a stronger, healthier and Covid pandemic has significantly more resilient Wythenshawe. Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre impacted our lives and the lives Thanks to science, we are now at the beginning of the is delighted to have been chosen to end of the pandemic, although it will be several months become one of the first community of family, friends, neighbours and before a new version our communities. For some, the of normal life can based Covid-19 vaccination hubs, in resume. Meantime, partnership with the NHS, local GP impact has been contained to the I hope you will loss of previously taken-for-granted continue to stay Surgeries and Clinical Commissioning safe and alert to Groups in Manchester. freedoms, whilst others have sadly the continuing lost loved ones. risks, enjoy the The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine which is 95% effective in festive season and preventing Covid-19 and works in all age groups, will Chair of Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre look forward to a If there is a positive from 2020, then it is the inspiring first be offered to local residents aged 80 and above Stakeholder Board, Councillor Eddy Newman said, way people, communities and organisations across more positive 2021. with a secondary booster jab being administered 21 “Promoting a healthy lifestyle has always been one of Wythenshawe have come together with kindness and days later. (No vaccine will be stored on site) the aims of Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre which compassion to support each other through tough times. is so much more than a community, youth and sports Nick Horne Work begins this week to get the centre ready to roll out centre. This new role for our centre could not be more Throughout the pandemic, WCHG colleagues have Group Chief the vaccination programme with 836 vaccines set to be important, bringing the vaccine that protects against worked with local people and partners to deliver our Executive administered. The centre was chosen in part because it Covid-19 to a convenient location for Wythenshawe’s services as best we can and to go the extra mile to meets the national criteria of a Primary Care Network area, older residents. I am so proud of everyone in the NHS, characterised by a high deprivation and high proportion of in WCHG and at Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre”. residents aged 80 years and over. Wythenshawe residents will be notified by their GP as to whether they are eligible Sarah Woolley, Senior Community Investment to attend the centre for the vaccine. Manager who manages the centre said, “I am delighted that our centre has been selected to be an New Development Helps Chair of the WCHG Board, The Bishop of integral part of the roll out of the vaccine. The centre is Manchester, The Right Revd Dr David Walker a vibrant hub within our community, with Covid and the said, “I’m delighted that WCHG are partnering with impacts of lockdown like many businesses we have the Health Service in Greater Manchester to create a Reduce Carbon Footprint had to reduce our offer and much needed support to vaccination hub in Wythenshawe. It’s hard to imagine a our community. Our commitment to working with our more appropriate place than the Lifestyle Centre, to roll health partners to ensure our communities health and We welcomed the first residents out a programme that has such a vital part to play in wellbeing is a priority has meant that we are able to be helping us get to the point where our lives and lifestyle to our new Woodhouse Lane part of that journey to building back better for our local are less constrained by the present coronavirus community and economy”. Development in October, after its restrictions. This partnership is a tangible expression launch was delayed due to Covid-19. of the commitment of WCHG, not only to providing The distribution of the vaccine across the UK is being healthy homes but to playing our part in addressing the undertaken by Public Health England and the NHS The new scheme offers 18 x 2 Bed apartments for health issues that affect the people of Wythenshawe in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland affordable rent and has been built on the site of the and its surrounds”. through systems specially adapted from those used for former SS John Fisher and Thomas Moore Catholic the national immunisation programmes. The NHS has Group Chief Executive, Nick Horne said, “We are Church by Rowlinson Construction. a strong record of delivering large scale vaccination very pleased to be a part of history-in-the-making in programmes - from the flu jab, HPV vaccine and Executive Director of Development Andrea Lowman the fight against Covid-19, with our Woodhouse Park lifesaving MMR jabs. said, “This is a significant development milestone for Lifestyle Centre becoming one of the first vaccination WCHG because the electric vehicle charging hubs to serve our local community. The vaccination Residents are reminded whilst the vaccination point will help reduce our Carbon Footprint programme gives us all hope that at some point in the not programme is rolled out, the best way of fighting the so that we can play our too distant future we can resume near normal lives. Our virus is to keep maintaining social distancing practices, part in helping make work with partners to make this happen demonstrates washing hands regularly and wearing a mask. The Manchester a WCHG’s commitment to providing practical support for roll out of the vaccine brings hope that this is the greener city.” the health and wellbeing of local people”. beginning of the pandemic’s end.

Contact 0800 633 5500 or 0300 111 000 or email [email protected] page 4 Our News www.wchg.org.uk Our News page 5

Office Reopening COVID-19 – Impact on Our Services We reopened our Wythenshawe House office by appointment WCHG wants only on the 7th of December. to assure All Customers have to wear face masks, hand sanitise upon you we are entering the building and observe the two taking our Have you downloaded metre rule for distancing. role in protecting you, our residents, our employees the CHG App and the wider community Repairs Annual Gas very seriously. Since July our repairs service has remained Safety Check fully operational, six days per week. You We continue to review the way in which We continue to deliver can book a repair via our WCHG app, we deliver our services based on the this service to ensure which has a full diagnostic tool to aid you latest guidelines and Government customer safety. If you through the booking process. In the event of an instructions. have an appointment emergency repair please report this to us in the usual way booked or you receive communication to For the latest updates and FAQ’s on via our contact centre on 0800 633 5500 or 0300 111 000. our services visit our website – book an appointment and you are self- https://www.wchg.org.uk/wchg-faq You can email any-non urgent repairs isolating and/or have a confirmed or and make sure you are following us on to [email protected] or via our suspected coronavirus case please contact us Twitter & Facebook. App, website, Facebook and Twitter pages. as soon as possible. as: Register your WCHG account to access key services such Before we conduct any repair or visit we will call you This is so that we can make special Get the WCHG App to check on your current health and wellbeing, this is arrangements with you to enable the safety to ensure the safety of our operatives who may attend check to be completed. The engineer undertaking This is the best way to make contact Report anti-social Get involved and help multiple properties in a day. the gas safety check will also contact you Pay your rent, check behaviour in your area shape your services with us, pay your rent and order a repair, Order a repair, check your repair history or your history or set up immediately prior to attendance at your home a Direct Debit All staff visiting are following enhanced cleaning it can be downloaded via the App Store book a Gas Service and talk you through the special arrangements procedures and will not be sent to a property if they or Google Play – for more information in accordance with government guidelines. visit https://www.wchg.org.uk/wchg-app show any signs of illness. Get help and advice on Universal Update your account Credit, Housing Benefit, Under details at any time Occupancy Calculator

Rent Visit our website for more details and download the app: We know it is difficult at www.wchg.org.uk/wchg-app the moment but you do need to continue to pay Financial Support your rent. The best way We need you to continue to pay your rent, but is through our websites, via encourage you to tell us straight away if you are our tenant app or the phone. experiencing any problems paying your rent as For those reading this digitally – there is a range of help available to you. check out this video which details all the different ways you can pay your If your employment status has changed or you rent without leaving your home – need to talk to us about your rent, please speak to us as soon as (https://youtu.be/0C3MDPpS9Ng) possible. We can agree affordable repayment plans and provide specialist advice on claiming benefits, maximising income and managing debt through our Financial Inclusion Team. If you are worried about falling into arrears because you cannot pay us in the short term because of Coronavirus, you can discuss setting up a payment plan with our Financial Inclusion Team Contact Information at [email protected] or via the WCHG App. If you have changed your phone number or email address recently, please let us know by emailing us at For more Financial information check out Page 8. [email protected] or via our website on our contact us page, also by our: Facebook and Twitter pages. This will help to ensure you receive all communications as quickly as possible.

Marcus Rashford Teams Up With Burberry To Donate £25K To Wythenshawe

We are honoured and humbled that as part of Marcus Rashford’s partnership with Burberry the Woodhouse Park Lifestyle “Marcus Rashford Centre will receive a £25,000 investment having been part FIND YOUR PLACE TO BLOSSOM which will transform the well-used sports of the youth With an exciting new range of developments and a choice of hall and to help maintain the popular club means a ways to buy or rent- we know you'll love our homes. 5-aside football pitches at the centre. lot here.” The centre is in the heart of Marcus Rashford’s home town of Your brand new home could be more affordable than Wythenshawe and plays a vital role in the community 7 days a week from active youth clubs, football and basketball to a vibrant you think with Shared Ownership café and groups for older people and those with disabilities. During the Covid-19 pandemic the café has made hundreds of hot PRICES FROM £91,000* meals for older people isolated and without support. *price based on 50% share of £182,000. Rent payable on remaining share. Not only that, but a group of young volunteers from Norbrook Youth Club and the Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre will work together to donate £10,000 to local charities and community groups that they believe will make the most positive change in their community. Executive Director of Housing and Community Investment, Paul Seymour said, “The Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre is a gem at the heart of our community. The centre offers a wide range of support services that bring local people – both young and old - together and help them live well. Last year alone, almost 600 of our young people volunteered their time, giving back to their local community as we work to become a City of Social Action. Marcus Rashford having been part of the SCHOLARS FIELDS THE ORCHARD THE WILLOWS youth club means a lot here. We’re delighted to M22 9AY M22 0DN COMING SOON receive this donation from Burberry, which will support the lasting legacy we are building for the future generation of the Wythenshawe community. Find out more 0300 777 7177 gardencityhomes.org.uk [email protected]

gardencityhomes_ gardencityhomes gardencityhomes Photo: Rafael Pavarotti

Contact 0800 633 5500 or 0300 111 000 or email [email protected] page 8 Christmas Finance www.wchg.org.uk Our Centres page 9

How To Avoid A Financial An update from our Centres During the Covid-19 outbreak our community centres haven’t been able to operate as usual Hangover At Christmas’ but have still been working hard to make a difference in the Wythenshawe community. This page contains a roundup of some of the things they’ve been doing. There is a lot of pressure face Set a budget and stick to it It’s easy to give in to pressure and overspend but having Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre leading up to the Christmas a clear budget and shopping around for the best deals Portway (junction with Selstead Road), M22 1QW period. There are tempting for the items you are looking for will mean that you won’t be struggling in the Spring. This applies to presents as Tel: 0161 436 0560 offers and pressure from friends, well as the food and drink consumed over the festive Part of the www.WoodhouseParkLifestyleCentre.co.uk family and the media to have the period. To save money you could agree within your family Facebook: Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre or friendship groups to just buy for the children. Twitter: @WPLifestyleCent “perfect” Christmas. Don’t be tempted to borrow It’s not surprising that people get carried away and a lot of people turn to borrowing at Christmas. This It can seem easy to borrow money to pay for Christmas Your local community centre with Lifestyle Refurbishment costs, but you have to consider whether you can afford year is harder than most with many people having a activities and events for all ages. We were thrilled to open in October to pay it back. If you do take out credit, make sure to reduced income due to redundancy or reduced hours with our newly refurbished ground check the terms and conditions and do a household Open 7 days a week. Membership due to Coronavirus. If we aren’t careful the effects of floor Reception & Café area, budget to make sure the repayments won’t leave you is free and everyone is welcome. overspending can stay with us long after Christmas is unfortunately with the recent struggling. Try your local Credit Union. Door Step over and for some it can have a long-term impact on Come along and see what we have lockdown and tier 3 restrictions we Lenders and Pay Day Loans are expensive ways to financial stability. have not been able to celebrate the borrow and best avoided. Contact the Illegal to offer - from sport and leisure, to refurbishment as we would have liked. To enjoy a financially stress-free Christmas try Money Lending Team if you are kids’ activities, youth clubs, over following these simple rules and you can avoid a worried about a loan shark. 50s groups and a great on-site café We are looking forward to financial hangover: welcoming back our regular and By sticking to these you will be serving hot and cold food and drinks. new customers in the new year! Don’t stop paying bills able to enjoy Christmas and avoid starting the New Year It might be the season of goodwill but unfortunately with financial worries that could your rent, council tax and utility bills still have to be last a further 12 months. paid. If you get paid early in December you should Benchill Community Centre consider paying these priority bills straight away, If you need budgeting Benchill Road, Benchill, M22 8EJ so you know what you have left is what you have to advice contact our Part of the Tel: 0161 945 0879 spend on your Christmas shopping. Financial Inclusion www.benchillcommunitycentre.co.uk Team on 0300 111 0000 or Facebook benchillcommunitycentre Plan Ahead or via the App. For debt Twitter: @benchillcomcent Set aside a small amount each month or week to pay advice contact for things at Christmas. Local credit unions, such as National Debtline. Manchester or South Manchester Credit Unions, often IT & Functional Skills pub quiz going and held Zoom We hold morning and afternoon sessions with our regular older sessions through the week by have savings clubs especially for this purpose. Or The IT and Functional Skills team learners. For some it’s one of the few appointment only, if you want to find you could try the Government Help to Save Scheme. support all ages with learning new times they see other people during out more or make an appointment Christmas dinner can be expensive. To keep costs skills and gaining qualifications the week and a bit of a lifeline.’ contact Steve on 07704002278. under control it’s crucial to plan ahead and shop and have been delivering sessions around. Start buying non-perishable food items remotely to those isolating and at the Vivienne,74, attends the sessions earlier in the month when they are on centre with a reduced capacity. and said ‘They are an invaluable help IT Sessions offer in the supermarket. for people of my age, everything is Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9.30am- From helping many older online these days and we weren’t 12.00pm & 1.00pm-3.30pm participants keep in touch with each taught it in school. I couldn’t even other and their own loved ones ECDL Sessions switch a computer on when I started introducing and providing support Weds 6pm-9pm 4 years ago, now I have a laptop, with Zoom and video call. tablet and mobile phone, I must say Functional Skills One of the tutors Steve says that I have come on leaps and bounds Monday & Thurs 9.30am-12.30pm ‘From the beginning of lockdown in and if there is a problem the staff are Weds 6pm-9pm March we’ve kept Jordan’s weekly always on hand to help me.’

Get Involved at WCHG We are currently in the process of a Resident Involvement review, working closely with our tenants to find a new approach for Ready, steady, census engagement at WCHG going forward. The decennial census is almost upon us.

If you would like to get Households across Manchester will soon be Ben Harrison asked to take part in the nationwide survey involved and help shape Resident the services we deliver Involvement of housing and the population. It has been there are loads of Manager carried out every decade since 1801, with different options available. the exception of 1941. Contact the team now at Information from the digital-first census will [email protected] help decide how services are planned and or 0800 633 5500 / funded in your local area. This could mean 0300 111 0000 or visit the things like doctors’ surgeries, housing or ‘Get Involved’ Section of new bus routes. our website to see a Households will receive a letter with a full list of current unique access code in the post, allowing opportunities available. them to complete their questionnaire online. We also have a Facebook Paper questionnaires will be available on page as well so get in request. Census day is March 21. touch and say hello. For more information, visit census.gov.uk.

Keep Well This Winter A new information campaign to support older people to keep well this winter was Please recycle this newsletter launched at the beginning of December. A booklet of tips and advice on keeping physically well and maintaining good mental health, a #KeepingWellThisWinter short film and a talking tips guide have been developed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and are all available here. Design & Print: Astwood Consultancy T : 01789 778111 www.astwood.co.uk WCHG Head Office, Wythenshawe House, FOLLOW US 8 Poundswick Lane, Wythenshawe M22 9TA. @wythenshawe_chg Parkway Green House, 460 Palatine Road, Wythenshawe-Community-Housing-Group Northenden M22 4DJ. @wythenshawe_chg

Contact Us If you would like a physical edition of this newsletter 0800 633 5500 | 0300 111 0000 please contact [email protected] [email protected] www.wchg.org.uk

If you require assistance with translation of this newsletter, large print, braille, or an audio copy contact us by phone on: 0300 111 0000 or by email: [email protected]