tenants first Putting Tenants First December 2008 Inside this Issue Page Chief Executive’s 2 comments 2 Fire Safety in Strachur 3 Can you afford not to be insured? 3 Chief Executive knocks on doors 3 Financial Inclusion Project 4 Community Action Fund 4 Heatwave in Dunoon ! 4 Christmas & New Year opening times Pictured above are members of the Solent Peoples Theatre doing an educational performance for pupils at Campbeltown Grammar School. The theatre group presented ‘Meet the Wiltons’ (part Waltons, part Simpsons!) at secondary schools in Argyll recently as part of the Financial Inclusion Project being developed by ACHA. Over 650 pupils aged 14-18 will benefit from education on personal finance covering areas such as; managing money conflicts with parents, budgeting for a first home and pressure from advertising causing debt. The object of the road show is to give young people information to stop them getting into debt and to give them local contacts if they need advice. This project is supported by local advice giving agencies like CAB, Young Scot and the Councils Debt Advice staff. A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our tenants Chief Executive’s comments By the time you get this Newsletter the stock transfer will be two years old. The two years have gone by very quickly and they have not been without their challenges. The Association hasn’t got everything right but, as an organisation, I hope we learn quickly from any mistakes to get it right second time. Over the two years we have installed 1,722 kitchens and bathrooms, 868 heating and rewires, 846 windows and doors and 9many re-roofs in theand years cladding. to come We to meet the areas are now on site in Campbeltown and Garelochhead with our first new build housing schemes. We hope this will be the first of housing needs. The Association has also taken a stance in dealing with anti social behavior resulting in a number of evictions. I am sure we have the support of the vast majority of tenants in taking this action and I would like to thank all of our tenants who have worked with us to allow us to tackle anti social behavior in all its forms. The Association’s Community Action Fund has also proved very successful. This fund has in- vested nearly £10,000 through small grants of up to £300 to community projects across Argyll and Bute. The Association’s work is also having a wider economic impact. Many Argyll-based businesses are now tied in with ACHA’s long term investment programmes which has a spin-off in terms of retaining and expanding tradesmen opportunities. The future will not be without its challenges but we have made a good start and with the partnership and support of our tenants and the wider community, ACHA can be a force for much good in Argyll and Bute. Can I finish on a personal note and wish you all theAlastair very best MacGregor, over this festive Chief season. Executive FIRE SAFETY THROUGH OUR EYES amily’s or “Please read this - it could save your, or your f friends life” Young People in Strachur Show us the Way Strathclyde Fire and Rescue did a presentation to the Tenants Panel and this led to the Strachur Tenants Association helping a group of young ladies from Strachur to attend the Fire Safety Centre in rin from e and Ka Glasgow. The girls produced this ela, Lizzi avid rley, Pam us and D , Kimbe with Ang , Rebecca Glasgow is Linda Centre in Pictured e Safety fantastic leaflet which ACHA has at the Fir Strachur agreed to print up for them. Firstly we would like to thank the following people for making the day to the Linda, Rebecca, Kimberly,learned Pam- a McGill House FIRE SAFETY CENTRE at Pollock, Glasgow, possible: ela, Lizzie and Karin Gregg McMillan, Station Commander, Helensburgh Fire Station David Beggs, Community Firefighter lot about fire safety and want every- Kirstie Reid, Clachan Strachur Tenants and Residents Association one to know that they should make Mr Shaw Head Teacher, Dunoon Grammar School (for allowing a day off) Pam McNaughton from Dunoon Grammar for coming with us a fire action plan for their family and and last, but not least, all the staff at the Fire Safety Centre to switch off any appliances instead of leaving them on stand-by. If you would like a copy of (seethis backleaflet page). get in touch with ACHA ACHA ‘s Chief Executive, Tenants Home Alastair MacGregor spends Contents Insurance time each month knocking Home contents insurance is on doors and talking to available to all tenants and you tenants about the issues can spread the cost over a affecting them. During a period of time—you could even visit to Tiree, Alastair spoke pay it weekly or monthly with to Mr Maclean about his your rent. You would then be new heating system and insured for: the much improved repairs ∗ Storm, fire, theft and flood service on the island. ∗ Tenants liability ∗ Fridge and freezer contents ∗ Burglary ∗ Burst water pipes But wait … there’s even more good news, No Excess to pay if you need to make a claim. With weekly payments from just 57p … what are you waiting for? Application packs from any ACHA office or call Marie on 01546 604575. Cash crisis As we all struggle to manage our money and the credit crunch hits harder all the time, ACHA together with the other local housing associations have developed a project to try to give tenants and Young people some help and advice. Funded largely by the Scottish Government, the project has 3 parts to it, firstly the school road show because prevention is always better than cure when it comes to debt. Secondly, we are currently developing a handbook for tenants that will give clear information that will hopefully make managing your money a bit easier and help you to make good choices in money matters. Lots of experienced money and debt advice organisations are contributing to this and it will give you details of all the people in Argyll who can offer some help. These handbooks will be ready in March and will be sent out to you. Thirdly, the project will promote credit unions and we are very pleased to say that you can now go into any ACHA office to pay in to a Scotwest Credit Union savings account (the other local credit unions are considering this service too). Credit unions are financial co-operatives - people helping people - all of the customers are members and there are no shareholders. By saving a little money regularly it may protect you from debt or expensive credit. How To Contact the ACHA Area Offices Helensburgh & Lomond ACHA’s 31 James Street, Helensburgh telephoneG84 8AS 01436 658700 Community Action [email protected] Fund Cowal telephone 01369 708688 Dolphin Hall, Manse Avenue, Dunoon PA23 8DQ - Soroba Young Family [email protected] Group Bute telephone 01700 501314 - Friends of Ardchattan Union Street, Rothesay PA20 0HD Primary School [email protected] - Islay/Jura Credit Union Mid Argyll telephone 01546 604800 Dalriada House, Lochgilphead PA31 8ST - Dunmar Residents Assoc [email protected] - Tiree Environmental Kintyre telephone 01586 559055 Action for Recycling Old Quay Head, Campbeltown PA28 6ED [email protected] If you are involved with a Islay telephone 01496 301312 community group who Jamieson Street, Bowmore PA43 7HP could make good use of a [email protected] small grant then please Oban, Lorn and Isles telephone 01631 567962 contact ACHA on 01631 Albany Street, Oban PA34 4AW 567912 and ask for an [email protected] application form for the Mull telephone 01688 302051 Breadalbane Street, Tobermory, Mull PA75 6PX ACHA Community Action Fund. Christmas and New Year ACHA office opening times Wed 24th Dec—closed: at 2pm Christmas Day—closed Boxing Day—closed Mon & Tue 29th/30th– open as usual Wed 31st Dec—closed at 2pm Thurs 1st Jan—closed Friday 2nd Jan—closed Monday 5th Jan 2009– open No, your eyes are not deceiving you, this IS a photograph of staff dressed in beachwear! Not a sudden heat-wave in December though, just some good fun and fundraising for Children in Need. The chilly staff in Dunoon raised a fantastic £300 for this very worthwhile cause—well done! This newsletter was produced by Gillian McInnes, Chalmers St, Ardrishaig PA30 8DX Community Development [email protected] Manager, 63 –65 tel 01546 604088 .