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rmagazineSUMMER 2019 Proposed partnership Resident with Yarlington Housing Group Page 5 Celebration Work starts on Daedalus Village Page 28 Event Page 16 Money matters Page 32 rmagazine · SUMMER 2019 Your local Editor’s note Radian offices Welcome to the summer issue of R Mag, and a big hello from me – your new editor! Avon office: We’ve got another great edition for you and Endeavor House, have included some really lovely stories, on how Crow Arch Lane, as a community, you have transformed your Ringwood BH24 1HP communal areas, and how you are proud to Appointment only keep your communities litter free. Rother office: We have been especially inspired by resident Jenni Few. From Knighton Corner, an early age, Jenni has volunteered to change people’s lives through Portsmouth Road, music and because of her outstanding commitments, has won the Horndean PO8 9NN Unsung Hero Award at the East Hampshire Volunteer Awards. If you Appointment only would like to make a difference like Jenni, we have included a great volunteering opportunity which helps improve the confidence of young Solent office: people. Find out more on page 7. Collins House, Don’t forget, if you’ve got a story to tell and would like to Bishopstoke Road, submit something for the magazine, get in touch by emailing Eastleigh SO50 6AD [email protected] or by writing to your local office. If we print 8.30am to 5pm, limited parking your feature, you will get a £20 Love2Shop voucher. Thames office: Parkside House, Lauren 33-39 Sheet Street, Windsor SL4 1BY 8.30am to 5pm, metered parking Our performance Period: 01/04/2018 – 31/03/2019 Number of compliments 658 Number of complaints 450 Proportion of complaints resolved at stage 1 98.90% Percentage of calls answered 89.3% All net current tenant arrears 1.5% Overall satisfaction with the landlord service 88.1% % of homes with gas certification 100% All responsive repairs completed within target 79.5% For more information about our performance, please visit www.radian.co.uk/about-us/our-performance/ 2 · www.radian.co.uk rmagazine · SUMMER 2019 Celebrating five years of the Round About Café Our local, not-for-profit café in Mansbridge – the Round About Café – has celebrated its 5th birthday. The café, which serves locally sourced food and drink at affordable prices is also a hub for providing initiatives aimed at giving something back to the community. The café provides volunteering opportunities, training, education and job support, health and wellbeing activities, and projects to reduce social isolation, anti-social behaviour, fly tipping and littering. "When we had an empty unit in Mansbridge we Volunteers, customers, colleagues, our CEO, Gary were faced with a head-scratching moment. Do Orr, and Executive Director of Partnerships and we convert the space into an apartment? Maybe Projects, Ralph Facey, came together to share rent it to a local business? Or see if we can give stories, cut cake and give thanks to everyone who something back to the community instead…how make the café such a success. about a café?" said Ralph Facey. Since opening, the café has: “Unemployment levels in the area were high and community spirit was low following the closure of • Supported 24 volunteers into employment or the Ford Factory. self-employment; • Provided 300 general training places; “Local support for a social space was clear from • Given 19 people job coach employment support; the start, and a dedicated steering group of local • Provided 250 volunteer training places; residents and Radian colleagues worked to develop • Enrolled 54 people on accredited courses. These the project. They decided the décor, menu and the include: Level 2 and 3 Nutrition and Health-based name. Radian’s Technical Services team gave their courses, Barista Training, Level 2 Enterprise, and expertise, advice and two apprentices to complete Food Hygiene to name a few. the refurbishment; and a local resident even put Our volunteers who run the café have made a pen to paper and designed the iconic logo for us.” huge impact on the lives of many people in the The café also provides free community. They take the lead on designing, wi-fi, free access to laptops preparing and delivering high quality, affordable and printing, and support menus and organise activities and projects to from staff to get online, set up support local people. Whether that’s holding a emails and search for jobs. lunch for older people, supporting cooking courses for families living on a tight budget, or promoting To read more about the Round About Café, health awareness campaigns - without their support please visit: roundaboutcafe.org we simply couldn’t remain open. www.radian.co.uk · 3 rmagazine · SUMMER 2019 A NEW KITCHEN FOR THE LIFEHOUSE The LifeHouse is a food kitchen updating the centre in order Members of our Trades team, for the homeless, underhoused, to provide a wider range of led by Sukhdev Bhakar, recovering addicts and those services to individuals in need; Head of Maintenance, have displaced and disconnected. from dentistry, check-ups, sign- volunteered to fit the new kitchen They operate in Albert Road, posting and support to access free of charge. Southsea and aim to be a services and benefits. As part They have joined forces with resource and support centre as of the remodelling process, the Symphony Kitchens who have well as a food provider. LifeHouse recently approached supplied the kitchen units and us asking for help with the The charity targets issues Nutland Carpet Accessories kitchen refit, and our Trades surrounding homelessness who have supplied the flooring team were all too happy to help. and addiction for those in need to provide the LifeHouse with throughout Southsea, central Mike Morell, Trustee at the everything they need in order to Portsmouth and other areas of LifeHouse said, “We are continue supporting the people the city; supplying hot meals delighted to have Radian’s help of Portsmouth. twice a week, food parcels, refitting the kitchen which will Sukh said, “I am delighted to be clothes, outdoor sleeping receive intensive use in the years a part of this fantastic project. gear and equipment, shoes ahead. The original kitchen was The LifeHouse do such great and toiletries to people on an already partly second hand when work serving vulnerable people in individual needs basis. it was installed in 2013 and has the community, so it’s an honour had a lot of use since then. They also aim to provide a social to be working with them to meeting place for people who “It lacks sufficient surface space, create a space that will help the find themselves disconnected needs a better layout and the organisation to grow. Building and signpost individuals to right balance of storage space stronger communities and other health, social and welfare and cupboards. Many of the getting involved in projects that services where needed.The draws are broken and the floor support and improve people’s LifeHouse is remodelling and is damaged.” lives is something everyone at Radian is passionate about. “We are hugely excited to extend our work into the future We were really excited when and having a fantastic new kitchen is essential to being able we were approached by the to do this!” LifeHouse to get involved and help such a deserving charity.” 4 · www.radian.co.uk rmagazine · SUMMER 2019 A NEW KITCHEN FOR THE LIFEHOUSE Proposed partnership between Radian and Yarlington Housing Group We have announced that we are in discussions with Yarlington, a housing association in the south west of England, about a potential future partnership between the organisations. This is a really exciting opportunity for both our organisations and our customers. Radian and Yarlington share very similar values and ambitions, so by working together we could achieve more. The new organisation could enable us to provide more homes, services and support for people at all stages of their lives, improve customer experience and invest more in communities. Why Yarlington, they’re in the south west? Will there be a change to how I pay? We see Yarlington as being a good fit for Radian, At this stage, there are no changes to how you we share similar aspirations and together we could pay. We will continue to deliver all our services and support more people and deliver better services to opportunities in the same way. you and your community. What about my right to buy? When will the change/partnership happen? Your right to buy will not be affected by the work to At this stage we are only exploring our options so explore partnership opportunities. do not have a definitive timeline and there will be no change to your services. We will keep you up to date Will I have the same contact at Radian (e.g. with progress as soon as we can. my Neighbourhood Officer)? Your contacts with Radian will stay the same and What will happen to my tenancy? our colleagues will continue to support you and your The work to explore partnership opportunities will not tenancy. We will make you aware of any changes if affect your tenancy in any way. they occur. Will my services change? Can I still contact you in the same ways? At this stage, there are no changes to services. We will You can still get in touch with us by phone continue to deliver all our services and opportunities in (0300 123 1 567), email at [email protected], the same way. via our website www.radian.co.uk or by visiting one of our offices. You can also get in touch with us Will my rent go up? on Facebook (facebook.com/RadianCommunity) and Your rent and any service charges will not be affected.