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CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION FOR TENANTS AND LEASEHOLDERS

STAY AT HOME | PROTECT THE NHS | SAVE LIVES

Follow us on @ColBoroughHomes and Borough Homes for the latest news. This edition of Housing News and As the advice currently stands, it is Views comes to you at a very difficult imperative that everyone stays at timeHello for everyone. We have produced home and that we only go out for the this edition to assist you with advice four reasons stipulated in government and guidance and also to let you know guidance. This will protect the NHS what CBH are doing for our tenants and save lives. and leaseholders. It’s understandable that people may be Let me assure you that the safety feeling a range of emotions at the and security of our tenants, our moment. In this Housing News & Views leaseholders and our staff is our top we’ve provided information about how priority. We have taken measures to our services are running, advice on how ensure everyone is as safe as possible to boost you mental and physical during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) wellbeing, along with some wonderful outbreak and we continue to monitor organisations which you can support by and comply with government advice. becoming a volunteer. We’ve also included a few puzzles at the back to Part of our role in times such as these keep your mind stimulated. is to focus on our critical services – While we remain hopeful that the those where customers need us the measures put in place will reduce the most – for CBH those critical services impact of this pandemic, it is vital are contact with and support for our that we all follow the guidance set sheltered and more vulnerable out by the government. tenants, emergency repairs, support for rough sleepers and homeless Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives. households and customer services via With very best wishes from the phone and online. everyone at CBH.

For this issue of Housing News & Views, we've also added in links if you're reading an online copy. You will find links throughout this copy which will take you to external websites for more detailed information. To spot the links, they will be blue. All information in this edition was correct at the time of print 24 April 2020. 2 KEEP UPTODATE All the latest information from Colchester Borough Council. Includes information on: Benefits and council tax Waste and recycling Community Support colchester.gov.uk/coronavirus

Colchester Prevent - Inform - Assist

Stay at Home | Protect the NHS | Save Lives Temporary changes to recycling and rubbish collections

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has had an The Council will continue to collect impact on the recycling and rubbish non-recyclable rubbish (black bags/ collections in Colchester. To help with bins) every two weeks and food waste this, Colchester Borough Council has every week. hired more staff and made some temporary changes to its collections Your collection day remains the same to keep this critical service going and please make sure your collections during these difficult times. are on your property boundary ready for collection by 7am, as usual. These temporary changes affect households with kerbside collections There is a new temporary 3-month and include: recycling calendar to reflect these An extra 60 litre black bag of changes. Download the right calendar rubbish can go out on a Blue Week for you by using our postcode look-up tool at www.colchester.gov.uk/ Cans, glass, plastics, paper/card your-recycling-calendar. If you’re recycling is collected once every unable to do this yourself, perhaps a four-weeks, rather than every two neighbour, friend or family member weeks could help you with this. A maximum of six clear bags of recycling and two green boxes can There are no changes for residents on be put out for collection when assisted collections and flats with these collections types are due communal rubbish and recycling collections. Garden waste and textile collections are suspended until further notice

Find out more, get ideas on how to reduce and reuse your items and see Frequently Asked Questions at: www.colchester.gov.uk/coronavirus/residents/recycling-and-rubbish/ 4 How we can be contacted For repairs and general enquiries: Phone: Email: 01206 282514 [email protected]

For enquires regarding Gateway Housing register: Phone: 01206 580292 We have - following government advice - suspended advertising and allocation of properties until further notice. Our staff are still available to discuss any questions regarding a housing application. For any enquiries regarding homelessness: Phone: 01206 580290 Email: [email protected] Due to the closure of Colchester Library and the Greenstead Local Housing Office, please only contact us on the above details for the foreseeable future. To get advice on your homeless enquiry, access the Enhanced Housing Option portal by going to gatewaytohomechoice.org.uk and clicking on Housing Options. Repairs Our priority is the wellbeing of our residents and staff. Until further notice, we will only be booking the most urgent and emergency repairs. You will not be contacted for an appointment if you report any non-essential repairs. In some instances, we may ask you if you're self-isolating or have been diagnosed with the virus. We will only use this information for the purpose of ensuring health, safety and wellbeing of employees, contractors and you. We won’t share this information with anyone else, unless to comply with legal obligations or it is in the public interest. If you feel unwell or are self-isolating and you need to cancel an appointment with us or one of our contractors, please phone us on 01206 282514 or email us at [email protected].

5 If you see a rough sleeper and are concerned for their How we’re supporting welfare, you can report them directly to support services who homeless households can help them via StreetLink and rough sleepers www.streetlink.org.uk/ Colchester Borough Homes is aware Colchester Borough Homes, alongside that people who are rough sleeping or Colchester Borough Council and other who live in shared spaces, like hostels partner organisations, is working and supported accommodation, are at diligently in response to a situation particular risk from the effects of the that is developing very quickly. We will coronavirus. Many have underlying continue to monitor the situation to health conditions that make them ensure homeless people and rough more vulnerable and they are unable sleepers continue to receive the to self-isolate in the event of services they need. infection. We are committed to maintaining That is why our Housing Solutions services, wherever possible. team is following public health We will continue to work in guidelines and has a plan in place to partnership with local and regional provide support to some of the most partners and health providers to susceptible members of our consider how we can deploy community. The plan will be additional resources and support regularly reviewed with our services for some of the most partners as things develop. vulnerable people in our community.

Information on benefits, council tax The website has advice for: Benefits and Universal Credit Housing Benefit and Local Housing We understand residents might Allowance increase have a few questions or concerns at Local Council Tax Support the moment. The Council have Local Council Tax Support 2020-2021 provided advice on a range of topics COVID-19 Hardship Fund at colchester.gov.uk/coronavirus/ Universal Credit residents. There is a useful pack available from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. If you search for 'Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Landlords and Tenants' on a search engine, it should be available by clicking on the first link. 6 This information can help if: you’re feeling anxious or worried about coronavirus Mind you’re staying at home and avoiding public places, and wellbeing following Government advice www.mind.org.uk that we should stay at home as much as possible The mental health charity MIND you're self-isolating because has provided advice and support you, or someone you live with, has symptoms of coronavirus. to empower anyone experiencing Self-isolating means that you a mental health problem. stay home and keep away from You might be worried about other people COVID-19 and how it could affect There’s also some great advice and your life. This may include having to support from AGE-UK and stay at home and avoid other people. Campaign to End Loneliness. Things might feel difficult or stressful, www.ageuk.org.uk but there are lots of things you can try www.campaigntoendloneliness.org that could help your wellbeing.

Some of our key advice to looking after your mental health during the next few weeks are: Connect with people Try to keep active – over the phone, social we’ve offered some media, emails and tips on the next page. video calling apps.

Try to make a routine and keep to it. Get up at the same time as normal, follow your usual morning routines and go to bed at your usual time. Set alarms to remind you of your new schedule if that helps.

Keep your brain Stay connected with occupied and current events, but be challenged. Set careful where you get news and aside time in health information from. The your routine for this. Read NHS coronavirus webpage and gov.uk books, magazines and coronavirus webpages are very good sources articles. Listen to podcasts, of information. www.nhs.uk/conditions/ watch films and do puzzles. coronavirus-covid-19/ www.gov.uk/coronavirus 7 More info on #StayInWorkOut available on www.sportengland.org/ stayinworkout KEEP Some of our other favourite FREE resources for keeping fit: ACTIVE The Body Coach (Joe Wicks) Lots of videos available on Youtube Sport IS running a Nike Training App Free app fantastic campaign called with a variety of activities #StayInWorkOut, which is NHS Workouts Good mix of offering lots of fun and cardio and strength training creative ideas to get active at www.nhs.uk/oneyou/for-your-body/ home, with free workouts from move-more/home-workout-videos providers such as Joe Wicks (The NHS Sitting Exercises Lots of Body Coach), Nike and the NHS. gentle sitting exercises which can help improve your mobility There's also the latest advice around www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/ getting outside, with tools to help you sitting-exercises make the most out of the fresh air during your daily walk, run or cycle. If you've found a great way to keep active online, use the hashtag #StayInWorkOut to share your experience with others. Remember to check government advice if you think you have any symptoms linked to coronavirus. 8 Wellness_A5.pdf 1 20/04/2020 10:28

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CM MY Visit the above CY CMY website to K Next training sign up for free home workouts for all abilities Your Garden awards 2020! Are you, or do you know, someone who goes the extra mile to make their local area better? During these unusual and uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to recognise the hard work that people have put into their local area. Whether it’s through helping others, encouraging wildlife or creating a beautiful display in their garden, CBH would like to recognise residents who have given up their time to make their outdoor space attractive and welcoming. Residents of all ages, who live in properties managed by CBH, have the chance to win up to £100 of vouchers in our ‘Your Garden Awards’ by emailing us photos of their beautiful outdoor spaces. This annual competition is for residents who take pride in their property and put in extra effort to make their outdoor space attractive and welcoming. 10 The categories for the competition are as follows: Nature’s Friend: This category is The Grand Botanical: If your looking for gardens that are garden is above the small size in the appreciated by all creatures great and category before, but still contains the small. This might include wildflowers same fantastic features, you could for a minibeast wonderland, beautiful scoop The Grand Botanical. This is for bird houses, splashingly good bird gardeners who take care of their baths or cosy bee hotels. garden and have great plants, lawns, hedges or blooms. The Good Life: Sensational strawberries? Top tomatoes? If you Cultivated containers and like to eat what you grow and have a pretty pots: We are on the lookout garden which grows fruit or for window boxes, containers or pots vegetables, then this is the category with that wow factor in this section. It for you. Make sure your veggie patch, doesn’t matter what’s planted, greenhouse or herb garden is involved! whether it be fun, functional, pretty or creative, we would like to see them. Small but perfectly formed: This is the section for those with a beautiful bijou balcony or a perfect patio paradise. The best small garden could feature a great collection of plants, immaculate lawns, clipped hedges or cultivated blooms.

The closing date for nominations is Sunday 14th June. All photos of shortlisted gardens will be viewed by our team of judges during the last week of June. Marks will be awarded to each garden against the set criteria, which can be viewed by following the link available on www.cbhomes.org.uk/your-garden-awards-2020 To send a photo of your entry, please email [email protected] and let us know what category you’re entering. If you would like a nomination form posted to you instead, please call 07773 050341 or email Mark Healy at [email protected]. Please be aware that all photos will have to be sent to the above email address. Good luck! 11 If you’re able to, consider volunteering

NHS Volunteers The NHS is asking for people to help vulnerable residents that need to stay safe and well at home. Members of the public can sign up Would you like to help those quickly and easily at goodsamapp.org/ who are self-isolating? There NHS to become NHS Volunteer are SOME brilliant organisations Responders, and can be called on to that PROVIDE ways for residents do simple but vital tasks such as: to help those who NEED IT MOST. Delivering medicines from pharmacies Driving patients to appointments COVID-19 Mutual Aid UK Bringing them home from hospital These are a group of volunteers who Making regular phone calls to are supporting local community check on people isolating at home groups to organise mutual aid throughout the COVID-19 outbreak in Welfare Service the UK. They focus on providing They’re asking for volunteers to help resources and connecting people to keep those in need of help healthy their nearest local groups, willing and well during this pandemic. Online volunteers and those in need. and on-the-ground volunteers are Colchester has ten local groups who required and they will provide advice are helping local people that need to ensure all volunteering meets support. Six of these are offering government and public health support across the town, while the guidance. Tasks range from: following groups have a specific focus Being a Facebook or phone buddy across Boxted, , Rowhedge Helping with shopping and the CO4 postcode. Posting mail Find out more Plus many more www.covidmutualaid.org/local-groups. Find out more essexwelfareservice.org. 12 Community Housing Officer round changes

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Do you know who your Community Housing Officer is? Our officers have recently changed the areas and rounds they manage. Details of who your new housing officer are detailed below. Please call 01206 282514 for more information and advice. North Team Ward Community Housing Officer T1 Greenstead East Jane Graham-Watson T2 Greenstead West Rob Ward T3 St Annes/Mile End/Highwoods Karen Green T4 Rural North/Castle/Lexden Michelle Longhurst South Team Ward Community Housing Officer T5 Mersea/Prettygate/Stanway/Wivenhoe Julie Prior T6 Shrub End/ Darren Parker (Rhian James) T7 / Amanda Mayhew T8 Berechurch/New Town Emma Schofield 13 Help is available Our Financial Pre-payment meters Inclusion Team information Our Financial Inclusion Team There’s some really useful (FIT) work close with the information on www. Council’s Welfare Benefits team moneysavingexpert.com about and help people to apply for pre-payment meter credits, for DHP (Discretionary Housing anyone who is self-isolating. Payment). This is applied for The energy companies have when a tenant can’t pay their committed to provide support rent but need to in receipt of and may even put holds on debts. housing benefit or Universal Each company’s contact number credit Housing Element. is included. Once on the website, search for 'Energy firms move to You can contact the FIT on help prepay customers' and click [email protected] the first link.

Problems with paying your rent Throughout the next few weeks, your weekly rent will continue to be charged. However, if you have any difficulties in paying the rent due, please contact your Community Housing Officer. They will be able to provide support and advice and where necessary, they can help agree a repayment plan to help you.

14 Gas servicing will understand and rearrange the appointment. Our gas engineers (Mears Property Services) will have identification and take precaution to not put you at risk. The services they will undertake include: Annual Gas Certificate Inspections Repairs to boilers Replacing boiler where necessary Upgrading radiators if required The engineers will carry and wear gloves, shoe covers, industrial wipes Gas servicing is still an essential and dust sheets. They will only service being carried out by key need to access the boiler, gas meter workers. We're asking tenants to and smoke alarm, and will have no please comply with gas safety need to visit any other room, unless regulations, and we want to ensure requested by the tenant. you that engineers will work to They will wipe down all surfaces government guidelines, wearing PPE once they have completed the and sanitising surfaces. work. Any work should take no However, if you have symptoms of more than one hour and the tenant COVID-19 or are self-isolating, we can be in another room.

Home improvements: If you are expecting home improvements, we will contact you to defer these to a later date when it is safe to work in your home.

Essential Hardship Payment (EHP) can be applied for when a person struggles to pay their council tax liability but also need to be in receipt of Local Tax Support. You can find out more by visiting www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ benefits/universal-credit/sanctions/hardship-payment

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We’ve included a bumper pack of puzzles in this edition to help keep your mind stimulated! We’ve also included the answers for the QUIZ and crossword at the bottom of each page (try not to peek!). Good luck! WORD SEARCH I B C J P K O S H H

D N E B U R H S C I

D A E T S N E E R G

Y M E R S E A N U H

Z A P G R A C W H W

F U W T O D H O C O

G E P N M D E T E O

M I X F A K R W R D

T P H W I T W E E S

B X H X R K S N B E

BERECHURCH NEWTOWN Congratulations to MERSEA TIPTREE Kayleigh who won our last STANWAY HIGHWOODS competition! GREENSTEAD SHRUBEND

17 quiz time! The brilliant team at Visit Colchester have kindly provided us with the next two games, a quiz and crossword! Grab a pen and paper and see if you can answer the below questions. Answers are at the bottom of the page. Who is the Patron Saint of In which month does the annual 1. Colchester, whose statue stands 4. Feast take place in the on top of the Town Hall? Moot Hall? Which Premier League What is James Bond’s favourite Champions did Colchester jam, made exclusively in the 5. 2. United play away in the 5th ? Round of the FA Cup in 2006 Apart from Twinkle Twinkle Which school in Colchester 3. Little Star which other two 6. is named after a famous nursery rhymes are associated Elizabethan scientist who once with Colchester? lived at Tymperleys? Museum From Home Colchester Museums have launched a new programme, Museum From Home. As Colchester Castle, Hollytrees Museum and the Natural History Museum are now all regrettably closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the friendly museum team wanted to ensure that everyone could still be inspired by its vast collections. Therefore, Museums From Home was born. It provides fun activities to help educate and entertain the younger members of the household. With topics ranging from art to nature, archaeology to social history, find Colchester Museums, Museum From Home at cimuseums.org.uk/museumfromhome and discover creative ideas to bring Colchester’s Museums directly to you. Bring the Outdoors Indoors! Colchester Borough Council’s friendly Parks team are bringing the great Colchester outdoors to you! Each week the team will be sharing some fun activities that can be tried at home or whilst out taking daily exercise with your household. These are mainly aimed at children, but anyone can give them a go! Get messy, get creative and most importantly get inspired by the great outdoors. You can find more activities atcolchester.gov.uk/

coronavirus/communities.

4) October, 5) Chelsea, 6) The Gilberd The 6) Chelsea, 5) October, 4)

18 Dumpty, Humpty and Coel King Old 3) Love, With Russia From in mentioned – Scarlet Little Tiptree of Wilkin’s 2) Helena, St 1) Answers: Quiz CROSSWORDAnother thanks to Visit Colchester for bringing us this cryptic crossword. Doing this online and Don’t have a printer? you can type each letter into the below squares! Answers are at the bottom of the page. Across Down 1. What happened in Colchester in 1648? (5) 2. Colchester United's mascot? (5) 5. Georgian house in Castle Park, now a museum? (10) 3. England's tallest Tudor gatehouse, which happens 7. Colchester Arts Centre is inside what kind of building? (6) to be in the borough of Colchester? (5,6,5) 8. Aqua Springs is the best place to -----? (5) 4. Where can you meet Lottie, Taiga & Gizmo? (10,3) 10. Yearly winter performance at The Mercury Theatre? (9) 6. Name of the Roman emperor who visited 13. Ancient name for Colchester? (11) Colchester? (8) 14. Famous nursery rhyme written by the Taylor sisters 9. Country Park to the north of Colchester? (9) who lived in Colchester (7,7) 11. What can you see in Firstsite? (3) 15. Name of the green lidded water tower in the Town 12. Name of the Celtic tribe that lived in this area? (10) Centre? (5) 16. Famous sea based grub, associated with Mersea? (7) 18. Cross this to get to Mersea Island? (6) 17. What travels across the Chappel Viaduct? (6) 20. Riverside town, close to the University of Essex? (8) 19. Originally built on the site of Colchester Castle? (6) 21. Largest village in the borough of Colchester? (7) 22. Local 'National Trust' property, 1 2 Bourne ----? (4) 23. Who built Colchester Castle? (7) 24. Picturesque village in the borough of Colchester, home to the 3 Munnings Art Museum? (6) 4

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12) Trinovante, 16) , 17) Trains, 19) Temple 19) Trains, 17) Oysters, 16) Trinovante, 12)

Art, 11) Highwoods, 9) Claudius, 6) Zoo, Colchester 4) Tower, Marney Layer 3) Eddie, 2)

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15) Jumbo,18) , 20) Wivenhoe, 21) Tiptree, 22) Mill, 23) Normans, 24) Dedham 24) Normans, 23) Mill, 22) Tiptree, 21) Wivenhoe, 20) Strood, Jumbo,18) 15)

1) Siege, 5) Hollytrees, 7) Church, 8) Relax, 10) Pantomime, 13) , 14) Twinkle Twinkle, Twinkle, Twinkle 14) Camulodunum, 13) Pantomime, 10) Relax, 8) Church, 7) Hollytrees, 5) Siege, 1) Across: 19 Payment record calendar For more information and advice see our website www.cbhomes.org.uk

Wk Date Amount Date Wk Date Amount Date No due paid paid No due paid paid 1 06.04.20 27 05.10.20 2 13.04.20 28 12.10.20 3 20.04.20 29 19.10.20 4 27.04.20 30 26.10.20 5 04.05.20 31 02.11.20 6 11.05.20 32 09.11.20 7 18.05.20 33 16.11.20 8 25.05.20 34 23.11.20 9 01.06.20 35 30.11.20 10 08.06.20 36 07.12.20 11 15.06.20 37 14.12.20 12 22.06.20 38 21.12.20 13 29.06.20 39 28.12.20 14 06.07.20 40 04.01.21 15 13.07.20 41 11.01.21 16 20.07.20 42 18.01.21 17 27.07.20 43 25.01.21 18 03.08.20 44 01.02.21 19 10.08.20 45 08.02.21 20 17.08.20 46 15.02.21 21 24.08.20 47 22.02.21 22 31.08.20 48 01.03.21 23 07.09.20 49 08.03.21 24 14.09.20 50 15.03.21 25 21.09.20 51 22.03.21 26 28.09.20 52 29.03.21 Paying Your Rent …is easy

Direct Debit call 282514 for details By phone 24 hours a day 282725

Online www.cbhomes.org.uk ‘Rent free’ weeks Providing you are up to date with your rent these are 21 December and 29 March. Online banking/paying by standing order. You’ll need your rent account number and our bank details as below: Useful Telephone Numbers Citizens Advice 03444 111 444 CBC Bank – Lloyds Sort code – 30 92 16 National Debt Line (free, confidential advice) Account number – 00216003 0808 808 4000 The Money Advice Service 0800 1387777