THE MAGAZINE FOR PEABODY RESIDENTS AUTUMN 2015

Prize fruit and veg at Cumberland Market’s annual Winning smiles show ENGAGE Winning veg from Cumberland Market AUTUMN 2015 From December 2015, Engage A word from Steve Howlett magazine will be replaced by elcome to your an email newsletter. autumn issue of Engage. I’m very Editor: Kirsten Edwards W partial to home grown veg, Design: Camille Neilson and I’m very impressed by the Photography: Paul Sanders; allotment holders at Cumberland David Boucher; shutterstock.com; Market, who grow everything Jody Kingzett from peaches to courgettes. You can see photos of their amazing Address all content suggestions, produce above and on p8. contest entries or comments to: This will be our last full for checking out the Peabody Editor, Engage, Peabody, printed issue of Engage so, if newsletter and browsing our 45 Westminster Bridge Road, you haven’t yet signed up to our website. See p10 to find out SE1 7JB email newsletter, turn to p14 to about just some of the features Email: [email protected] find out how to do it. Everyone you can find online. who subscribes will be in with © Peabody 2015 the chance to win one of three Amazon Fire tablets – perfect Peabody Direct: 020 7021 4444 or 0800 022 4040 (free from BT landlines) In this issue Email: [email protected] 03 News 15 How are we doing? Residents of Cumberland Market, 08 Grow your own Performance information Millbank, Victoria Park and Lee Green Cumberland Market held its 77th 16 Your money can also call 020 7255 4100. horticultural show this year Benefit changes 10 A tour around our website 17 Your home Time to go digital Keeping your bills affordable 12 Your neighbourhood 18 Get online with Net Worx 14 Sign up to our newsletter www.peabody.org.uk 19 Peabody Champion PeabodyLDN SUMMER ENGAGE, P11 We’d like to point out that the photos used in our article ‘Support for our older Please recycle this magazine residents’ in the summer issue of Engage were for illustrative purposes only and are not related to when you have finished with it the case studies referred to in the text. We apologise for any distress caused.

2 peabody.org.uk News

New tenants welcome pack New social tenants of Peabody homes now receive a Welcome Pack containing household items such as washing up liquid, cleaning cloths, bin bags and air freshener. Their Neighbourhood Manager will also visit them within six weeks of the tenancy starting to ensure they are settling in.

Find out Reading sessions what’s on near you are a big success Have you checked out our online events calendar yet? t’s been a year since impact on increasing cognitive It lists daily events and Peabody’s literacy project, abilities and language skills later activities taking place on or I Reading from the Start, was in life. near our neighbourhoods launched in Hackney. The scheme, run in partnership across London. Since then, more than 100 with VINCI Facilities and Dolly From family fun days to families have benefitted from Parton’s Imagination Library, computer classes, youth fun family activities at 36 is supported by dedicated clubs, history groups and Reading from the Start book volunteers. It’s now being rolled t’ai chi, there really is corners, offering storytelling out to other areas, launching at something for everyone. sessions, nursery rhyme Palmer estate on 17 September, And the majority of these singalongs, arts and crafts. with sessions taking place at events are free. Open to parents with children the community centre every Have a look and see if aged between two and five, Thursday, 10.30am–12.30pm. there’s something that takes Reading from the Start helps Sessions at Hugh Cubitt will your fancy. You’ll find it parents to support their child’s take place every Friday from on our website at www. literacy skills during the early 10.30am–12.30pm, starting on peabody.org.uk/events. years. This can have a significant 25 September.

peabody.org.uk 3 News

Smart meters are coming In 2016, a nationwide project will begin to change every gas and electricity meter in the country, replacing them with smart meters. At the moment, if your supplier wants an accurate meter reading, you have to give it to them, or they have to send someone to read Steve Howlett with Anna it. Smart meters are more Campbell from Look Ahead like smart phones – they (left) and Amanda Clark record your energy use and from Riverside (right) use a telephone signal to send it straight to the energy company. This means you will receive accurate bills. Bruce House turns 20 The meters also come with a eabody’s Bruce House, a managing agents. The centre also display for your home, which centre offering specialist offers employment and training shows you how much energy Phousing and support to support, as well as a wide range vulnerable people in Covent of weekly arts activities. “Smart meters show how much Garden, celebrated its 20th Bruce House was built in energy you’re using, and how birthday in July. 1906 and has been providing much you’re spending” Bruce House is home to more housing in Westminster for 109 than 100 residents with a history years. said it was you’re using, and how much of homelessness. Look Ahead “excellent value for one and you’re spending each day. and Centrepoint, together with a penny’ in his memoir Down This means you can see which supported housing provider, and out in Paris and London, appliances or behaviours cost Riverside, act as Peabody’s published in 1933. you the most money. The project starts in 2016 For more information about Bruce House call 020 7021 4160 or 020 7021 4719. and is due to finish in 2021. Your energy company is responsible for replacing your meter and will contact you Fancy a career in construction? directly to let you know when Peabody is building homes all • Dry lining it’s happening. This could be over London, and we’re offering • Painting and decorating next year or in five years time. paid apprenticeships through our • Business administration supply chain in: The scheme is open to people Once your smart meter is installed, • Site management aged 16 to 24. You’ll get to work • Bricklaying with some of London’s leading Peabody’s Home Energy Advice • Plumbing building contractors and come out Team can visit you to ensure you’re • Electrical with a qualification and a chance getting the best value from it. • Carpentry and joinery to work in the building industry. Contact the team on sustainability@ peabody.org.uk or via Peabody For more information, email [email protected]. Direct on 0800 022 4040.

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The new mural brightens up the bin store wall Rhinos in Wandsworth? esidents at our Eton with rhinos in the background memory of a resident’s dog, and Close estate in and a red squirrel on the steps! the rhinos were requested by RWandsworth are no The mural, created by artist Sue another resident. longer faced with a boring brick Groom (www.art2murals.com), wall when they dispose of their was funded through Peabody’s For more information about the rubblish. The bin store wall Make a Difference fund, which the Make a Difference fund, visit features a fantastical mural of a residents applied for together. The www.peabody.org.uk. Mediterranean piazza – complete dog on the bench was painted in Options for paying your rent Peabody offers several methods pay with either a debit or credit at the Post Office. You will need for paying your rent, including: card by calling your revenue your swipe card plus cash or a Direct debit We would prefer officer’s direct line or by calling cheque. you to pay your rent by direct Peabody Direct. You can also pay Pay online To pay online or by debit as it is the easiest way for outside office hours by phoning text message, register with the us to collect it. You can choose 0844 557 8321. When you make a Allpay website at www.allpay. from different payment dates so payment by phone you will need net. You will need your 19 digit that the rent comes out of your the 19 digit reference number reference number, and your account at the most convenient shown on your rent statement and debit or credit card. time for you. rent card. Please note that Peabody does Debit or credit card You can Post Office You can pay your rent not accept cash payments.

peabody.org.uk 5 News Meet the neighbours Residents at one of our newest developments, Cooper’s Road, got together for a fun day over the summer. Residents from nearby Monmouth Court also came along to meet their new neighbours. Located to the north of the Old Kent Road, the new development is a mix of 247 rented, shared-ownership and privately owned new homes, designed around four semi-private courtyards.

Childcare offer Pembury reuse project If you’re a parent, you might be Peabody is working with Pembury residents an opportunity interested in a new breakfast environmental charity to learn key skills in refurbishing and after school club that’s just Groundwork at Pembury to old furniture. A Reuse Coordinator launched at Walworth Hall, our bring new life to old furniture. has been employed to ensure your community centre in Rodney The Repurpose scheme is taking old furniture and electricals can be bulky waste such as wardrobes, given a second chance. Road, near Elephant and chairs, stereos and lamps, Details for how to use the Castle. The Little Rascal Club for refurbishing them and selling scheme to give your old furniture 5–11 year olds is open in the them back at low cost to the a new lease of life, and for how mornings from 7am and after community. to volunteer to learn key skills school from 3.30pm to 6.30pm. The intention is to reduce in furniture refurbishment, will The staff provide drop offs the amount of waste that goes be available at the new Pembury and pick ups to local schools, to landfill sites, and give local Community Centre very soon. and Peabody residents will be entitled to a 30% discount.

For details, contact Clare Anderson on 07506 204340, visit www. thelittlerascalclub.co.uk or email [email protected].

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Thamesmead cleans up Domestic esidents joined Trust “The work we are doing today abuse Thamesmead in London’s is a good thing. People are less In August, Peabody was RCapital Clean Up likely to leave litter in an area that awarded with an accreditation initiative, which encourages is already clean, so I am hoping by the Domestic Abuse volunteers to come together this will stop people dropping Housing Alliance (DAHA). and help spruce up their things on the floor.” DAHA was co-founded by neighbourhood. Peabody to improve the Clean ups took place all over For details of other environmental housing sector’s response Thamesmead, and 40 bin bags projects, contact Alex Forrester to domestic abuse through full of rubbish were collected. on 020 8320 4477 or an accreditation process, Thamesmead resident and [email protected]. which assesses processes and volunteer, Aaron Fuller said: practices. Peabody continues to lead the housing sector in our response to domestic abuse and is the first housing provider to receive the accreditation.

Volunteer Aaron Fuller New wardens for our communities Building on the success of Gallions’ wardens service, Peabody has recently recruited four wardens, managed by a Warden Team Leader, to patrol our estates to help reduce crime and improve safety. They work flexible hours every day, including evenings and weekends, and we hope that their presence will make residents feel more at ease in their neighbourhoods. Please note: Wardens are unable to respond to every instance of antisocial behaviour in our neighbourhoods. To report antisocial behaviour, please call Peabody Direct on 020 7021 4444 or the Police on 101. In an emergency, always call 999.

peabody.org.uk 7 GROW YOUR OWN Cumberland Market’s annual horticultural show is a chance for residents to show off their produce

e no longer have to dig for victory, W but residents of Cumberland Market are carrying on a second world war tradition by growing some of the best fruit There are 45 allotments in the middle and veg in London – on their of the estate producing prize-winning doorsteps. fruit, veg and flowers (below) There are around 45 allotments in the middle of the estate, near Regents Park in Camden. When it was first built in the 1920s, a branch of the Regent’s Canal went through the middle – the site used to be a hay market, and the hay would be transported along the canal. During the early stages of the war, the canal was filled in and the area was turned over to allotments as part of the ‘Dig for Victory’ food programme. The allotments, probably the most horticultural show each year to sale, with proceeds going to the central in London, remain on the display their produce. There are allotment society. estate to this day. around 50 categories including Gary White, resident and Formerly part of the Crown soft fruit, tree fruit, potatoes, secretary of the Cumberland Estate, Cumberland Market was beetroot, onions and courgettes. Basin Horticultural Society, acquired by Peabody in 2011. There’s also a children’s says: “I’m very pleased with The allotments are tended by flower display and a prize for my peaches this year. I also residents who belong to the the best animal made out of a grow raspberries, strawberries, Cumberland Basin Horticultural vegetable. The judge this year cucumbers and courgettes. Society. They grow a wide range was a lecturer from Capel Manor ‘The allotments are a haven for of fruit, vegetables, shrubs, herbs Horticultural College. Residents wildlife in the centre of the city,’ and flowers, and they hold a also made cake and jams for he adds. ‘There are thousands of

8 peabody.org.uk bees, and we’ve got ponds with The show is a frogs and newts. The waiting list great day out is open at the moment, so if any for families residents of Cumberland market are interested in taking on an allotment, please get in touch!’

For further information, email the Cumberland Basin Horticultural Society at [email protected] or Local residents pop into the estate office. show off their prizes

peabody.org.uk 9 A tour around our website Whether you want to pay your rent or read our latest news, the Peabody website (www.peabody.org.uk) is the place to go. Here are just some of the things you can do online:

Find out about our services This section tells you most things you need to know as a resident. It includes information about our repairs process, rent and service charges and more. It also contains advice for leaseholders. Just click on ‘Resident services’ at the top of the homepage. See what’s on in your area Each neighbourhood has a noticeboard where you can find out what’s going on near you, such as exercise classes and volunteering opportunities. You can also submit your own posts if there’s something you’d like to share with your local community. Search by borough, postcode or neighbourhood name.

10 peabody.org.uk Set up an online account This allows you to pay your rent and service charges, view your rent statement, give feedback and access useful documents. To set up an account, click ‘Register’ and submit your details (you’ll need an allpay number).

Learn about our history Did you know that our early estates were built around a central courtyard to provide a safe playing area for children? Or that our founder George Peabody was a friend of ? Learn more about our fascinating history in the ‘About us’ section. Get involved, or Swap your home Need a bigger or smaller property? Or sign up to a class want to move to a different area? If Our community programmes include you’re a social tenant and have a secure free computer training (Net Worx), or assured tenancy, you may be able to parenting courses, volunteering swap your home with another Peabody opportunities, help with finding a job resident, or another housing association and youth activities. To find out more, or council resident. Find out more at click on ‘Community programmes’ at ‘Your housing options’ the top of the home page.

peabody.org.uk 11 Your neighbourhood Improvements at Shadwell e have been working the landscape proposals. Works • Play features incorporating with residents in will begin on site in January natural elements WShadwell over the 2016 and will include the • Improved vehicle and last ten months to understand following; pedestrian surfaces how they would like to use the • 26 new trees • New bin stores, personal open areas of their estate. In • New lawn areas and a variety storage, and cycle storage with collaboration with our landscape of planting to provide colour green roofs and walls, which architects, we have developed throughout the seasons offer habitats to plants and designs in response to residents’ • Food growing area with a wildlife thoughts and concerns and are gardening club shed • New estate signage pleased to say that we have • Timber seating and wavy play • Improved lighting to help received planning permission for decks create a safe environment.

Knitting for charity

A knitting group at Peabody’s have learnt to knit through the place between 11am and 1pm Bruce House is knitting baby weekly sessions. every Wednesday at Bruce clothes for the Neonatal Unit at Group Coordinator, Linda House Centre, Kemble Street, Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Llewellyn, said: “The knitting Holborn, WC2B 4AW and are Hospital and Operation really does gives us a sense of open to all adults. Peabody Orphan, a UK based charity in purpose and we are constantly supports the group by paying Nepal. learning new things. The group for tutors and materials. Many of those who attend has also been the basis of new If you wish to donate the Wellbeing Through friendships forming.” blankets, hats and jumpers Encouragement knitting group The weekly sessions take for the two charities, drop them off FAO The Wellbeing If you would like to get involved or find out more about Wellbeing Through Through Encouragement Encouragement, please call Bruce House on 020 7021 4160 or 020 7021 4719. Group at Bruce House.

12 peabody.org.uk Your neighbourhood

Family fun Messy play with paints at Pembury Peabody residents of all ages got together for the Pembury Family Fun Day in July. Activities included creative workshops, face painting, a barbecue and a comedy show, as well as the chance to meet neighbours and local community groups. Pembury resident Milgun Sonay attended the day’s event with her two-year-old daughter, Gulfarah Hussien. “Today’s event has been a great way to meet other mums and for the children to play and make new friends,” she said. “There is a great community feel. I am really glad I came.”

Milgun Sonay with her two-year-old daughter, Gulfarah Hussien Wellbeing for the over 60s If you’re over 60 and live in the borough of Kensington & Chelsea, get down to Kensington Town Hall on 2 October for Age UK’s health fair. The aim of the event is to help you maintain good mental, physical and emotional health. Local groups, organisations and service providers will be showcasing their workshops, activities, information, demonstrations, talks, health checks and performances. Highlights include a choir performance and song workshop, table tennis, jewellery workshop, pampering and alternative therapies, raffle, t’ai chi, belly dancing and all sorts of exercise. For more information, contact Kathe Jacob on 020 8960 8137 or email [email protected].

peabody.org.uk 13 SIGN UP TO THE ENGAGE NEWSLETTER + WIN AN AMAZON FIRE TABLET! eep up to date with the latest stop producing the full print version after Peabody news, information and September. However, if you wish to K opportunities by signing up to continue receiving a reduced print version the Engage email newsletter at of Engage, please email info@peabody. www.peabody.org.uk/engage. org.uk with your name and address. It We will not share your data and you would be helpful to us if you could also can unsubscribe at any time. explain your reasons for not wanting to The first issue is being sent out subscribe to the online version. in September, alongside the printed Everyone who signs up will be entered magazine, and you’ll be able to access into a prize draw to win one of three it on your computer, tablet or mobile at Amazon Fire HD 7” tablets with Wi-Fi a time and place that suits you. We shall and 8GB storage. www.peabody.org.uk/engage

14 peabody.org.uk How are we doing? Each month, Peabody collects data for a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) to track how well we’re performing. The table below shows figures to the end of June 2015

PERFORMANCE TO JUNE 2015 Year to Key performance indicator Year-end target On target? June 2015 Satisfaction with last repair 70% 85% x Peabody Direct: % of calls answered 94% 95% x ASB cases resolved 81% 80% 3 Rent collected 96.4% 100.1% x

RENT ASB Some residents are still not prioritising their We are pleased that we have once again rent, and our rent collection rate at the end June achieved above our target for resolving ASB 2015 dropped to 96.4%. cases. Our management team continually looks 200 residents have been referred to court at innovative ways to improve your experience since April 2015 due to non-payment of rent. of how we manage ASB cases. They each had to pay a £250 court cost, which Our new Peabody wardens have started is added to their rent arrears. 13 residents have patrolling our estates – see p7 for more been evicted because of rent arrears since April. information – which should help keep our Remember your home is at risk if you fail to neighbourhoods safer. keep up with your rent payments. The Community Safety service has been If you are in rent arrears and have not yet scrutinised as part of our accreditation to the reached an agreement to clear your debt, then Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) please contact your Revenue Officer today by (see p7), which underlines our longstanding calling Peabody Direct on 0800 022 4040 (free commitment to tackling domestic abuse. from landlines) or 020 7021 4444 or by Our mediation service continues to support emailing [email protected]. residents to resolve disputes and low-level ASB.

PEABODY DIRECT REPAIRS We pride ourselves in answering your calls Resident satisfaction is monitored through as soon as possible and our figures so far for a combination of independent Voluntas this financial year show that we answered 94% surveys and post inspections. We also measure of calls received, just 1% short of our target appointments kept and first time fix. Year to of 95%. We also work hard to maintain and date, 86% of appointments were kept against a improve our service in terms of whether our target of 95%, and 68% of residents had their customers felt our officers cared about their repair fixed first time against a year-to-date call, were committed to helping them and target of 85%. trusted them to do what they said they would An independent review of the responsive do. Voluntas is an independent company that repairs service has been completed and Axis has carries out customer surveys on behalf of implemented a transformation plan, which is Peabody Direct. We would like to thank you for being closely monitored by Peabody. taking part in these surveys, as this helps us to consistently improve the service we offer.

To find out more, visit the performance and efficiency section of our website at www.peabody.org.uk.

peabody.org.uk 15 Your money How will the summer budget affect you? The government announced several changes to welfare benefits in its July 2015 budget. Here we explain the changes that will come into effect from April 2016

orking Tax Credit Working Tax Credit you receive Example: Mr J has a disability This is an in-work will be reduced. that prevents him from working, W payment made to low- so he receives Employment and paid people working a minimum Example: Ms P is a lone parent Support Allowance (ESA) with number of hours, with additions working 16 hours, earning a support component. This gives based on family and disability £530 per month. At present her him an income of £109.30 per circumstances. Working Tax Credit is £76.34 per week – £73.10 for the ESA and Working Tax Credit payments week. From April 2016, assuming £36.20 for the support component. begin to reduce once an earnings her circumstances remain the From April 2016 the ESA element threshold is reached. The current same, her Working Tax Credit (£73.10), will not increase with threshold is £6,420 per year, falls to £1.34 per week. inflation. However, the support but from April 2016 this will be component (£36.20) will increase reduced to £3,850. Working age out of work by the CPI rate of inflation. After the threshold is reached, benefits Claimants under state Working Tax Credits will be pension age who claim Job Housing Benefit: This helps reduced by 48p in every £1 Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) or people on low incomes to pay earned. (The present reduction is Employment Support Allowance their rent. At present, there are 41p in every £1 earned.) (ESA) will not see an increase some circumstances in which a Currently, if your earnings rise in these benefits for the next five claim might be backdated for up to by less than £5,000 within the years. The exception to this rule six months. From April 2016, this year, this won’t affect your claim. will be for disability benefits and will be reduced to four weeks. From April 2016, you must report carer benefits, which will increase an earnings rise if it exceeds each year. Pensioners are not Example: Mr P, who has severe £2,500, and the amount of affected by this freeze. learning difficulties, moved into a new flat six months ago but didn’t realise that he had to fill in a claim for housing benefit. If he puts in a claim now, it will be backdated for the full six months. However, if he puts in a claim after April 2016, it will be backdated for only four weeks.

For further information, please contact Peabody’s Welfare Benefits team on 0800 022 4040 (free from BT landlines) or 020 7021 4444.

16 peabody.org.uk Your home Keeping your bills affordable For the past three years, Peabody’s Home Energy Advice team has been helping you to reduce your energy and water bills

an you afford to heat worth £25 per week during very Are you eligible for your home this winter? cold weather for most benefits fuel payments? CPeabody’s Home Energy claimants. If you’re claiming benefits, you Advice team (HEAT) has been The team recently helped one might be able to get some extra working tirelessly for the past resident in Strawberry Vale to help to pay your winter energy three years to help Peabody reduce her water bill by £100 per bills. Our table, below, shows residents reduce their energy year by checking her benefits. what you might be entitled to. and water bills. They normally And we helped a resident from Each of these payments has identify about £180 of savings the Whitecross estate challenge extra eligibility criteria, especially per household they visit. his gas bill, which had doubled for the Warm Homes Discount. Our officers can deal with within two years because of These include homes with difficult debt issues on gas, a mistake by his provider. He children under five or people who electricity and water bills. They is now due a rebate of several live with mental health or physical can also assess your eligibility hundred pounds. disabilities, or who are on multiple for: Peabody’s Home Energy benefits. However, it is always l Winter Fuel Payments, worth Advice team can advise you worth asking to see if you qualify £100–£300 if you receive on using your boiler, electric for extra financial help. Pension Credits heaters, programmers, thermostat l Warm Homes Discount, worth and radiators, managing To make an appointment with £140 off your energy bill if you condensation, staying warm and a home energy advisor, email get Pension Credit, Income keeping your bills down. See box, [email protected] or Support and some other benefits right, for information on how to call 0800 022 4040. l Cold Weather Payments, make an appointment.

Benefit name Tick Cold Weather Payments Winter Fuel Warm Homes below £25 for each 7 day period of Payment discount for each very cold weather between £100–£300 £140 benefit 1 November and 31 March. depending on age you Ask your Pension Centre* or All applications to your receive Ask your Pension Centre* or JobCentre Plus for details JobCentre Plus for details electricity provider Pension Credit    Income Support    Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance    Income-related Employment    and Support Allowance Universal Credit    Combined household income under £16,010    Working Tax Credit   

* To find your Pension Centre, visit www.gov.uk/find-pension-centre

peabody.org.uk 17 Your community services Free computer training ith Engage going friendly and digital, there’s even informal setting W more of an incentive with volunteer to get online! Peabody’s Net trainers, who are Worx project teaches you on hand to answer how to use computers and the queries and give internet – all for free! As well as one-to-one tuition. receiving Peabody news straight This project not into your inbox, you’ll also be only helps people able to email friends and family, to connect online, but it also brings “Those of us who live alone are people from never isolated with a computer – the community we have a window on the world” together. Computers are provided or share photos, talk to family on learners can bring their own “Computers are good for emails Skype, use social media such laptop, tablet or smartphone. and keeping in touch. I can now as Facebook and Twitter, shop Kathleen Lyons, 92, first communicate with people more online, book holidays, pay bills, started attending Net Worx easily.” search for information and listen sessions at Darwin Court 12 In 2005 Kathleen embarked to music or watch TV online. years ago. on a PhD in feminist theology, We run free sessions at our “Its the 21st Century so I had and her newfound online community centres in a fun, to get with it!” says Kathleen. skills enabled her to carry out research and communicate with her supervisor in Winchester. She gave presentations using PowerPoint and received ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WORK? feedback from supervisors using tracked changes in her word If you’re unemployed, Peabody’s employment documents. and training service can help you: Recently Kathleen was given an iPad and went back to Net ● Re-connect with work ● Prepare for work life Worx for a bit of advice on how ● Improve employability ● Learn basic IT skills and more to use it. ● Fill in job applications ● Write the perfect CV “The volunteers are so good – very skilled and willing to sit ● Prepare for interview ● Search for jobs online with you until you have cracked it. Computers are part of life Drop in to one of our local learning centres for more information: now. Those of us who live Bruce House Darwin Hugh Cubitt Pembury alone are never isolated with a Centre Centre computer – we have a window Court Centre on the world.” Kemble Street 1 Crail Row 48 Collier Street 183 Dalston Lane Holborn Elephant & Castle Kings Cross Hackney To find out more about Net Worx, WC2B 4AW SE17 1AD N1 9QZ E8 1HL call 0800 587 8215. See the back Tel: 020 7021 Tel: 020 7021 Tel: 020 7021 Tel: 020 7021 cover of Engage to find out where 4160/4719 4296/4297 4127/4734 4552/4527 your nearest Net Worx session is.

18 peabody.org.uk Peabody Champion Wordsearch ridget Virden lives on the York estate, Words may go up, down, across or diagonally. If a small block of 45 flats near Waterloo. your entry is one of the first four correctly drawn B As there’s no residents’ association, she from the hat, you’ll win a £25 voucher. Please send worked with some neighbours to apply for funding all entries to Engage Wordsearch, 45 Westminster through Peabody’s Make a Difference scheme to Bridge Road, London SE1 7JB by 30 October 2015. improve the appearance of the outside areas. As a result, the front of the estate now has H B B J O P J L Q K V P attractive raised beds with trees and shrubs, and is soon to get new window boxes and a bike shed. V T Q U H T T W R N R E “The area at the front of the estate is a car park and used to look uninviting,” says Bridget. “I X I O S G Z D Q N O W K suggested the raised beds and presented the bid at D D E O U O X N G I G C one of Peabody’s neighbourhood meetings a couple of years ago. I was really pleased when the grant A D I K T E U R K J E E was approved.” As part of the application, Bridget knocked on O Z N G P E A X F M C R doors on the estate asking people to sign a form L W Y A I M U L Y M A A supporting the proposal. “Everyone I asked was enthusiastic about the N K W E B T Q L S Y P W planters,” says Bridget. “It was a great way to meet my neighbours, and now more people say hello. W I E T E D A W B U S T “The raised beds have a made a huge difference. O B P Y S T A L J L R F People stop me in the street and say how much they appreciate the trees. Now I’m looking forward to D A L B B L I O W K E O our new window boxes and communal bike shed. “We’re very lucky that Peabody offers this I R M A S O C S R J B S opportunity,” she adds. “I think it’s good to show F B Y G A W A U B B Y I people that things can change.” Bridget, who works in an art gallery, has lived on L P C E T J B R E E C B the estate for 13 years with her husband and teenage daughter. N J X M K J S G D U W D ‘We really like it here and couldn’t W A F J S X F O I T P A imagine living anywhere else,” she DIGITAL BROADBAND says. WEBSITE KEYBOARD Neighbourhood PROGRAM MEGABYTE Manager Stephen SOFTWARE BLUETOOTH Levi-Kallin, who CYBERSPACE DOWNLOAD nominated Bridget as a Peabody Name: Champion, is very impressed with her Address: achievements. “She puts herself forward and gets things done,” he says.

Do you know a Peabody champion? Postcode: Send your nomination, explaining why, to Editor, Engage, 45 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7JB or email Congratulations to our winners from the [email protected]. Summer 2015 issue: Ms Carmen Davis, David Grosvenor, Noon Etienne, Toni Parker

peabody.org.uk 19 Your local Peabody centre Peabody offers free programmes and activities in your local area. These include: l Help with finding work l Help with CV writing, job applications and interview techniques l Money and benefits advice l Volunteering opportunities l Net Worx

Call our freephone number 0800 587 8215 to find out what’s going on near you, or pop into your local learning centre for a chat and more information. Bruce House Centre

Get Net Worxing! Net Worx venue Day and time Hugh Cubitt Centre, Collier Street, Kings Cross N1 9QZ Wednesday 3pm–5pm

Daveys Court, 33 Bedfordbury WC2N 4BW Thursday 3pm–5pm Walston & Founders, Aylesford Street SW1V 3RL Thursday 12 noon–2pm Green Man Community Centre Tuesday 2pm–4pm Strawberry Vale, Barnet N2 9BA Wednesday 2pm–4pm Leander Court, Ship Street SE8 4DH (residents only) Tuesday 2pm–4pm Lampson House, 30A Cathcart Hill N19 5QN Wednesday 2pm–4pm Sundial Centre, 11 Shipton Street E2 7RU Wednesday 10am–12 noon Friday 2pm–4pm Thamesbank Centre, Turpentine Lane SW1V 4BD

Pembury Centre,183 Dalston Lane, Hackney E8 1HL Friday 10am–12 noon

Net Worx is a Peabody project in Small Works, Francis Street SW1V 1TB Tuesday 9.30am–11.30am which volunteers teach people Alleyn House, Dufferin Street, Whitecross EC1Y 8SN Thursday 10am–12 noon how to use computers and get online. Free one-to-one training Lomond House, 50 Camberwell Green SE5 7AL Tuesday 10am–12 noon sessions are held each week Thursday 10am–12 noon at venues across London – see Darwin Court, 1 Crail Row, Walworth SE17 1AD the table, right, to find a session near you. If you’re interested in 5 Gore Road, Victoria Park E9 7HR Friday 2pm–4pm setting up a Net Worx project Thursday 10am–12 noon on your estate, contact Jeanette Calcott Community Centre, 30A Cathcart Hill N19 5QN Manu at jeanette.manu@ peabody.org.uk. To find out Arnott IT Suite, 3 Arnott Close SE28 8BG Wednesday 10am-12 noon more about Net Worx, please The Link Thamesmead, Belvedere Road SE2 9BS Wednesday 10am-12 noon call 0800 587 8215.

Local centres For translations, large print, braille or audio format, please contact: Bruce House Centre Darwin Court Hugh Cubitt Centre Pembury Centre Policy and Insight, Peabody, Kemble Street 1 Crail Row 48 Collier Street Pembury Annexe Pour les traductions, veuillles contacter: 45 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE17 1AD London N1 9QZ 183 Dalston Lane Para traduções, contacte: London SE1 7JB Tercüme için lütfen irtibat kurunuz: London WC2B 4AW 020 7021 4670 020 7021 4127 London E8 1HL [email protected] 020 7021 4160 020 8986 9745 020 7021 4444 or 0800 022 4040