2 GlenburnNews Making a difference to Our Community

Easthall and To the Residents of Kildermorie Newsletter Easthall and Kildermorie

Easthall Residents EASTHALL Welcome to Our Association PARK Officially Spring Newsletter... the Best Team in !!! Don’t Forget Rents go up by 1.5% on 28th of March 2016

In this issue: Welfare Rights Anonymous complaints Rent News Benefits News Policy Renewal Hustings New kitchens Money tips on how to get a better deal!

Easthall Residents Association News Officially the Best Team in Glasgow NEW Dance Group The People’s Projects Lottery TV Vote North East Community Champions

Awards Training Courses

Spring 2016

EASTHALL PARK HOUSING CO-OP • EASTHALL RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION 2 GlenburnNews

In addition we are unable to discuss the complaint with you or get any further information that may be required to allow us to fully investigate and resolve. It means that we are unable to contact you to give you an update on the complaint or ask if the issue is still on-going. Leigh Marinelli is our Welfare Rights Assistant A possible suggestion we would like to make is when making anonymous complaints you What can she help you with? considering giving us a phone number for us to contact you on (this can be by text She can help you: message if you prefer). You do not have to • Choose the right benefit to claim give us your name or address and we will not • Deal with any letters about benefits ask for this but by giving us your number it • Get the maximum correct benefit entitlement means we can phone or text you to • Fill in any benefit claim forms with you discuss the issue. • Find out more information about tax credits • Answer your enquiries about benefits Please note we record all complaints • Appeal against benefit decision including anonymous complaints and we • With budgeting investigate all complaints. • To access a bank account • Work out how much housing benefit and If the matter is of a serious nature (such as council tax reduction you are likely to receive if allegations of drug dealing) and we pass it you are considering accepting a job offer onto Police we will NEVER provide What she can’t help you with: the complainers details unless we have your • Cancelling Sky/Virgin/BT subscriptions permission to do so. • Advise you what company to go with for gas or electricity If you are concerned of illegal activity in your area then your first contact should be to If you want to make an appointment with Leigh phone the Police on 101 or contact Crime call 0141 781 2277. Stoppers on 0800 555 111 with the information; they will take complaints Appointments: Tuesday-Thursday. Drop in anonymously and we can then work with the 10am-12 noon on a Friday. Police in getting the matter resolved. Always, phone us after phoning the Police. Anonymous complaints Other numbers you may find useful – Recently the Co-operative has received a number 0141 287 8866 of letters regarding anti-social behaviour from out of hours noise team anonymous complainants. Whilst we are very Police Station 0141 532 4300 grateful that these types of issues are being brought Co-operative mobile number to our attention we feel it is important to advise of (if you would like to text us) 07717 767 618 difficulties we experience when managing certain types of complaints via an anonymous source. We thrive to keep our community safe and a Sometimes, it may not be possible to act on such nice place where people are proud to live. We complaints unless we can verify the complaint e.g. can only do this with your help. Please untidy garden. contact the office if you have any concerns. Spring 2016 3

2016 Rent Increase Consultation 30 tenants returned the questionnaire in relation to the rent increase and this represented a 4.3% response. The following outlines a summary of the responses:

Do you think the increase represents good value for money? Yes No Do not Know 21 36

How do you think our rents compare with other areas in Easterhouse? Lower Higher Much the Same Do not Know 82515

On what should we be spending your rent money? Yes % No % Do Not Know % Day to Day Repairs 26 96% 1 4% Home Improvements 23 92% 2 8% Welfare Rights Service 11 69% 2 13% 3 19% Bursary Awards 3 20% 6 40% 6 40% Adapting Properties for Elderly or Infirm 20 87% 2 9% 1 4% Dealing with People not Paying their Rent 14 70% 4 20% 2 10% Telling Residents more about what we are doing 10 67% 4 27% 1 7% Grass Cutting Service for Elderly or Infirm 24 92% 2 8% Doing more with anti-social behaviour 18 78% 2 9% 3 13% Supporting Community Activities in the 19 83% 3 13% 1 4% Glenburn Centre Supporting Employment or Training Initiatives 15 75% 3 15% 2 10% Providing Crisis Loans for those affected by 11 61% 4 22% 3 17% Welfare Changes Energy Improvements 17 85% 3 15% Building more Homes 14 67% 5 24% 2 10%

Clearly the majority of returns believe that the rent increase represents value for money with 70% saying Yes, 10% saying No and 20% not sure. 4 GlenburnNews

50% of tenants do not know how our rents compare with other Landlords in Easterhouse whilst just over 27% believe they are cheaper and only 7% believe they are more costly.

The following table outlines how our 2014/15 rent compares with other Landlords as reported by the Scottish Housing Regulator: Organisation Average Weekly Rent Easthall Park £65.80 Blairtummock £66.61 Calvay £66.89 Gardeen £65.35 Lochfield Park £72.36 £58.75 £67.38 £69.13 Scottish RSL Average Rent £76.92

The following outlines how our individual Average rents compare with all Registered Social landlords in Scotland

Apartment Size Easthall Park Average Scottish RSL Average 1 apartment £37.92 £67.32 2 apartment £60.51 £74.72 3 apartment £62.13 £74.98 4 apartment £74.95 £82.98 5 apartment £84.06 £92.13

Over the last 5 years the Co-operative on average has increased its rents by 2.47% and this is the second lowest average increase in Easterhouse.

Organisation Average Increase over 5 Years Easthall Park 2.47% Blairtummock 3.10% Calvay 2.76% Gardeen 2.72% Lochfield Park 2.52% Provanhall 2.56% Ruchazie 1.90% Wellhouse 3.42% Spring 2016 5

On what should we be spending Committee considers the outcome of the your rent money? consultation and business priorities in determining Clearly there is huge support for the majority of the annual rent and service charge increase. Part suggestions as to what we should spend your rent of this was taking into account that we had a 0% money on with day to day repairs, home improvements, increase last year and this is the increase we feel is adapting homes for the elderly and energy necessary to deliver our existing service efficiency measures being the main priorities. commitments and plan for future requirements.

Further analysis will need to be undertaken on Below are figures of proposed rent increases for whether we will continue to provide bursary awards other landlords in Easterhouse. given there is a high percentage that are saying no or are about whether we should do this. Housing Actual increase 2016/17 Association April 2015 increase (planned) We normally set aside £1,500 for bursaries which is Blairtummock 2.0% 1.5% 0.06% of our overall income for the year or 4p per Calvay 2.0% 1.0% tenant per week. Gardeen 2.0% 1.5% Please watch this space in future newsletters. Lochfield Park 2.0% 1.2% Can we thank tenants for returning their Provanhall 1.6% 1.2% consultation forms as we need your support to Ruchazie 2.0% 1.0% direct future services. Wellhouse 3.0% 1.5% It is our intention to write to all tenants individually that returned the consultation document to provide - If you are in receipt of Universal Credit: further responses to specific queries raised. You are responsible for notifying DWP of your rent increase. We have recently sent out draft letters to Congratulations also to our prize draw winners for affected tenants. If this is you, please fill out the returning their responses, each wins £50. The personal details required on this draft letter and winner of this draw was Ann Kelly of Arnisdale Road. Congratulations Ann! send it to:

FREEPOST RTEU-LGUJ-SZLG Value for Money Universal Credit Thanks to everyone who responded to the recent Post Handling Site B tenant surveys on value for money along with the Wolverhampton rent increase consultation. The Co-operative WV99 1AJ received a good response to both surveys and the results were positive with 88% of tenants who responded saying they are satisfied with the Alternatively you can hand it in to your services they receive. The results will be examined local jobcentre. in greater detail to see where we can improve to - If you pay by Standing Order: continue to offer good services to tenants. The You must notify your bank of the increased rent winner of this draw was Janet Cartwright of Wardie amount so this can be changed. Road. Congratulations to Janet! - If you are in receipt of Housing Benefit: You do not need to do anything as we have Rent Increase passed on details of our rent increase to the local Following consultations the Management housing benefit office on your behalf. Committee approved our rent increase, therefore, - If you pay by Direct Debit: Easthall Park Housing Co-operative rents and You do not need to do anything as we will adjust service charge for factored owners will increase by existing Direct Debits to reflect increased 1.5% from 28th March 2016. Our Management rent charges. 6 GlenburnNews

Easterhouse Housing Benefit office possibly closing!!! We hear Easterhouse and Shawbridge Housing in being involved in this group (it is anticipated it Benefit offices are going to be closing down would take up to an hour and half of your time) sometime in May. This means will now please get in contact with Claire McGraw, be the nearest office. The address is 125 Housing Manager on 0141 781 2277 or by email Westmuir Street, Glasgow, G31 5EX. The [email protected]. telephone number is 0141 287 1500. Polices that will be reviewed this year include Unfortunately this closure is not in our control • Void management policy and we understand the difficulties this will cause (how we deal with empty homes and relets) claimants. Remember you can check if you are • Maintenance policy entitled to housing benefit/council tax reduction • Resident engagement strategy online at – https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/ or ask • Succession to tenancy policy Leigh in the office to help. • Charge tenant repairs policy • Anti-social behaviour policy Policy Renewal • Abandonment policy (when someone abandons their home without giving us any notice or We are currently reviewing a number of our forwarding address) policies and we will soon be consulting on these. As part of the consultation process we are keen You do not need to be involved in all of the on setting up a focus group to discuss the above. You can be involved in just one or as proposed changes in detail. If you are interested many as you like. Spring 2016 7

Our new kitchens are pure, dead brilliant! This year’s kitchen replacement contract is now well HUSTINGS FOR SCOTTISH underway and we are getting impressive feedback ELECTIONS 2016 from tenants about the look and quality of their new kitchens. Just as important, tenants are full of praise GLASGOW and for MCN, our contractors - we are being told that they GLASGOW PROVAN are ‘great workers’ as well as being polite and helpful. To Be Held On We are exceptionally pleased that our tenants are MONDAY 25 APRIL 2016 getting such a great service. The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road GLASGOW G34 9JW 114 tenants in phase 5 & 6 (houses built or 7pm-9pm refurbished around 15 years ago) are getting not just Your chance to meet and ask questions new kitchen worktops, units and sink but also tiling, a of the candidates standing for election new extractor fan, a carbon dioxide and heat monitor as your MSP in Glasgow Shettleston and a new central heating boiler (unless it has been and Glasgow Provan recently renewed). Glasgow Shettleston Gardeen HA At the same time, as part of the contract, we are also and Calvay HA having energy performance surveys carried out by Thomas Kerr Conservative specially qualified surveyors and all properties will be Thomas Rannachan Labour given an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). An John Mason SNP EPC, like the multi-coloured stickers you will see on new washing machines or fridges, tells you how Glasgow Provan Easterhouse energy efficient your home is - ‘A’ being very efficient Housing and ‘G’ being inefficient. The EPC also highlights Associations cost effective ways for tenants to save electricity such Annie Wells Conservative as switching to energy efficient bulbs. We legally Paul Martin Labour have to have an EPC when we re-let a property but Ivan McKee SNP we are using this opportunity to get them done in tenanted properties - not only is it useful for tenants If you require transport to the Hustings and also helps us plan for future energy efficiency Event please contact your local Housing Association/Co-operative.

Goodbye Steven, Hello Morven We were sorry to say goodbye Steven Ferrie, our assistant maintenance officer, who left last month to be a maintenance officer along the M8 at Queen’s Cross Housing Association. Steven had only been with us since 2014, but he made a great contribution to the team. We wish Steven all the best in his future career. We were delighted with the huge response - we had for our advert to recruit a successor for Steven. Out of the 40 applicants we chose Morven Gourlay. Morven has been working for the last 5 years with North Ayrshire Council’s Housing Services Department and has a good understanding of repairs and maintenance issues. She says she is really looking forward to working in a community focused housing organisation – and we are really looking forward to having her! She starts on 7th March – say hello if you see her out and about. 8 GlenburnNews

Money tips on how to get a better deal! With the cost of living on the increase its time to get smarter and get more for our money! Remember companies are fighting for our business so they are fighting against one another to price match or beat their competitor deals.

Listed below are some suggestions on how to get more from your money: • Sign up to Martin Lewis’s weekly savings at MoneySavingsExpert.com and grab the best deals around. This covers information on welfare and finances including the best freebies, discount codes, events credit cards, savings and energy deals. • Switch energy suppliers, households could save £100’s of pounds a year if they switch gas, electricity or both. The best deals to look at are at MoneySavingsExpert.com/cheapenergy club, uswitch.com and moneysupermarket.com • Compare supermarket prices for every day goods by visiting mysupermarket.com. It compares individual items at Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda, Aldi and Iceland. • Grab the best daily deals for days out, events, holidays, restaurants, discount shopping vouchers, household goods and services at groupon.co.uk, 5pm.com, vouchercodes.co.uk and wowcher.co.uk • For the best deals on Home, Travel, Pet and Life Insurance check out gocompare.com, confused.com and moneysupermarket.com • For broadband and mobiles check out uswitch.com • Buying goods online then why not use a cash back website which pays you money when you shop online such as quidco.com

Remember there is free access to computers and internet facilities here at the Glenburn Centre. These amenities are for the benefit of the local community and are right on your doorstep! Further tips on savings can be made by: • Washing at 30°C when you can will reduce your washing machine's energy usage by up to 40%. That means savings for you. • Turning down your thermostat at home by just 1°C can cut down your energy bills by about £90 a year. • Turn off electrical appliances when not in use, an estimated £50-£86 per household can be saved by switching off rather than keeping on standby. • Supermarket loyalty cards are a great way to save as you spend. The more money you spend the greater the discounts. Regular shoppers use Morrisons, Boots, M&S and Tesco club card. • Pay your monthly bills by direct debit and you could receive discounts based on the service provider. • Switch light bulbs to energy savings bulbs, cuts down on energy costs and they last longer • Switch to store brands rather than pay for high branded products that deliver the same results!

Every little helps, so think smarter, spend wiser!

Martin Lewis is the face of MoneySavingsExpert.com, some of you may recognise him from his regular television appearances. Spring 2016 9

Easthall Residents Association News GLENBURN CENTRE

Officially the Best Team in Glasgow EASTHALL We told you back in the Xmas newsletter about Easthall Residents RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION Association being shortlisted as a Finalist in the Overall Team Award category on 3rd December 2015 at the Evening Times Community Champions Awards held at the City Chambers.

Now we are delighted to inform you all that Easthall Residents Association won the award. This is an incredible achievement & although it’s been said many times our Team of amazing volunteers & staff efforts have been recognised for all the hours they dedicate to ‘Putting People First’ and making the activities & services that the Glenburn Centre offers so enjoyable.

The dedication of our volunteers over the course of the last year has been unbelievable and without this the Glenburn Centre would not be able to open and deliver all the great activities it does. A massive THANK YOU to each and If you are interested in getting involved and every one of our volunteers for everything you coming along to play your part in supporting our do for Easthall Residents Association it is community then please contact Andy on greatly appreciated. 0141 781 2277 or [email protected]

Easthall Residents Association welcomes Keep up to date with everything happening NEW Dance Group in The Glenburn Centre at The Glenburn Centre on Facebook & Twitter Easthall Residents Association are delighted to announce that Grace Easthall Residents Adens & her Dynamic Dance Academy are Association – now holding sessions in The Glenburn Centre on: The Glenburn Tuesday’s from 4pm to 6pm Centre Thursday’s from 4.30pm to 6.30pm & GYMNASTICS on Saturday’s from 9.30am to 10.30am @EasthallR Dynamic Dance Academy is available to boys & girls aged 2+. For more information contact Grace on 07885 569 141. 10 GlenburnNews

The Youth Committee have been in existence for approximately 2 years now and are developing very well. 9 young people achieved Saltire Awards in November ranging from 50 hours of volunteering to a special recognition award for 500 voluntary hours within services in The Glenburn Centre. The young people have been a great support to developing other services within the centre for example our Summer Programme, we were able to offer work experience to 5 young people throughout the Summer to help ensure that we could run this service for Primary aged children within our community. The youth committee also helped support our Investors In Young People Could it be 2 in a row? Accreditation being singled out for the time Congratulations to our Chairperson, Rachel and effort they dedicate to supporting McCann MBE and our Youth Committee on their community. being shortlisted for the Senior Award & the Young Award respectively at the 2016 Evening Good luck Rachel and the Youth Committee. Times North East Community Champions Awards. Rachel has been selected as a finalist for the Award Ceremony to be held on the 10th Community News March 2016. Our committee chairperson Mary Both nominations are very fitting & displays the Davidson’s granddaughter Jessica was great work of Easthall Residents Association & part of a ceilidh team who came 4th at all the work of its volunteers spanning from Young Scotland championships and is competing to slightly but not much older (sorry Rachel!!!). in the world championships in March. We wish you all the best at Rachel has been a driving force behind Easthall the championship. Residents Association for the largest part of the 43 years that the organisation has been operating and has dedicated an incredible amount of time to our community. It is extremely fitting & not before time that Rachel has been nominated for this award. Spring 2016 11

Up for The People’s Projects Lottery TV Vote

Easthall Residents Association is one of only 5 groups across the STV West Region to have been selected as a finalist for the public vote for the chance to win up to £50,000 of BIG Lottery Fund cash as part of ITV’s The People’s Projects TV Competition. The public vote will take place between 29th February at 9am & 13th March midday.

By the time you will be reading this we will know if we have been successful or not in winning the prize hopefully you will have all voted for us.

If successful Easthall Residents Association will increase their activities for individuals with Additional Support Needs in their My Life, My Choice activity groups to 4 days per week engaging 200+ individuals. We will focus on interactive play features, all areas will be fully increasing the confidence, life and social skills wheelchair accessible. Other activities will alongside the physical and mental health and include a sports programme, dance and wellbeing of all individuals. aerobic sessions, music and instrument tuition, baking, cooking & healthy eating programme. This will all enhance our core activities of arts ‘n’ crafts, pool, table tennis, X-Box games consoles, Wii Games console, IT Suite & Chill Out room.

We aim to engage individuals within the groups to volunteering supporting their peers in many roles such as within the café, in our IT Suite, leading Karaoke sessions & working equipment and supporting other individuals within the Community Garden growing and educational programme. Our project will also provide 4 sessional employment posts for 20 hours per week for 52 weeks. A fully inclusive activity schedule will include a new Community Garden Project with a Fingers crossed we have been successful & Sensory Area, Butterfly Garden, an Orchard, you will all begin to notice the difference to the Raised Beds growing herbs, vegetables and area around the Glenburn Centre as we begin fruit, a pebble mosaic, seating areas and the work on our Community Garden. 12 GlenburnNews

Training Courses in The Glenburn Centre In our last edition of the newsletter we informed you of training courses on offer within the Glenburn Centre. We are now into our second block of this training being delivered in partnership with Glasgow Kelvin College. Up to the 3rd March 2016 a total of 108 individuals have completed FREE certificated training in

• Elementary Food Hygiene • Emergency First Aid • Customer Care • Health and Safety(including manual handling) CSCS Card Included

Please see attached table for dates and upcoming training For anyone interested in finding out more detail regarding courses or wanting to book onto any of the courses please contact Andy on 0141 781 2277 or at [email protected]

Food Emergency Customer Health & Safety Hygiene First Aid Care (CSCS Card) 12/5/2016 19/5/2016 26/5/2016 2/6/2016

We are also going to be introducing a Flexible Learning course based on computing skills. If anyone is interested in learning how to use a computer, how to access the internet, how to set up & use an email account, how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint or any other software package or anything else you would like to learn about a computer then please nip in and register your interest by coming into the Glenburn Centre & speaking to Andy or contact him on 0141 781 2277 or email [email protected]

GLENBURN CENTRE EASTHALL PARK EASTHALL RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION EASTHALL PARK HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE LTD EASTHALL RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION THE GLENBURN CENTRE THE GLENBURN CENTRE Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.easthallpark.org.uk

This newsletter is available in any language or format you require. Please contact the office for details. 0141 774 7873 Digitally printed by Europrint

The Glenburn Centre, 6 Glenburnie Place, Easthall, Glasgow G34 9AN Telephone: 0141 781 2277