PORTCALL Port of Leith Housing Association Newsletter Summer 2014
DOSH DAY
In April we held a ‘dosh day’ for our tenants, arranged in conjunction with the Money Matters project (a Big Lottery funded money advice project involving PoLHA and four other Edinburgh housing associations). Over 50 people attended South Leith Parish Church Hall for a day of useful information and advice, free giveaways, prizes and money saving ideas. If you were unable to attend on the day but would like help, please contact a member of the tenant support team, whose numbers are listed on the back page of PortCall.
FEELING STUCK? NEED HELP WITH WORK?
I’m Jane Whiting, the Association’s Employability Officer. I work one to one with tenants and family members aged 16 and over, offering support and a Monday morning job club from 10am to 1pm. I can help you with:
Confidence development
CV, job search and job application help
Interview skills
Referral on to volunteering, training or education
Guidance on work placements
Support for people to keep their job
Help finding more secure work from zero hours contracts, or low pay
Please contact me on 0131 553 8757 or email: [email protected]
For more information on available services, please see the enclosed leaflet.
you! seeing to forward look We
entry is just 50p. 50p. just is entry - prizes
book stall, tombola stall and raffle raffle and stall tombola stall, book
refreshments, barbeque, music,
include face painting for children, live live children, for painting face include
Some of the attractions will will attractions the of Some
enjoy. to residents elderly for
Celebrated for over 15 years, the money raised provides day trips and activities activities and trips day provides raised money the years, 15 over for Celebrated
from 12 noon until 2pm at 74 Ferry Road. Ferry 74 at 2pm until noon 12 from
It’s that time of year again….St Nicks Summer Fayre takes place on 2 August August 2 on place takes Fayre Summer Nicks again….St year of time that It’s
*****ST NICKS SUMMER FAYRE***** SUMMER NICKS *****ST
ordinator - Co
Scheme Scheme
Assistant Sheltered Sheltered Assistant
Leith.
David Thom, Thom, David
in in
the chance to talk to them about the war war the about them to talk to chance the
held in pupils’ homes and this gave him him gave this and homes pupils’ in held
closed during the war, lessons were were lessons war, the during closed
World War. As schools temporarily temporarily schools As War. World
Worker
their grandad, a veteran from the First First the from veteran a grandad, their
Tenancy Support Support Tenancy
sister Eck and Frankie were living with with living were Frankie and Eck sister
David Tomlins, Tomlins, David
aeo Pae residents. Place Jameson Brother and and Brother
based on stories from St Nicks and and Nicks St from stories on based
family living through World War II II War World through living family and is is and
‘Leith at War’ is about a Leith a about is War’ at ‘Leith based based -
Officer presented by Citadel Arts Group. Arts Citadel by presented
Revenue & Benefits Benefits & Revenue
School were treated to a wartime play play wartime a to treated were School
Sharon Greatorex, Greatorex, Sharon
and pupils from St Mary’s Primary Primary Mary’s St from pupils and
Residents from Hermitage Court Court Hermitage from Residents
FACES NEW
CITADEL PERFORMS LEITH AT WAR AT LEITH PERFORMS CITADEL
Scotland.” in stakeholders other
Scotland Board and being a key public face of CIH in its work with members and and members with work its in CIH of face public key a being and Board Scotland
honoured to have been given this role. As Chair, I look look I Chair, As role. this given been have to honoured forward to leading the CIH CIH the leading to forward
“I strongly believe in CIH Scotland and all it stands for, so I feel very very feel I so for, stands it all and Scotland CIH in believe strongly “I said: He
Edinburgh, both in the public and private sectors. private and public the in both Edinburgh,
Glasgow, London, Newcastle upon Tyne and and Tyne upon Newcastle London, Glasgow,
urban regeneration and housing development in in development housing and regeneration urban
experience working in in working experience years’ 30 over has Keith
Scotland. (CIH)
elected Chair of the Chartered Institute of Housing Housing of Institute Chartered the of Chair elected
Chief Executive Keith Anderson has been been has Anderson Keith Executive Chief
SCOTLAND CIH OF CHAIR
POLHA CHIEF EXECUTIVE ELECTED ELECTED EXECUTIVE CHIEF POLHA
quickly.” very taken are actions
PoLHA is very communicative and approachable. We feel we are listened to and and to listened are we feel We approachable. and communicative very is PoLHA
packs and the tenants handbook are also very good and useful. We have found found have We useful. and good very also are handbook tenants the and packs
information when we moved and showed around the development. The welcome welcome The development. the around showed and moved we when information
Chris added: “The move was very good and easy. We were provided with a lot of of lot a with provided were We easy. and good very was move “The added: Chris
friends.” as them of lot
shops, bus routes and walks. We get on with our neighbours and would consider a a consider would and neighbours our with on get We walks. and routes bus shops,
how big it was considering it was a one bedroom flat. Also, the area is great for for great is area the Also, flat. bedroom one a was it considering was it big how
with the property. We were surprised surprised were We property. the with
We are very happy happy very are We “ said: Sheila
needs.
to a home better suited to their their to suited better home a to
bedroom flat but wanted to downsize downsize to wanted but flat bedroom
previously living in a fifth floor two two floor fifth a in living previously
Developments. The couple were were couple The Developments.
development for Persevere Persevere for development
was our first mid market rent rent market mid first our was
bedroom flat at Lindsay Road. This This Road. Lindsay at flat bedroom
moved into a brand new one one new brand a into moved
Last April Chris and Sheila Stone Stone Sheila and Chris April Last
IS HEART THE WHERE IS HOME GREAT JUNCTION STREET IS GOING GREAT The new premises for local community group The Junction was officially opened by Sir Harry Burns, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland (below with Sam Anderson).
Previously based at 160 Great Junction Street for eight years, the organisation has moved to 82-86 Great Junction Street and is leasing the brand new premises from PoLHA. The Junction provides confidential health related services, education and support for young people aged 12-21 in Leith and North East Edinburgh.
It has helped thousands of young people in the city and has author Irvine Welsh as its patron.
Our new Great Junction Street housing development was officially opened by Malcolm Chisholm MSP (below with tenant Julie Crawford).
The development consists of 32 high quality one and two bedroom homes for social and mid market rent. Malcolm Chisholm, Labour MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, said: “I am delighted to be officially opening this outstanding housing development which has been named as one of the top affordable housing developments in the UK. There is always a desperate need for more affordable homes in this city and I am pleased that once again Port of Leith Housing Association is providing such high quality, energy efficient homes.”
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY
Our tenant satisfaction survey/census was carried out between October 2013 and January 2014 and the results are in…..
89% are satisfied with PoLHA
92% feel the Association is good at keeping them informed 97% are satisfied that our communications are clear, easy to understand and are in plain English
83% are kept informed from letters sent to their home and PortCall (73%). The Tenants Handbook is also an important source (16%)
84% are satisfied with the quality of their home
85% are satisfied with repairs
86% think their home offers value for money
84% are satisfied with their neighbourhood *************************************************** We will issue our landlord report on our performance against the Scottish Social Housing Charter along with our annual report in August.
NEW WEBSITE NOW LIVE Our new website (www.polha.co.uk) has gone live and it now has added features. So, in addition to being able to access our publications and catch up on the Association’s news and activities, you can also:
Report repairs
Set up an account to be able to access your rent statement and pay your rent – contact the Customer Advice Team in the first instance for help with this
Make a complaint
View available properties for rent via the link to Key to Choice website
Use the Browse Aloud software to add speech, reading and translation support for those who may need it
PoLHA’s Out of Hours Emergency Number is: 0800 783 7937 FREE HOME FIRE SAFETY VISIT The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service can carry out a free visit to your home to give you advice on fire safety. To book a free visit, text ‘fire’ to 61611; call 0800 0731 999 or visit www.firescotland.gov.uk
CRACKING GOOD FUN AT ST NICKS Port of Leith Housing Association’s St Nicholas Court sheltered housing complex raised over £450 at its Easter-themed lunch, with an array of stalls including a raffle, home baking and ceramic painting. There was also an Easter egg hunt, which was won by residents Ian and May who donated their chocolate egg to the new Teen Cancer Unit at the Western General Hospital. Maureen Tait, Senior Sheltered Housing Co- ordinator with PoLHA, manages the complex. She said: “Our fundraiser was thoroughly enjoyed by residents and visitors and we’re delighted to have raised over £450, which will go towards activities and days out.”
LEITH GALA DAY
It’s the fifth time we have been in attendance at the Leith Gala and this year it was a great success. Not only was the sun shining, but lots of people came up to our tent where we talked to people about the work we do, answering housing questions and promoting training and employment opportunities for young people in Leith through TOiL We also ran a competition and gave away prizes.
COMMUNICATION WORKING GROUP A new communication group was formed in March, including staff, tenants and sharing owners, whose role is to review the content, design and layout of PoLHA’s information and publications for customers. Members are given the opportunity to share their views on how to improve the way we communicate with our customers, with priority given to making sure the information provided is useful and can be easily understood by everyone. Most recently, the group has been busy reviewing the tenant handbook, PortCall and how we report to customers on our performance against the Scottish Social Housing Charter. Next on the agenda is the planning for the next tenant event to be held in September. If you would like to offer any suggestions or join the group, please contact Wendy Chan, Customer Engagement Officer on 0131 553 8707 or email: [email protected]
SHAUN NOT TOiLING FOR WORK Earlier this year, Shaun McMahon worked at PoLHA as a TOiL* trainee in the Property and New Business department after a school work placement. Shaun received training in Excel, customer services and employability (CV writing, job application, covering letters and interview skills) and completed his SQA certificate of Work Readiness. His experience on the TOiL programme and coaching by staff helped him to stand out from the crowd when he successfully applied for a modern apprenticeship at the Scottish Government. Shaun said: “I learned what a working environment is like and how I should behave, gaining accuracy and speed in data input. “My confidence has built up a lot and I am more chatty. I most enjoyed getting to know other people and on the job training – this has helped me with tasks I’ve needed to do.” *TOiL offers paid six-month work training and placements. Operated by PoLHA, it was established in 2004 and since then has helped almost 450 young people aged 16 - 24 into work and training. For more information contact 0131 554 0403. PoLHA OPENING HOURS Monday 8:45am - 5:00pm Tuesday 10:00am - 5:00pm Wednesday 8:45am - 5:00pm Thursday 8:45am - 5:00pm Friday 8:45am - 3:45pm Tenant Support Team Numbers Welfare benefits and appeals (Craig Samuel) 0131 553 8772 Welfare benefits and appeals (Susan Colvin) 0131 553 8781 Budgeting, debts, money management or energy efficiency (Fiona Neilson) 0131 553 8745 Settling into your tenancy (David Tomlins) 0131 553 8769 Employment or training (Jane Whiting) 0131 553 8757
Any repairs or maintenance issues outwith office hours should be reported to: 24 hour Response Line 0800 783 7937 Useful Telephone Numbers NHS 24 111 National Grid (gas emergency) 0800 111 999 Scottish Water 0845 600 8855 ScottishPower 0845 272 7999 Citizens Advice (Leith) 0131 553 5984 Police Scotland/Noise Stoppers 0131 311 3131 Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 City of Edinburgh Council Main switchboard 0131 200 2000 Council Tax & Benefits Office 0131 469 5000 Pest Control 0131 666 2623 Special Uplift 0131 529 3030
Having trouble reading PortCall? If you need to have PortCall in another format, please contact the Customer Advice Team on 0131 554 0403.
Port of Leith Housing Association Ltd, 108 Constitution Street, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6AZ