North Glasgow Housing Association’s newspaper for tenants and owners New North Glasgow – a great place to live, learn, work, visit and invest in SUMMER 2011 ISSUE 31 Reaching new heights orth Glasgow Housing Association has North Glasgow HA Chief Executive Robert ensuring a smooth and effective transfer process agreed an investment package for future Tamburrini said: “We will invest money in and we look forward to working closely with them Ndevelopment with one of Scotland’s regeneration, helping to deliver many benefits in our aim to build a new North Glasgow.” leading banks. for the local community including learning and Stephen Fleming, business development Clydesdale Bank will provide £17.5 million employment opportunities. partner at Clydesdale Bank pictured above with through its Glasgow Financial Solutions Centre Mr Tamburrini, said: “North Glasgow HA’s (FSC) to support investment plans, maintenance North Glasgow HA’s track reputation and track record in delivering top and ongoing management. record in delivering top quality quality homes and services to its tenants The bank has worked with the association “ and residents is known throughout the city since it started in 1979. It was also a key player homes is known throughout and beyond. in the Association’s recent transfer of nearly the city and beyond “We place a high value on our close relationship 3,000 properties and 70 staff from Glasgow with the communities in which we operate and we Housing Association following the successful “We are delighted with the support“ we have are pleased to be able to support the Association ballot of tenants. received from the team at Clydesdale Bank in in their ambitious plans for North Glasgow.” New look and new office Operation reclaim is a entrance for Possilpark roaring success for all young people P4 P8 2 NORTH News North Glasgow’s NEW JOBS IniTIATIVE “A BEACON” Kick Start Futures training and MP William Bain told the young recruits: Kick Start Futures is now being developed jobs initiative led by North Glasgow “A lot of young people in Glasgow and other to a higher level. A Housing Association has been areas of Scotland are finding it really hard Local people now have the opportunity held up as “a beacon” of success by to get work and that is why the Future Jobs to achieve an SVQ Level 2 in facilities MP William Bain. Fund, which this project has been partly management thanks to the success of the The Glasgow North East representative funded through, is so important. Association’s programme. at the Westminster Parliament presented “It has been helpful to find out what has The trainees on the programme are all skills certificates to the first intake of been happening on this course because local people who have successfully completed recruits at the Association’s offices in it lets us take back to Westminster that industry certificated training activities including Springburn. investing in this sort of thing is great. It high pressure water jetting, scissor lifts and The partners in the £500,000 changes lives, it transforms communities, boom, strimmers, mowers. employment initiative were the Scottish it gives you money to spend, it gives you Since the project started last year a total of and UK Governments, Scottish Council for confidence and the skills you are going to 40 local people have taken part. Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), Community need. John Devine, Head of Business Development Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) and “This is a beacon of what we ought to at North Glasgow HA said:”It’s great that the Falkirk Sporting Solutions. be doing and I can certainly take this to Association can now develop the Kick Start Robert Tamburrini, Chief Executive of Westminster and say to the Government not Futures Programme further and provide this North Glasgow HA said: “It’s great to see to cut funding for programmes like this.” opportunity for local people to gain an SVQ level local people benefiting from this initiative. “We will try and use your real story and 2 in Facilities Management. This element of The training and the work experience over say to the Government don’t let our young the programme will be in partnership with City the past six months these young people people down and give them a chance and Building’s Training Department.” have had will stand them in good stead in that’s all they need to shine because you are the jobs market.” the future.” WE’VE GOT THE FACTOR ot on the heels of around 3,000 GHA “We are grateful for their trust and now look building insurance in a block policy, free tenants transferring to North Glasgow forward to delivering quality services at prices contents insurance where applicable, optional Housing Association at the end of that are affordable and good value for money.” contents insurance if you don’t qualify for the H free service, advice and support on grants and March, a further 723 home-owners have Services for home-owners will be delivered loan schemes, debt management and welfare now chosen us as their supplier of through our registered subsidiary company benefits advice, concierge services where management services. North Glasgow Management Services Ltd, who applicable and a dedicated email address A series of meetings throughout April, on a day to day basis will:- • OrganISE stair cleaning, common lighting resulted in 376 blocks/closes out of 448 (84%) repairs, back court maintenance, de-littering voting to change to North Glasgow HA. • ARRANGE all planned, reactive and cyclical and bulk uplift maintenance and any home visits on request. Stevie Nugent, (Head of Investment) who • MAINTAIN communal TV aerial systems where represented North Glasgow HA at the • COMPLETE quality control checks for all applicable meetings is delighted at the response from completed common repairs before authorising home-owners in North Glasgow. contractor’s invoices John Fury, who is a new customer of North He said: “Of 932 potential customers, • CARRY OUT repairs to common property, Glasgow Management Services, said: “It made 723 (almost 80%) voted to transfer to North emergency repairs within 4hrs, sense for me to change because we share Glasgow HA. This demonstrates that local urgent repairs within 3 days and routine repairs many things and services in common, they are within 10 days people clearly recognise and respect North my neighbour, they have an excellent reputation Glasgow HA’s successful track record and • PROVIDE direct access to admin & technical and they seem to make a difference in the local commitment to the communities we serve. officers, an emergency 24 hour call centre, community.” NORTH News 3 Crafting better lives... EMBERS of North Glasgow them around the factory.” HA’s Management Committee member and local MCommittee paid a visit Councillor Ellen Hurcombe said: to RSBi in Springburn recently “We’ve seen bunk beds, sofas, and were so impressed with the bedroom furniture and even timber quality of work on display they frame kits for houses being made wanted to place orders to furnish here today. This facility is unique their own homes there and then! and that’s why it’s important when Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft contracts are put out to tender that Industries (BlindcraftRSBi) is they are reserved under Article Europe’s largest supported 19, which allows contracts to be employment facility, manufacturing reserved for supported factories a wide range of office and and businesses, where more educational furniture, storage than 50% of employees have solutions, kitchen units and disabilities.” doors and timber kits for houses and schools. Chairperson of North Glasgow HA Pat Kenna said: “What a wonderful factory tour. I and Seeing furniture being assembled at first hand out on the shop floor. my fellow committee members really enjoyed our visit and were highly impressed with the skilled George Gaffney explains one of the processes undertaken at the RSBi factory. craftmanship. We were so pleased to meet with some of the workers, who were very welcoming, and there were some great examples RSBi’s head of manufacturing George Gaffney meets one of how working at RSBi has helped of the groups prior to the tour of the factory. change employees’ lives.” The committee members met May McCann, who has been blind Robert Tamburrini, Chief Executive since birth and who last year of North Glasgow HA, said: “RSBi celebrated 50 years working at have supplied the Association RSBi. They also got the chance with high quality furniture for our to meet Barry Ward, who won a offices as well as providing the gold medal in the 2008 Special timber frame kits for our recent Olympics for relay running. development at Broomfield Road. George Gaffney (RSBi’s Head It’s great for our committee of Manufacturing) led one of the members to see at first hand the tours. He said: “Most people don’t dedication and effort that goes into realise what a great facility we have the high quality products RSBbi here in Springburn. I was delighted make and, more importantly, to get Committee members to welcome North Glasgow HA’s the chance to meet the people who marvel at the work carried out by May McCann. Management Committee and show make them.” North Glasgow Management Services is in the TENANTS PRIZE DRAW WINNERS process of setting up Owners Forums where home-owners will have a regular opportunity to Tenants who adhere to the Association’s regulations meet and discuss important common issues. If you and tenancy agreement and pay their rent on time are would like to know more about the Owners Forum, entered into a quarterly prize draw in which a random please contact Eileen McGovern on 0141 560 6000 computer program selects the winners.