Tel: 0300 330 7003 Email: [email protected] 1

Seasons greetings from all at NPH!

New homes in Collingtree Issue 18 Winter 2020 2 Your Voice Issue 18 Winter 2020 Tel: 0300 330 7003 Email: [email protected] 3

At a Notice board glance... Welcome to the winter issue of Your Voice Festive 1 Cover star arrangements Thank you to Laicey-Mae Your bin collections may change over the and Dad, Jon for welcoming e hope you like the us to their beautiful garden Flu vaccinationolder or disabled festive period. You can check your bin new look and to take our festive cover This year, the flu person who may be at collections online at www.. shot! change of name - vaccination is being risk if you get sick; gov.uk/info/200084/bins-waste-and- find out more W offered free of charge to n Live with someone on recycling/2436/christmas-2020-bin- 7 Getting to know inside about how more people than ever. collections We sat down with involved the NHS shielded to find out more. residents had their say about You may be eligible if you: tenant Pauline Riley over your newsletter. patient list; Please do not leave your bins or rubbish out Zoom to talk about n Are aged 50 and n Are a frontline health for collection on the wrong days, it can involvement. In each issue, one of NPH’s over (including those or social care worker. attract rats and other vermin. leadership team will welcome you who’ll be 50 by 8 Welcome to NPH festive opening hours: Collingtree to Your Voice. I’m thrilled to be 31 March 2021); Speak to your GP surgery, able to introduce you to some of local pharmacy or Thursday 24th December Residents have now moved n Have certain health - normal opening midwifery service if you’re into their new homes in the fantastic work my team has Collingtree and some of the conditions; hours Toms Close, Collingtree. been delivering. work we’re doing across town to pregnant for more Friday 25th December - closed invest in your homes and n Are pregnant; information. Go to 11 Meet the team But before you get stuck into the www.nhs.uk/conditions/ Monday 28th December - closed neighbourhoods. We’ve also got n Are in long-stay Meet Peter Gates, one of latest issue, we would like to take an update about our popular vaccinations/flu- Tuesday 29th December - closed NPH’s longest serving residential care; the opportunity to thank you for nature project where you can get influenza-vaccine/ Wednesday 30th December - closed colleagues in our your continued support and n Receive a carer’s involved with our next giveaway! to find out more. Thursday 31st December - closed Housing team. patience in what has been a allowance, or are Friday 1st January 14 Your unitary challenging year for all of us. If you have a story to share with the main carer for an - closed Council We hope that you and your loved us or any feedback on Your Voice, We do have an amazing team of colleagues The local government ones are keeping well, and we please get in touch we’d love to on-hand for emergencies during the festive structure in Northampton wish you all the best for 2021. hear from you. period, please only call if you absolutely need will be changing, hear why to 0300 3307003. it matters to you. Keep reading to find out about a Helen Town, assistant director: brand-new development in asset management. Mental health support This year has been hard for many people. If you need support with your mental wellbeing, Can you help Large print? the Changing Minds IAPT service offer a free, confidential service to help with low mood, us run our If you would like a version financial worries, anxiety and isolation. of this magazine in large community hubs? Voice Editor, Northampton Partnership Homes, Westbridge print, or another language, Access the service by going to We’re looking for a team of volunteers to help www.nhft.nhs.uk/iapt Depot, St James Mill Road, Northampton, NN5 5JW or calling 0300 999 1616 us run our community hubs. If you’re interested please call (9-5 weekdays). T: 0300 330 7003 E: [email protected] in helping with the day to day running of the hubs, maintenance or outdoor gardening work, 0300 330 For support at any time of the day or night, call 0800 448 0828 contact our resident involvement team to find @NPH_news NPH Connect www.nph.org.uk to speak to a friendly mental [email protected] 7003 health navigator. out more: or 01604 837836. 4 Your Voice Issue 18 Winter 2020 Tel: 0300 330 7003 Email: [email protected] 5

Your involvement Your involvement

Scrutiny Panel Nature More

We hope you like your new-look Remember - you don’t need to giveaways! newsletter. Following the Scrutiny join the Scrutiny Panel to get project Panel’s review of the magazine, involved. If you have any feedback Following the success of our we’ve freshened up the design, to share or would like to know autumn wildlife habitat tweaked the name and included more about how you can get First up - an update on the giveaway, our winter offer is a their suggestions for content. involved, just get in touch: hedgehog houses we offered for selection of trees that are Members of the panel adapted the Autumn phase of our nature suitable for small gardens - brilliantly to virtual meetings and NPH Connect project. They were all snapped your choice of tree, free for carried out a full review of this up quickly and are now out in the NPH residents. community waiting for hedgehogs publication. @NPH_news Selected for their colour, to make themselves at home! interest for wildlife or fruiting The Panel’s next mission is to [email protected] potential, these trees will make review the work of our rent We visited some happy residents a wonderful addition to your income team’s financial inclusion on Blackberry Lane who have garden. Choose from Crab and welfare service. The outcome 01604 837836 built their hedgehog houses. As you can see from the Apple, Rowan, Hazel, Silver of their review will feature in the Birch or Wild Pear - there are next issue of Your Voice, online photos, they’re looking great in their gardens. even a limited number of apple and on our social media channels. trees (we’re already thinking “It’s beautiful, about the crumble)! As with any great offer, get in I can’t thank there quick; the trees are offered on a first-come first- Learn something new NPH enough for served basis, and are limited to giving me this one per household. NPH residents who live or gaming industry, the blurred opportunity. And that’s not all... work with young people are lines between gaming and Shout out now if you’d like to able to access free online gambling, spotting gaming and Thank you so get involved in our Spring offer workshops from the Young gambling disorder, eSports and much!” too. We’ll be giving away 60 Gamers and Gamblers loot boxes. growing kits so you can start to Education Trust. In association grow your own veg in 2021. n Session 2 (60 minutes) covers Pam, Blackberry Lane resident You’ll get a flat packed growing with our construction partner the resources available from box with everything you need ENGIE, the workshops aim to the Young Gamers and to put it together; compost, help you educate and Gamblers Education Trust to seeds and a trowel. We’ll be safeguard children and young help you support the children Christmas giving these away in March and people about the potential and young people you live or April, but it’s not too early to n harm of gaming and gambling. work with. A digital copy of the “In The get your name on the list. Know” booklet. Lights The training is made up of After the workshops you will You can send us a message on two sessions: To find out more and to sign We love seeing your Facebook (NPH Connect), receive: [email protected]. up to the course, go to how your Christmas email n Session 1 (90 minutes) n A certificate of attendance; www.ygam.org or call uk or call us on 01604 837836 covers the gambling and and 0203 837 4963. decorations brighten up to get your hands on one of your neighbourhood! Lumbertubs our freebies. 6 Your Voice Issue 18 Winter 2020 Tel: 0300 330 7003 Email: [email protected] 7

Your community

It’s good to Support through Getting to know…. talk (and tough times Pauline Riley walk!) rostate cancer is the most commonly We loved this update from diagnosed cancer elcome to this new Park is just around the corner. It could help people who can’t get Emmanuel Church’s Walkie- in the UK, with regular feature, I go for lots of walks round there out, or have less time so they can Talkie group. P where you get and can’t help myself litter picking still join in. around 1 in 8 men meet one of your while I’m at it! Bradlaugh Fields This group brings young diagnosed with the disease in W We love our town at NPH. fellow residents. is also nearby and I can walk to What’s your favourite people together for wellbeing their lifetime. The Northampton If you would like to take part, my church in Moulton, although Northampton spot? walks. The physical and Prostate Cancer Support Group we’d love to hear from you. before lockdown people kept mental health benefits of supports men with prostate Meanwhile, it’s over to Pauline offering me lifts and I could never Well, home is my favourite walking in the fresh air are cancer and their families in the who squeezed us into her busy say no! place and is so important to me. But as I like walking, I would also undeniable so Mell Efde, Northampton area. schedule for a quick chat about How did you become say lots of the green spaces in the group’s youth worker life, lockdown and what she loves interested in NPH’s Richard Truby, chair of the group, Northampton - Westone Mill, wanted to make sure that the about Northampton. involvement groups? told us: “If you have any symptoms lakes and quarry plus all winter weather didn’t get in Thank you so much for finding of prostate cancer, it’s really One of my neighbours told me the places near me for walking. their way. Happy to Help, some support, please get in touch time to talk to us Pauline. important you talk to your GP.” First off - how long have you about the Resident Forum, so I I’d love to go to the top of the lift NPH’s CIC was delighted to with us. It can be reassuring to went along to that. Then the face be able to fund the “Walkie The five classic signs of prostate been a tenant with NPH? tower, but I’m not up for abseiling speak with someone who knows to face meetings stopped because back down! Talkies” to buy waterproof cancer in men are: what you’re going through and I came to Northampton in of COVID-19, so I joined some of clothing for group members 1 A painful burning sensation who can help you prepare for any 2005 and have lived in a couple the Zoom groups. I like to know What have you been doing to keep yourself busy throughout to keep warm and dry on treatment you need. We’re here of places before moving into what’s going on, maybe I’m a bit when you urinate or ejaculate. the pandemic? those wet, muddy walks! to support you and would love to Lakeview, where I live now. It’s a nosy? Seriously though, I do like to 2 Frequent urination particularly lovely new building, but because promote community and positive I’m involved with lots of things. As you can see in the photo, welcome you to our group.” at night. I down-sized, I now have too things that are happening. I host an ancestry group with 11 the waterproofs have already Like so many others, the group 3 Difficulty starting or stopping much stuff. I’ve always been a bit How have you found the members. Trying to trace family been put to excellent use! has adapted to virtual meetings of a gatherer. urination. transition from face to face to members takes a long time. this year. They currently run a What do you love about your virtual meetings? I’m also part of the National Trust 4 Erectile dysfunction. Zoom coffee morning every neighbourhood? and I’m a volunteer with Happy I quite like it, because we can sit 5 Blood in the urine or semen. Wednesday at 11am, and a Zoom @ Home, I talk to three people members’ meeting on the first It’s very close to everything I like and chat from home. It can be regularly for company to do. I love walking and Eastfield difficult when lots of people One or any of these symptoms Tuesday of every month at 7pm. and support. is a good reason to consult want to speak, but as long as They look forward to meeting at you have someone organising I’ll tell you something I’ve your GP. However men, a NPH community hub as soon as the meeting and making sure discovered since lockdown - particularly over 45’s, can still it’s safe to meet in person again. everyone gets a chance to have virtual tours. I’ve been to Tel Aviv, experience prostate health To find out more about their say, it works well. Budapest, Barcelona and I’m off to problems without noticeable Paris later! the group, go to symptoms. It is therefore I think we should keep this up www.northamptonpcsg.org.uk, when things go back to normal. important to be alert to the or call Barrie on 07396 174 904 possibility and to discuss with your or email northamptonpcsg@ Happy @ Home is a telephone befriending service in Northampton. GP if you have any concerns. gmail.com . If the phone isn’t If you know of a lonely person who needs support or you would like Richard added: “If you have been answered, please leave a message to volunteer to help, please contact Debbie Larkins on recently diagnosed, or you’re living and Barrie will get back to you as 07718 651631 or [email protected] with prostate cancer and need soon as possible. 8 Your Voice Issue 18 Winter 2020 Tel: 0300 330 7003 Email: [email protected] 9

#MoreNewHomes… Take a look at our video where We’d like to say a big welcome to you can meet Shakil, a new everyone who has moved into resident at Toms Close and hear Toms Close. We wish you lots of Welcome to how happy he is with his new happiness in your new homes! home. You can also get a look at the new homes, and hear from NPH, Northampton Borough Collingtree! Council, Jeakins Weir and the local community. www.nph.org.uk/toms-close-1 e recently sure you’ll agree they’ve done a completed work fantastic job. NPH Connect on 17 two- W bedroom and 4 We would like to say a huge @NPH_news three-bedroom thank you to the residents of family homes in Toms Close, Toms Close, who lived with the Collingtree. The new homes building works while we worked have kitchen-diners, large rooms, to complete the new homes. lots of storage and big gardens. We are truly grateful for your There’s also a park nearby so understanding and patience. families can enjoy lots of time Normally, we’d hold an opening outdoors, which has been even event to welcome families to more important this year! their new homes and give them Building these homes has been an opportunity to meet their a joint effort, with support neighbours. Sadly, we haven’t from Northampton Borough been able to do that due to Council and amazing work from COVID-19 restrictions, so we’ve our contractor, Jeakins Weir. done things a little differently. They carried on working through We made a video which has been tough times this year, and we’re shared on our social channels. “I can’t believe this is my home, it still feels quite surreal! I’m really enjoying putting my own touches on my new home, I love it!” New NPH resident 10 Your Voice Issue 18 Winter 2020 Tel: 0300 330 7003 Email: [email protected] 11

#InvestingInYourNeighbourhood

ou may have be fitted with new cladding and seen the NPH windows. Take a look at the Meet team in your photo on the right, we think it Y neighbourhood. looks great! We’re working hard to invest in your homes to Head to our website to find make them more modern and out more - you can use our the team energy efficient. interactive map to find out what’s going on in your area. Your Voice editors took a trip to Meet Peter Gates, Housing Asset Strategy Briar Hill to check out the www.nph.org.uk/new-build- external works happening there. and-neighbourhood- All NPH homes in the area will investment Tell us about your job departments and see great “Meeting satisfied changes in the town. For the past 3 years, NPH has residents who now been installing new door entry In one of my first jobs, we had a systems across Northampton. coal fireplace as our heating, have extra peace #MoreNewHomes I’ve been overseeing the which gives you an idea just how of mind is a great much has changed. project, and we’ve installed feeling” ur new build Moray Lodge systems into over 550 blocks, With my job, I feel very lucky as programme has and approximately 1,443 I get to see the actual finished Another supported scheme in These much needed 2 bedroom Peter continued separate doors. product once a door has been , this time with 20 homes homes are looking great! throughout the installed. And most of all, meeting O for adults with additional needs. I make sure our residents get the pandemic and it’s right key fobs and that the doors satisfied residents who now wonderful to see residents are installed to the right standard. have extra peace of mind is a moving into their new homes. great feeling. These new systems mean that We’re doing everything we can What do you do in to find opportunities to build Riverside House our residents are even more more homes and here are just secure in their blocks and your spare time? because they are more efficient, a few of the projects we’re Riverside House I’m a big music fan, in fact, I used Lings we’re saving on running costs. working on. We’re really excited about this to run my own mobile disco back Oak Tree Rise new office conversion! It will We are hoping that the project in the day! I must have around Lings create 60, 1 and 2 bedroom won’t be further delayed due 5,000 7” vinyls in my collection. This development in Thorplands to COVID restrictions, and we An example of the many smaller flats in a brilliant location close Always been big on Motown, will provide 9 bungalows with to the town centre. Keep an finish the work by the end of Soul and 60’s music. support, for adults with developments we’re working on eye out for progress updates in March 2021. n additional needs. across town, we’ve completed If you lose your key four new homes with 4 the coming months. What do you love fob and need a new bedrooms in Lings. We regularly share updates about your job? one, you can on our social media channels, purchase another I started with Northampton make sure you don’t miss out for £42, just call Borough Council 44 years ago, and give us a follow! 0300 3307003. which makes me one of the NPH Connect longest serving workers at NPH! I’ve been fortunate enough to Moray Lodge Kingsthorpe @NPH_news work in lots of different 12 Your Voice Issue 18 Winter 2020 Tel: 0300 330 7003 Email: [email protected] 13

New handyperson service Let’s talk coming soon!

We love hearing your ideas about NPH services and energy sharing your views really can make a difference. Through our resident involvement groups, t’s been quite a year n Support with higher bills So, if you are struggling with your we heard the same kind of and many of us will caused by using extra energy energy bills, it’s worth getting in question from different be spending more in self-isolation; touch with your supplier as soon residents - “how can we support residents who struggle Were you time at home than as you can. I n Payment breaks or reductions to maintain their home?”. ever before. As the cold weather sets in, it could be a in how much you can pay; We’ve put some energy saving The Happy to Help board got tips together for you on our good time to check whether you’re n to work and started looking at Giving you longer to make on the best and cheapest tariff for website - take a look, it could how we could help with the listening? your payments; and save you a few quid! little jobs around the home your current circumstances. n In some circumstances, access www.nph.org.uk/energy- that a tenant is responsible for, We’ve teamed up with Energy to hardship funds. saving-tips but for mobility or mental BBC Radio Angels to provide you with a health reasons, they are unable Northampton paid our comparison service that is to manage. Paint Shop a visit. accredited with Ofgem and If you were born on or before 5th May 1953, you may be eligible to We’re thrilled that from early shows every tariff available. a Winter Fuel Payment of between £100 and £300, tax-free. 2021, we will be launching a All you need to do is head to www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment ur doors are open Check for more details. brand-new handyperson www.energyangels.co.uk/n-p-h/ again and we’re service. Whether you’re and follow the simple instructions looking forward to struggling with putting up a few on-screen. If you don’t have shelves, building flat-pack welcoming you O internet access and would like to furniture, decorating, attaching back and hearing see if you can save money, just call curtain poles or even changing about your home makeovers. a hard-to reach lightbulb, 01604 838210, leave a message there will soon be someone Deena Robertson, one of our and one of our lovely resident trustworthy you can call who fantastic Lakeview residents, involvement officers will call doesn’t charge a fortune. spoke to the breakfast show you back. Costs will be calculated based reporter about why you should The Government has launched on the job you need and your pay the Paint Shop a visit: individual circumstances. an emergency package to make “I read about the Paint Shop in sure that you don’t face hardships If you’ve got a job you’re from heating or lighting your struggling with, please get in the last newsletter so thought home during the pandemic. touch with us, we can’t wait to I would go to Kings Heath and introduce you to the newest take a look. I’d been wanting to Your energy supplier will talk member of #TeamNPH. redecorate my bedroom for a to you about options that could while, but paint is so expensive, help you, including: NPH Connect I hadn’t been able to manage it. n A review of payment plans, I would recommend anyone to go including debt repayment; @NPH_news there, you can get tins of paint for £1 or £2, what a bargain!” 14 Your Voice Issue 18 Winter 2020 Tel: 0300 330 7003 Email: [email protected] 15 Your unitary Your views matter In November, we sent out surveys to a sample of 2,000 of our residents.

We carried out a full survey in We will also be sending out feedback, it helps us to continually Council 2017 and committed to a few our second Leaseholder Survey. improve your services. smaller surveys to gather views This will be sent to all on recent service changes. If you have any questions or you leaseholders, leaseholder would like to check that the Another full survey will be held tenants and managing agents. ou may have heard that local again in 2021. survey you’ve received is genuine, government in Again, please give us your please call us on 0300 330 7003. is changing. Currently, we provide The surveys are being conducted Y housing services on behalf of independently on behalf of NPH Northampton Borough Council but, by The Leadership Factor, an from 1 April 2021, Northampton Borough Council experienced research company. will be replaced by West Northamptonshire Council. If you’re a tenant and you have Northampton Borough, Daventry District and South received a survey from us, Northamptonshire Councils will combine with part of will merge with the remainder of the County Council please do complete it, we’d love Northamptonshire County Council to form the new to become North Northamptonshire Council. to hear about your views on West Northamptonshire Council. It will provide all This change is taking place so services are easier to recent service changes. local authority services in the area, with the only access, can be delivered more efficiently, and offer exception being a new Children’s Trust, delivering better value for money. children’s social care and targeted early help services As NPH will continue to manage your housing ARE YOU across the county. services, you will see no change to the support you receive. Your tenancy agreement will remain the Your voice can make READY TO DO In the rest of Northamptonshire, Corby, Kettering, IT ONLINE? East Northamptonshire and Councils same. There will also be no change to who you approach for support - the people you’re familiar with a difference CHECK YOUR RENT will still be available on the same email addresses and ACCOUNT ONLINE phone numbers. We recently reviewed the use changing our Community Hub of our community hubs and at Blackberry Lane. I am hoping SET UP A DIRECT In previous issues of our resident newsletter, you’ll were proposing to close the that when life gets better the DEBIT ONLINE have read about our extensive building programme hubs at Hinton Road and residents will realise the to provide more social and affordable housing. Blackberry Lane. importance of having a place REPORT AND BOOK REPAIRS ONLINE This will continue at pace in the coming years and to go and meet others.” we could even see opportunities to provide We talked to residents in the additional homes across the wider West local area and listened to their You can give us feedback at HEAD TO WWW.NPH.ORG.UK Northamptonshire area. feedback, which resulted in us any time: AND REGISTER NOW! changing our plans and deciding Online: www.nph.org.uk/ If you have any questions, please contact to keep Blackberry Lane open! REGISTER give-us-feedback [email protected] Here’s what one of our happy NOW! You can keep up to date with all the news for residents, Diane Dean had By phone: 0300 3307003 West Northamptonshire Council at to say: futurenorthantswest.org, and we’ll provide you NPH Connect with a more detailed update in the next issue of “I am delighted and relieved that you are listening to Your Voice. @NPH_news People’s Power and are not 16 Your Voice Issue 18 Winter 2020

Wordsearch Thanks to NPH resident, C H I S T M A S A N T A C L A Oscar Woodcock for this issue's Christmas A E P R E S E N T S M H S S H wordsearch. R G E O B N G O K I O E T R G For your chance to win £20 in D S T R F L A N S L K J S E I Love2Shop vouchers, can you find all the words that remind us of M S L A T K E T I A E A O K E Christmas?

I E R E K S L S L K N K F C L BLESSINGS S N H U I E A F S T C R H A S CARDS CHRISTMAS TREE T I K O T G W M A I E O Y R E CRACKERS L P C O L O H C T E N E T C N HAPPINESS E P E A N I L B D S K G A S I HOLIDAY T A R S R A D N E R I D S L P JACK FROST MISTLETOE O H I E U D I A U L S R E E P PRESENTS N E K S S E S T Y N L A H I A REINDEER R T S O R F K C A J E S A C H SANTA CLAUS SLEIGH BELLS C R A C K E L L N I S S E L B SNOWFLAKES STOCKINGS We would love to see what you’ve snapped on your camera or TURKEY phone. Send one in, and we’ll feature as many as we can in our next issue. To enter, just email us a snap Email: [email protected] or WhatsApp to: 07342070887 of your completed grid ResourceReg. No. 2110 [email protected] or send it the traditional way to the address on page 2! Congratulations to Mandy who won our wellbeing wordsearch!

Thanks to Sharon Axon and Tabbie and Patrick Nganga for their lovely photos!

Resource Reg.No. 2110

Resource Reg. No. 2110

Resource Reg. No. 2110

Resource Reg. No.2110

Resource Reg. No. 2110