We Are Extremely Grateful to the Scottish Government for Funding Of

Covid 19 Update & Routemap...... p2 -3 Repair and Maintenance Service...... p4 New Member of our Team...... p5 Estates News...... p6 Financial Support...... p7 SUMMER 2020 NEWSLETTER 81 Other News...... p8

FANTASTIC NEWS We are extremely grateful to the enable these groups, often of volunteers, to Scottish Government for funding continue to do the amazing work that they have of £50,000 from the “Supporting been doing so far across all our communities. Communities” fund to allow us to We have been allocating this money for food provision, equipment, expenses and emergency provide essential financial aid to the fuel top ups. various resilience groups who are The grant underlines our work as a community working tirelessly in our communities anchor organisation, helping support our Business to provide support to those who are Vison of Great Homes, Great People, Vibrant needing it most as a result of the Communities. Covid 19 crisis. If you would like further information please Many local groups have been working non-stop contact Alan Thomas our Community to provide an essential lifeline to individuals Engagement Coordinator on throughout this pandemic and we cannot 01290 428015 or email him, express enough how thankful we are to [email protected] these people. It is fantastic that we find ourselves in this position where we can

Newsletter of Shire Housing Association Limited, Netherthird House, Netherthird, Cumnock, KA18 3DB T: 01290 421130 E: [email protected] W: www.shirehousing.co.uk facebook.com/shirehousing

SHIRE HOUSING ASSOCIATION LIMITED IS A REGISTERED CHARITY NO SC038664 Find us on Twitter: @shire_HA Covid-19 Update The Covid-19 Crisis has presented an unprecedented challenge across all our communities. Despite having to close our office during the lockdown, all our staff continue to work remotely from home, and our Management Board continues to meet monthly using video conferencing technology. Shire HA Covid 19 Routemap

Business Activity Lockdown Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Construction sector restart plan Phases 0-2 of construction industry restart plan can be Construction industry to implement remaining stages of phased return implemented (Industry to consult government before progressing to Phase 2) Emergency Repair Service Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Non-emergency Repairs – External No Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls)

Non-emergency Repairs – Internal No No Possible* (with tenant consent and Possible* (with tenant consent Yes (with tenant consent and with controls) and with controls) with controls)

Allocations Only emergency homeless Only emergency homeless Possible* (with tenant consent and Possible* (with tenant consent Yes (with tenant consent and allocations (with controls) allocations (with controls) with controls) and with controls) with controls)

Occupied Property Inspections Avoid if possible (virtual Avoid if possible Possible* (with tenant consent and Possible* (with tenant consent Yes (with tenant consent and appointments recommended) (virtual appointments with controls) and with controls) with controls) recommended) Estate Inspections Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Close Inspections – Safety Inspections Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls)

Tenant Home Visits No (virtual appointments No (virtual appointments Possible* – with controls Possible* – with controls Possible* – with controls only) only) (virtual appointments recommended) (virtual appointments (virtual appointments recommended) recommended) Cyclical Maintenance – Statutory (e.g. gas Yes (with tenant consent and Yes (with tenant consent Yes (with tenant consent and with Yes (with tenant consent and Yes (with tenant consent and safety checks) with controls) and with controls) controls) with controls) with controls)

Cyclical Maintenance – Safety Related No Yes (with tenant consent Yes (with tenant consent and with Yes (with tenant consent and Yes (with tenant consent and and with controls) controls) with controls) with controls) Planned and investment works – external No Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls) Yes (with controls)

Planned and investment works – internal No No No Yes (with tenant consent and Yes (with tenant consent and with controls) with controls)

*This will be dependent on Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland guidance and the specific circumstances of the visit

2 Shire News Summer 2020 Staff have continued to deliver offering support, including of the Route Map we will be as many services as possible advice on claiming Universal reintroducing more services, and during the lockdown. Essential Credit where tenants have been we have created our own Route emergency repairs have made redundant or salaries have Map to show when our services reduced. continued, with our contractors are likely to be re-introduced. having the appropriate safety We welcome the Scottish We will ensure that our staff and equipment and respecting Government’s decision to move contractors follow procedures to social distancing. The staff to Phase 2 of the Route Map for protect our service to you. team have also worked hard exiting the Covid-19 lockdown. to try to contact all our tenants As we follow the remainder Shire HA Covid 19 Routemap

Non-emergency Repairs – Internal No No Possible* (with tenant consent and Possible* (with tenant consent Yes (with tenant consent and with controls) and with controls) with controls)

Planned and investment works – internal No No No Yes (with tenant consent and Yes (with tenant consent and with controls) with controls)

*This will be dependent on Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland guidance and the specific circumstances of the visit

Shire News Summer 2020 3 Changes to our Repair and Maintenance Services Unfortunately, as a result Environmental & Property Services calling the office on 01290 421130 of the COVID pandemic and DM Homeshield to protect our and following the instructions. service to you. Please remember, this emergency our repair & maintenance service is in place to respond to contractor, MPS Housing situations that pose a threat to life, Ltd, were unable to security or your ability to remain in continue with our The appointments ensure that you your home. contract. We were very continue to receive a reliable and sad to see a good, reliable responsive repair service until we contractor no longer being can tender for a new long-term Look out for our consultation able to trade. Repair & Maintenance partner. on future Repair Services. This They also offered an opportunity is your opportunity to help The Shire Team have worked of employment for the local influence the repair services tirelessly over the course of the last tradesmen that were at risk of you receive in the future. If few months to secure short-term losing their job when MPS ceased you would like to be involved, arrangements with local multi- to trade. please call Alan, our Community trade contractors to protect service. There will be no change to the Engagement Co-ordinator, to We are delighted to announce standard of service you have come register your interest. Turner Property Services have to expect. An emergency only, out- taken over as primary contractor of-hours service, is still available by and will be supported by A-Catch Repair and Maintenance Service — Covid-19 Update

We ask you to... We will... ZZ Keep 2 metres away from our staff at all time. ZZ Only work if we are fit and well. ZZ Let us know if your repair has got worse. This ZZ Keep at least 2 meters away from you and will allow us to complete the job in one visit. your household. ZZ Tell us if you have symptoms, are self isolating ZZ Carry hand sanitiser. or shielding. ZZ Wash our hands frequently. ZZ Stay in another room if possible. ZZ Always have Personal Protective Equipment ZZ Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when (PPE) that we need. you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your ZZ Minimise visits to complete a job elbow. ZZ Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds or use hand santiser.

By following these steps, we want to reassure you 2 metres that there is a low risk of infection from a home visit by any staff member. Where customers are not willing to do this, we 6 feet reserve the right not to enter the property.

4 Shire News Summer 2020 Our New Community Engagement Coordinator

• Lives: Kilmarnock • Hobbies: Hillwalking, photography, yoga, to name but a few! • Favourite Food: Vegetable Curry

Apart from a few years Everyone at Shire is delighted to spent living abroad Alan has welcome Alan Thomas to the Customer always lived in East Ayrshire. Service Team. Alan took up this post He loves Ayrshire, both its in April but has yet to meet all his landscapes and history, and colleagues as everyone is working from enjoys nothing more than getting outside and exploring home during this strange time. His the region. Alan has spent role involves working with community most of his working life groups, partners and all our tenants in public facing roles and to explore opportunities to help our came to Shire Housing after spending four communities thrive. He has already years working for Home Energy Scotland, the last 3 of which was in the position of Community secured a £50,000 grant from the Outreach Officer. In this role he worked closely Scottish Government to provide vital with community groups all across the South financial support to all the resilience West of Scotland, assisting in various projects, groups and volunteers who are advising on funding opportunities and giving actively working with our communities talks/presentations on energy efficiency and how groups/individuals can reduce their carbon supporting them through the Covid 19 emissions and save money. Alan is relishing the pandemic. opportunity to work closely with the communities If you know of a group that would of East Ayrshire to help promote Shire Housing’s vision of “Great Homes, Great People, Vibrant benefit from Alan’s help, please give Communities”. him a call on 01290 428015.

Shire News Summer 2020 5 Gardens and Open Space Now that the growing season has Should you have large bulky begun, we have been working closely items of rubbish, you can arrange a special uplift with with Tivoli, our open space contractor, East Ayrshire Council by contacting the to ensure all the estates are maintained Department of Cleansing Services on 01563 554033 to a high standard and will be on the or 01563 554032, or contact the office where our lookout for fly tipping. We would customer service team may be able to assist you. also like to remind our tenants that, You can also book a slot at EAC recycling centre by applying for a resident’s permit by visiting https:// as part of your tenancy agreement, www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk you are responsible for ensuring that your garden is kept in a neat and tidy If you have items of furniture to be disposed of that are still in good condition you may wish to use the condition and free from rubbish. You services of one of the furniture donation schemes. are required to cut the grass, cut back The following telephone numbers may assist you to branches and remove weeds. Tidy do this. gardens add to the appearance of your • Cunninghame Furniture recycling 01294 475560 neighbourhood and enhance the local • Cumnock and Doon Valley Gift Furniture Scheme area. If you fail to do this, we can decide 01290 550525 what work requires to be done and issue • British Heart Foundation 0844 499 4155, a bill direct to you for payment. furniture and electrical items East Ayrshire Care & Repair At the start of the COVID-19 lockdown Shire has allowed us to authorise and carry out some Housing, in consultation with East Ayrshire Council, external work which we hope to expand on in the took the decision to suspend the service. Since coming weeks. then we have been working from home and trying On a happier note we are to help clients who call with advice and information delighted to welcome Steve on services which may be able assist them during Chipchase, Team Manager this time. Community Equipment and In the last few weeks as some restrictions have Adaptations, East Ayrshire been lifted by the Scottish Government, we have Council as our contract requested risk assessments from our contractors to administrator. We look ensure they have the necessary PPE and are aware forward to working with of the social distancing measures required. This Steve.

6 Shire News Summer 2020 Best Start Grant - School Age Payment From 1 June applications will be accepted for the Best Start Grant - School Age Payment

What is the Best What is the School Age Payment? Start Grant? It is a £250 payment made around the time a child normally It is a package of three starts Primary 1 to help with the costs of a child starting school. payments that will give You can apply for the School Age Payment if you live in Scotland extra money to parents and whether you are in work or not. You may be eligible if you are the carers during the early years parent or carer of the child, and you get certain benefits or tax of a child’s life. credits.*

*Universal Credit (UC), Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Working Tax Credit. Parent /guardian needs to call a Freephone number 0800 182 2222 and leave your details. Then you will then receive a call back to make the application. A Little Extra Help Lockdown has increased financial worries for a lot of people. We have been able to access grant funding from a number of charities which has allowed us to help some of our tenants during this time.

Cash For Kids launched the Basic Essentials Family Grant Fund and we were able to access money from this fund to support local families. The grants were used in a variety of ways, ordering food deliveries One Parent Families Scotland for families that were shielding, issuing supermarket Emergency Energy Fund vouchers to buy food and topping up electricity meters. Here’s some provided a one-off payment of the responses we received from families that Cash for Kids helped: of £50 to single parent “Just a wee update to let you families who needed help know the food boxes have with their energy bills. We arrived and wow..... there is submitted a number of millions. Managed to get all the applications to this fund in stuff packed away and my fridge June. Keep an eye on our looks amazing. Thanks so much, Facebook page for further we really appreciate it.” releases of this funding stream. “Thanks so much for the help, it will make a massive difference to my family.”

Shire News Summer 2020 7 Universal Credit Keeping Safe We have seen an increase in the number of tenants claiming Universal Credit since the end of March. We are here to help you with your claim and answer any questions that you might have. We can also carry out benefit comparison checks to ensure that you are claiming the correct benefits for your circumstances. Please give us a call on 01290 421130. Competition

Time! We are so proud of our staff During this really difficult time of members, Nicola and Steve, Lockdown we have all been touched who undertook First Aid training through the Ayrshire Chamber of by the many lovely stories of help and kindness that people all around the Commerce. country have shown each other, and Both Nicola and Steve passed with flying we know there have definitely been colours and the skills that they developed lots of heroes here in Ayrshire…. so will ensure that they can help keep our staff now it’s your turn! members and office visitors safe. Nicola said the course was “very extensive, informative,

If someone has gone that extra mile for you practical and enjoyable”. and you would like to nominate them Well done both! for a ‘little thank you’ from Shire, please send us your story! Shire Staff Keep Communities Connected A huge Well Done to Diane and Vince for passing their minibus driver training! Before lockdown, they both volunteered to become MiDAS accredited volunteer drivers for the Coalfield Community Transport charity. This both strengthens our partnership with the local charity and helps us to take more tenants out and about to learn more about our communities or come along to our events.