Issue 59 Spring/Summer 2020

The newsletter for Incommunities customers Building great homes and better lives

plus! fantastic prizes to also be won in this Looking watch out Thumbs up issue... for work for cyber to Skipton - Contact scammers homes page 7 page 15 our Hub page 17 WelcomeMessage from Geraldine Howley A warm welcome to your Spring/Summer edition of @home.

We are all facing difficult times as coronavirus affects all of us. Unfortunately, it means many of our services are affected, however you can be assured we are focused on providing you with the best service possible in the circumstances. We include a reminder of the Government’s advice to help protect you and your family on page 10 of your newsletter.

Several sites in are being Your @home also includes more on the new regenerated with new housing fit for European-funded Bradford Employment the future. They include at Hub to help local jobseekers find the right Woods where work nears completion routes into work. on the last of 64 homes for rent built To read more about how we are over two phases. working to improve lives take a In honour of our long standing Board break with your new @home. member and former Council leader, Ian Greenwood, one of the roads at the development will carry his name Geraldine Howley - a wonderful tribute to an inspiring individual. Incommunities Group Chief Executive It’s exciting to see the handover of more homes in Sheffield to Sadeh Lok and the letting of our first rented homes to Incommunities in Skipton. These are going to local people under arrangements with the local Councils in these areas and show our ambitions to spread our wings! “Our Employment We are committed to helping local families and people who might be Hub aims to help job struggling to pay their bills, find seekers find the right work or access the benefits they are entitled to. Teams from Incommunities route into work” and Sadeh Lok continue to develop local partnerships in West to Contacting us help you. There are lots of ways of getting in touch with our teams. As well as phoning us, you can email or text us or go to our website www.incommunities.co.uk Our main email enquiries address is: [email protected] Please recycle your @home newsletter

Incommunities Limited is a registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Our main customer telephone Society Act 2014. Registered in with the Financial Conduct Authority No. 30178R. number is: 01274 257777 2 Registered address: The Quays, Victoria Street, Shipley, , BD17 7BN. We have started 2020 with a renewed determination to deliver on our ambitions set out in our strategic plan, Improving Lives to 2040 and having the right skills and people in place is key to our progress. The Board welcome exciting developments taking shape in Bradford, South Yorkshire and now North Yorkshire but we also remain focused on delivering modern high quality services to you. I am delighted that we are seeing major improvement in our repairs operation where we with Jan are embracing new technologies to provide more convenient services that better suit your needs. As an ambitious and responsive housing provider this is the way forward.

Everyone is rightly worried about the Increasing customer engagement and listening to you remains a top priority for us and whether you Coronavirus outbreak and its impact on are a tenant, leaseholder or shared ownership our lives. We want to reassure you that we customer we want to hear from you. There are are committed to keeping our vital services lots of ways you can do this and to find out more running for you and protecting your wellbeing turn to page 10 or ring us on 01274 257905. and that of our most vulnerable residents. These are challenging times but as a group we will continue to move forward with purpose. Jan Ormondroyd 2019 finished on a real high with news that Common Board Chair we had again retained our top rating from our regulator. Road to be named in honour of former Board member To round off the completion of our new homes at Bolton Woods one of the new roads onto the development will be named ‘Ian Greenwood Way’. Ian Greenwood

Ian was a former board member with us and Bradford Council leader. He was elected as a Councillor for in 2018 and sadly died later that year. Geraldine Howley, Incommunities’ Group Chief Executive said: “I am delighted that the Council agreed to our road naming on this development in tribute to Ian. “Ian was passionate about providing good quality housing for everyone and served Incommunities and the with distinction.” Homes at Bolton Woods taking shape The naming ceremony is due to take place later this year.

IMPROVING LIVES INCOMMUNITIES 3 Key to new homes In February we celebrated the completion of the first of a number of affordable homes developments we’re delivering in 2020.

In Thornbury all eleven family-sized homes for rent were quickly snapped up by local homehunters. The homes come with individual driveways and attractive fitted kitchens and bathrooms. Across the city 14 more three and four bedroom homes are nearing completion at Green Lane. Sixty-five houses have been completed at the Rupert Pometsey, Incommunities’ Director of Manningham site in two earlier phases. Development said: “We are committed to giving local people greater choice and continuing to reuse At Bolton Woods 40 family-sized homes for rent old housing sites to offer affordable and attractive are taking shape as part of our second phase of 21st century homes. works to breathing new life into the area. Our new homes will add to the exciting plans by developers “Over the past decade we have built over to create an ‘urban village’ with links via the Canal 800 new homes across the district and Road corridor to the city centre. in Kirklees and working with Homes In the coming weeks, diggers will move onto the site England we are on track to deliver of our former sheltered scheme in Undercliffe as another 1000 affordable work starts on building 25 three and four bedroom homes by 2025.” homes for affordable rent.

Hard to let blocks to make way for

new homes The last of the three blocks, Peel House, comes down The skyline at Crosley Wood in has changed with the demolition of three empty high-rise blocks.

Over 20,000 tonnes of debris has been removed as the site is being prepared for a new lease of life. All of the material is being recycled to create hardcore for road surfacing and new UPVC windows. Exciting plans have been submitted to build 93 two and three bedroom homes with half available for rent and the rest for shared ownership and sale. 4 Caring workers made 2019 a bumper fundraising year as they Clocking up the walked, swum, rowed and baked to raise over £9,000 for miles for charity some great causes.

Over £1,600 was raised for Women’s Aid in a swim challenge led by Group Chief Executive Geraldine Howley. The four-strong team took to the icy waters of Lake Windermere for the Great North Swim. Another fearless team took on a zip wire challenge to raise £1,450 for the Sue Ryder Manorlands hospice. Residents at some of the housing group’s retirement living schemes joined staff to collect and donate £700 for Macmillan Cancer Support by organising At the end of 2019 we raised our biggest coffee mornings. sum (£2,061) in a staff raffle in aid of the local homelessness charity, Bradford Nightstop. A big thank you to residents at Goodwin House who joined our housing teams in Shipley, Bradford and Further charities supported included Simon on the Huddersfield in donating food, toiletries, toys and Street, MIND, the Royal British Legion, Alzheimer’s clothes to three local foodbanks as well as Bradford Society, Save the Children and Bradford Burns Unit. Women’s Aid, the Pennine Domestic Violence Incommunities’ Group Chief Executive Geraldine Group and Bradford Nightstop. Howley, said: “It’s been another fantastic fundraising year with charities – big and small – benefiting from the selfless support of staff and residents who’ve all been determined to make a difference to others lives.” Staff and residents in ‘red day’ for heart fund

Scores of staff turned up for work in red last month to raise money towards the vital work of the Leeds- based Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. Bucket collections at our different bases raised £200 and kind hearted residents at Farish House in donated a further £100 following a bun sale and raffle.

ff wear red Sta at T he Q u a y s !

IMPROVING LIVES INCOMMUNITIES 5 Managing your money Spring is a good time to get on top of your finances.

Managing your household budget can sometimes be a juggling act so here are some top tips from our Income Team to help stay in control of your Make things easier finances. and set up a Making a Budget is the first step to keep direct debit! track of what’s coming in and going out Setting up a monthly direct debit Try to save every month and this can help you to pay your rent is a great way of budget for any emergencies. Even regularly managing your budget and your tenancy. It’s saving a small amount soon adds up the safest and easiest way to ensure your Switching energy suppliers can save you rent and other bills are paid on time. hundreds of pounds - shop around Paying by Direct Debit can be very flexible and you can pay weekly, fortnightly or Check your bank account regularly monthly on any day that suits you. Plan your shopping in advance. Make a list It is easy to set up – just call the before you start and stick to it Income Team 01274 254777 or email Use phone apps. There are lots of free [email protected], budgeting apps to download contact us online through WebChat on the Incommunities website (Incommunities Check online shopping sites to compare customers) or for Sadeh Lok customers prices ring 01484 435715 or email [email protected] Ensure you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to. Go to ‘Better Off’ on the Incommunities website to check your entitlement and how to apply Deal with your debts. If you are struggling to pay debts then please contact us. We can ‘signpost’ you to the advice and support National Living Wage services that can help you. changes From April 2020

From 1st April 2020 the National Living Need help with your budgeting, energy wage (for workers aged 25 and over) will bills, debts, savings or benefits? If so increase from £8.21 to £8.72 per hour. The then our Money Matters Team is here to National Minimum wage increases to £8.20 help. Tel 01274 254777. per hour for 21-24 year olds, £6.45 per hour for 18-20 year olds and £4.55 for under 18s. The National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices rises to £4.15 per hour.

6 Events turn spotlight on cyber scammers We have supported two internet safety days to help local people keep safe online and look out for scams. Hundreds of people attended free events in Bradford and Keighley which included workshops on cyber security, health and the internet and the dangers of online gambling. The multi-agency campaign was organised by the Anti-Poverty Events Group and supported by Bradford District Credit Union, People CAN, Bradford Carers Resource and Bradford Council.

Be alert and protect yourself by following our top tips. Avoid any unexpected phone calls, text messages, emails or DON’T GET messages on social media sites. If in doubt end the call/log off Never give out your personal information such as bank account or SCAMMED! credit card details Mobile phones, Keep your virus protection software up to date computers and tablets Make sure your accounts have strong passwords that would be difficult to guess and change them regularly are increasingly being Keep your password and pin numbers in a safe place targeted by scammers to Make sure any websites you are using are secure – get your money or steal web address should start HTTPS or HTTP personal data. Sign up for a call blocking service like the Telephone Preference Service STOP – visit online www.tpsonline.org.uk PRESS If you think that you’re being scammed ring Bradford District Action Fraud – the national reporting centre – Credit Union has launched a £500 family loan. To be eligible the on 0300 123 2040 or report it online applicant must be receiving www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud Child Benefit. To find outmore click www.bdcu.co.uk/ family%20loan

Incommunities are starting an exciting new partnership with . By working together with Yorkshire Water we are now able to direct you to the best tariffs and schemes available with the company. They want to take out the worry about paying their bills. There are lots of ways they can help make bills more affordable; from payment plans, to capped charges and tailored arrangements if you need to catch up with payments. For more information about this and to be referred please contact our Money Matters Team on 01274 254777.

IMPROVING LIVES INCOMMUNITIES 7 Legionella important customer information What is Legionella? Legionella is a serious pneumonia-like illness which can be caused by inhaling small droplets of water It is important that you: containing the Legionella bacteria. In homes, the • ensure your hot water systems are in bacteria can be found in certain conditions in working order the hot and cold water systems. It can thrive in • do not adjust the settings on your boiler temperatures between 20-45ºC. and heating system. Your hot water should be set to 60ºC • make sure cold water coming out of your Our responsibilities taps is cold As your landlord we have a legal responsibility to • flush through any showers in your help prevent the Legionella bacteria developing property at least two minutes every week in local homes – this includes carrying out full risk • clean and maintain all outlets including assessments. your shower head, descale and disinfect at However, you, our customer, also have a key role in least every three months. reducing any risk.

Please contact our Customer Contact Centre on 01274 257777 (Incommunities tenants) or 01484 435 715 (Sadeh Lok tenants) immediately if: • your cold water is still running warm after you have run off any water which may have built up in your pipes • you have problems with water flow, bits in the water or discolouration • the boiler or hot water tank is not working properly or your water is running hot! If you have been away from your home for two weeks or more, on your return, please remember to flush your water systems through by running your taps for at least two minutes.

Regulator gives Incommunities top marks! We are delighted to have again retained top marks from our regulator for the way we are run and our finances. The rating follows checks into our systems, processes, policies and our continuous work to deliver value for money. It is the second time in 2019 the group has achieved this rating from the Regulator of Social Housing and shows the progress we are making to deliver high quality customer services. 8 Are you looking Your mental health and wellbeing is just after yourself and as important as your your wellbeing? physical health.

Did you know that 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 10 children experience mental illness at some point in their life? Here are some practical tips and advice from the NHS to help you make the best choices about your health and wellbeing: eat a balanced diet and keep active make sure to get enough sleep/rest spend time with friends, loved ones and people you trust try to stop smoking/reduce your alcohol intake take up new hobbies and learn new skills give some time for others – try volunteering set yourself realistic goals

For more information and to follow five steps to good mental wellbeing go to:- www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing Go to www.mind.org.uk for lots of practical help and information. Positive mental health and wellbeing helps you to function well, improves your self-esteem and makes you better able to cope with life’s ups and downs. If you feel your mental health is getting on top of you please contact your GP. For more advice online go to www.nhs.uk

Re-use, donate If you’re looking to give your home a fresh lick of paint why not pop along to a paint recycling centre like Community RePaint in Bradford or Seagulls and save money! Reuse in Leeds? They have most colours at great Did you know there are lots of ways of prices and can remix paints for you! For more information go to picking up good quality items for your www.communityrepaint.org.uk/i_need_paint/bradford/ home or donating your unwanted things and www.seagullsreuse.org.uk to help others? If you have an unwanted bike to give away or are In Bradford, the ‘New to me’ shop at the Bowling looking for a refurbished one try MCF Bikery in Back Lane household waste recycling centre Shipley or Streetbikes in Huddersfield. They run all offers good quality items in exchange for a £1 sorts of courses to keep you and your bike fit. For donation (per item) to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal. more information go to MCF Bikery on It’s open Monday to Friday and goods on offer Facebook or www.streetbikes.org.uk So go on - include pots, pans and cutlery. It’s also well worth browsing give reuse There are lots of furniture projects in Bradford, the web for free items listed on and recycling Keighley, Huddersfield and Leeds offering good Freecycle or Freegle in your area. a go! quality used furniture and white goods for families on low budgets. To find out your nearest reuse centre go to www.reuse-network.org.uk IMPROVING LIVES INCOMMUNITIES 9 CORONAVIRUS – IMPORTANT ADVICE

We would urge everyone to follow government and NHS Use the 111 online coronavirus service to guidance to help limit the spread of coronavirus and protect find out what to do. you and your family. Only call 111 if you cannot get help online. Symptoms to watch for: Go online at www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19/

a continuous high shortness cough temperature of breath You can help prevent the spread of infection STAY AT HOME – you can only leave your The best way to protect yourself and home: others is by:- • to shop for basic essentials – only when you really washing your hands with soap and need to •  water often – do this for at least 20 to do one form of exercise a day •  – such as a run, walk seconds or cycle, alone or with other people you live with • for any medical need – for example, to visit a pharmacy • using an alcohol-based hand or deliver essential supplies to a vulnerable person sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available • to travel to and from work – but only where this is absolutely necessary • covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) What to do if you have when you cough or sneeze • putting used tissues in the bin coronavirus symptoms straight away and washing your Continue to stay at home if you have either: hands afterwards • trying to avoid close contact with a high temperature •  – this means you feel hot to touch on people who are unwell your chest or back • avoiding touching your eyes, nose or • a new, continuous cough – and you are coughing a lot mouth if your hands are not clean

For the latest information and advice go to www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Why not get involved? We care about your views and are committed to listening to our customers. Whether you are a tenant, leaseholder or shared join one of our customer panels such as our ownership resident your feedback is important to us. editorial panel which looks at the way we There are lots of ways you can get involved and communicate with our customers help shape our services. These include: taking part in focus groups, individual resident joining our team of customer inspectors who consultations or one-off surveys into our work regularly check our services and report back giving your feedback about a neighbourhood their findings to make sure that, if needed, matter at one of our estate walkabouts – improvements are made. these run quarterly and led by your local becoming a block inspector who look into the neighbourhood housing officer. standard of cleaning in our blocks and their Training will be given and expenses surrounds. to attend meetings are paid.

If you are interested in getting involved or have a good idea to encourage more involvement please contact our Policy and Performance Team on 01274 257905 10 or email [email protected] Gas safety in your home – please give us access Did you Incommunities has a legal obligation to carry out Keeping your central an annual gas safety check at every property with heating running smoothly. know? a gas connection. We take this responsibility very If you are having an issue We carried out over seriously so we can:- with your heating then 24,000 gas repairs try these simple steps (it ensure your gas appliances are SAFE to use. visits in 2019. might mean you don’t have ensure your appliances are running efficiently to call our Repairs team):- – saving you money. Check that the gas supply is reduce the Number of repairs we do – saving turned on and that your meters are in credit. us money. Check that your controls are set to the heat and hot water position. We will write to you with an appointment approximately one week before your scheduled Check that any timer / programmer are set to visit to carry out this safety check. If the heat and hot water. appointment is inconvenient then please get in touch to arrange an alternative date and time. Check that room thermostats are set high Details of how to get in touch are included in your enough and radiator valves are turned up. appointment letter. On the day... of your gas safety check please ensure:- both gas and electric meters are in credit if you have pre-paid meters. someone over the age of 18 is at the property to permit access for our engineer. you check the engineer’s identity card – all our engineers should produce this. the area around your boiler, gas meter, and gas fire is clear for the engineer to work safely.

Remember – It is important that you give us access for your home gas service check. Failure to honour an appointment, or a rescheduled visit, is a breach of your tenancy agreement, which could result in legal action via the courts.

IMPROVING LIVES INCOMMUNITIES 11 This spectacular stage show tells the story of Simba, on his journey from wide-eyed cub to becoming king of the Serengeti Plains. To enter our prize draw and the chance to win, simply answer the question below correctly:

Which British rock star and ‘Sir’ won an Oscar in We have two £20 1995 for ‘Best Music’ featured in The Lion King? shopping cards Was it? up for grabs! a. Robbie Williams b. Elton John

c. Paul McCartney Closing date: 30 April Send your entry to FREEPOST Incommunities 2020 or email [email protected] Competition rules apply. To enter this competition you must be an Incommunities or Sadeh Lok tenant/leaseholder or shared ownership customer. Are you interested in helping make the news? We are currently looking for new members The panel meets up to three times a year at The to join our customer editorial panel. Quays in Shipley. Members are sometimes asked for feedback on email. As part of our panel you will be able to give Travel expenses are paid to attend panel your views on the design, content and style of meetings. a range of communications that we produce for our customers. If you would like to express an interest This includes @home, our annual report and in joining our customer editorial panel,

mailings to customers. in the first instance, please email [email protected] We would love to hear from Incommunities and Sadeh Lok tenants and leaseholders who might be interested in joining our panel and especially young people and those from ethnic minority groups. Being a panel member is a great way of getting involved and helping make sure our communications to customers are easy to understand and clear before they go out. 12 Dealing with complaints how we perform Complaints by service area – April – Dec 2019 Did you know? Repairs You can track our quarterly performance Customer service across our services on our website www.incommunities.co.uk/our-performance Tenancy management we respond effectively to all complaints and that we Estate Services have the skills and information to resolve them to Paying for home and services your satisfaction. If you are not happy with any of our services, Housing allocations think we can do things better or want to compliment us, you can do this via our website (www. Home ownership, leasehold and new-build incommunities.co.uk – go to ‘about us’). Improvement Works You can log your ‘compliments, comments and complaints’ at www.incommunities.co.uk/ Multi Service Complaints compliments-comments

Out of the 1324 complaints logged, 98% were Repairs performance resolved at the first stage, 20 progressed to next Our repairs service receives the highest stage for a second opinion. number of complaints, but it represents only We are committed to giving you the best service about 1% of the many repairs we carry out possible but sometimes we know we fall short. You every day. can be assured we want to learn from complaints In Summer 2019 we introduced changes to made and improve our services to you. our repairs operation to make our services To understand if we are responding well to your more convenient for you. If you have reported complaints we ask for your feedback. We are a home repair you will have noticed that you pleased that 92% of customers were happy with will receive text messages confirming when the way their complaint was handled. we are calling. To continually improve our services to you, in May You will also soon be able to report repairs 2019 we introduced a new way of recording all online through our customer portal go to contacts with customers so we can see all the www.incommunities.co.uk/customer-portal information about your tenancy when we speak to There is still more work to do to improve our you. This is proving invaluable to staff and this helps service and we are always keen to hear your ensure you receive the right advice and information feedback. You can do this by emailing quicker. Please note we may ask you for or additional questions [email protected] ringing . to ensure our 01274 257777 records are right up to date. Did you know? We are reviewing Our Repairs Service carried out our complaints over 60,000 repairs a year procedures and working with our teams to make sure IMPROVING LIVES INCOMMUNITIES 13 Taking the right path into work! Four youngsters are taking a positive path into work thanks to Incommunities. Photo shows the young learners with Incommunities’ The group from Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College Functional Skills Tutor, Nicki Woods at our completed a City and Guilds course run by our Employability Construction Training Centre. Team aimed at getting them work ready to make that successful leap into work. As part of their training each of the 15 and 16 year olds were given one to one coaching to build their confidence and they also had a go at different construction skills. Susan Stewart, Careers Leader at the college said: “This is a perfect example of how effective business – school partnerships can be in transforming the lives of our young people. Well done Incommunities!” Three Bowling Park pupils with teacher Daniel Weldon (left) and Nick Dine from Incommunities’ Budding builders Construction Training Team get a taste for work! Eight pupils from Bowling Park Primary School were given a ‘real life’ taste of construction work with the help of some of our apprentices. At the training day they quizzed our young trainees and training staff about working for a big local company and also went on a tour of our Construction Training Centre. To round off the day the youngsters were set the challenge of building a picnic table. It was the latest ‘taster day’ run by us to help primary and high school students explore their own career ambitions. Green fingered Pauline honoured Congratulations to Shipley tenant Pauline Kitchen who was recognised in the city’s prestigious Community Star Awards. Pauline is the leading light behind a busy gardening group who give their time to brighten up the surrounds of their flats at Norwood Avenue. She has kept up to the communal gardens for over 25 years and helped turn the plot into a relaxing space for everyone to enjoy. The awards were organised by the People Can community group and Bradford Council and supported by local business including Incommunities. 14 “Five decades later Malcolm’s model returns home it’s lovely to see the model back 50 years on! home.”

At the turn of the year we were delighted to welcome ‘home’ a fifty year old scale model of what would become Maple Court in Bingley.

The large model was donated by the former Council architect who designed the development in the late 1970s. He came across it when he was getting ready to Photo shows Malcolm Bayliss with Janet Warren move house and after dusting it down got in touch from Maple Court looking at the model. with the local retirement living officer, Janet Warren. Janet Warren from Maple Court said: “A big thank The wooden model titled ‘Ash Terrace Aged you to Malcolm for donating it. It’s now on display Persons Flatlets’ now takes pride of place in the and has proved a real talking point among visitors scheme’s communal lounge for everyone to see. and residents. Malcolm said: “The model formed part of the “It is a testament to Malcolm and his architects planning process to show how the eventual team’s hard work that their design has stood development would look. the test of time as we now prepare for exciting “Five decades later it’s lovely to see the model changes at Maple Court which includes becoming a back home.” community hub for residents around here.”

New Skipton homes get thumbs up! Skipton mum Rachel Torres and her young son bedroom homes - 17 for affordable rent and five are among the first tenants to snap up one of released for shared ownership. All these homes our new homes in the North Yorkshire town. will be released to homehunters with ‘local Twenty-two homes connections’. are being Rachel is delighted with her new “The house bought by home after struggling to keep up is spacious and Incommunities to the rising rent and costs of the convenient for my as part of private rented accommodation work and popping a planning she lived in the town. into Skipton high street.” agreement She said: “The house is – Section 106 fabulous and the lower – with the UK rent and heating bills developers, Miller is really helping us to Homes. enjoy living here.” The Cornerfields development will include a mix of two and three

IMPROVING LIVES INCOMMUNITIES 15 If you see flytipping taking place please call us on Let’s get it sorted 01274 257990 Our estate teams are committed to working with giving the location (such as nearest road), the time and date and the you to keep your neighbourhood clean and tidy. details of those you know are involved. All reports will be Everyone can do their bit to help by using the bins arranging for a paid treated in the strictest correctly at your home. This includes: collection. You can confidence. complete a ‘bulky waste sorting your waste into the correct bins collection online form’ at www.bradford.gov.uk or call the Anyone using your recycling bins for the right waste Council on 01274 431000. found dumping rinsing bottles and jars and squashing cardboard If you need a recycling bin rubbish could face boxes before placing them in your recycling bins simply visit the Council website enforcement action and go to ‘order new recycling avoiding leaving rubbish next to your bin. It’s and a large fine. bins for paper, plastic, glass not just unsightly but food waste attracts vermin and cans’. There is no charge for and disease whilst cans and bottles can recycling bins. cause injuries. Put it in the bin!. Garden waste must be disposed of separately putting your bins out early either by subscribing to the Council’s collection on your collection days service or going to your local household waste site. and take them back when the refuse teams have Responding to reports of fly-tipped rubbish causes emptied them. extra work and cost for our teams, time and money which can better used in other areas of our work. Bulkier waste items such We want to avoid fly-tipped incidents like this that as electrical goods and blight neighbourhoods. furniture should either go to the nearest household waste site or removed by

Existing customers will need to submit an online application to maintain their registration. Your current needs banding will be automatically New housing transferred within six weeks of you making this allocations system application. One of the key changes is General Needs applicants will no longer be matched to live properties automatically and will need to place goes bids on properties online through the Bradford The way to apply for rental housing is changing. Homes’ Property Shop. From 1st April instead of registering by If you would like to register on telephone, customers looking for a home the new system please click need to register online at the Bradford Homes www.bradfordhomes.org.uk and website – www.bradfordhomes.org.uk complete the online application. The site is easy to use, available 24/7 and will If you don’t have access to a save you time. computer to register you can use a mobile phone By registering, applicants will join the list for or tablet device or use housing association and privately rented a computer in a local homes. You can also place bids on properties library. through the property shop and manage 16 your application online. Helping you into work

If you’re aged 18 and over and are unemployed, our new Employment Hub is here to help you get into work, gain new skills and quali cations.

Our friendly Employment Advisors are on hand to give free advice on: To nd out more and how we can help you, • searching local job sites • careers advice including contact us: • writing e ective CVs apprenticeship opportunities • completing job applications • in-work support Tel: 01274 257788 • making the right impression in • free maths and English courses interviews Email: employment.hub @incommunities.co.uk This project is part funded by the European Social Fund and is supported by Bradford Council.

Need help with your garden? We recognise that some customers She said: “I was kindly put in touch with may struggle sometimes to keep the scheme after ringing Incommunities about my boiler! The estate team have up to their garden. made a big difference and they were very Our Estate Services offer an Assisted considerate and kind. Garden Service for older and disabled “Their cutting back will really help me tenants. This includes cutting back shrubs, keep up with the garden and enjoy it grass cutting and trimming boundary again.” hedging. If you need help to tidy up your garden Recently, one of our teams helped a lady and are aged over 70 or receive a who had been finding it difficult staying on disability/mobility allowance simply call Pat in her top of her garden following the sad loss of our Estate Services on 01274 257990 for trimmed back garden her husband a couple of years ago. an application form. You will need to show Pat from was overjoyed by proof of your eligibility for this free service. the transformation in her back garden after one of our teams attended. IMPROVING LIVES INCOMMUNITIES 17 INCOMMUNITIES Headway

CONTACTS Area Neighbourhood Contact tel: Officer Bankfoot, Queensbury Joanne Shepherd 07960 150471 & Clayton Heights Bierley Claire Walker 07837 999384 Buttershaw, Carli Dodd 07837 999249 Lower Buttershaw Jayne Wormald 07837 999367 Delph Hill, St Mary’s, Shirley Manor, Westfield Lane, Anne-Marie Corbett 07983 373377 Oakenshaw & Wilson Road & Neighbourhood 01274 257777 Scholemoor Team Helen Thornton 07837 999368 Farway Javed Khan 07837 999768 Julie Fowler 07900 138285 Holme Wood Felcourt Here is your Kirsty Smith 07908 549372 Spring/Summer 2020 Holme Wood Wendy Clayton 07900 406407 Landsholme Julie Fowler 07900 138285 up to date neighbourhoods Holme Wood Stirling Javed Khan 07837 999768 contacts list. Low Moor & Woodside Jayne Wormald 07837 999367 Claire Flesher 07900 406432 Aire Wharfe Wycoller Claire Walker 07837 999384

Area Neighbourhood Contact tel: Officer , , Morton, Gemma Drayton 07796 996194 Utley, Eastburn, & Steeton Bradford West City Bingley Central, Cottingley, , Area Neighbourhood Contact tel: Rachel Lees 07837 999276 and Crosley Officer Wood Karamat Hussain 07837 999406 Allerton Bracken Bank, James Fellowes 07900 406425 Linda Wear 07890 999486 & Broomhill Canterbury Marta Barnett 07887 824548 Braithwaite, , West Lane & Bev Lockwood 07903 893727 Clayton & Thornton Debra Woodhead 07900 406411 Haworth Road, Neighbourhood 01274 257777 Burley-in-, Lilycroft & Valley Road Team , & Josie Crook 07837 999665 Lower Grange, & Four Lane Jackie Mann 07983 472392 Lawkholme, Ends Guardhouse & Lee Keach 07837 999586 Highfield Manchester Road Pauline Lewis 07795 666816 South Street, Halifax Manningham, Road, Kennedy Princeville, Newcastle Mo Usman 07717 150633 House, , Zak Hussain 07837 999569 & Fairfax House , & Harden Pollard Park Bobbie Atkinson 07837 999599 Parkwood Rise, West Bowling & Afzal Khan 07900 406422 Woodhouse, Jess Nikolaidou 07908 209193 Parkside & Fell Lane Whetley Lane, White Sam Czakon 07931 972698 Abbey & Longlands 18 Shipley, East and North Neighbourhood Services 01274 257777 Anti-Social Behaviour Hotline 01274 254274 Area Neighbourhood Contact tel: Estate and Support Services 01274 257990 Officer Gas Services 01274 254040 Alma & Rosebery Rachel Marsden 07837 999414 Income Team 01274 254777 Green Ian Taylor 07837 999409 & Village Leasehold/Home Ownership 01274 254275 Repairs Hotline (24-hour) 01274 257003 Coach Road, Owlet Lesley Wilson 07837 999412 Hall & Glenwood Bradford Council’s Hoyle Court, Housing Options Service 01274 435999 Southcliffe, St James, Charlotte Morris 07837 999791 St John’s & , Eccleshill, West Royd, Hannah Emery 07837 999771 & Bolton Woods Retirement living

Fagley Lucy Fontaine 07919 211492 Sites Retirement Contact Tel & Housing Officer Natalie Bateson 07957 444741 York House Ivy Bank Court, Baildon Ade Amidu 07769 966589 Idle End of Thorpe Greenbank & Knoll Debra Parsons 07837 999792 Simon Holroyd 07944 209446 Edge Gardens, Baildon , Leeds Earlswood, Alison Whiteoak 07947 611216 Neighbourhood Road & Hendford 01274 257777 Manor Court, Team Amanda Nommik 07506 741045 Drive Cottingley Leeds Road & Otley Wellesley House, Martin Lacey 07507 849796 Norton House & Road Shanaz Dar 07795 812498 Fortesque House, Owlet and Crag Amanda Turner 07837 999581 Laisterdyke Derby Place, Ravenscliffe Lucy Woodman 07837 999227 Ernest Labad 07837 999398 Thornbury , Shipley, Norwoods, Shipley Shuttleworth House, Caroline Busfield 07919 211492 Helen Rector 07950 523750 Town Centre & Wycliffe Thornton Road Gardens Maple Court, Bingley Janet Warren 07768 792487 Forester Court, , Lower Jayne Currell 07768 217861 & Idle Lucy Woodman 07837 999227 Denholme Area Neighbourhood Contact tel: Village Ormond House & Officer Brentwood Gardens, Kelly Halpin 07837 999655 Thorpe Edge Upper & Karamat Hussain 07837 999406 Dawn Aaron 07795 283316 Allerton Swain House James Fellowes 07900 406425 Staincliffe Court & Beth Hudson 07950 523769 Undercliffe, Thornbury Brierdene, Silsden Canterbury Marta Barnett 07887 824548 Muminul Islam 07956 429364 & Bradford Moor Goodwin House, Naseem Akhtar 07795 801085 Clayton & Thornton Debra Woodhead 07900 406411 Queensbury Haworth Road, Neighbourhood Southfield House 01274 257777 Lilycroft & Valley Road Team & Aynholme Drive, Sue Knight 07795 812497 Addingham Lower Grange, Farish House, Keighley Sinade Galindo 07990 520421 Girlington & Four Lane Jackie Mann 07983 472392 Northdean House, Ends Mark Fielding 07947 611225 Our main customer telephone number is Heights Lane Manchester Road Pauline Lewis 07795 666816 Ashfield Court 01274 257777 (Bingley) & Northcliffe Tahir Khan 07500 339524 Manningham, Princeville, Newcastle Mo Usman 07717 150633 View, Windhill As well as phoning us, you can email & Fairfax House Mobile Retirement or text us or go to our website Susan Knight 07795 812497 Pollard Park Bobbie Atkinson 07837 999599 Housing Officer www.incommunities.co.uk West Bowling & Afzal Khan 07900 406422 Parkside Our main email enquiries address is Whetley Lane, White Sam Czakon 07931 972698 Abbey & Longlands [email protected] IMPROVING LIVES INCOMMUNITIES 19 Nipping garden crime in the bud Spring is a great time to carry out jobs in the garden but it can also provide opportunities for sneak-in thieves.

To help prevent you from being a victim make sure:- • tools, ladders and other outdoor items are not left lying around – lock them away • that if you have a garden shed or outdoor store it’s kept locked. Fit a closed shackle padlock to Using 101 the door non-emergency number • that you fit outside security lighting which comes on automatically Please remember 101 should be used to contact the Police in non-emergency • that tools and outdoor furniture is marked with situations such as reporting a car crime or your postcode damage to a property. The 101 service is • your garden gate is kept closed available 24 hours, seven days a week. • you plant/grow prickly hedging to deter intruders Reports can also be made online – go to • your hedging is well maintained and not www.westyorkshire.police.uk/reportcrime overgrown which can provide cover for intruders. You should still use 999 in an emergency such as where there is a danger to life or For more information and advice on garden security visit if there has been a traffic accident where www.westyorkshire.police.uk/advice/home-security/ someone is injured.

Tree planting at Buttershaw As part of National Tree Week, local Neighbourhood Housing Officer, Carli Dodd and her colleagues joined pupils from Reevy Hill Primary School in a tree and bulb planting day at Brafferton Arbor. They did a fantastic job in very cold and wet conditions, helped by residents who kept them going with tea and mince pies. Everyone is now looking forward to seeing their open space transformed with Spring flowers and trees bloom in the months and years to come.