plusdane.co.uk Customer Magazine Issue 33 | Summer 2019 STAYING What’s SAFE on this online SUMMER Welcome to the summer edition of Plus Dane’s magazine Unity is here to give you a range of advice and information that is relevant to you – including money matters, tips for the home, community news and how your feedback shapes the services we provide. We always want to make sure the magazine features stories that are interesting and useful to you, and it is always good to know what you think. Email us at: [email protected] or write to us at: Unity magazine, Plus Dane Housing, 13-15 Rodney Street, Liverpool, L1 9EF. You told us you’d like to see Things more ideas for FREE things to do in . There’s plenty going on for families across to the North West this summer… here’s some ideas to inspire you, whether it’s do music, sport or museums that take your fancy! Watch out for activities as part of this year’s Summer at the Dock programme at Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock. From August 4 through to Children’s talent show Joytime September 8, there will be a range returns to Vale Park, New Brighton. of free activities, including story The shows are running Monday to time, free football coaching sessions Friday (2pm to 5pm) throughout the summer and film screenings. You’ll also find holidays. So bring the children down for some Tate Liverpool art gallery, the Museum of traditional seaside entertainment! Liverpool and more in the dock area, all FREE to enter. Visit the Albert Dock’s website for more Through July & August, Chester Storyhouse is details. albertdock.com presenting a programme of 12 family-friendly lunchtime concerts completely FREE of charge. Listen out for regular FREE music Whether it’s over lunch, whilst browsing books in the park events in Congleton or simply relaxing in the library, there’s a Park every Sunday throughout chance to listen to some fabulous FREE the summer. And don’t forget music. See the Storyhouse website for dates Congleton Paddling Pool is and times. www.storyhouse.com open for the summer season until September 8. In North Liverpool, Stanley Park is the place to be for FREE family activities every weekend. These include Open Goals with the LFC Foundation on Saturdays at 11am at the Isla Gladstone Conservatory, junior parkrun on Sundays at 9am on the formal terraces, or family yoga on Sundays, 9.30am at the bandstand. 2 Unity Customer Magazine In this edition of 4 MONEY MATTERS Money advice from RAISE Support for managing your Universal Credit Do you need help getting away from a loan shark? Pension credit update 6 IMPROVING OUR SERVICES FOR YOU Smart living solutions for residents Tell us what you think 8 MORE THAN JUST A LANDLORD Supporting you and your community Taking our skills out to you Staying safe when shopping online 11 OUT IN YOUR COMMUNITY 13 Young at heart of a community Photos of a new life Our housing heroes Community hub remembers Irene Three of the best 17 TOP TIPS FOR YOU & YOUR HOME Electrical fire safety What to do about pests 15 20 NEW HOMES FOR YOU Homes available now Get in touch Download our FREE App by searching www.plusdane.co.uk Plus Dane in the App Store or Google Play. facebook.com/plusdane @plusdane If you do not wish to continue receiving Unity magazine please let us know by emailing: [email protected] or calling 0151 728 2974 Issue 33 - Summer 2019 3 Money Matters Money from advice RAISE is an independent charity which provides free, confidential and high quality advice about benefits, debt and managing your money better. They work across Merseyside and Runcorn, and Plus Dane is one of the housing associations will visit you at your home. Whatever the initial that funds RAISE, which means that our reason for contacting RAISE, the adviser who tenants can make the most of their services. visits you will complete a full review of your money, You can contact them via a form on their website, looking for ways to help make life easier. www.benefitsadviceteam.co.uk or by phone on 0151 482 2475. Did you know? Support for Citizens Advice is now the place to go for help and advice managing your with Universal Credit. Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “ We offer independent and confidential advice to millions of people every year, and have already helped nearly 150,000 people with Universal Citizens Advice now runs a support Credit. We’ve seen first-hand what can happen when people struggle to make a claim and their scheme to help you through payments are delayed.” every step of making a Universal “ We welcome the opportunity to provide even more Credit claim. This is funded by people with the help they need with Universal the government. Credit, and deliver a consistent service through the Citizens Advice network.” It offers the comprehensive and practical support Visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/ you need to get your first payment on time, and be universal-credit to get started. You can also use ready to manage it when it arrives. the website to find your nearest Citizens Advice, The scheme provides advice and assistance or call their special Adviceline on 03444 111 444 to help you manage your claim, with a focus on available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday budgeting advice and digital support. (except for public holidays). 4 Unity Customer Magazine Do you need help getting away from a loan shark? Stop Loan Sharks is a government agency that can investigate, prosecute You can and even put loan sharks and illegal report a money lenders in prison. loan shark You can report a loan shark or illegal money or an illegal lender to their team in confidence and completely anonymously if you wish, and they will be able to money lender support you through the whole process. in confidence You can call them any time on 0300 5552222 without having to or report online at www.stoploansharks.co.uk. leave your name. plusdane.co.uk Customer Magazine Issue 32 | Spring 2019 Pension credit update In the last This only affects people making a new claim – but it could make a significant difference to the edition of Unity household incomes of those who are, as it has we explained been estimated this could leave some couples as Love Your much as £7000 a year worse off. Gardening Neighbour with Top Tips LIVERPOOL changes to FOR SPRING CARES pension credit You have until August 13 to make a backdated claim to pension age Housing Benefit going back that could have an impact on as far as May 14 this year, which was when the couples of mixed age. changes came in. The changes came in May, and if they affect Plus Dane customers concerned about the you and your partner you only have a few more change for mixed-age couples can contact weeks to claim any backdated money you may our financial independence team via email at be owned. [email protected] or by telephone on 0800169 2988. Now, new pensioners whose partners are younger than the state retirement age can no longer claim Anyone concerned about any aspect of the pension credit, and instead need to claim Universal benefits system, including Universal Credit and Credit alongside their younger partners until they pension credit can contact Citizens Advice at also reach retirement age. www.citizensadvice.co.uk/benefits. The team can assist with a range of enquiries including income maximisation, budgeting, signposting for specialised debt advice, applying Money for further assistance/grants, benefit Matters issues & appeals. Issue 33 - Summer 2019 5 Improving Our Services For You 8 out of 10 residents feel that Smart living the connection speed of digital systems solutions for residents gives them greater reassurance. We are working on making sure that all residents living in our older people’s accommodation have Wi-Fi access in their own homes. We are soon to begin installing wall-mounted tablets We have appointed a specialist technology in every room of our schemes, enabling room-to- company, Appello, to do the work, which will start room video calling, video door entry and faster call later in the year. It will be rolled out across all 12 of connection times. It will also mean the schemes will our older people’s accommodation in Merseyside be wireless hotspots, allowing residents to access and Cheshire. the internet anywhere without needing to pay for a Appello say 8 out of 10 residents feel that the traditional broadband subscription. connection speed of digital systems gives them It’s part of our commitment to digital inclusion for greater reassurance, 9 out of 10 feel safer and half older people, which will make it easier for people say their overall wellbeing improves. to stay in touch with friends and family – and Chris Birch, our Older Person’s Technology so reducing social isolation. And for those who Lead, says, “It’s important to us that our residents use emergency alarms, in your home or on your benefit from up-to-date technology. We know person, connection to the monitoring centre will WiFi access is important and providing these kind be quicker. of services can help reduce social isolation.” 6 Unity Customer Magazine You Tell us what you think Said Our Engagement Team have been very convenient for you, busy over the past few months gathering especially if you work or We feedback from you on how we can have other commitments during the day.