PORTCALL Port of Leith Housing Association Newsletter Summer 2014 DOSH DAY In April we held a ‘dosh day’ for our tenants, arranged in conjunction with the Money Matters project (a Big Lottery funded money advice project involving PoLHA and four other Edinburgh housing associations). Over 50 people attended South Leith Parish Church Hall for a day of useful information and advice, free giveaways, prizes and money saving ideas. If you were unable to attend on the day but would like help, please contact a member of the tenant support team, whose numbers are listed on the back page of PortCall. FEELING STUCK? NEED HELP WITH WORK? I’m Jane Whiting, the Association’s Employability Officer. I work one to one with tenants and family members aged 16 and over, offering support and a Monday morning job club from 10am to 1pm. I can help you with: Confidence development CV, job search and job application help Interview skills Referral on to volunteering, training or education Guidance on work placements Support for people to keep their job Help finding more secure work from zero hours contracts, or low pay Please contact me on 0131 553 8757 or email: [email protected] For more information on available services, please see the enclosed leaflet. NEW FACES CITADEL PERFORMS LEITH AT WAR Residents from Hermitage Court Sharon Greatorex, and pupils from St Mary’s Primary Revenue & Benefits School were treated to a wartime play Officer presented by Citadel Arts Group. ‘Leith at War’ is about a Leith-based family living through World War II and is based on stories from St Nicks and Jameson Place residents. Brother and David Tomlins, sister Eck and Frankie were living with Tenancy Support their grandad, a veteran from the First Worker World War. As schools temporarily closed during the war, lessons were held in pupils’ homes and this gave him the chance to talk to them about the war in David Thom, Leith. Assistant Sheltered Scheme Co-ordinator *****ST NICKS SUMMER FAYRE***** It’s that time of year again….St Nicks Summer Fayre takes place on 2 August from 12 noon until 2pm at 74 Ferry Road. Celebrated for over 15 years, the money raised provides day trips and activities for elderly residents to enjoy. Some of the attractions will include face painting for children, live music, barbeque, refreshments, book stall, tombola stall and raffle prizes - entry is just 50p. We look forward to seeing you! HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS Last April Chris and Sheila Stone moved into a brand new one bedroom flat at Lindsay Road. This was our first mid market rent development for Persevere Developments. The couple were previously living in a fifth floor two bedroom flat but wanted to downsize to a home better suited to their needs. Sheila said: “We are very happy with the property. We were surprised how big it was considering it was a one bedroom flat. Also, the area is great for shops, bus routes and walks. We get on with our neighbours and would consider a lot of them as friends.” Chris added: “The move was very good and easy. We were provided with a lot of information when we moved and showed around the development. The welcome packs and the tenants handbook are also very good and useful. We have found PoLHA is very communicative and approachable. We feel we are listened to and actions are taken very quickly.” POLHA CHIEF EXECUTIVE ELECTED CHAIR OF CIH SCOTLAND Chief Executive Keith Anderson has been elected Chair of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland. Keith has over 30 years’ experience working in urban regeneration and housing development in Glasgow, London, Newcastle upon Tyne and Edinburgh, both in the public and private sectors. He said: “I strongly believe in CIH Scotland and all it stands for, so I feel very honoured to have been given this role. As Chair, I look forward to leading the CIH Scotland Board and being a key public face of CIH in its work with members and other stakeholders in Scotland.” GREAT JUNCTION STREET IS GOING GREAT The new premises for local community group The Junction was officially opened by Sir Harry Burns, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland (below with Sam Anderson). Previously based at 160 Great Junction Street for eight years, the organisation has moved to 82-86 Great Junction Street and is leasing the brand new premises from PoLHA. The Junction provides confidential health related services, education and support for young people aged 12-21 in Leith and North East Edinburgh. It has helped thousands of young people in the city and has author Irvine Welsh as its patron. Our new Great Junction Street housing development was officially opened by Malcolm Chisholm MSP (below with tenant Julie Crawford). The development consists of 32 high quality one and two bedroom homes for social and mid market rent. Malcolm Chisholm, Labour MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, said: “I am delighted to be officially opening this outstanding housing development which has been named as one of the top affordable housing developments in the UK. There is always a desperate need for more affordable homes in this city and I am pleased that once again Port of Leith Housing Association is providing such high quality, energy efficient homes.” CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY Our tenant satisfaction survey/census was carried out between October 2013 and January 2014 and the results are in….. 89% are satisfied with PoLHA 92% feel the Association is good at keeping them informed 97% are satisfied that our communications are clear, easy to understand and are in plain English 83% are kept informed from letters sent to their home and PortCall (73%). The Tenants Handbook is also an important source (16%) 84% are satisfied with the quality of their home 85% are satisfied with repairs 86% think their home offers value for money 84% are satisfied with their neighbourhood *************************************************** We will issue our landlord report on our performance against the Scottish Social Housing Charter along with our annual report in August. NEW WEBSITE NOW LIVE Our new website (www.polha.co.uk) has gone live and it now has added features. So, in addition to being able to access our publications and catch up on the Association’s news and activities, you can also: Report repairs Set up an account to be able to access your rent statement and pay your rent – contact the Customer Advice Team in the first instance for help with this Make a complaint View available properties for rent via the link to Key to Choice website Use the Browse Aloud software to add speech, reading and translation support for those who may need it PoLHA’s Out of Hours Emergency Number is: 0800 783 7937 FREE HOME FIRE SAFETY VISIT The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service can carry out a free visit to your home to give you advice on fire safety. To book a free visit, text ‘fire’ to 61611; call 0800 0731 999 or visit www.firescotland.gov.uk CRACKING GOOD FUN AT ST NICKS Port of Leith Housing Association’s St Nicholas Court sheltered housing complex raised over £450 at its Easter-themed lunch, with an array of stalls including a raffle, home baking and ceramic painting. There was also an Easter egg hunt, which was won by residents Ian and May who donated their chocolate egg to the new Teen Cancer Unit at the Western General Hospital. Maureen Tait, Senior Sheltered Housing Co- ordinator with PoLHA, manages the complex. She said: “Our fundraiser was thoroughly enjoyed by residents and visitors and we’re delighted to have raised over £450, which will go towards activities and days out.” LEITH GALA DAY It’s the fifth time we have been in attendance at the Leith Gala and this year it was a great success. Not only was the sun shining, but lots of people came up to our tent where we talked to people about the work we do, answering housing questions and promoting training and employment opportunities for young people in Leith through TOiL We also ran a competition and gave away prizes. COMMUNICATION WORKING GROUP A new communication group was formed in March, including staff, tenants and sharing owners, whose role is to review the content, design and layout of PoLHA’s information and publications for customers. Members are given the opportunity to share their views on how to improve the way we communicate with our customers, with priority given to making sure the information provided is useful and can be easily understood by everyone. Most recently, the group has been busy reviewing the tenant handbook, PortCall and how we report to customers on our performance against the Scottish Social Housing Charter. Next on the agenda is the planning for the next tenant event to be held in September. If you would like to offer any suggestions or join the group, please contact Wendy Chan, Customer Engagement Officer on 0131 553 8707 or email: [email protected] SHAUN NOT TOiLING FOR WORK Earlier this year, Shaun McMahon worked at PoLHA as a TOiL* trainee in the Property and New Business department after a school work placement. Shaun received training in Excel, customer services and employability (CV writing, job application, covering letters and interview skills) and completed his SQA certificate of Work Readiness. His experience on the TOiL programme and coaching by staff helped him to stand out from the crowd when he successfully applied for a modern apprenticeship at the Scottish Government. Shaun said: “I learned what a working environment is like and how I should behave, gaining accuracy and speed in data input.