35th Edition • April 2016 HHoming In cosots 25p a compy to print in gin In this Helping hand for issue Kenning Good Neighbour Winners page 3 Park page 3 New Look Neighbourhood Services page 8-9 Win £1,000 in vouchers! page 20 Dear Reader ell done to the In this issue we’ve included winners of our information about important 2015 Good changes to the way we deliver Estates Walkabout our Neighbourhood Services. We Neighbour of W have introduced a new team of opportunity to win £1,000 in the Year Awards! Housing and Support Officers and shopping vouchers with our We were delighted to present Managers for each area – so you Direct Debit prize draw. the prizes to our worthy winner will notice a change in faces. Anyone setting up a new Direct Lorraine Jones, who received The Housing and Support staff Debit, between now and the end £150 in shopping vouchers. Our will continue to deliver the of September will be fantastic runners-up Steve Jones normal estate and tenancy automatically entered into a and Stuart Brown received £75 in management services, but they national prize draw for one of vouchers. will also be responsible for five top prizes. Direct Debit is Going the extra mile for a carrying out some of the the easiest and quickest way to neighbour, or a local community, independent living service duties. pay your rent – and our staff will can make such a big difference To find out more about the help you set one up. and is definitely something worth changes and the staff for your To find out more about the celebrating. To find out more area – turn to page 8/9. competition turn to page 20. about our winners check out Finally, why not take the You could be a winner! page 3. Contents No English? No problem? Good Neighbour winners! 3 This magazine is available in large print , Helping hand for Kenning Park 3 Braille and audio CD on request. Putting customers first 4 We Care We want all of our customers to be able to understand the information we provide about our services. If you have any difficulty Work and training 5 reading or understanding this information please contact us by telephone Regeneration and renewal 6-7 01246 217670. You will not be charged for the TALKBACK service. Changes to Neighbourhood & 01430 457421 (CANTONESE) & 01430 457426 (URDU) Services 8-9 & 01430 457423 (MANDARIN) Working with local communities 10-11 Estate Walkabouts 12-13 & 01430 457424 (POLISH) Information updates 14 Are you insured? 15 Health and Wellbeing 16 & 01430 457422 (ITALIAN) Find a home 17 & 01430 457425 (PUNJABI) Making your money go further 18 Useful Contacts 19 Chance to win £1000 in shopping vouchers 20 & 0800 731 7878 (OTHER LANGUAGES) TALK BACK 2 Homing in • www.rykneldhomes.org.uk Good Neighbour winners! Congratulations to The winner was Lorraine Jones from Morton, who was the winners of our nominated by her neighbour Wendy Johnson. Lorraine was 2015 Good awarded £150 in shopping Neighbour Awards! vouchers. Said Wendy: “Lorraine has We were inspired by the been incredible, taking me to kindness and care shown by all the doctors and hospital, and you good neighbours out there – doing my shopping. She and it’s nice to know your efforts brings me healthy home are very much appreciated. cooked meals, does household The nominations just go to show chores, and organises coach the difference a good neighbour day trips for me. My life would Good Neighbour finalist Stuart Brown can make to someone’s life. It is not be the same without her. I the little, as well as the big am surely blessed to have her as a things, that can be so important. loving and caring neighbour.” pleasant nature. A true, friendly neighbour.” Definitely, something worth The two runners-up each celebrating. received £75 in shopping Our other runner-up is Stuart vouchers Brown from Dronfield Woodhouse. The kindness of Steve Jones (pictured left), from Dronfield The neighbour who nominated earned the praise of his him, said: “I nominated Stuart neighbour who said: “He is because he is caring, considerate always friendly and welcoming and always there for both myself and supportive. He even takes and my partner. He also helps us my bins for me each week and with things around the house… returns them. He also helps me helped us clear out our shed and to keep my garden clear of helped with our gardening. He blown rubbish. But more than has also been there for us when his assistance is his happy, we had a bereavement.” Steve Jones (left) Helping hand for Kenning Park Our young Community Council, Cllr Ted Mansbridge who Improvers dug deep to help made the benches, said: “I would Clay Cross Parish Council like to thank the Community Improvers who took part, Dave install four new benches in Rossiter from the Kenning Park Kenning Park. Community Group and Rykneld The benches are close to the Homes for their work. Meadow Farm Pond and will allow “We hope these benches will be visitors lovely views of the lake. used and provide a great asset to Cllr Mansbridge with Rykneld's On behalf of Clay Cross Parish the park.” Community Improvers www.rykneldhomes.org.uk • Homing in 3 Putting customers first Thanks to everyone who supported our successful Volunteering event at the Proact Stadium in March. e invited of benefits including access to Residents Group, said Rykneld tenants and training and development Homes supported and funded residents to opportunities.” local tenant groups and had worked with them to resolve come along The Volunteering event included W contributions from our team of problems and raise money for and find out about the involved tenants who explained charity. volunteering and how tenants make a real Denise Kniveton from the involvement opportunities difference to the services we Tenant Inspectors group said she available at Rykneld provide. was proud of the work they had Homes. Godfrey Kerry, Chair of the done. “Our work is about ensuring that future tenants get Speaking at the event, our Rykneld Homes Tenant Scrutiny the best possible services. It has Managing Director Lorraine Shaw, Panel, told the audience: “We been an interesting and very said: “It’s great to see so many have looked at everything from worthwhile experience and I people interested in becoming how Rykneld Homes grants would encourage others to come involved in what we do. funding to local community and join in.” Customer support plays an groups to the standard of homes important part in helping us to when they are let to new tenants. If you are interested in joining provide the best customer “Being involved with Rykneld one of our tenant involvement services we can. Homes is a very rewarding groups, please contact our Community Involvement Team “Our Business Plan for the experience and one which can on 01246 217670. coming year puts customer care make a real at the heart of what we do. difference for Although we receive very high tenants.” customer service satisfaction Bob Steer, from ratings, we are conscious that we the Danesmoor can do more. In future there will and Clay Cross be a people first emphasis and Tenant and increased working with our customers to find out what kind Pictured right: of services you want us to deliver. Our Community Improvers encouraged “For tenants and residents who more volunteers to work with us, we offer a number join us 4 Homing in • www.rykneldhomes.org.uk g d TTrraaiinniinng WWYouoong rrkk aannd Enterprise Well done to all the schools who took part in the North Derbyshire finals of the national Young Enterprise competition. Rykneld Homes was delighted to support the event, which aims to find and Lorraine Shaw, Managing Director of Rykneld Homes (centre) presents an award to Eckington School. encourage the business leaders of tomorrow. Seven schools battled with their award. were delighted to work with it out – with Brookfield “Well done to all the pupils who pupils at Tupton Hall School. Community School judged the took part in this year’s Young They came up with the business overall winner. Enterprise. Your enthusiasm and idea of putting three socks in a We sponsored the Most commitment really shone pack – to help avoid the problem Innovative Company category, through. The area finals were a of lost and mis-matched socks! which was won by pupils at real showcase for all your great Before the competition, the Eckington Secondary School. ideas!,” said Lorraine. team visited Rykneld Homes to Rykneld’s Managing Director, As part of the competition we try out their sales pitch on staff. Lorraine Shaw, presented them Heather Summers, Head of Award finalists Neighbourhoods at Rykneld We were delighted to be Homes, said: “Our volunteer and finalists in the Efficiency apprenticeship programmes not only have an impact on the East Midlands Awards in individuals but the benefits are February, which celebrate also passed on to family the best in regional members and the local business. community. Melvyn Kitsull Rykneld Homes was runner-up “We are proud of the in the Apprentice of the Year post on our reception. programmes and the positive Over 25s category. Melvyn In June 2015 he successfully difference it has made to Kitsull, in our Customer Services completed his CFA Intermediate people’s lives and the reputation section, was shortlisted for the Level Apprenticeship in we have earned as an award. Melvyn, who is a tenant Customer Services in the organisation which looks to put of Rykneld Homes, joined the Business Skills Sector. He is now something back into the organisation as a volunteer - studying for his NVQ Level 3 in communities we serve.” eventually securing a permanent Customer Services.