Free ✱ bi-monthly ✱ in-house news & events ✱ February 2021 ✱ issue No 6 Despite the virus: snowfall 'ONE FOR THE BIRDS' DRAWING and then spring blooms! COMPETITION: DEADLINE: 11 MARCH We have a big pile of Amazon vouchers worth £10 each waiting for the best drawings of a bird (or birds) sent in by any of you talented artists aged 3-16. Pick your own drawing materials (paint, pencil, crayon, pastel, chalks or even make a mosaic). We’ll print PIC: DOT GIBSON PIC: DOT the best pics in the next issue of Barnsbury News and display them Snowfall transformed Lockdown Islington last month. in the window at 60 Morland Mews. Email a photo or scan of your Dot Gibson writes from her flat in Highbury View artwork, together with your name and phone number by It is Saturday and I am looking out The trees are bare today and I can Thursday . All emails to editor Dean of my window at Highbury Fields. see the shape of the boughs. Later 11 March McGlynn at It is lit by a watery, wintry sun and with the setting sun the branches [email protected] there are dozens of well-wrapped- take on a beautiful fairytale glow. up ‘masked’ people of all ages. But what a difference a day makes! On Sunday it is snowing. HOW TO CONTACT US Winter scenery The Fields are a playground for They walk alone or with their 'bubble' families snowballing and building or the dog, or push a pram. They run, snowmen. It is great to see the joy All our offices are staying cycle, play football with children or and to know that, despite the virus, closed until the Covid-19 risk work out with their trainer. Some soon the budding new season's is properly under control and send the muzzled sound of their green leaves will reveal themselves the London vaccine roll-out boxing gloves across the fields. and the golden daffodils will is much more advanced. The scene reminds me of a Lowry brighten up everything. painting – figures moving this way A smiling face appears at the Our staff remain hard at and that across the landscape, going window. I am not only John's Mum, work, using online systems about their own business but also but his ‘bubble'. He has cycled over to run your services almost united in time and place. from south London. as normal. I have never been more pleased Maurice arrives with my biscuits that I chose this flat 12 years ago. from his shopping trip. I am so lucky To get in touch email us on It was the window looking over – it is not just the scene through my E [email protected] or call Highbury Fields that decided me window that keeps me happy, it is q020 7704 2324 between and I am never disappointed. my family and my friends and 9.30am-12pm and 2-5.30pm. The scene is constantly changing. neighbours here at Highbury View. Find out more ✱ barnsbury.org 1 ✱ February 2021 BHA news Feb 2021 6pp.indd 1 09/02/2021 14:34 GET THE COVID JAB! Holding the fort: caretakers Getting the Covid-19 vaccine and cleaners stay on duty will help protect you and other people who come into Steve and Spencer are keeping the contact with you. It may not caretaking service going so shared stop you catching the virus, areas in and around our properties or getting it a second time, stay tidy and safe. Our cleaners are but should make you far less also on duty and disinfecting door likely to be very ill or suffer handles and buzzers. Please do for months, as many have. your bit too by making sure no one The vaccine is given in two from your household makes a mess doses, with the first making outside and that your rubbish and you better protected within recycling are bagged or binned and two to three weeks. only put out shortly before the Spencer and Steve remain on duty council collects household waste. The vaccine is free and is your passport EMERGENCY REPAIRS SERVICE ONLY to a safer world. We are for now only able to carry To report an emergency repair out emergency repairs or work, like during normal office hours, please www.nhs.uk/conditions/ gas appliance checks, that is vital call us on q020 7704 2324. coronavirus-covid-19/ for your health and safety. coronavirus-vaccination Outside office hours please report emergency repairs to the service Please let us know if: run for us by ISHA on: you or anyone else in your Mother-in-law's covid jab ✚ Mon-Thurs 5:30pm to 9:30am home is self-isolating was a walk in the park, q anyone in your home is 0772 530 2389 reports housing officer ✚ Weekends, 5:30pm on Friday showing symptoms of Covid-19 Graham Vine to 9:30am on Monday or has recently tested positive. q 0300 131 7300. Yesterday I took my 80-year-old mother in law to be vaccinated at Brimfield Street Health Centre in Caledonian road. Smart safety for you and There was a safely distanced queue to reception. Inside within our emergency workers minutes, we were given a squirt of In the ongoing effort we’re all making to stop the virus spreading hand sanitiser and sent to a freshly anyone working for us who needs to come into your home to sort out a sanitised seat. After a few minutes repair problem will wear full protective gear. We expect you to make we went to another room for a sure they can work safely while they’re in your home by: short wait then onto a private area. Here a very calm and patient ✱ Keeping all the windows open ✱ Making sure anyone in the same woman checked June's medical to increase ventilation. This helps room as our workers wears a history and told her she’d be getting lower the risk of any virus levels mask unless they are aged the Oxford Astra vaccine. ‘That’s present building up in the air. under 5 or exempt for a medical fine,’ we said. It was over in a flash. ✱ Leaving all doors open to avoid or other good reason. We next moved to another freshly their having to touch your door ✱ Keeping, as far as possible, two sanitised area with a stopwatch set handles (exception: see below) metres between yourself and to go off in 15 minutes – and a card ✱ Send anyone not needed to our workers inside your home for June to return in 12 weeks. help with or explain the problem and outside. We could have stayed longer but outside or, if that is not safe or ✱ Don’t share with our workers June was fine so we left. June has reasonable, into a different any pens, pencils, or any other had no symptoms other than a room. They should shut the object, no matter how useful. slightly numb arm. Please do get door behind them and stay your vaccine when it is offered. there until the workers have left. Thank you for helping out! It’s the only way out for all of us. Find out more ✱ barnsbury.org 2 ✱ February 2021 BHA news Feb 2021 6pp.indd 2 09/02/2021 14:34 Tips for keeping CASH STRAPPED? warm without breaking HOW WE CAN HELP into the piggy bank We know many of you are worried about losing your job and, if it happens, how you'll ✱ Set the timer on your boiler so it ✱ Thermal blinds do a fine job of pay the rent and other costs. starts heating your home at a cutting out heat lost through If you do lose your job put in lower temperature 30 minutes windows. You can buy reasonably your claim for universal before you get up. This uses less priced blinds online from a wide credit at once. Let us know gas than turning it on at a higher range of retailers, including Ikea. too. We will back your claim temperature when you get up. ✱ Curtains lined with insulating and can help you apply. ✱ Lag (wrap in a suitable material) material will make rooms warmer. your water pipes. Pre-cut foam Leave the curtains open when the Call our debt and welfare advice lagging from DIY stores costs sun is shining, but close them as very little and keeps hot water soon as the sun goes. service to make an appointment with pipes warm for longer. You’ll use ✱ Covering your window panes with Priscilla for help and advice on less gas and protect the pipes cling film may cut out some heat from freezing in very cold weather. loss. A sceptical Barnsbury News welfare support, grants and other ✱ Cut out draughts by putting tried this and it seemed to make a ways to cope with financial hardship. adhesive backed fabric or rubber little bit of difference. strips around the edges of your ✱ Don’t put your sofa (or curtains or q [email protected] or call doors and windows. a clothes airer) directly in front of E ✱ Close the doors to any rooms a radiator. It stops the warm air Priscilla on 020 7704 2324 you are not heating. circulating around the room. Are you on our call list? Warm your home for less: free Regular wellbeing calls to check on residents expert help from Green Doctors We are again calling some of you to check on your wellbeing Have you tried calling Green Doctors? This service, free to all our tenants, gives free expert help and advice on warming your and ask if you need any practical home without costing the earth.