INSIDE: JUNE 2019 WIN A TABLET the TENANT MAGAZINEKEY SIGN UP, SAVE CASH p6-7 WIN A £50 GIFT VOUCHER IN OUR PRIZE SUDOKU ON P15 2 News WELCOME Here’s what’s inside the June issue of the Key. HERE TO HELP: our environmental teams help keep tenants safe 70th anniversary joy................p6 Fire hero Robert to the rescue TENANT has praised GHA’s “It could have been so much worse.” environmental wardens after Environmental Operative Robert said Athey stopped a fire breaking out there’s more to GHA’s NETs than in her home. keeping communities clean and tidy The Neighbourhood – they also help keep tenants safe. Environmental Robert, 49, from Royston, said: Team (NETs) was cleaning “We were cleaning the close and the stairs at Stronvar Drive, I saw the tenant go out. When I Milton hall is a winner.............p8 Scotstounhill, when a fire heard the fire alarm going off I alarm sounded. was sure there would be no one GHA’s Robert Little, right, had at home. seen the tenant leave minutes “Straight away I could earlier so he sprung into see the smoke coming action and called 999. from the kitchen Fire officers arrived soon “That’s when I after to put out the small realised something was fire in the kitchen. wrong. I immediately Tenant Joanne said: “I phoned 999. New homes change lives.......p9 was shocked when I heard about the fire, “It’s just part of the job. We’re always but thankful the wardens were there and looking and listening to make sure tenants for them calling the fire brigade. are safe in their homes.” Domestic abuse: GHA is here to help WE want everyone to Your housing officer is here helpline 24/7 on 0800 be safe and happy in to help. They will listen to 027 1234. their home. what you say and work with Wheatley Group’s But we know that you to make sure you get Alex Adrain said: “We Kennishead is thriving..........p11 thousands of people all the support you need. are determined to do across Scotland aren’t – You can find a list of everything we can to tackle Help with Universal Credit…..p4 because of abuse by a support services in your domestic abuse in our Tarfside tasty treats…...........p10 partner or ex-partner. area on our website, www. communities and help our We want to do all gha.org.uk customers lead safe and Your letters…............................p12 we can to support You can also call the happy lives. Your housing Win a tablet computer….....p15 customers affected by National Domestic Abuse officer can help you, so domestic abuse. and Forced Marriage please get in touch.” Glasgow Housing Association The Glasgow Housing Association Limited is a not-for-profit housing www.gha.org.uk association: registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 No. 2572R(S); recognised by HM Revenue and Customs better homes, better lives as a Scottish Charity No. SC034054; registered social landlord No. 317 with the Scottish Housing Regulator under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010. Registered office: Wheatley House, 25 Cochrane Street, Glasgow G1 1HL. the Key is printed on paper made from responsible sources. Please recycle responsibly. theKEY - www.gha.org.uk News 3 Easy ways to pay rent Direct Debit Set up a Direct Debit, speak to your Housing Officer or call us on 0800GHA and 47 9ou 7979r parent. company Wheatley Group… Bursary scheme helps supported 336 people people with financial tenants achieve dreams Paworriesy online in 2018 HA tenants are being offered to continue with my studies.” thanks to MyMoney cash support to help them go to Thomas Johnstone, pictured above, Visit gha.org.uk and Guniversity or college. from Sandyhills, is doing a degree in click ‘Pay at My GHA’ Tenants can get grants of up to £1500 horticulture at Scotland’s Rural College in a year to support them with the expense Edinburgh. of studying. He said: “The bursary made me feel The bursaries, supported by the more secure knowing my expenses Other ways to pay Wheatley Foundation, can make a were covered and I could just get on Phone big difference. with my studies.” Call us for free 24 hours a Bursaries of up to £1500 a year are available for people who want to study day, seven days a week, on ‘I am so grateful for an HNC, HND, Undergraduate Degree 0800 479 7979 to pay by or Postgraduate course. debit or credit card. for the support’ Wheatley Foundation Director Lorraine McLaren said: “We’re delighted so many Standing order people from our communities have been Sehelpedt up a standin 482 tenantsg order Zeyad Rashad, 42, from Pollok, is able to benefit from our bursary scheme with your bank. studying for a civil engineering degree at and achieve their dreams.” get free recycled the University of the West of Scotland. People should be looking to start their He said: “The bursary has been a great studies this year or already be at college Postfurniture office last year help. Buying books and buying equipment or university. Pay at the post office with is expensive. The deadline for applying is 30 a GHA rent payment card. “I am so grateful for the support. June 2019. Email bursaries@wheatley- Without it, I don’t think I’d have been able group.com PayPoint Pay at any shop that Hayley: the bursary has displays the PayPoint sign. helped me massively In person Drop into one of our local HAYLEY Miller, 19, from Castlemilk, become a offices. is studying an HNC in acting and drama teacher. performing at City of Glasgow College. “The bursary has helped me She said: “I am the first person massively. in my family to study at college. It is “It has given me opportunities to do Sign up for My GHA such an amazing opportunity. things related to drama, such as visit “After I complete my HNC I want theatres, watch plays and travel to FinYodu oucant morpay eyou at r rent, to do an HND and then go to drama groups. I had to buy a brand wwreporw.wheatley-group.com/t a repair and much university to study teaching to new laptop too.” dimore.dyouknow Register at gha.org.uk theKEY - www.gha.org.uk 4 News GHA IS STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH TENANTS WHO ARE AFFECTED BY UNIVERSAL CREDIT - COME AND TALK TO US Best ways to pay rent Don’t worry alone – we will help you E can’t change Universal Credit If you receive a disability benefit, come – but we can make sure tenants and talk to us before you make a claim Wget all the help they need. for Universal Credit. The new benefit has left many tenants If you move on to Universal Credit, we struggling. GHA is standing shoulder will help you make a claim and offer Direct Debit to shoulder with people lots of support until your first Set up a Direct Debit, affected. payment comes in. If youhave to move on to We can help you prepare for speak to your Housing Universal Credit, the first thing interviews and go with you to Officer or call us on to do is to get in touch with us appointments and meetings. straight away. It’s really important to 0800 479 7979. Don’t worry alone. We are have the right documents when here to help you. you start a claim, If your circumstances such as photographic ID and a change and you need to copy of your birth certificate. claim Universal Credit, do it quickly so your If you don’t, it could lead to a delay in Pay online first payment isn’t delayed. getting your money. www.gha.org.uk and click ‘Pay at My GHA’. ‘Our expert welfare benefit advisors are Phone always on hand to Call us for free 24 make sure people are hours a day, seven days receiving everything a week, on 0800 479 they’re due’ 7979 to pay by debit or credit card. Arthur: support is vital lifeline for people who are struggling A TENANT has urged people to talk “My Housing Benefit was stopped Sign up for My GHA to their landlord straight away if they and that’s when my welfare benefits Creating an account only move on to Universal Credit. advisor phoned me. Arthur Rodden, a tenant with GHA’s “She contacted the DWP for me, takes a few minutes, you sister organisation Cube, says the help helped me fill in my application and can pay your rent, report he got is a vital lifeline to people who helped set up an interview. I can’t a repair and much more may be struggling as they switch to speak highly enough of her. at a time that suits you. Universal Credit. “You need photographic ID and a Arthur said: “I was due to start work copy of your birth certificate to start a but the job fell through so I had to claim, otherwise it leads to a Register at start claiming Universal Credit. delay. She made sure I had all that. www.gha.org.uk theKEY - www.gha.org.uk News 5 GHA IS STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH TENANTS WHO ARE AFFECTED BY UNIVERSAL CREDIT - COME AND TALK TO US Don’t worry alone – we will help you Young people changes We can help make sure you have enough for rent and IF you’re aged between 18 no money – and at risk of are ready.