Helena Headlines - Autumn 2012

Contact UsTranslations are available on request and if you would like a copy of this document in large print, braille or audio tape, please call 01744 63 73 83 for more information. Here are the ways you can access our services:

You can phone One Call on 01744 63 73 83 or call into one of our neighbourhood offices:

• Helena Central, 4 Corporation Street, St Helens Town Centre, WA9 1LD

• Helena West, 70/72 Thatto Heath Road, Thatto Heath, WA10 3QS 2-6 Millersdale, Four Acre, Clock Face, WA9 4GE

• Helena East, 193 Newton Road, Parr, WA9 2JR

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheHelenaCommunity

Follow us on Twitter: @helenapartnersh

By phone: 01744 63 73 83

By email: [email protected]

Website: www.helenahomes.co.uk

Using our digital TV site, Helena Homes TV:

• Sky viewers: Go to the Community Channel (number 539); press the red button; enter Quick Code 4488.

• Virgin viewers: Press ‘home’ button; choose ‘interactive’; click on ‘news & info’; click on ‘Looking Local’; enter Quick Code 4488.

• To access through Nintendo Wii or internet-enabled mobile phones, type this into your browser: http://www.lookinglocal.gov.uk/helena

Face to face at any of the offices below or at the drop-in events we hold regularlyin community venues. Details of these can be found on our website and HHTV.

If you would like a member of staff to visit you at home please give us a call on 01744 63 73 83 and we will make an appointment for you.

Helena Central 4 Corporation Street, St Helens, WA9 1LD

Helena East 192 Newton Road, Derbyshire Hill, St Helens, WA9 2JR

Helena West 70-72 Thatto Heath Road, Thatto Heath, St Helens, WA10 3QS

www.helenahomes.co.uk HHTV Quickcode 4488 (see instructions below)

Helena HEADLINES

In this issue...Get online with Helena

Winter awareness

Welfare benefit reform

plus much more!

Autum

n 2012

Here at Helena we want to make sure that we are communicating with you in the best way possible.

We know that sometimes you might be too busy to read Helena Headlines – so maybe you would like to get your news by email?

Or you’re on the internet all the time and would like to get your Helena updates on Facebook or the website?

If you enjoy reading Helena Headlines, you can still get a copy.

So, what do you prefer?

3 Post/Newsletter

3 Email

3 Facebook

3 Website

Keeping in Touch

Meet inspirational tenants making a difference in our communities.

We want to know how you would like us to communicate with you, so please get in touch, and tell us your preferred option from the list above, giving us your full name, address and contact details. Or, you can provide us with your Tenancy Reference number, this is the 10 digit number found on your rent statement or on the bottom right of your rent payment card.

• Phone: 01744 63 73 83

• Email: [email protected]

• Text: 07860 022 930

• Website: www.helenahomes.co.uk or HHTV (instructions below)

• Post: Communications, Helena Central, 4 Corporation Street, St Helens, WA9 1LD.

• Face-to-face: Let our staff know when you are in our offices how you would prefer to be communicated with.

Sky

Go to Community Channel (539)Press Red, Enter Quick Code 4488

Virgin

Go to Community Channel (233)Press Red, Enter Quick Code 4488

Nintendo Wii:

http://www.lookinglocal.gov.uk/helena

Join The Helena Community on Facebook - www.facebook.com/TheHelenaCommunity - and find out about the latest news and events in your area. See the card included in this edition of Headlines for more information.

Autumn 2012Helena HEADLINES

2 3

Helena Celebrates Community Stars

The work of dedicated community volunteers has been celebrated at a special awards event hosted by Helena Homes.

The annual Making A Difference Awards ceremony was extra special this year with 10 main accolades being handed out to mark Helena’s 10th birthday.

Helena’s Board Chairman, Peter Styche, also gave out a special Chair’s Award to tenants who are part of the Customer Excellence Panel and Customer Inspectors groups. They scrutinise Helena services for the benefit of all tenants and have become a beacon of best practice among housing associations across the UK.

Keeping your keys safe is your responsibility. Helena receives a number of calls to replace keys and locks.

By following a few simple steps, you could save time and money for Helena and you:

• Leave a spare set of keys with a trusted family member or friend;

• Keep your keys on a keyring so they’re more difficult to lose;

• If your keys are stolen, contact the police and get a log number or crime reference number.

Report repairs through HHTV (details on the back of this magazine); by calling 01744 63 73 83 or at www.helenahomes.co.uk

Bob and Jennie WilliamsWorking Worms Group Margaret Foster

Sam Patchett

Charlene HarrisonEddie McConville

Be Safe - and Sensible - This WinterMaking sure you are safe is a top priority for Helena – and there are a few things that you can do to help us.

During winter, Helena receives a number of calls about freezing pipes, but by following these tips you can make sure that you’re warm and cosy when the cold creeps in…

Q If you haven’t done so already, start up your hot water and central heating now to make sure it’s working properly.

Q Find out where your stop tap is and make sure it’s easy to turn – if it’s a little stiff, apply some WD40 or similar.

Q If you do get a burst, make sure you turn your stop tap off straight away.

Q Having your central heating on will help prevent pipes freezing and bursting.

Did you know? It’s more efficient to leave your central heating on a constant low heat than it is to have it off and on, or to use an electric fire, which is more expensive.

Rob Young, Chief Executive at Helena, said: “For the past 10 years, dedicated volunteers across our communities – many of whom were part of this year’s Making A Difference Awards – have been working side-by-side with Helena to inspire positive change in their communities.

“The daily commitment and effort from our tenants and partners really does make a difference, so these awards are our way of saying thank you and celebrating their achievements.

“Congratulations to all of our winners and runners-up and thank you for your continued support and dedication.”

The event took place at Langtree Park Stadium on Thursday, October 12, and was sponsored by Forrest, Saints, Bramall (part of the Keepmoat Group), Mansell, the Furnishing Service, Starfish Communities, British Gas, E.on and DLP.

To find out more about the Making A Difference Awards and the winners’ stories, visit www.helenahomes.co.uk

The Making A Difference Awards 2012 winners were:I Tenant of the Year: Lynn Turton for her work fundraising for a children’s play area on the Westfield estate and providing endless support for other people.

I Bright Young Star: Sam Patchett for his dedication to helping out at events and encouraging young people to get involved on the Avenues estate in Parr.

I Inspirational Project: Bob Williams from Moss Bank for his work on the Love Food Hate Waste campaign, including a special recipe book for making the most of leftover food.

I Partner of the Year: Merseyside Police Community Support & Traffic Officer Charlene Harrison for her commitment to reducing anti-social behaviour in Blackbrook and Haydock.

I Local Hero: Eddie McConville from Parr for decades of supporting the Derbyshire Hill Family Centre and wider community activities in his area.

I Together We Can: Margaret Foster from Eccleston for tirelessly volunteering at a sheltered accommodation scheme to help older residents make the most of their lives.

I Green Fingers Award: Maureen Wilkinson for looking after a number of community gardens, including one for children and a remembrance green space.

I Respect Your Neighbourhood: The Working Worms group from the Four Acre estate in Clock Face for providing community activities including an older people’s lunch club and a Santa’s grotto.

I Reaching Out: No Secrets Volunteers for their work supporting people affected by self-injury. They have grown from a group of two to 24 volunteers working across five boroughs.

I Outstanding Contribution: Jennie Williams from Moss Bank for her work on a tenants’ group, leading the Shoots food social enterprise and running a Dream Team for young people.

Helena can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year in a variety of ways, including through your TV and on the internet.

Outside of normal working hours, Helena has an emergency repairs service. What would you consider to be an emergency?

This is when you should call us out of hours…

4 If there is an immediate risk to health and safety;

4 If there is an immediate risk of damage to the property.

David Chadwick, from Helena’s Propertycare repairs and maintenance arm, says: “In the winter, there are more emergency call outs and our customers are more at risk than at any other time of the year, so it’s really important that tenants only call us out in a genuine emergency.

“Emergency call out resources are limited, so if it can wait until tomorrow, give us a call then and we’re likely to be able to fix the problem first time.”

When is a call an emergency?

New Government changes mean that

people who have more bedrooms in their

home than the Government says they need

– known as under-occupation – will have

their housing benefits reduced.

You won’t be affected by the changes if:

• Youliveinaonebedroomflatorbedsit;

• Youwerebornonorbefore

October 5, 1951.

From April 2013, if you have one bedroom

more than you need your housing benefit

will be reduced by about £11 a week. If

you have two or more bedrooms more

than you need, your housing benefit will

be reduced by about £20 a week.

If you are living in a home which is too

big for your needs, you wIll not

receive enough housing benefit to cover

your rent. you need to plan now so that

you don’t lose your home.

Helena has been contacting tenants who

have more bedrooms than the Government

say they need to see how we can help you

tominimisetheimpactofthesechanges.

Ifyouhavesparebedroomsinyour

propertyandyouneedfurtherhelpor

advice, contact Anne Meadows, Helena’s

WelfareReformProjectOfficer,on

01744 63 73 83.

Autumn 2012Helena HEADLINES

4 5

Since the Government announced huge changes to the way benefits will be paid, Helena has continued to take action to address the potential risks many of our tenants may face.

We want to make sure our tenants don’t end up in debt, remain up to date with advice, and know where to get help.

I'm Anne Meadows, Helena's Welfare Reform Project Officer, and I'm here to help you prepare for the changes to benefits.

New Government changes to benefit payments mean it's vital that you budget your weekly outgoings so you can afford to pay any extra rent, keep warm and continue to eat a balanced and healthy diet.

Here are my top tips...

3 Make a list before you do your food shopping

that you can stick to. It is easy to come home

from a supermarket shop with items that you

didn’t go out for;

3 Prepare your own food. This can be cheaper and

much healthier than eating convenience food and

microwave meals – so dig out your cookery books

and pre-plan some tasty dishes;

3 Why not join a Shoots Food Club in your area?

Members can buy a bag of fresh fruit and

vegetables for just £3. You can find out more

about Shoots by calling Jennie Williams on

07920 768 601 or visit: http://shoots-food.co.uk

3 If you want to buy or sell items in good condition

visit www.ebay.co.uk and set up an account. You

can also become more environmentally-friendly

by joining Freecycle – an online network where

members can make a request or give away items

they no longer need. Everything is exchanged for

free. Visit www.freecycle.org to sign up and start

searching and selling in your local area;

3 Save money by joining your local library and

using their resources – you can borrow books, CDs

and DVDs and even access the internet for free!

Visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/libraries to find your

nearest library and its opening times;

3 Cut your fuel bills by checking out Helena’s

Billscutter Service. One quick call could save you

money on your gas and electricity. Simply call

0844 8111831 and we will check all the deals

available to you.

For more tips on managing your money, visit our

website – www.helenahomes.co.uk – or HHTV

(See back page for instructions on how to use).

Top Budgeting Tips

From October next year, Universal Credit will be introduced, replacing most existing benefits, including housing benefit.

Tenants will be paid all their benefits in one single monthly payment, called Universal Credit, instead of separately. So, instead of rent being paid direct to Helena, tenants will need to pay their rent to Helena themselves.

Benefits will be paid to you electronically, such as through a bank account or credit union account, so it’s important that you start thinking about what type of account you would like your benefits to be paid into.

The following options are available to you:

3 If you have an existing bank account you could arrange for your benefits to be paid into this;

3 You could contact a bank of your choice and set up an account with them;

3 Another option is to set up an account with a credit union. Helena is working with local credit unions to develop accounts which will accept your Universal Credit and automatically pay your rent to Helena. Look out for further details coming soon.

Get Clued Up About Universal Credit

Under-occupation:Knowingthefacts

Changes To Benefit Payments Are Coming – Are You Ready?

Helena HEADLINES

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Autumn 2012

New Support For Older PeoplePeople needing a helping hand after being in hospital can get one thanks to a new scheme.

Helena Extra has secured £200,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to help vulnerable older people live independently after a life-changing event which has resulted in a stay in hospital.

The funding, allocated by the Lottery’s Silver Dreams Fund, is being used to create the Going Home Project, which will provide practical advice and support to help older people re-build their confidence and skills. This may involve supporting them to take part in social and recreational activities, providing advice about welfare benefits or signposting to appropriate local services.

To find out if the service can help you, or for information about opportunities for mature volunteers to get involved, please contact your hospital discharge team or call 01744 677302 from 10am-4pm weekdays.

Young people living in re:new areas have been busy getting stuck in to everything from sport and drama clubs to cookery lessons and forestry skills courses thanks to the Make It Happen project.

Make It Happen has received £460,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to help young people aged five to 16 access diversionary activities, voluntary work and other development opportunities in Parr, Fingerpost, Thatto Heath and Four Acre over the next five years.

Find out how you can get involved by contacting Caroline Roberts, Make It Happen Project Officer, on 01744 63 73 83.

Young People

Are Making

It Happen

This summer, Helena marked its 10th birthday by announcing ambitious plans for the next five years.

These pledges are summarised in our new Corporate Plan – A Place For Everyone –

and centre around four key areas: A Place to Call Home; A Place to Live;

A Place to Work and Learn; and A Place to Do Business.

Key plans include:

• Investing £150 million into existing homes;

• Investing £69.7 million into building 500 new homes

over the next three years;

• Expanding our award-winning neighbourhood management

approach to 10 new areas;

• Creating one apprenticeship for every £1 million we spend;

• Helping 100 young people into work and training;

• Supporting 50 people into volunteer training every year;

• Reducing our carbon footprint by 30% over five years;

• Improving our business efficiency by 15% while maintaining

high standards of performance.

Find out more by visiting www.aplaceforeveryone.co.uk or contact Helena One Call

on 01744 63 73 83 for a printed copy.

Tackling Anti-social BehaviourHelena’s anti-social behaviour (ASB) service has received the stamp of approval from independent assessors Housemark after meeting tough criteria, including ‘taking swift action to protect communities’.

The team’s recent key results include:

u An Anti-social Behaviour Injunction (ASBI) gained against a tenant in Sutton Heath for intimidating behaviour. Further action is now being taken against this tenant for breaching the ASBI.

u A Derbyshire Hill tenant is subject to an ASBI for persistently breaching their tenancy agreement by accumulating rubbish and allowing their garden to become overgrown.

u An ASBI was gained against a tenant for continually using abusive language and threatening behaviour towards neighbours and Helena staff, as well as noise nuisance.

u Legal action was taken against tenants in Windlehurst and Sutton Heath in regard to drug-related offences.

u Three separate tenants in Thatto Heath and Newton terminated their tenancies after being warned of action to take back their homes for reasons including anti-social behaviour, noise nuisance and cannabis cultivation.

You can report anti-social behaviour 24 hours a day by contacting Helena One Call on 01744 63 73 83; through Helena’s website; HHTV site or by texting your name and brief details of the incident to 07860 022 826.

If you would benefit from using a mobility aid or equipment ranging from specialist bath rails and seats to wheelchairs and mobility scooters, contact Brighter Future Workshop, a charity that specialises in selling both new and old mobility equipment, on 01695 724 361 or visit www.bfworkshop.co.uk for more information.

Helena HEADLINES

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Autumn 2012

Get Online With Helena

Coming soon!Free internet enabled computers will be available in both Helena East on Newton Road in Parr and Helena West on Thatto Heath Road.

Helena tenants will be able to get online in these local neighbourhood offices from 9am-5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and from 9am-4pm every Wednesday.

Stay tuned to www.helenahomes.co.uk and HHTV (instructions on back page) to find out when these facilities will be available to you.

Go DiGitalIf you need online access, visit Helena

Central on Corporation Street, St Helens

Town Centre, Monday to Friday, between

9am and 5pm to use our internet café.

Helena’s Your Space community hub has celebrated its first birthday having welcomed more than 5,000 people through the doors.

Since Your Space opened in October 2011, the place has been buzzing with people taking part in various events from job support and advice workshops to getting online courses.

The venue, based at Helena Central in St Helens Town Centre, has also hosted a Royal lunch for His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent, and welcomed Adam Corbally, star of BBC1 show The Apprentice, to meet tenants.

Events in Your Space have helped 12 people into work or training and given 184 people the skills to go online.

Here’s a snapshot of what’s been going on…

Your Space Update

Are you an IT whizz or do you shy away at the sight of a computer? Helena wants to help tenants of any age to kick-start your computer skills and open up a whole new world online.

Some Government changes to benefit payments means that you will need basic IT skills to make sure you receive the benefits you are entitled to.

From October 2013, Universal Credit will be introduced, meaning all benefits will be paid in one single monthly payment instead of separately. All claims for Universal Credit and the benefits you are entitled to must be made online.

If you need help to get more confident using the internet, or you need to start your IT skills from scratch, come along to a Digital Inclusion and PC skills session in Your Space at Helena Central, every Monday 1pm-4pm. Spaces are limited so get in touch today to reserve your place, by calling Helena One Call on 01744 63 73 83.

At these sessions you can also set up your own email address, find out how to pay your rent, or search for jobs online, plus you can look for local schools, find out how to check out up to date news feeds or even get the latest rugby results from Saints.

Helena tenant Julie Coker gets online using one of the computers in the Your Space internet café.

Helena tenant Paul Burke gets online with courses on

digital inclusion.

People taking part in the Over 50s Work Club with Helena

and JobCentre Plus.

HRH The Duke of Kent meets Helena tenant Mary Unsworth.

Tenants Mavis Litherland and Patricia Ann Murray give Apprentice star Adam Corbally a surprise.

Your Space is available to members of the community for meetings and events.

There is also an internet café open to Helena tenants, allowing free access to the web.

To find out what’s on or find out more, pop into Helena Central, call 01744 63 73 83 or email [email protected]

You can also ‘like’ Your Space on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/YourSpaceAtHelena

Tenants got an update on Helena’s plans for

the future at our Your Space Market Place

and Annual General Meeting event.

Helena HEADLINES

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Autumn 2012

Dream TrailblazersAlmost 200 people took part in the Helena-sponsored Dream Trail

Race to raise funds for the Steve Prescott Foundation.

Career Advice from Falklands Legend Young Helena tenant, David Ogden, gets first-hand advice about

a career in the Army from Falklands veteran Simon Weston OBE.

A Cut AboveThatto Heath mum Kerrie Tarpey is cutting it

as a successful businesswoman after opening

her own hairdressing salon with a helping

hand from Helena Homes’ Developing Active

Neighbourhoods Team.

Use Your BrakesChildren from the Sutton Estate learn about road

safety with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service,

at an event organised by Helena Homes.

Loan Shark Mascot joins Families for ZumbaFamilies from Thatto Heath supported a Helena and re:new campaign to make people more aware of the dangers of loan sharks, with campaign mascot ‘Sharky.’

Pride of St HelensSaints Community Foundation raised the bar on their work after scooping the Helena Partnerships Community Hero Award at the first-ever Pride of St Helens Awards event.

North West in BloomMembers of Ashton Green Community Allotments

celebrate being crowned winners of the Best

Neighbourhood Award, at this year’s North West

In Bloom competition.

SnapshotYou’re HiredHelena’s new apprentices Jade Campbell, Sam Ashman and Scott Wetton meet star of BBC1 show The Apprentice, Adam Corbally.