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Your magazine from Aksa Homes

Aksa A-Team

4

Love Your Garden

8

Our big ASB bus tour

9

Why not Give it a Go?

15

Issue 4, November 2015

25th Anniversary issue

Welcome to this special issue of AksaNews, celebrating our 25th anniversary!

We’re proud to have reached this landmark andyou can read about Aksa’s history on page 4and see a photo of some of our very first tenants!This edition is jam-packed with lots of greatcommunity stories and events that have beengoing on over the summer. Thanks to everyonewho got involved in Summertime Adventures –you can read more about it and see your pictureson pages 12-13.

Two of our residents were lucky enough to berecognised at awards ceremonies too. You canhear their stories on pages 16-17.

There’s been some great work going on in yourneighbourhoods too: loads of gardening andgrowing vegetables; young people busy with the ATeam and Oldham Coliseum Theatre; and eventsfunded through our Community Investment Fund.

As usual, there’s a recipe to try out and somepuzzles to keep you busy as the winter nights

draw in. Find out‘What’s on’ onpage 23 – especially if you need help getting intowork and remember, our new phone number is0161 331 2525.

Take care as the colder weather starts - staywarm and safe and we hope you enjoy thewinter festivities.

The Aksa teamLook for this icon:If you have a smartphoneyou can also find moreinformation on our websiteby scanning this barcodewith a QR code reader app.

OVER 50% OFF DISCOUNT VOUCHERon tickets for Oldham Coliseum

and Rifco Productions (excluding Pantomime)at

Oldham Coliseum TheatreFairbottom St, Oldham, OL1 3SWOffer available to Aksa residents only

2 Aksa News: Issue 4, 2015 www.aksahomes.co.uk

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Contents

5

12

19

22

16-17

History of Aksa 4

Aksa on Stage! 5

Aksa A-Team 6

Neighbourhood Network 7

Love your garden results 8

Our big ASB bus tour 9

Transforming gardens andcommunities 10

Calling all cricket fans… 11

Summertime Adventures 12-13

Helping you get into work 14-15

Tenants recognisedat national awards 16-17

B Healthy 18

Transforming yourneighbourhoods 18

Community Investment Fund 19

Puzzle page 20

ICAN Learn 21

Star survey winners 21

Recipe page 22

What’s on? 23

Money advice andsupport for you 23

Contact us 24

facebook.com/aksahomes @AksaHomes Aksa News: Issue 4, 2015 3

Aksa in days gone byAksa registered with the Housing Corporationin 1990. Originally known as Oldham MuslimAssociation, its name changed to Aksa followingthe merger with Bury-based Dar-ul Aman HousingAssociation in 1995.

Aksa is a charitable Industrial and ProvidentSociety, set up to improve access to rentedhousing, initially to Asian communities in Oldham.Now owning 850 homes in Oldham, Manchester,Tameside and Bury, we have grown to be a well-

known and respected organisation. We are one ofonly two BME developing landlords in the region.

In November 2005, we joined New Charter Groupand being part of a larger company, meant we havethe ability to get the best price on maintenancework, deliver quality social housing anddevelopment programmes and partner with otherorganisations to better support our customers. Italso means we can take on bigger challenges andhelp more people in our communities.

Nowadays, Aksa continues to work in yourneighbourhoods to improve where you live.Over the past few years, we’ve been working onyour neighbourhood plans – individual promisesfor each area to improve health, the environmentand people’s lives.

We’ve now also set up our NeighbourhoodNetwork enabling residents to get more involvedin Aksa’s services and projects to help improveand strengthen our communities.

History of AksaAs we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we look back onhow Aksa Homes first started…

Some of Aksa’s first tenants

Aksa communityOur original logo

4 25th Anniversary issue

Residents and staff shine at national housing eventIn partnership with Oldham ColiseumTheatre, we opened the HACT House Partywith a showcase telling the story of ourpartnership work.

HACT is an organisation that helps promoteideas and innovation in social housing andtheir House Party event runs alongsideone of the biggest events in UK housing inManchester each June.

Through our partnership with the theatre,we are giving residents opportunities they

may not otherwise have and using performingarts to help build stronger communities andget people into work.

The performance was a reflection on thepeople who took part in the TeachingTheatre programme and told the storyof our partnership, all set to Bollywoodthemed music.

Residents and staff took part and we got somefantastic feedback on the performance frommany people, including housing professionals.

Aksa on Stage!

Don’t forget that as anAksa resident, you can alsobenefit from reduced priced

theatre tickets at just £7.50 each!Cut out your voucher on pg 2

of this newsletter.

Summer SlamOver the summer, Oldham ColiseumTheatre also hosted our SummerSlamevent where the theatre opened its doorsto Aksa residents for a fun and interactiveday. Families had a fantastic day out, full ofactivities and it gave them the chance to gobehind the scenes.

Want to get involved?We now have the opportunity forresidents aged 16-24, who are not ineducation or employment to join the newteaching theatre programme at OldhamColiseum which started in September.

This is a one year programme and has100% success rates with people going onto gain employment. If you’re interestedto find out more, please contact us.


Hi Shabana, sorry not texted you back, been busy withthe A-team and the Groundwork project on our estate.

Proud of theveg and herbswe’ve grown

Some of thet-shirts we made

Hi Ashley, no worries.What have you been up to?

We’ve all been growing vegetables and herbs together outon our streets and making posters and t-shirts to help stoppeople vandalising our estate and throwing litter.

Sounds really good.Wish I’d come along now.

Yeah, it’s been really good and there’s beenloads of us getting together - children, youngpeople and older residents too – all ages.

Do you know if they’re going tobe doing work in other areas?

So far it’s been Allama Iqbal Road, Jinnah Close andCottage Gardens but I think Oldham North is next.

I’ll have to find out,sounds really good.

Brill, I’ll see if I can getinvolved next time.

Definitely and at the end we had an event all together atthe Mahdlo Centre in Oldham. It’s been great getting toknow our neighbours better, met some great people.

Aksa A-Team

Aksa Homes has been workingwith Groundwork to deliver somegreat activities for young peoplein the East Oldham area over thesummer months, including:

• Get Oldham Growing project bringingresidents together through communitygrowing sessions, planting vegetables and herbs

• Residents and youngsters designed t-shirtsand posters to tackle and raise awareness ofvandalism and litter problems in communities

The project is now moving to theOldham North area. Watch out formore news on this coming soon.

Working from the ground up

Doing someplanting


Mohammed workingout in the community

Mothimer helping outon Yasmin Gardens

Residents enjoying

healthy meals together

Some of our Neighbourhood

Network members

Neighbourhood NetworkChampions work with the Aksa

team on many projects and shareinformation in their communities.

They also engage with otherresidents on some great work

going on across Oldham,Manchester, Bury andAshton-under-Lyne.

Examples of ourChampions’ projects include:

• Door knocking/posting out our Starsurvey and explaining to residents

the importance of giving their views

• Delivering postcards of Aksa’s newnumber change to 0161 331 2525

• Promoting the SummertimeAdventure activities and getting

residents involved

The Championshave also been supportingAksa’s Project Officers with

various projects such asB- Healthy, Bignor Street GardenProject and Stepping into Work.

Over the next six months, our TenantPanel members and Neighbourhood

Network Champions will jointogether to provide one strong

group of active residentssupporting

neighbourhoods.

This will provide flexibility forresidents and enable them to get

more involved in their communities.We will continue to look to our

Champions to be the voice of theirneighbourhoods and be a key link to

residents in their area.

You can also follow the group onFacebook and Twitter.

Interested in joining ourNeighbourhood Network?Please contact Janet Hall

on 0161 331 2525.

What do ourNeighbourhood

NetworkChampions do?


Our garden competition was alittle bit different this year withyou, the residents as the judges!We also ran the competitionthrough Facebook this time and ithelped more residents get involved.Well done to everyone who took part in‘Love your garden’– we had some fantastic entries!Lots of you rose to the challenge and had a goat growing your own beautiful bloomsand vegetables.

The competition ran through July and Augustwith tenants posting their own photos on ourFacebook page for judging.

Love your gardencompetition – judged by you

And the winners are…Best individual planterMs Maver, 220 Portland Street

Best front/rear gardenMiss Farid, 55 Osborne Street

Most improved gardenMrs Khatun, 2 Yasmin Gardens

Most colourful gardenMs Maver, 220 Portland Street

Best communal garden/streetMr Evans & Ben, Bignor Street

Best fruit/vegetable patchMrs Akhtar, 47 Cotton MillCrescent (joint winner)

Best fruit/vegetable patchKieran Riley, 2 Jinnah Close(joint winner)

Best communalgarden - Mr Evans

& Ben, BignorStreet

Best fruit/vegetablepatch - Kieran & IanRiley, 2 Jinnah Close

Best fruit and vegetablepatch - Mrs Akhtar, 47Cotton Mill Crescent

Best individual planter andMost colourful garden -

Ms Maver, 220 Portland Street

Most improved gardenSyed Astor, 2 Yasmin Gardens

Best front/rear garden -Fasil Farid, 55 Osbourne Street


Our bigASB bus tour

During the May half-term holidays, Aksa tookto the streets of Greater Manchester as part ofa bus tour to help tackle antisocial behaviourAntisocial behaviour cansignificantly impact on people’slives. We know it’s important tocreate stronger neighbourhoodswhere people work togetherand are kept informed of anyincidents to help improvewhere they live.

So we took to the streets in ourbig blue bus and travelled acrossOldham, Bury and Manchesterwhere our staff spoke to lots ofresidents to help raise awarenessof antisocial behaviour.

We also linked up with OldhamColiseum to develop streettheatre performances aboutneighbourhood issues - a creativeway to help get messages acrossto the wider community.

Fun activities were reallyenjoyed by families and wejoined with local councils,the fire service, the police andofficers to run football skillssessions, outdoor activitiesand improve community safety.


communities&

We have been working withresidents from Bignor Street,Manchester to improve thecommunal area and security forthe flats. Work has been ongoingsince last year and now you cansee a huge difference in how thearea looks.After talking to residents, it was agreed thatpeople wanted to see better security for the blockof flats and make better use of the garden.

New electronic gates have been fitted and anintercom system is on the main gate of the flats.The garden is taking shape with new planters forresidents to grow fruit and vegetables in.

Kurt Evans, a tenant of Bignor Street has reallytackled the garden and made real improvements.Kurt also successfully secured funding throughthe Community Investment Fund and this moneyis being put to good use. The garden area is nowbeing enjoyed by residents who can look out oftheir window to a lovely view and also cook andeat vegetables grown in the garden.

The garden won Best Communal Garden in thisyear’s garden competition and you can see allthe results on page 8.

Not only has the project transformed the lookof the area, it’s also helped tackle any antisocialbehaviour issues in the block and given residentsa space to relax in and feel safe.

Watch this space for more developments andphotos; we’ll keep you updated!

Garden competitionwinners - Kurt Evans & Ben

Bignor Street garden

gardensTransforming


Next year, the Pakistan cricket team will tour England and visit EmiratesOld Trafford. The home of Lancashire County Cricket Club will play hostto both an Investec Test Match between Friday 22nd - 26 July 2016 anda NatWest International T20 on Wednesday 7 September 2016.

Aksa Homes in partnershipwith Lancashire Cricket Club, isoffering Aksa tenants the chance to buytickets for these fixtures. We are also teaming upto offer a range of fun activities that will includemini cricket games and inflatable bowling for yourfamily to enjoy. Keep a look out on our socialmedia pages for more details.

The Cricket Club invites all cricket supportersto register their interest for these internationalfixtures between England and Pakistan and bydoing so, you will be provided with all thelatest information and access to buy tickets.Don’t miss out!

The side, captained by Misbah-ul-Haq arecurrently ranked third among the Test playingnations, behind Australia and South Africa, andwill provide a stern challenge for the Three Lionsin the Four Test series.

The Green Shirts will also take part in a one-offNatWest International T20 at Emirates Old Traffordover the summer next year. Former Lancashireoverseas bowler, Junaid Khan recently excelled forLancashire Lightning and is likely to be involved inwhat promises to be another exciting match.

Day fourof the Testhas also beendesignated ascharity day,which will seethe Clubdonate 10% of ticketsales to a nominatedcharity. Details will beprovided at a later date.

Please visitwww.lccc.co.uk/ticketsto register your interestfor these fantasticinternational fixtures. Canyou afford to miss out onthis next year?!

Calling allcricket fans…


“”

“”

Summertime Adventures was a burst of fun, activities and learning,brightening up all our communities throughout the summer holidays.

The programme included many different activities which focused on providingresidents with health and wellbeing advice and support, with fresh andinteractive ideas - helping to achieve our goal of improving livesand communities.

SummertimeAdventures

Health MOTsOur bus toured all neighbourhoods withpartners, offering support and advice onhealth matters. Residents received freehealth checks andreferrals. We helped118 residents andcarried out 66health checks.

Summer SlamMore than 40 people attended a familyevent at Oldham Coliseum Theatre formothers and children, exploring the theatreand its work with fun activities.

ICAN Learn - SkypeEncouraged active learning and developmentof IT skills and brought friends and familiestogether. Helped increase confidence and

employability skills.12 residents learnthow to use Skype.

Grow Your OwnOver 20 residents joined in and startedgrowing their own fruit, vegetables and

herbs,including manyyoung peopleand children.

Dancing in the StreetThis fun-packed activityintroduced 16 tenantsto physical exerciseand broughtneighbours together.

On Your Bike!Encouraged residents to learn a new skill andkeep fit and active at the same time throughcycling and visiting agym. 16 ladies tookpart and two evenlearned to ride a bike.


”

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The Summertime Adventures has had somebrilliant outcomes with tenants continuing toimprove their health and wellbeing and jointogether and build friendships.

Tenants have joined the gym as a result of‘On your bike’ and others have been referred toservices for more support. A group of ladies haveeven taken up swimming together to improvetheir health and fitness levels.

Chai TimeResidents went ona taste discovery,sampling differentteas from aroundthe world at thissocial event and learnt about their addedbenefits, improving wellbeing.

Walk and TalkIncreased fitness levels through communitywalks and also gaveyoung childrenthe chance tomake promiseson how they canimprove their ownneighbourhoods.

No More Bored Games!Families got together and played giant boardgames, learning new skills and encouragingchildren to get outdoors and enjoy thebenefits of fresh air.

Meal time MakeoversTenants from across neighbourhoods joinedcelebrity chef and nutritionist, JeannetteJackson for a live interactive cooking

session,focusedon healthydiets andimprovingwellbeing.

Come Dine with UsResidents cooked their signature dishesand brought them out on to the streets toenjoy with each other. Some neighbours

met for the firsttime, building newfriendships andshared recipes -a perfect end totheir SummertimeAdventures.


Over the past six months, Aksahas been running a businessstart-up project – Give it a Go,at the Launch Pad in Oldham.

We’ve been working inpartnership with UpturnEnterprise Limited, Blue OrchidRegenda, Contour Housing,

Oldham Business Leadershipgroup and Oldham Council.

Local people interested insetting up their own businesseshave been given support andadvice, meeting with a specialistadvisor each week to help them.

Nine Aksa tenants have beensupported by Give it a Go.Five of them received grants totrain in child minding and oneresident has been given funding toset up her own catering company.

Nusrat’s journeyAksa Tenants’ Panel member,Nusrat Bibi has realisedher dream through Give ita Go by launching her ownbusiness: Yummy TummyCatering Company.

Nusrat regularly camealong to the Aksa job cluband received weekly one-to-one support. As a highlycompetent home cook,Nusrat was keen to starta catering business andeven had food hygienequalifications too, but shehad no experience ofrunning a company and hadlimited funds to get going.Through Give it a Go,Nusrat was supported towrite a business plan anda marketing strategy wasdeveloped and put intoaction. She was also givenhelp with sourcing suppliersand calculating costings.Nusrat comments: “I justwanted to say thank you

for the support the Giveit a Go project has givenme in starting my businessfrom home. I could nothave done it without thesupport and guidanceI received from thisproject as it gave me theconfidence to do thingswhich I thought I would notbe able to do. So thankyou for everything.”In her first week of trading,Nusrat catered for theLaunch into business eventat the Launch Pad!If you have an event orfunction and would like aquote from Nusrat’s YummyTummy Catering Company,contact Nusrat by email:[email protected]

Why not Give it a Go?Aksa tenants set up their own businesses and Give it a Go!

peoplesupported

22 7new businesses set up

9Aksa tenants helped togain work or become

self-employed

14grants allocated to

tenants totalling £8,315

Nusrat proudlyshowcasing her foodat the Launch into

Business event


Danielle’s storyI was a single parent andhadn’t worked for a while.I wanted to look for work

but didn’t know where tostart and then I heardabout Aksa’s Stepping intoWork programme.I went along to a work cluband signed up and theyhelped me create a CV andI started looking for jobs.I got help with completingapplications and was invitedto a few interviews whichthe Aksa team helped mepractice for.I was successful with onejob - a short term position,but a great opportunity tobuild on my experience andconfidence. Then I was backon the Stepping into Work

programme, but felt moreconfident as I had gainedexperience and had somework history behind me.I applied for a job in ahealth centre which wouldbe ideal as it was close tomy children’s school andwas flexible. I was invitedfor interview and thena second interview andreceived a call and was toldthat I was successful! I wasso happy, the job was ideal.I am thankful to all thathave supported me withmy journey and helped medevelop to where I am - ina job I enjoy.

Ifrat’s storyI have been an Aksa tenantfor many years. I had noexperience or knowledge ofworking and was introducedto the Stepping into Workprogramme throughattending English classes.My English was very minimaland I lacked confidence asI had been a mother andhousewife for many years.I started to go along tothe work club where I waswelcomed and given help tomake a CV. I was shown howto apply for and searchfor jobs.I was so eager to buildon my experience andconfidence but my languagewas a barrier. The Aksateam spoke to me about

Ifrat volunteeringat the Bean Good Café

Danielleat the

work club

volunteering and offeredme an opportunity tovolunteer at a coffee shopto help me improve myspoken English.It was a great opportunityas the volunteering allowedus to swap skills; themanager would support mewith my English and I wouldshare my cooking skills!

I was so happy as this wasa volunteering opportunitywhere I was doing somethingI enjoyed – cooking. I goalong every week andcan see my English slowlyimproving and I really lookforward to it each week.I can’t thank Aksa enoughfor helping me get thisopportunity and supportingme along this journey.


Sajad Hussain from Cotton Mill Crescent,Oldham was shortlisted as a finalist for theHousing Heroes award for Inspirational Tenantof the Year.

Tenants recognised forgreat community spiritat national awardsTwo of our tenants have been recognised for theiroutstanding work in their communities.

The ceremony was held on 22ndJune in Manchester and Sajadwent along with the Aksa teamto mark the occasion.

Sajad has been active in theneighbourhood, providing

support with variousmaintenance and cleaning jobsfor more vulnerable tenants.He’s been the voice of thecommunity, helping withresearch questionnaires andgetting involved in the Steppinginto Work programme.He’s shared his knowledge andlife experiences with otherresidents of how he has gainedconfidence and always makes

time to visit those who needhelp and support.

His presence has had a positiveimpact in the community helives in, getting others involved,helping shape Aksa’s services asa Tenant Panel member and asa voice for his neighbourhood.Being shortlisted was a bigachievement for Sajad and greatfor him to be recognised inthese prestigious awards.


Carol Morrison, a tenant from Cotton MillCrescent, Oldham won the NeighbourhoodChampion award at the Fusion awards inBlackburn in May.

Carol has been an Aksa tenantsince 2006. She keeps busywith her four children and ninegrandchildren, but this doesn’tstop her from devoting much ofher time to making a differenceto her neighbourhood. She isalways a helping hand and lovessupporting her neighbours.

As a well-respected memberof the community, Carolgets involved with theNeighbourhood Network,

regularly volunteers andhas been instrumental indeveloping a ‘neighbourhoodagreement’. As a Tenant Panelmember, her commitment tomaking a difference has gonefrom strength to strength,even though her own healthhasn’t always been great.Nevertheless, she alwaysmanages to be full of energyand has a welcoming smile.

Congratulations to bothSajad and Carol on thesefantastic achievementsand thanks to you both forthe commitment you showwithin your communities.

17facebook.com/aksahomes @AksaHomes Aksa News: Issue 4, 2015

With First Choice Homes, Contour Housingand other partners, Aksa has dedicated fundingto health and wellbeing projects across theWestwood and Coldhurst areas of Oldham.

We held a number of pop-up sessions on Franklin,Clarkwell and Shipla Close in Oldham from Juneto September. Tenants took part in the activities,

Transforming yourneighbourhoodsSherwood Street project

B Healthy

If you live in thisneighbourhood andwould like to be partof this project, pleasecontact Tanuja on0161 331 2525 or [email protected] have recently won a

grant for £5,000 from NearNeighbours Funding totransform vacant land onSherwood Street, Oldham intoa community space and garden.

This will enable tenants fromthe area to plant flowers andgrow vegetables and transformthis derelict land.

From September this year, itwas all systems go with OldhamCouncil, Great Places HousingAssociation and other partnersacross the region, creatingsomething new.

This community project hasdeveloped a great space for

people to meet to share ideas,socialise and take pride in theirarea. Once finished, it will also bea good place for children to play.

As you can see from thephotograph, there’s lots of workto do, but watch this space forupdates on how things are goingand see the area transform!

alongside Alison, Community Food Inspirer andher team from Incredible Aqua Garden.

The project aimed to promote health in thecommunity and encourage people to grow theirown fruit and vegetables which have now beenshared with friends and neighbours. Classes werealso held on different cooking techniques includingideas using less oil to help with healthier dietsand lifestyles.

For more information, contact Tanuja on0161 331 2525 or email [email protected]

The area whichwill be transformed

Clarkwell Closeresidents planting herbs

Franklin Close residentsplanting raspberries


Sharon Maver, an Ashton tenant transformedan unused communal space at Uxbridge Streetto develop a Serenity Garden. This newrelaxing space is ideal for people to meet withfriends and neighbours.

CommunityInvestment FundResidents applied forfunding to make theirsummer dreams come trueOver the summer, Aksa tenants applied to theCommunity Investment Fund to transform openspaces and plan a day trip that brought thecommunity together.

How will we assessyour application?

Our Neighbourhood Network members willreview your idea and if it’s approved, we willfund and support the project.

When your project is set up, let us know whenand where it’s taking place. We’d love you totake lots of photographs and upload themto the Aksa Facebook and Twitter pages forpeople to see. Good luck!

How to apply for the AksaHomes Community InvestmentFund in four easy steps:

1 Get together with three or more ofyour neighbours

2 Come up with an idea that you think willbenefit your neighbours/community andshare it with them

3 Download an application form fromwww.aksahomes.co.uk/neighbourhoods-and-communities/community-investment-fund

4 Submit your application form

Samantha Henry,a resident at PeakdaleAvenue, organised a trip forover 50 Aksa residents toSouthlakes Zoo. The triphelped families get to knoweach other and provided anaffordable and memorablefamily day out. Samanthapaid the transport costsfor all residents herself.

If you’ve got an idea for a projectthat would make a difference to yourcommunity, why not apply to Aksa’sCommunity Investment Fund?

If you have an idea and want to help out yourneighbourhood, you can apply for a smallgrant of up to £1,000 for yourcommunity project.


Puzzle pageSudokuWinter Wordsearch

COLOURME IN

DECEMBERFEBRUARYFROSTICE SKATINGICICLE

JANUARYMITTENSNEW YEARSCARFSKIING

SLEIGHSNOWFLAKESNOWMAN


The event aimed to give customers sample courses that theymay be interested in, with a view to planning a timetable ofcourses for residents in the future.

Sample courses included hair and beauty, keep fit,employability skills, jewellery making and flower arranging.

The successful day gave customers an insight into what theycould learn and what to expect if they enrol onto the fulltraining courses.

If you’re interested in any of our learning courses, pleasecontact Tahira Adam on 0161 331 2525.

Thank you to everyone whocompleted this year’s STAR survey.During July and August, over 200 Aksa tenantsgave us their views in our annual customer survey.Your feedback is helping us to see what we aredoing well and where we need to improve thingsfor you.

There was also the chance to win £50supermarket vouchers for everyone taking part inthe survey. The winners of the prize draw were:

• Lisa Marie Phelan from Heron Street, Oldham

• Rani Chohan from Primrose Bank, Oldham

• Abdul Hoque from Bamford Street, Oldham

Well done to Johura Khatun, Sajid Hussain andNusrat Bibi who helped carry out thetelephone survey.

A few of our winners are pictured here. Rani Chohan,Primrose Bank,

Oldham

As part of our ICAN Learning programme,we’ve worked in partnership with OldhamLifelong Learning and the Kashmiri YouthProject to hold taster sessions of learningprogrammes which residents can sign up to.

Star survey winners!

Mrs Nessa andJezmin, BamfordStreet, Oldham


Recipe pageNuts about Cheesecake!

This month’s recipe is a cheesecake – a treat – yet it’s full of healthy goodness and

was created by our special guest at Aksa in September – Jeannette Jackson who is a

Biochemist/Nutritionist. We hope you will give it a try and let us know what you think!

Serves 10Ingredients:For the base:• 1 and a 1/2 cups ofalmonds• 2 and a 1/2 cups ofmedjool datesFor the middle:• 2 cups of soakedcashew nuts• 2 frozen over-ripe bananas

• 1/3 – 1/2 of a cup of maplesyrup (depending on how

sweet you like it)• 1/3 of a cup of apple juice• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

For the top:1 cup of freshly frozenblueberries (packaged frozen

berries have too muchwater and make the mix too

runny, so freeze your ownfor a couple of hours before

making this)• 1 cup of strawberries• 1 frozen banana• 4 medjool dates• 1 tablespoon ofmaple syrup• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Method:Before makingthis, youneed to slicethe threebananas andfreeze themfor at leastthree hoursalong with theblueberries. You also need to

soak the cashew nuts for atleast four hours.1. Start by making the base.Put the almonds into a

food processor and blendfor a minute or so until the

nuts are nicely crushed.Once this has happened,

add the pitted medjooldates and blend again until

a sticky mix forms. Pressthis into the base of a cake

tin and place in the freezer.2. Make the middle layer

by simply putting all theingredients into the food

processor and blend untilsmooth and creamy.3. Take the base layer out of

the freezer and pour threequarters of this mix over

it before putting the cakeback into the freezer. Keepthe final quarter of the

mix in the processor as it’sneeded for the top layer.

4. Wait about twentyminutes for the middlelayer to set in the freezer

before making the thirdlayer. To make this,

simply add the remainingingredients to the blender

combined with the mixfrom the middle, blend

until smooth and thenpour over the middle layer.

5. Place the cake back intothe freezer to set for two

hours before serving. You’llneed to remove the cake

from the freezer and allowit to warm up for a few

minutes before youserve it. Then enjoy!


Mondays12pm-2pm

Stepping into Work (Oldham North)Millenium Centre, Featherstall Road North,Westwood, Oldham, OL9 6QB

Share skills and experiences, find jobopportunities, make contacts, create a CVand get the support you need to help youinto work.

Tuesdays12pm-2pm

Stepping into Work (Oldham East)Launch Pad Marlborough St,Oldham, OL4 1EG


Wednesdays9.30am-12pm

Advice Drop inAksa Homes office, 2 Medtia Square,Phoenix Street, Oldham

Support with housing, benefits, completingforms and other services.

Thursdays10am-12pm

Rent Surgery drop inAksa Homes office (see above)

Get support with understanding your rentaccount and setting up repayment plans.

Thursdays10am-12pm

Money CareAksa Homes office (see above)

Support with money matters includingdebt advice.

Thursdays12pm-4pm

Stepping into Work (Bury)ADAB, 14 Heywood Street,Bury, BL9 4EA


Fridays10am-12pm

Stepping into Work (Manchester)The Welcome Centre, 18-32 BrentfieldAvenue, Cheetham Hill, Manchester,M8 0TW


Money CareDid you know, we offer free, confidential advice andsupport on dealing with money, debts and benefits?

We can help with:

• Managing your money

• Finding out if you’re entitled toclaim benefits

• Dealing with debts

We can also help with:

• Job seekers allowance

• Tax credits

• Housing benefit

• Personal Independence Payments

The team is available every Thursday from 10am-12pm - no need to make anappointment, just call into the Aksa office.

Events and classesWhat’s on?

When Where? How we can help


Resource Housing Reg. No. 2111

Aksa HomesAksa House, 2 Medtia Square,Phoenix Street, Oldham OL1 1AN

[email protected]

facebook.com/aksahomes

@AksaHomes

Contact us

Emergency RepairsCall 0161 331 2525 if you needan emergency repair during thefollowing times:

• After 5pm Monday - Wednesday

• After 4.30pm on Thursdays

• After 4pm on Fridays

• During weekends and Bank Holidays

Main Switchboard:

0161 331 2525

0161 331 52 52Our telephone number has changed

Date post:	18-Jul-2018
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