Plus Dane Group residents’ magazine Issue Eight 2011

www.neighbourhoodinvestor.com

Inspectors on the casep5

Creating local jobsp7

New look for North Liverpoolp16

Becky’s moving storyp10

Spring edition

Working with our customers, we have established a set of seven neighbourhood investor promises. These are:

■ Increased investment in existing property■ Creating great places to live■ Increased community safety measures■ Further supporting vulnerable customers■ Further supporting resident involvement■ Increased creation of local jobs■ Increased supply and choice of homes

helloPlus Dane UNiTY2 3

Welcome to the latest issue of UNiTY

Hello and welcome to our spring issue of UNiTYmagazine, which once again brings you stories andnews on how we are working together to deliver ourseven Neighbourhood investor promises.

This issue has a ‘young people’ theme and highlights the wide range of work we do to support young peopleand create new opportunities for them to learn, developand grow.

We understand the importance of providing the rightsupport for young people to help them realise theiraspirations and potential and we hope you enjoy readingabout how this work is making a difference, along withsome inspirational stories of youngsters that haveovercome significant challenges to turn their lives around.

We have also been working over the last six months todevelop our neighbourhood plans and put in place localoffers for the neighbourhoods we serve.

Importantly, we have been working together with tenantsand residents to understand the issues and priorities thatmatter to you in your neighbourhoods, and the localoffers outline how we will deliver the services that youhave told us you are important to your communities.

You can read more about the offers and what they mean for you and your neighbourhood on page 20and more information is available on our websitewww.neighbourhoodinvestor.com. The local offers

will be monitored and scrutinised closely by tenants, and we will be reporting our progress to you later in theyear in our annual report.

We hope you enjoy reading this issue of UNiTY and thatyou find it interesting and informative. We are alwayslooking at ways to improve the magazine and ensure thatit contains the stories and information that you want toread about.

UNiTY is your magazine, which is why, working togetherwith the tenants communications group, we are going to be gathering as many of your views and commentsabout the magazine as possible over the next few months.

This issue includes a short survey on page 23, which wehope you will take the time to complete and send back tous in the freepost envelopes provided so that we can useyour feedback to look at how we can make the magazineeven better in the future.

Ken Perry Des FinlayChief Executive, ChairPlus Dane Group Tenants Together Forum

Every member of staff from Plus Dane Group visiteda tenant during November and December 2010 toadvise them on how to stay safe and warm duringthe cold winter months, as part of our third annualBeat the Chill campaign.

More than 500 staff visited over 600 homes acrossCheshire and Merseyside to offer advice on keepingwarm, minimising fire risks, cutting fuel bills andclaiming benefits.

They also gave out gift packs containing useful itemssuch as tea, coffee, soup and a torch.

The visits enabled staff to check whether homes were properly heated and report back any issuesidentified so that the team could follow up andaddress them.

The campaign really does make a difference to tenants and enables us to quickly respond to anyissues or queries from customers. Through the visits,20 gas referrals were made, 67 repairs issues werereported and followed up on, 43 people were able to gain further advice and support on how to bettermanage their income and 71 tenants were referred to their neighbourhood team for additional support.

Andy Lomas, Neighbourhood Director at Plus Danesaid: “The cold conditions were particularly brutal this winter, especially in the lead up to Christmas, and so our Beat the Chill campaign has never been more important to enable us to ensure the wellbeingof tenants.

“Through the visits, staff were able to report back on any issues and make a number of referrals, which shows how valuable these visits are inenabling us to take swift action when necessary.”

Winter warmthcampaign

Young Plus Dane residents in Cheshire andMerseyside have developed an information pack to help their peers live independently.

Movin on, Movin in, which comes on a computer memorystick, contains all the practical information and adviceneeded to aid a smooth transition to renting a home andreduce the rate of failed tenancies and associated problems.

A home of their own

Plus Dane has been celebrating the success of its partnership work in Liverpool’s Riverside ward.

The ‘Joined Up’ programme, which pools cash and resources in the area, provides more than 400 children and young people with safe places to go and fun things to do.

Police report that street drinking has reduced by 64% and youthdisorder by 50% since the programme began four years ago.

The success of the partnership was celebrated recently with an awards ceremony – the Riverside Oscars – which highlighted the positive achievements of children and young people.

Riverside tales

Tenants decide on how to allocate £200,000Plus Dane has been working over the last 12 monthsto identify areas where it can make efficiencies acrossthe organisation so that we can continue to maximiseinvestment in neighbourhoods.

The campaign has been a great success and all staffhave worked hard to identify innovative ways in whichsavings can be made. As a result, we are delighted tohave generated an additional £200,000 which will be

spent directly to benefit the tenants we serve.How this money is best spent will be decided bytenants. The Tenants Together Forum (TTF) will now be working over the next month to determine how itshould be allocated to make a difference to tenants.

This is a great result and we will be telling you moreabout how the TTF have worked to allocate thisadditional investment in the next edition of UNiTY.

In the frame

John took on the role in 2007 after 12 years as chairmanof Dane Housing and originally planned to stay on onemore year.

However, the increasing complexity of his work as HMCoroner for Greater Manchester South, as well as hisconfidence that integration between the Cheshire andMerseyside associations has gone smoothly, promptedhis decision to leave.

“The way the board has melded and workforce integratedgives me a clear indication that things have cometogether well,” he said.

“Knowing there were many excellent candidates to takeover and bearing in mind my increasing workload, I felt itwas the right time to step aside to allow a new chairmanto take the steps forward the group now needs to take.”

“I will miss the job enormously and have not ruled out offering my services to the group at some time in the future.”

Thinking back over his time as chairman, John is satisfiedthat giant strides have been made in the neighbourhoodsPlus Dane now serves.

“I think the first achievement was removing the concept of ‘the council house’ and replacing it with homes thatpeople wanted to live in but that they chose to rent ratherthan buy,” he said.

“Our homes are now so well maintained they are as good as, if not better than, comparable homes in theprivate sector.”

“It’s so important that people live in decent houses.We’ve made giant strides to address that but wemust avoid complacency – there’s always room to improve.

“The other challenge ahead will be development. It will bevery disappointing if there is a period of stagnation and infive or 10 years there is a dearth of houses for people tolive in.”

Speaking about the decision to merge Dane Housing with Merseyside-based Plus Housing Group, John said:“As soon as we spoke to Plus, we knew there would be differences and difficulties, not least the perceiveddifference between ‘leafy’ Cheshire and ‘inner city’Liverpool, but we understood each other and we were all aiming for the same objectives.

“I’d like to pay particular tribute to Anne Ward (thethen chief executive of Dane Housing) because Anneknew in her heart of hearts that when she signed up for the merger she was signing away her role as independentchief executive. It was admirable that she was prepared to do that for the long term benefit of the company and tenants.

“The merger has gone remarkably well, much better than I could possibly have hoped it would.”

Plus Dane’s new Chairman is Councillor Richard Kemp(see pages 6-7) and the new deputy chair is NigelHodges, a senior member of the management team at pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.

Speaking of his successor, Richard Kemp, John said: “I wish Richard well for the future. He is fortunate ininheriting what I always had: a very able and friendlyparent board, all of whom are committed to doing thebest for the company and the neighbourhoods.

“I’d also like to thank the tenants for their tolerance of me and hope I’ve contributed in some way to making their lives better.”

“Everything we have achieved has been carried intoeffect by our excellent workforce who always gothe extra mile, not for money or self aggrandisementbut, because they really care about the people they serve.”

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A fond farewellWhen John Pollard became chairman of the fledglingPlus Dane Group he anticipated challenging timesahead. As he steps down the group’s performance is surpassing his expectations.

Plus Dane UNiTY4 5

Inspectors on the case

As we went to print, the team were writing up theirreports on the strengths and weaknesses of how we deliver these essential services to you.

The inspections, which took place over three days inMerseyside and Cheshire, are in response to theplanned abolition of the Tenant Services Authority andour desire to make sure our high standards stay high.

A snap shot of tenants taking part revealed high levelsof satisfaction but also areas for improvement.

One of the inspectors, CommanderHarry Harley, (pictured right) a formerRoyal Navy man, compared theexercise to “working up” a ship.

“One of my Navy jobs was to bepart of a team that went throughships, to find every little thing thatwas wrong,” he said. “We werehated by the crew, but in the end,the benefits were for all to see.”

On the final day of inspection, Harry was part of a teamthat called customer numbers at random to ask them if they were satisfied with services they’d received.

“The first woman I spoke to was so full of praise forPlus Dane, I feared it was a plant!” he joked. “However,the second one I spoke to had experienced hugefrustration with getting a window replaced, which wasdown to sloppiness from sub-contractors and, I wouldsay, a failure to ensure quality control over them.

“You are always going to get fall downs, it is how PlusDane responds to the issues we raise that will be thetrue test. However I have to say this exercise has left

me with a deeper respect and understanding of thework Plus Dane does and the commitment andenthusiasm of their staff.”

Alsager tenant John Kane added: “We have beengoing through all the facts and figures. We are not hereto criticise so much as improve the service for the goodof all tenants and ensure that if Plus Dane say they aredoing something they can prove it.”

Many other areas of recommendation will come out inthe final report, which we will feature in the next issue ofUNiTY and on our website.

Plus Dane community engagement manager ChadThompson, who led the exercise, said: “It is an exciting,innovative project that really puts Plus Dane at theforefront of tenant engagement.

“It is essential that we do this. Businesses stay strongwhen they listen to their customers. It is essential thatwe are open and deliver what they want and can provewe are worthy of their trust.”

Inspectors tested the repairs and maintenance serviceusing methods such as ‘mystery shopper’ interviews,quality scoring, interviewing management teams,customers and trades staff.

The next tenants inspection programme will take placesoon, to find out more about becoming a tenantinspector call Chad Thompson on 0151 330 3447 oremail chad.thompson@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

A team of tenant inspectors have swept through PlusDane’s repairs and maintenance service and are ready to deliver their verdict on how it is performing.

The Avenues Tenant Resident Association (TATRA) inSandbach, Cheshire, which covers Third Avenue, FairfieldAvenue, Townfields, Latham Road, Coronation Crescent,Hungerford Place, Newall Avenue and Price Avenue, hasnow extended to cover Union Street and Cecil Rigby Closeand is pleased to welcome residents from the new areas.

The Association’s meetings take place monthly at theCommunity Centre on Union Street, which have a regularpresence from the police, community wardens, Plus DaneGroup and town councillors. Members have the opportunity

to put a question to these partners if they have an issue or query that they would like to raise.

Members arrive at 7pm for a 7.30pm start and for anyone wishing to join, there is a £1 membership fee with an option to purchase a raffle ticket and drink. There are also regular presentations and talks on interests such as cake decoration and crafts.

TATRA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be taking placeon 3rd May and all members and residents are welcome.

TAT RA expands!

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ACROSS1 Innovation 7 Passion 9Eye10 Dumbest 12Ewe 13Garish 14Adhere 17Hob 19 Respect 20Ion 21Rigging 24 Excellence

DOWN1 Ivy 2Nap 3 Vespers 4 Ounce 5 Treatment 6 Retrieve 8Iota 10Digestive11 Merchant 15Distill 16 Brag 18 Borax 22 Gin 23Hoe

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UNITY CROSSWORD ANSWERS

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Answers

UNITY SUDOKU SOLUTION

Here are the competitionanswers from the back page – no peeking for those of you who haven’t had a go!

an organisation like Plus Dane because we havethe answers that local and central governmentare looking for. We know how to join thingstogether and how to work very differently fromother organisations.

“While there may be difficulty, I see this as a timeof opportunity.”

“I wanted to be the chair because I get greatsatisfaction out of the work Plus Dane does.Whenever I feel really hacked off with politics, I go down to see someone like Joe Feeley and the work he does offering jobs and trainingopportunities at the INES depot in Toxteth,Liverpool 8, or I demand to be shown the latestproperties we are building and meet the peoplemoving in and hear what it means to them.

“That gives me the petrol in my tank for thebattles and opportunities that lay ahead.”

Some of these roles are supported by an innovative academyprogramme to help graduates build a career after theirapprenticeship ends.

In addition to offering training in the skills required for the jobs,the Ni Academy will also equip apprentices with a backgroundin other areas of the housing industry, giving them roundercareer and promotion prospects as they progress.

The scheme was welcomed by Cllr Joe Anderson, the leader of Liverpool City Council, which has providedfunding help.

He said: “Often when a company has the word ‘Neighbourhood’ in their title it is just a throw-away line, but Plus Dane really does invest in neighbourhoods and these new apprenticeships prove that commitment.”

Investing in the futurePlus Dane is investing in 14 new apprentices

“I am passionate about my political beliefs but I work effectively with people of all parties.

“I believe there’s a tremendous opportunity for

Shellesa Coke says she used to lack confidence – now she’s got it by the bagful.

Although softly spoken, the 17-year-old has become a powerful voicefor young people in Liverpool and impressed Plus Dane so much thatthey put her forward to encourage youths in Congleton to do the same.

Shellesa, who lives in a Plus Dane home, is heading up a new youthforum in Cheshire that will give young people there the chance toinfluence the way their Neighbourhood investor delivers services.

And one of the first things she plans to do is to promote the personaldevelopment programmes that have helped her so much.

“I wasn’t a confident person and wanted to do something about that, so when I heard about the Merseyside youth forum – and how itwould offer young people the chance to have a say in how PlusDane’s services are delivered - I plucked up the courage to go along.

“I was made to feel very welcome by (youth engagementofficer) Lesley Dixon and the other young people and Isoon realised just how valuable the forum was. We wenton courses that boosted our CVs, learned new skills andreceived so much support for our personal development.”

Shellesa, who is also studying for a BTEC in business butwho now plans to build a career in youth work, becamean enthusiastic member of the forum, attending all themeetings and impressing fellow members and Plus Danestaff with her leadership qualities.

So when the go ahead was given to launch a youth forumin Congleton, staff felt she was the natural choice to leadthe engagement efforts.

“I’m thrilled to have been offered this opportunity,” saysShellesa, who in her spare time enjoys a range of sports

and has even tried her hand at boxing.

“Young people in Congleton should really consider gettinginvolved. If they want a voice, if they think things are wrongand want to put them right, if they want training, careerhelp, trips away and lots of fun they should definitely join.

“It’s done so much for me. It’s helped me conquer myinner fears and find my confidence and independence.”

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Young people deserve to be heard

Plus Dane has been supporting children and young people on their journey to adulthood.

The youth engagement and floating support teams have been working throughout Merseyside and Cheshire to encourage young people to enjoy life, stay healthy

and achieve their full potential.

Plus Dane believes children and young people have a right to be heard and taken seriously and that their voice and influence is crucial as we strive to improve services

and neighbourhoods.

On the following pages, we tell some of the stories of young tenants, how they are getting involved

in their communities with the help of Plus Dane, their challenges

and their aspirations.

Above: Young residents at Hungerford Road in Crewe

Shellesa’s the real thing!Teen’s journey from shy girl to leader

Plus Dane UNiTY

Join the youth forumTo find out more about joining a youth forum in either Cheshire or Merseyside;

Call Lesley Dixon on 07792 779 755or email lesley.dixon@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

We deserve to be heardTeen dreams of making a differenceMark Green is a young man on a mission.

The 16-year-old dreams of becoming a youth workerand is well on his way to achieving that aim.

Mark joined the latest Plus Dane’s youth forum to helphim “get the confidence” he knows is essential for thejob – and since then has seen his life change for the better.

He has picked up lots of skills with the help of apersonal development programme the youth forumoffers each member, hopes to go to college and hasbeen gaining work experience at Plus Dane’senvironmental services team INES.

“I’ve always wanted to work with children but knew I needed to boost my confidence. Joining the youthforum was one of the best decisions I’ve made, assoon as I got here I could see it was working for me.”

Mark, who is a committed Christian with a love ofgardening, also helps out at his local church’s youthgroup and wants to do his youth work in Toxteth andWavertree, where he has his roots.

“I want to be part of that effort for good andwith help of the youth forum I’m getting there.”

The current forum, which works with Merseyside YouthDevelopment Service to give young people a voice inhow services are delivered to them, is coming to an endas the graduates reflect on what they’ve learnt and how totake those new skills and insights into the wider world.

New forums will begin soon in Merseyside and Cheshireand Mark would recommend that as many youngpeople get involved as possible.

“You get training, you do allsorts of fun activities and youget a voice that you can use.But the best thing about it isthe people involved, thefriends you make and theworkers who help you.

“You know they are therefor you and that’s beensomething so valuable for me.”

Warm gestureTenant activist Alan Griffiths has been working hard to bring a little sunshine into the lives of the young people living in Anne Conway House.

The Runcorn man has arranged for decking to put down inthe garden of the Plus Dane home, which offersaccommodation and support for homeless young peoplefrom Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities.

As well as contributing £200 from the funds of the ShepherdGroup charity, in which he takes a leading role, Alanpersuaded trade firms Beesley & Fildes, Smiths and PennyLane builders to contribute cash, materials and labour.

He is now raising money to provide seating and storage sheds.

“The staff there are wonderful but they don’t have the time toharass people for funds and outside help, so I said I would doit for them – I can be very persuasive and tenacious!” he says.

Anne Conway House, in Liverpool, helps find permanenthomes for young BME people, refugees and asylum seekers,and supports them in gaining the skills needed for independentliving as well as training and employment opportunities.

On the right trackKieran knew about Plus Dane’s Hungerford Roadsupported housing scheme for young homeless peoplethrough friends. Despite being a free spirit, he decided itwas best for him to accept the disciplines of the scheme inreturn for the security and support it offered.

“It was a new start, my own bedroom to move my stuff into.I get on well with the people here and it’s helped me getright and think about getting my own place again,” he says.

“There are times when my life has been very stressful andI can get angry but you get offered support here when youneed it, help to calm down when things get on top of you.”

Kieran has special reason to want to move on in life, henow has a four-month-old son and wants to have his ownplace and work so that he can be a more active father.He hopes to get a job as a mechanic and lovingly caresfor a Vauxhall Corsa.

But it is riding his BMX that is his true passion. “I’m astreet rider,” he says proudly. “I just love the speed of thebike, the adrenaline rush of it, the fact there’s no brakes,it’s just you and your bike.

“I’ve been injured a lot, had skin grafts on my face, myback is wrecked and I’ll probably be old before my timebecause of the injuries – but you feel free.”

Life’s been a bit of blur for KieranBebbington, but now he feels as if he’s all set to turn a corner.

As he skilfully rides his BMX, Kieran Bebbington looks like ateenager without cares or fears, yet this was a boy who lefthome, quit school and gave up on his childhood aged just 13.

Kieran can’t really explain what happened. He found it hardto get on with his mother and sister and one day decidedenough was enough.

The next three years were a blur of rotating sofas and spare rooms

from whoever would offer him a temporary roof over his head. But unlike other boys his age he had cash to spend, as a friend’s father gave him casual work on building sites,despite his tender years.

That all came to an end when Crewe-lad Kieran reached 16.

Work began drying up and the demands of officialdommeant that the youngster was turned away. Then the youngcouple he was staying with had a child and needed theirspace back.

“It’s was a rough time,” admits Kieron, who is now 17. “I goton well at first but then it got harder.”

Plus Dane UNiTY10 11

ready to move

moved out Becky’s come a long wayBecky Evanson knows what she wants – her difficultyhas been communicating that to others.

The 25-year-old has suffered more than a few knocks inher life but she stays cheerful and determined to standon her own to feet.

Becky has her own place now and her first paid job but for a while she didn’t know where to turn.

As someone who is challenged by a speech impedimentand some learning difficulties she was offered support atschool and enrolled on a course in animal care – which waseventually thwarted by allergic reactions - but once she leftthe supporting environment of education, the Crewe girlfound herself on her own.

“I didn’t get on with my step dad,” she explains. “Hecouldn’t understand what I was saying or what I was about.He and my mum did care for me but he would get angrybecause I couldn’t do the things he wanted me to.”

Becky’s frustration led her into what she describes as some“sticky” situations, which revolved around people takingadvantage of her good nature and vulnerabilities.

“This made things worse at home and my step dad didn’twant me living with him and mum any more,” sheremembers. “My mum didn’t know what to do, she didn’twant her daughter on the street but she didn’t have a choice.”

Becky found herself homeless and couldn’t get the supportof local social services because of the way they judged herlearning difficulties.

She was also finding that others were taking advantage of her situation, taking money off her and leaving her in an even more perilous situation.

However, just when herprospects were movingin ever decreasingcircles, she wasoffered a place at PlusDane’s supportedhousing scheme atHungerford Road andthe help she needed.

“I was so relieved to be here, to be safe at last,”she says. “It was scary but they gave me a buddy whohelped show me the ropes, and the staff were very good athelping me with all sorts of things like getting my moneysorted, getting a social worker and seeing my mum.”

Becky, who never stops smiling and in her spare timeenjoys football and “chilling” to R&B, rap and reggae music,thrived at Hungerford Road, taking part in Prince’s Trustcourses and working voluntarily in the community.

However, with a growing sense of independence and morelife skills under her belt, Becky took the daunting step ofleaving Hungerford Road for the service’s moving onhouse, a two-bedroom semi where former residents liveindependently with the safety net of the team if they need it.

And six months ago Becky moved into her own place andsecured a part time cleaning job with Plus Dane, which hasgiven her a self respect a huge boost.

“It feels good, I feel proud, that I’ve proven something to myfamily. I know I have a lot of vulnerability but I am veryhappy,” Becky adds.

“I don’t know what I would have done without Hungerford Road,the staff and my friends there. If it wasn’t for them I would be onthe streets and I just hope that other people will get that helpwhen they need it and be able to be safe and happy.”

Hungerford RoadSome of Plus Dane’s most inspiring stories come out of our accommodation and support service for young people aged 16-24 at Hungerford Road, Crewe.

The service, which will shortly celebrate its sixth birthday, gives a new startand new hope to people who find themselves homeless at a vulnerable age.

Here are three stories of just a handful of those who have benefitted.

Plus Dane UNiTY12 13

moved on

Recycling lives

www.recyclinglives.org 01772 566 566 email contact@RecyclingLives.org

The recovery positionJohn is getting back on his feet -and hoping to help others will do the same!

John Cornwall has endured a few painfulmoments in his life, but they haven’t stopped hisdetermination to build a life helping others.

The now 19-year-old had a home, a job with thefamily business, enjoyed carp fishing trips with his dad and bright ambitions for the future.

Hungerford Road Tackling antisocial behaviourNeighbours have been celebrating after a courtbacked claims that a tenant was causing a nuisanceand had to be evicted.

Plus Dane Group were granted an immediate possessionorder against John Kavanagh of Abbotsbury Way,Croxteth Park, after a judge at Liverpool Civil and FamilyCourt agreed that his behaviour made life intolerable forothers living in the street.

The court was told that Mr Kavanagh would verballyabuse neighbours and would bang on walls andwindows of their homes at all hours in retaliation forhearing the slightest noise.

He also caused neighbours stress by reporting them to the police and other agencies on spurious antisocialbehaviour grounds, the court heard.

Plus Dane had worked with Mr Kavanagh to encouragehim to change his behaviour. However, the group wereforced to take out an injunction against him in 2009 andlater began the long and complicated legal process ofevicting him.

Mr Kavanagh refused to accept that he was a nuisancebut Judge Ian Trigger, sitting at the Vernon Street court,said that the evidence and the negative effect on thecommunity was clear.

Plus Dane’s neighbourhood investment manager NicolaAndrews said: “Plus Dane takes antisocial behaviour veryseriously and has a good track record of supportingpeople to change their ways but sadly in this case, MrKavanagh left us with no alternative but to seek the orderto evict him so that we could protect the wider communityfrom his actions.

“If anyone is suffering the effects of antisocial behaviourthey should report it to us. Antisocial behaviour cases are sometimes very complicated and can take a longtime to resolve but positive results like these prove that by working with us we can stop the actions of theminority affecting the majority of people who do notcause any problems for their neighbours’.

If you are suffering from the effects of antisocial behaviour,call our dedicated support team on 0800 169 2988(Merseyside), or 0500 026 079 (Cheshire).

Dementia is one of the biggest challengesfacing the UK today but slowly help is startingto come on line.

The condition which is associated with an ongoingdecline of the brain and its abilities, affects morethan 822,000 people in the UK and is estimated tocost the economy some £23bn a year.

There is support out there and the latest effortinvolves a partnership of organisations developing a pilot project called DemenShare.com in Cheshire.The website aims to help those people living with or caring for someone with dementia in Cheshire.

For more information visit www.demenshare.com

A problem shared

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18 Plus Dane UNiTY14 15Plus Dane UNiTY

“It’s great that it’s a new build and I don’thave to do it up. Everything from thewindows, the plastering, the central heating,the painting is done. There’s a nice kitchenbuilt in including a great cooker, so I have to do very little apart from choose my carpets and move my stuff in.

“It’s a blank canvas that I can make my own.”

Safe and soundSecurity expert Philip Brown is just one of those taking the home-buying plunge with HomesHub

A home of your ownHave you ever dreamed of owning your own home?

www.homeshub.co.uk

01260 288206 homeshub@neighbourhoodinvestor.com www.homeshub.co.uk

“Beautiful North is all about doing things differentlyand showing how, through being innovative andtargeting and joining up our resources better, wecan make big things happen in North Liverpool.”

19Plus Dane UNiTY CustomerReport

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AssociationWest View Tenants

Celebrating 10 years of successLast year, the West View Tenants Association, based in Goostrey and Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, celebrated its 10th anniversarythrough a range of special events and outings.

The Association was set up just over 10 years ago, with the support of what was then Dane Housing, as a way of bringing togethertenants living in sheltered accommodation. Its aim was to provide a social outlet and to act as a platform for channelling tenants’queries and complaints.

Through this process, issues such as garden maintenance, off-roadparking and general property maintenance have been successfullyresolved through the Association and Plus Dane working together.

The Association also organises social afternoons, where membersmeet to enjoy a game of bingo, cups of tea and a chance to chat, as well as arranging outings to places of interest, ranging from a tripto York to a visit to Salford Quays and the Imperial War Museum.

During its 10 years, the Association expanded to include associatemembers and has gone from strength to strength. Its affairs are runby a small committee, chaired by Ray Davies, who all workextremely hard to ensure that members enjoy the many variedactivities and outings.

Financial matters are dealt with by the treasurer, Margaret Clephan,who keeps a watchful eye on income and expenditure and preparesa set of accounts each year, which are audited by John Moores inPlus Dane’s finance department.

As part of its 10 year anniversary celebrations, the Association wenton an outing to Llandudno, a favourite venue for members whoenjoyed a delicious lunch at The Queen’s Hotel. A celebration cakewas baked by a member and was decorated with scenic photos ofsome of the sheltered housing in Goostrey and Holmes Chapel.

In his toast to the Association, Mr Davies remarked on the journeyundertaken over the past 10 years and how he hoped that thefollowing years would prove just as successful. The celebrationswere drawn to a close at the Association’s Annual General Meetingin November last year, where members were treated to a special tea.

Chair Ray Davies, commented: “Since it was first set up, the WestView Tenants Association has evolved into a remarkable organisation.It has held true to its commitment to be a voice for the residents ofDane Housing and later, Plus Dane, and to promote the well-beingof all its members. It operates on a sound financial footing whichenables our members to enjoy an enhanced quality of life.”

Partners join together to show North Liverpool’s beautiful face

A scheme that supports the BeautifulNorth’s aims to create new opportunitiesin North Liverpool has been launched.

Eighty budding entrepreneurs – fromsports trainers to electrical engineers todressmakers – aspiring to set up and runtheir own businesses in North Liverpoolwill be supported by business leaders and experts through mentoring.

Each entrepreneur taking part in theStepclever Business Mentoringprogramme will receive a free laptop andhelp to use the internet to sell and networkwith other businesses. Entrepreneurs willalso be matched with and supported by60 business leaders, many of whomstarted out in North Liverpool and see this project as a way of investing theirexperience in the city’s future.

Mentors will be available to provideguidance and support on marketing,finance, ICT and procurement through a combination of one-to-one and onlineweb-based advice.

The project is led by EverybodyOnline,Plus Dane’s digital inclusion project thatworks to get more people accessing andusing the internet.

Support for entrepreneurs

Young Peopleexplore Anfield’s past,present & future

Young entrepreneurs with businesswoman Zita Richardson

Plus Dane’s Erika Rushton at the Business Mentoring Programme launch

Plus Dane UNiTY18 19

“We believe strongly that through the support which the Quiet Place programme provides, thataccess to an understanding of their own emotionalwellbeing and that of others, is why the childrenfrom The Oaks have over recent years, achieved so well academically at every level.”

“As a Neighbourhood investor, Plus Dane works to improve people’s quality of life, choice andopportunity in the neighbourhoods we serve and Iwas delighted to visit The Oaks and see first handhow an innovative scheme like this can make such a difference. It really has helped to create a morepositive and engaging learning experience for itspupils and build their aspirations.”

Ellesmere Port

Primary school benefits frominnovative approach to learning

New neighbourhood housing ‘surgery’opens in Ellesmere Port

New affordable housing development for Ellesmere Port

Local community celebrates HHEET Centre openingA new centre that will help people access work and trainingopportunities in Ellesmere Port has been launched by CheshireWest and Chester Council.

The Housing, Health, Employment, Enterprise and Training(HHEET) Centre, opened its doors to the public in February with a launch event for residents and community members.

Operating in the Westminster area of Ellesmere Port, the HHEETCentre is a multi agency approach which will help people accesswork and training opportunities by breaking down barriers towork. It also intends to create local work opportunities throughsocial enterprise and development.

People face a range of barriers to getting into work and HHEETwill offer support to people with issues such as debt and financialadvice, lone parent advice, confidence building and motivation,interview skills, job search to name some of the services we will offer.

Local residents were invited to celebrate the launch of the centreby taking part in a fun day of activities for all ages, including artsand crafts and team games. All those that registered with HHEETon the day were entered into a prize draw for a range of prizes,including £100 in ASDA Vouchers which was provided by PlusDane to support the opening.

For further information on the centre and its services pleasecontact Sonia Bassey on 0151 356 6664 or Collette Linford on 0151 356 6661 at Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Plus Dane tenants have been benefitting from the work of our income teams.

It is estimated that financial inclusion teams havesecured more than £900,000 in unclaimedbenefits back into the pockets of tenants of thepast year and are making a difference in manyinnovative ways.

In Cheshire, tenants who have been struggling to paytheir rent have been enrolled on a four-month moneymanagement course with a specialist advisor.

The programme, which is supported by a grant of£10,000 from Cheshire East Council and led byIncome Manger Robin Edwards, sees them gothrough a series of one-to-ones to sort out anydebt issues or expenditure concerns.

As the course comes to an end, and if there is a proven commitment to make a new start, Plus Dane has been match-funding rent arrearspayments to help clear those arrears.

The first graduate of the scheme was Wendy Leechof Sandbach who said: “It has been so much help to me.”

On Merseyside, the Income Team, led by JillBurns, have been visiting customers to talk aboutmoney concerns.

The eight-week exercise has seen up to 10members of staff visiting homes, with some 200tenants visited in the first three days! This is inaddition to existing weekly visits.

Income manager Michael Neilson was assistingan elderly lady in Wirral with a range of problems.When he visited her recently, she had knitted hima cardigan for his newborn son and since thendone six more!

If you would like advice on debt or payingyour rent call 01260 288 230 in Cheshireand 0151 330 3507 in Merseyside.

Money MattersPlus Dane puts cash in tenants’ pockets!

19Plus Dane UNiTY Customer Report1820 Plus Dane UNiTY 21

Neighbourhood Plans launch your new Local OffersFrom April 2011, we are required to set out how local offers will be delivered against the following National Standards:

• Tenant Involvement and Empowerment • Home • Neighbourhood and Community

Developing your Neighbourhood Investment and Influence PlanOver the past 12 months, we have been working with tenants and residents to develop neighbourhood plans, whichinclude the local offers for each of the neighbourhoods we serve. These plans set out the services that we will deliver inyour neighbourhood against our seven promises, which reflect the National Standards and local offers.

These plans highlight our shared vision for the neighbourhoods we work in. They have been developed through talkingto you about your aspirations for your local neighbourhood, along with the priorities and services that you have told usare important to you.

We have been reviewing your feedback from customer satisfaction surveys, Make a Difference groups and from thelocal conversations to develop the plans so that we can deliver your local offer. We have also been consulting withtenants and residents to get your views, opinions and comments on the draft plans to ensure that the right services are in the right place to meet local needs.

We have now agreed these plans with you and other local stakeholders and we will be working hard to deliver going forward.

How will we deliver?We aim to provide all the neighbourhoods we serve with arange of excellent services but in addition, through theintroduction of ‘local offers’ we aim to be even more locallyresponsive. Neighbourhood plans will focus on delivering the seven promises and services that matter to you and affectyour neighbourhood.

For example, we will offer customer choice to ensure wecomplete 80% of repairs at first time fix. We will promote how to improve energy efficiency to help you get the most out ofwhere you live by ensuring it is affordable.

We will work with partners to maintain and improve thestandard of your neighbourhood including all communalareas ensuring that they are safe and clean by carrying out regular neighbourhood walkabouts with customers.

In Cheshire neighbourhoods we will deliver a rural engagement project in Holmes Chapel using digital technology to reduce inequalities and improve access to services through the internet. In Sandbach we will continue to supportTATRA (The Avenues Tenants and Residents Association) to help provide activities for residents in the area. In Congletonwe will work with the community payback team to address environmental problems. In Middlewich we will work inpartnership with Middlewich Vision and work with the ‘community life sub group’ to improve quality of life.

In Merseyside neighbourhoods we will continue to support Black History Month and look for opportunities to share and involve groups from other parts of the city in events and activities to celebrate difference and diversity. We will work with partners, including the community food workers, the Primary Care Trust and other housing associations, to support and promote the Decade of Health and Wellbeing.

In Halton, we will continue to support the Halton Youth Squad in providing activities focussed on enhancing youngpeople’s confidence, self esteem, safety awareness and self respect. In Sefton we will work alongside and support the Gemini, Park Lane and Evolve RAP tenant and resident associations on areas that will improve the quality of life for residents such as health and wellbeing, community safety, financial inclusion and community cohesion.

Local offers These are just some examples of the work we are committed to delivering through the neighbourhood plans which areyour local offer. You can view the plans for your neighbourhood and see the full range of services we are committed todelivering in your area on our website www.neighbourhoodinvestor.com. To receive a hard copy or if you have anyqueries please contact Emma Sneyd on 0500 026 079.

Monitoring and reporting our progressEvery year, we report back to you on how we are performing against our promises and the national standards set out by the Tenants Services Authority. We will be doing this again later in the year through your annual report.

The plans will also be monitored and scrutinised closely by tenants throughout the year to ensure that we are delivering and performing effectively.

At local level, our performance and delivery against the plans will bereviewed by neighbourhood forums and panels across Merseyside andCheshire, with the two regional forums – the Dane Tenants Federation and theMerseyside Forum, taking an overarching role in monitoring performance.

Tenant Inspectors will also be scrutinising how we are delivering the plansand the Tenants Together Forum will be overseeing scrutiny to make sure thatwe deliver the things we say we are going to.

Any issues or service improvements identified by these groups will be delivered by the Make a Difference groups, which are made up of both tenants and Plus Dane staff and focus on leading any services improvements indentified.

Plus Dane will continue it’s support on Black History Month

Tenant Inspectors

1822 Plus Dane UNiTY 23

local offersDeveloping

People across the country will have received a Census form through the post during March 2011.

The census takes place once every 10 years and is reallyimportant in making sure that all our neighbourhoods get a fair share of national and local spending.

The numbers, ages and so on of people living in an area are added up and the money divided up according need. If you are not in the census, then you won’t count.

And the services that our neighbourhoods receive – including

schools, hospitals and emergency services – won’t be asgood as they could be.

The information you provide is strictly confidential – Plus DaneGroup won’t see it, just the census office – and by law it cannotbe shared, not even with other government departments.

Please remember, the Census is compulsory. If you arehaving any difficulty completing your Census form pleasetelephone the national Census helpline on 0300 0201 101(or visit www.census.gov.uk).

Census 2011Please help make sure you countSince the last issue of UNiTY where we brought you an update on the changes to

housing benefits, the government has set out its welfare reform bill plans, preparing forthe biggest change to the welfare system for over 60 years.

Whilst the full impact of this are still to be determined, we have outlined the reforms below and will continue to bring you updates in UNiTY throughout the year.

Announced on the 16 February 2011, the main elements of changes are:

•A single universal credit to come into force in 2013•Tax changes to enable people to keep more income•Changes to the disability living allowance •Those repeatedly refusing work and support facing a maximum three year loss of benefits•Annual benefit cap of approximately £26,000 per family

The universal credit will see existing out-of-work entitlements and in-work entitlements such as JobseekersAllowance, Income Support and Housing Benefit, paid as a single lump sum.

The details on how this will work are not yet known, but the government has said that temporary arrangementswill be put in place to make sure that no one is worse off while they are being moved to the new system.

Housing benefit changesThe government has dropped its plans to cut housing benefit by 10% for people out of work for more than ayear, however, tenants deemed to be ‘under-occupying’ homes face cuts.

Other changes include an increase in non dependant charges, which increased on 4th April 2011. A nondependent deduction is made where there are other adults in the household apart from your partner. Thecircumstances of the adult non dependent deduction will determine the deduction made. This change affectsall claimants with a non dependant deduction and will reduce the amount of housing benefit entitlement whenreassessed in April.

The income team in Merseyside on 0151 330 3507 can point you in the right direction for debt and benefitsadvice if you have any concerns, worries or queries about benefit changes or if you are a Cheshire resident,contact 0500 026 079.

Changes to tax creditsChanges to the way tax credits are worked out from April 2011 mean that you are likely to see a drop inyour award. You will need to inform your local Housing Benefit Office of this as you may be entitled tomore Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax benefit. If you don’t currently qualify for Housing Benefit butyour Tax Credits reduce you may now qualify for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

Child Maintenance and Child Benefit are not counted when HB is worked out. Over 50 % of workingpeople who could claim HB don’t because they don’t think they would qualify.

Employment and support allowanceIf you are currently getting Incapacity Benefit or Income Support because of ill health or disability, your claim willbe reassessed during the next three years. If, after having a medical you are found to have a “limited capacity forwork”, you will be transferred onto the new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

If you are awarded ESA you should be no worse off as benefit levels are protected. If you are found fit for work, youcan appeal against this decision and you can still be paid ESA at a reduced amount until the outcome is known.

Otherwise you may be able to claim Job Seekers Allowance, or if you are a single parent (with a child under seven)or a carer – Income Support. These will generally be paid at a lower rate than your current Incapacity Benefit.

Welfare reform

UNiTY SURVEY

Tell us what you think of UNiTY magazine.

Over the next six months we will be working with the Tenants Communications Group to review UNiTY magazine and look at new ways that we can refresh its content to make sure that it contains the sorts of stories and information that you want to read about. UNiTY is your magazine, so to help us do this we need your views and ideas. We want to know what you think of UNiTY, what you like/don’t like about it, and what you’d like to see more of.

Please let us know what you think by completing the quick survey below.

ABOUT YOU (optional)

Name:

Age:

Postcode:

YOUR VIEWS (please tick one box only)

1. I read UNiTY❏ On the day that I receive it❏ Over the course of the next week❏ I don’t read UNiTY

2.Which statement best describes your view of UNiTY… I❏ Love it ❏ Like it❏ Have no strong feelings about it❏ Don’t like it ❏ Hate it

3.Which statement best describes your view? UNiTY has:❏ Too many photographs❏ Just the right amount of photographs❏ Too few photographs

4. Is there anything missing from UNiTY? If there is please write what you would like to see covered below:

5. I feel that UNiTY should... ❏ Tell me more about what’s going on in my neighbourhood

❏ Keep me up to date with Plus Dane Group news❏ Tell me more about changes to social housing❏ Tell me more about welfare benefits❏ Tell me more about work and training opportunities❏ Tell me more about social events

6.Please tell us your least favourite thing about UNiTY

7.How would you like to receive and read UNiTY in the future?❏ Printed magazine ❏ Online

8.Finally, for the chance to win £50 worth of vouchers to the store of your choice, complete this sentence in no more than 20 words: ‘What I like best about UNiTY magazine is…’

The first entry to be drawn will win the £50 voucher firstprize, two runners up will win £25worth of voucherseach. Thank you for taking the time to complete thissurvey. If you would like to enter this competitionplease ensure you provide your name andtelephone number.

Please send us your form in the freepost envelope provided.

££5050PRIZE

6 5 7

6 3 89

8 4 1

3 6 5 1 4

5 1 8 2

1 9 7 5 6

9 8 2

8 1 5 6 3

5 7 2

UNITY SUDOKU

How to play Sudoku: Complete the grid so every row, every column and every 3x3box contains the digits 1–9. You won’t need maths but youwill need a flexible brain!

2

3

2

UNITY CROSSWORDACROSS1 Something new,

a departure (10)7 Powerful emotion (7)9 Centre of a hurricane (3)10 Most stupid (6)12 Female sheep (3)13 Crudely colourful (6)14 Stick to (6)17 Male ferret (3)19 Esteem (7)20 Charged particle (3)21 Ship’s rope (7)24 Superiority; high status (10)

DOWN1 Climbing plant (3)2 Short sleep (3)3 Evening church service (7)4 Snow Leopard (5)

DOWN (cont.)

5 Medical care (9)6 Bring back (8)8 Tiny amount;

Greek letter (4)10 Type of biscuit (9)11 Trader (8)15 Concentrate, purify (7)16 Boast (4)18 Multi-purpose

household chemical (5)22 Alcoholic liquor (3) 23 Garden tool (3)

PIER VALUES (fill in answers)

7 Across

1 Across

24 Across

19 Across

Thank you for all those who entered ourcrossword competition in the last issue.

The winners were Sandra Harrison of Widnes and Letitia Jackson of Middlewich.

This time we've made the crossword slightly more complex and the £25 prize for the winner will be the first entry drawn out of the hat which completes thecrossword and correctly enters the answers to clues into the yellow colouredboxes provided below.

CLUE: The answers are Plus Dane’s four PIER values – do you know what they are?

The solutions are on page 7.

CompetitionTime

This document is available in other languages, on audio format, in largeprint or in Braille by request.

SGS-COC-005062

CONTACT US

©2011 This publication has been written & designed by Plus Dane Group’s Knowledge, Innovation and Performance Team working alongside the Tenants Communications Group. 0065.03.11

customer contact centres: (has emergency 24 hour repair line)t: 0800 169 2988 (Merseyside)t: 0500 026 079 (Cheshire)

repairs email:repairs@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

general information email:customer@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

write to us:Merseyside172 Park Road Liverpool L8 6SJ

www.neighbourhoodinvestor.com

If you have any comments about UNiTY magazine, please let us know. We also welcome any ideas for stories that you mighthave, and would love to talk to people who would like to take part in our regular columns or have news to share. You cancontact us in the following ways:

Call our Communications Team on 0151 522 1349, or write to usvia Sarah Moston, Communications Team, Plus Dane Group,Smithdown Office, 4 Smithdown Place, Liverpool L15 9EH.You can also e-mail us at unity@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

CheshireShepherds Mill Worrall Street Congleton CW12 1DT