Meres NewsFor all the local news about your community | Issue 19 – Winter 2011

Tel: 0300 303 1190 Email: enquiries@mmha.org.uk Web: www.shropshirehousing.org.uk

In this issue...

Welshamptonand Lyneal

Cockshutt/Petton

Baschurch

Myddle and Broughton

Ellesmere Rural

Hordley

Ellesmere Urban

Hadnall

Wem Rural

Whixall

Whitchurch Rural

Prees

Moreton Say

Cheswardine

Market Drayton

Sutton upon Tern

Stoke upon Tern

Stanton upon Hine Heath

HodnetWeston-under-

Redcastle

MoretonCorbet

andLee

Brockhurst

Shawbury

Grinshill

Hinstock

Child’sErcall

IghtfieldAdderley

Norton inHales

Woore

Whitchurch Urban

WemUrban

Loppington

Clive

Neighbourhoods TeamRead about the latest changes Page 10

TARCA Garden Competition WinnerReceives shield Page 9

Shropshire this

winter...Interview With...Philip Parker tells us why he loves MMHA Page 3

CONTENTS2 Our Services to you3 Improving Homes and Environments4 Interview with Philip Parker5 Group News9 TARCA10 Neighbourhoods Team Changes12 Competitions

If you require this document in audio, braille, large print or if English is not your first language then please contact us.

Si vous avez besoin de ce document en audio, braille, gros caractères, ou si l’anglais n’est pas votre langue première veuillez nous contacter. French

Jeśli wymagasz tego dokumentu w audio, Braille’a, duże wydruku, lub jeśli angielski jest nie pierwszy język prosimy kontakt. Polish

Если вам требуется этот документ в аудио, Брайля, крупных печатных, или если английский является не ваш первый язык напишите нам. Russian

Os oes angen y dogfen hon mewn ffurf wahannol, er enghraifft Braille, llythrennau mawr, tâp audio neu iaith wahanol, gadewch i ni wybod os gwelwch yn dda. Welsh

Se ha bisogno di questo documento in audio, Braille, grande stampa, o se inglese è la prima lingua contattaci. Italian

You can contact us in a number of ways:

1 PHONE 0300 303 11901 FREEPHONE 0800 43462891 EMAIL enquiries@mmha.org.uk1 IN WRITING by sending your letter to us at

Meres and Mosses Housing Association, Talbot House, High Street, Wem SY4 5AA

1 IN PERSON by coming along to the reception desk at Talbot House.

OFFICE OPENING HOURSOur normal office opening hours are:9.00am - 5.00pm Monday - Thursday9.00am - 4.30pm Friday

Tenant Involvement and Empowerment

standard

13 45 6

213 45 6

2Neighbourhoods

and Communities standard

13 4

5 6

2

Value for Money standard

13 45 6

2Tenancy standard

13 4

5 6

2

Governance and Financial Viability

standard

13 45 6

2Home standard

Our regulator, The Tenants Services Authority has asked all social landlords to produce local offers through six standards that cover the services we provide. Our current offers and the progress we have made are set out in the Tenants Report 2011.

All updates on the local offers will be marked with the appropriate sticker (see below) for the standard it applies to.

ChristmasOpening Times

Our offices will be closed from Friday 23rd December and will open again on Tuesday 3rd January. If you have an emergency repair during this time, you can ring our normal phone number: 0300 303 1190 at any time.

Cover photo: Natasha Bridges

2 | Meres News Winter 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1190

HOW

TO

CO

NTA

CT U

S

During staff visits and estate walkabouts with the

neighbourhoods team and local Police, it was noted

several times that the front garden chain link fences

were in poor condition, and the timber posts were

being pulled down and vandalised. Tenants were also

reporting these issues.

Around 30 properties on the estate had new fencing,

due to poor condition, and MMHA has received very

good customer satisfaction surveys from the tenants.

We have fitted concrete posts and timber picket fences

to the front gardens.

New Fencing

for Manor Place

MMHA recently celebrated the completion of its

kitchen and bathroom replacement contract eight

months earlier than planned. Tenants were consulted at every point along the way,

with choices of colours and styles of fittings and

flooring for their kitchens and bathrooms. Tenants

reported very high satisfaction rates for the standard

of fittings and the quality of work. Paul Sutton, director of assets and development said,

‘The work never stops, we will continue to look after

the homes and deliver what will now be a rolling

programme of improvements where they are needed.

We continue to listen to our tenants to ensure they

have the quality of homes they deserve.’

Kitchens Complete

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2

www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Meres News Winter 2011 | 3

COMPLAINTS QUESTIONNAIRES In order to help us monitor and improve the complaints service we provide to you, once your complaint has been closed you will be asked to complete a short questionnaire on how you felt your complaint was handled.

Please help us to learn from complaints and improve our service and to prevent mistakes from happening in the future by completing and returning the questionnaire.

Resident involvement inteRview

Having spent 20 years in the Light Infantry, Philip says “we feel very spoilt to be able to have an input, as we are new to the process of being involved, and for years we have had no say with regards to our home.”

“Moving to a MMHA property has been a really good experience, I’m not saying there have not been problems, but they have been promptly dealt with and resolved. We have found all the staff, helpful, polite, and both listened to our issues and kept us informed all the way along the line.”

Philip and Denise have attended the voids inspection training and now visit empty homes before the new tenant moves in to check it is up to the right standard.

“We now have a much better understanding

and can influence the way that MMHA provides its services. I would encourage all tenants to take up the opportunity of getting involved, as you really can make a difference.” PHIlIP PARkER

Philip ParkerPhilip and his wife Denise moved to their MMHA property in Wem in December last year. They had previously lived in the Tower of London as Philip had been a Yeoman Warder, better known as a Beefeater, at the Tower.

Shropshire Council offers a Carers One-off Payment. This is a grant paid towards services identified by a carer as part of their Carers Assessment.

What can the payment be used for?It is a payment which is intended to improve health and well being and support carers in their role. It can be used towards:

• Thecostofaholidayorbreak,eitheraloneorwiththecaredforperson

• Ahobbyorleisurepursuit

• Toaccessatrainingcourse,ortoassistyoutoremainin,orreturntowork.

For more information contact Shropshire Council on 0345 678 9005 or email carers@shropshire.gov.uk

Carers One-off Payment

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4 | Meres News Winter 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1190

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2At this year’s Tenants Fun Day we wanted your views on both The Key and Meres News. It’s important to us to know you find the information relevant and interesting,

and most of all find it an enjoyable read! So the communications stand asked 29 households what they think of the newsletters, the results were surprising and we

had some interesting suggestions for further development which we will certainly look into for future editions. Thanks for your time and for giving us your View point!

Suggestions for future editions• Maybeabitmorelocalnews• Morepeoplestories• Morefinancialinformation• Makethedeadlinefor

competitions clearer• Morecompetitionsforchildren• Articlesonenvironmentalissues

6Households said WE LIKE IT!

3Households

said we like the competitions

9Households said we like it because it’s very informative

www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Group News Winter 2011

13 45 6

2What is it? People receive contribution-based ESA if they have limited capability for work and have paid enough National Insurance contributions. It is different to income-related ESA which is paid to people depending on their income and savings.

Possible Changes to Contribution-based emPloyment and suPPort allowanCe (esa)

what are the

ProPosed Changes?

The Welfare Reform Bill currently going through Parliament is proposing:

◆ To limit the amount of time that people in the Work Related Activity Group can receive contribution-based ESA to 12 months; and

◆ To remove the special contribution criteria for ESA "youth" so, anyone from this age group claiming ESA will have to meet the same National Insurance contribution conditions as other claimants.

If passed by Parliament these changes will be introduced in Spring 2012.

If eligible, claimants will be able to get income-related ESA.

The time-limit proposal does not affect claimants in the Support Group or anyone receiving income-related ESA. Time spent in the Support Group will not count towards the 12 months.

what is the work related

aCtivity grouP?

If someone is in the Work Related Activity Group, it has been decided that work may not be appropriate for them now, but with support they can prepare for work in the future.

what will haPPen if a Claimant’s Contribution-

based esa is stoPPed?

If this change takes place, claimants who receive income-related ESA and contribution-based ESA will lose the contributory element. The income-related element of their ESA will be adjusted to take this into account and will continue.

what should

Claimants do?

The Department for Work and Pensions will write to you if the proposals will affect your benefit and tell you what to do and how to be considered for income-related ESA.

Group News Winter 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1109

What would happen if you lost the contents of your home? Would you be able to afford to replace them?

It is your responsibility to insure the contents of your home.

The My Home Contents Insurance Scheme is designed for tenants in housing association homes. They have affordable premiums and a pay as you go option.

Benefits Include:• Instantcoveravailableoverthetelephone• Affordablepremiums• Cashpaymentsavailableinadditionto

traditional payment methods• Nominimumsecurityrequirementsto

the property • Noexcess(youdon’thavetopaythefirst

part of the claim)• Excellentclaimsservice

Are Your Contents Insured?

Burst and frozen water pipes can cause

serious damage to your home, so here are

some tips to avoid it during the winter.

Avoiding Burst Pipes

This Winter

For more information contact My Home

Contents Insurance on 0845 337 2463.

Open the loft trap door on cold days to let

heat in.

Make sure you have no dripping taps.

If they freeze they’ll block the pipe.

Make sure you know where your stop tap is

and check regularly that you can turn it off

easily in an emergency. Its handy to label

it so you remember where it is in a panic.

If you’re away for a while, then ask a friend

or relative to check on your home and

make sure pipes haven’t burst or frozen.

In very cold weather make sure your

heating is on low, or set to come on a

couple of times a day.

www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Group News Winter 2011

Drive Before

Drive After

Grab rail makes life easier for PeggyMrs Peggy Lloyd recently had a grab rail fitted to the front of her

property to assist her with her mobility when leaving her home.

Peggy said ‘It’s a great help and there’s no need to wait

for someone to come and help me. The Operatives were

really nice and polite too.’

If you have difficulty with mobility we are able to assist

by carrying out minor adaptations to your property

to make life easier. We can install grab and stair rails,

provide lever taps, install half steps and widen doorways.

For those with hearing difficulties, we can install

doorbells and smoke alarms with flashing lights as well

as install remote push button door entry systems.

This is a minor adaptation that can be completed

without a recommendation from a health

professional eg. an occupational therapist.

Mr Johnson has had various hip and knee operations, and is registered disabled. His driveway was very uneven and it was not safe for him to access.

Shropshire Council’s Occupational therapist recommended the works to be done on Mr Johnson’s drive to make it easier for him to access the front and back door safely. Mr Johnson reported that he is very satisfied with all work done.

Fixed driveway makes life easier13 45 6

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Group News Winter 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1109

www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Meres News Winter 2011 | 9

www.tarca.org.uk Tel: 01630 652953 Mobile: 07530 002771 email: tarcashropshire@yahoo.com

Sponsored by Meres and Mosses Housing

As

socia

tion

TownsAndRuralCommunitiesAssociation

www.tarca.org.uk Tel: 01630 652953 Mobile: 07530 002771 email: tarcashropshire@yahoo.com

TARCATARCA would like to wish all MMHA tenants a very happy Christmas and prosperous new year. We hope you like the calendar that we have produced this year for all tenants, as you will see we have a TARCA meeting in each of the four market towns in rotation throughout the year.

Dates of the meetings are marked in the calendar, the venues are: Whitchurch Civic Centre, The Beacon Community Centre, Market Drayton, Ellesmere Town Hall and The Board Room, Talbot House, (MMHA Offices) Wem,

All MMHA tenants are welcome to attend our meetings, we are a friendly group, trying to make life easier for tenants. You can be as involved as little or as much as you like, with travel expenses paid.

TARCA have set up a rolling programme for the provision of water butts to all MMHA tenants. To register, please contact Graham on 07530 002771 or email tarcashropshire@yahoo.com by 31st January to be entered into the draw for the first delivery.

Water Saving for Everyone

Garden Competition Winner Receives ShieldPictured is C Gaughan from Ash collecting the overall winners shield from Gordon Hodgkiss, Chair of MMHA Board and Jean Kinsella, TARCA member.

All MMHA tenants recently received a letter telling them about Smartwater and TARCA’s intention to provide this crime prevention product for all tenants.

We are now pleased to inform you that we are rolling

Smartwater out to all sheltered tenants.The aim is to make Smartwater available to all tenants across the district. If you have been in touch

with us previously, you have not been forgotten, we feel that it is important to look after vulnerable tenants first.Private homeowners will be offered the chance to purchase a kit from us at the greatly reduced price of £14.99 (normally £65.00 per year). Our deal is a complete price, and it doesn’t need to be renewed yearly.

Attention all Sheltered Housing Tenants. Smartwater coming soon!

Community Housing Officers (CHO) are community based and carry out accompanied visits for new lettings, visit tenants in their homes to respond to tenancy issues. They also run surgeries and estate walkabouts and work with other agencies and tenants to develop and improve your community.

Tenancy Management Officers (TMO) are the first point of contact for anti social behaviour reports and tenancy and estate management queries. They are also responsible for allocating empty homes.

Income Recovery Officers (IRO) are dedicated to the recovery of rent arrears, former tenant’s arrears and court costs. They are also responsible for everything related to rent accounts including Direct Debits, Standing Orders and adjustments to rent accounts.

The neighbourhoods team has recently changed some of the roles. There are now Community Housing Officers, Tenancy Management Officers and Income Recovery Officers. Each role is responsible for different areas of tenancy management:

Your Neighbourhoods Team

10 | Meres News Winter 2011 | Tel: 0300 303 1190

Income Recovery Officer

Jennifer Edwards

Tenancy Management Officer

Becky MillsCommunity Housing Officer

Marie Stokes

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2

Welshamptonand Lyneal

Cockshutt/Petton

Baschurch

Myddle and Broughton

Ellesmere Rural

Hordley

Ellesmere Urban

Hadnall

Wem Rural

Whixall

Whitchurch Rural

Prees

Moreton Say

Cheswardine

Market Drayton

Sutton upon Tern

Stoke upon Tern

Stanton upon Hine Heath

HodnetWeston-under-

Redcastle

MoretonCorbet

andLee

Brockhurst

ShawburyGrinshill

Hinstock

Child’sErcall

IghtfieldAdderley

Norton inHales

WooreWhitchurch Urban

WemUrban

Loppington

Clive

Neighbourhoods Areas

NORTH

Community Housing Officer

Community Housing Officer

Annie Ireland

Dianne Williams

Tenancy Management Officer

Tenancy Management Officer

Stacey Bowen

Tracey Jackson

Senior Income Recovery Officer

Income Recovery Officer

Linda Price

Mark Timerick

www.shropshirehousing.org.uk | Meres News Winter 2011 | 11

R E I C I C L E N C T L E N F D SP D A S B T O D B H B C T C R C LQ E U C P E B M L R U O W A O X EF W N R K E N P Q I Y A D W S Q DT A S G T G R W Y S E T S H T D FO J L W U K J K V T H O U G Z D YB I G R M I N L B M S N O W I E AO F T Z X O N Q A A G A C E V C SG Q W M T U R P U S F T K J B E JG X V J K L Y R P P W Y O Z R M XA F I R E P L A C E H B G I F B AN C J D Y I X Z C A H O S B D E FP S T S B U R P D S N O Q T T R BE Y N P S N W F H H T T P O V G NI I A O Q H M K P O G S Y K H M PC J U P W Y I B R V X O P H K N VE Y K B D M L T Y E F K S K I Z SV Y X R A P A V P L L P K D J M IK C R W L Q Z N Q O Q M P O E U Q

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How many robins can you find (incl. this one) hidden throughout this edition of Meres News? Write your answer for a chance to win a £30 toy voucher.

Name

Parent/Guardians name

Address

Postcode

Telephone number

Find all the words listed for your chance to win £30 in love To Shop vouchers ready for the January Sales! (winter wordsearch)

Name

Address

Postcode

Telephone number

The winner of last time’s Find The Phrase competition was Caroline kenin from Whitchurch, and the winner of the Children’s Find the Autumn leaves Competition was Hannah Griffiths from Quina Brook.

CompetitionsCompetitions

Adult’sAdult’sCaroline Kenin

Children’sChildren’s

Closing date for all competitions: Monday 9th JanuarySend all entries to: Vicki Coleman, Communications Officer, The Gateway, The Auction Yard, Craven Arms SY7 9BW.

SNOW

FROST

CHRISTMAS

ICE

COAT

PENGUIN

SlED

SNOWMAN

TOBOGGAN

SHOVEl

FIREPlACE

SkI

DECEMBER

ICIClE

BOOTS