2009: year of transformation · ‘Home and A Way’. Now we’re looking for a new name that reflects where we are and where we’re going with Wythenshawe. And, as always, we’re

7,000+Home improvements

and counting!

PAGE 4

www.parkwaygreen.co.uk

Parkway Green Tenants’ Newsletter Spring 2009

Swinging into actionwith our £9 million neighbourhood make-over

insideYour new contact centre p2

Award-winning creativity p9

Give respect, get respect p12

WORD WORMFind the seven green words (JUST LIKE THIS!) that make up our word worm, put them together, and send your sentence to us. You could be the winner of £50! See page 15 for the latest winner.

2009: year of transformation

PAGE 2 HOME & A WAY NEWSLETTER SPRING 2009

If you have a

story about the

difference we

make with our

fresh approach to

services, or you’d

just like to get

involved, please

contact our Tenant

Liaison Off icer,

Pedro Odjidja,

on 0161 946 6315

Andrea has years of experience of call centres and extremely busy environments, and is there to ensure that things go as smoothly as possible from Day One.

Although we’re working hard to make sure the change is seamless, we may have some teething problems early on. Please bear with us – this is a huge change that will ensure you get a better service. We will send out more details of phone numbers later this month. Meanwhile, please continue to use theOn Call number to report damages and repairs: 0161 953 2525.

Another exciting change

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


We’ve already been really busy setting up our new centre to bring you several significant improvements. These include:

1 A new local rate phone number (even from mobiles with inclusive minutes).

2 A ring-back service so we pay for the call.

3 A more efficient repairs service – we’ll send someone to fix it rather than an inspector.

We also have a new manager, Andrea Atkinson, who is already working with friendly call centre staff to set up our state-of-the-art phone system.

This April, we will be bringing you a new service to replace Manchester Housing On Call. After years of great service, we are bringing the call centre in-house to create ’PG Direct’ along with staff who are trained to provide an excellent response every time.

NAME YOUR NEWSLETTERCOMPETITION FOR CREATIVE MINDS

Two years ago, Carrianne Stewart from Newall Green High School gave us ‘Home and A Way’. Now we’re looking for a new name that reflects where we are and where we’re going with Wythenshawe. And, as always, we’re thinking of you.

So get your thinking caps on and send your ideas for a new name to: Newsletter Name Comp, Business Support, Parkway Green, 460 Palatine Road, Northenden, Manchester, M22 4DJ. The winner will receive £100 in vouchers.


From the board, across the boardEvery month, Nigel leaves behind his boardroom duties and dons overalls. Whether it’s helping our electricians on their repairs round or preparing homes with our gas engineers, Nigel isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Or to hear your thoughts. ‘It’s all about senior managers getting out from behind their desks and seeing Parkway Green, and its customers, at grassroots level,’ says Nigel.

A fresh outlookIn fact, it’s these regular ‘back to the floor’ days where Nigel gets real insight into what’s going on, and what needs to change. He says ‘I’m seeing our business - and your service – from lots of different perspectives.

YOU WANTED, WE DELIVEREDMeet Lesley, your new Customer Care Co-ordinator

One of the strongest messages to come out of our recent round of focus groups was the need to quality-check our home improvements. You wanted to be sure that everything was properly f inished – no cutting corners, no ‘almost perfect’. So we created a brand new role and recruited Lesley.

Lesley Cailey is your new Customer Care Co-ordinator. It’s her job to make sure the snagging lists are followed, down to the tiniest nail. She’s also here to keep you in touch with the contractors and to make sure any issues are dealt with as they happen.

Talking about her new role, Lesley said, ‘It’s all about ensuring Parkway Green does what it said it would in the beginning, making sure every improvement is done to the highest standard and ultimately pushing for a higher level of service. I’m here to put things right in areas where customers told us we had to improve. I’ll be WORKING with our building partners and listening to our less satisfied customers to bring in the changes they want.’

Lesley also loves how busy her job is. ‘The f irst couple of weeks have been really busy, but everyone’s been great and I’ve settled in really quickly. I can’t wait to get stuck into the role and to make sure that Parkway Green delivers.’

Look out for Lesley at one of our open days and tenant meetings. You can also call her on 0161 946 6371 or email [email protected]

BACK TO THE FLOORand looking fowards for you

If Parkway Green was a car, these staff would be the engine; without them we wouldn’t get to where our customers are!’

And don’t forget photo I.D.It was while out with one of the teams that Nigel noticed tenants weren’t asking for ID. So now he’s always reminding staff to show photo ID and wants you to remember to ask. Remember genuine staff and contractors don’t mind you asking! ‘It’s been a real eye-opener,’ says Nigel. ‘I’ve worked with different staff teams and listened to lots of tenants - the people who really are at the heart of our business. The situation with the ID cards is just one little detail that makes all the difference.’

ALWAYS ASK FOR ID WHEN OUR OPERATIVE

CALLS

We’re always working to keep up and push our service forwards. It’s the reason why our Chief Executive, Nigel Wilson, has been spending the past few months getting out and about with different teams to experience, f irst-hand, what’s happening with our workers out in Wythenshawe.

From left: electrician Phil Barton and PG Chief Executive Nigel Wilson

Parkway Green Tenants’ Newsletter Spring 2009home & a way

Lesley talks snagging with one of our contractors


Our Regeneration Team are working harder than ever to help transform your homes and neighbourhoods, and bring you an even better quality of life.

TALKING ABOUT REGENERATION

We’re already talking to the consultants who’ll be helping us to work WITH

you on spending our ‘environment budget’. This budget is to help make

the areas around your homes better, brighter and happier places.

And whether it’s parks or street lighting you want to improve, we need

to know what you want. From the beginning of April, we will be holding

events in your area, so you can have your say about how we use the

money to make-over your neighbourhoods.

You can also join one of the Environmental Strategy Groups by

calling our Regeneration Team on 0161 946 6389 or 0161 946 6387.

£9 MILLION FOR YOUR NEIGHBOURHOODS

Investing in your parks and public areas


We’re cracking on with the home improvements that we promised when tenants voted for us to take over and improve their homes in 2006. Here are some recent milestones.

Our 7,000th home improvement means we’re more than halfway through. Please bear with us!

We did over 4,000 improvements in the last year – that means we’re getting quicker (without cutting quality).

We’ve fitted new windows and doors in over 3,000 homes.

Our 3,000th kitchen and bathroom was installed in February.

We’ve invested over £40 million in home improvements so far.

Customer satisfaction is running at 96.8%.

7,000+Home improvements

and counting!

INVESTMENTPROGRAMME

In December we introduced you to our in-house repairs team’s smart new name and logo – PG React. And now they’ve proved that there’s real ‘repair-power’ behind their new name and look.

Speaking from their Bradnor Road base in Northenden, PG React Supervisor Diane Peters, said, ‘In our first six months - a tough time of change for the team - we’ve hit 99% or 100% of the targets we’ve been set.’

The 45-strong team of skilled workers came to us from Manchester City Council as part of our drive to improve our services - with the ultimate aim of hitting 100% each month. React team leaders put the success down to the commitment of the PG React team.

Look out for the PG React team in their smart Parkway Green vans and uniforms. Remember, all our staff, and the staff of our building company partners, carry identification. Beware of bogus callers. Check their ID card and contact us if you’re in any doubt.

Real repair power! PG React going strong

HAVE YOUR

SAY ON HOW WE SPEND



FLATS GET A FACE LIFT£4 million regeneration

TRUE TO OUR WORDPRAISE FOR PARKWAY GREENWe’ve received lots good feedback from happy tenants, proving that we work with contractors who care.

‘The staff were really nice and helpful.’Raymond Simcock.

‘I thought the lads were a great crowd, very polite, you’ve got a great team working for you and I am more than pleased with my kitchen and bathroom.’ Mrs E Jegou, Churchstoke Walk.

‘Service and workmanship was excellent, a great set of workmen, every one of them.’Mrs Foden, Claverham Walk.

We love to hear from you when we’re doing something right - so we can keep doing it. This letter speaks for itself.

Our Regeneration Team has started improving the communal areas of our three-storey flats, and putting the £4 million budget to work. This work will include the improvement of bin stores, new communal doors and entry systems, new front doors for each flat, and new flooring. We’ll also be decorating communal walls in

anti-vandal paint.

To help us achieve this transformation, we’re working with

Bramall Construction (in Northern Moor and Brooklands) and

HT Forrest (in Baguley and Newall Green). Alison Sullivan, Project

Manager, said: ‘The communal areas of the flats have suffered

from neglect over the years, and this project will transform the

communal entrances and areas outside our residents’ front doors,

making them brighter, easier to clean and much more secure.’

NEW PATHS FOR BUNGALOWS

We’ve been working with our Environmental

Strategy Groups, who were concerned about

the state of pathways around our bungalows.

Not only were the paths considered unsightly,

some were seen as a hazard for our older

tenants. As a result, we have employed Urban

Progress to resurface these areas over the

next six months. This will not only improve how

they look, it will also make them safer.

MINDING HOW YOU GO

MAKING WAY FOR PARKING BAYSGoodbye garages, hello to help with parking We’ve recently begun to demolish five dangerous garage sites with contractor P. McGuinness & Co. These areas in Heybrook Road, Barnwood Road, Sparkford Road, Yew Tree Lane and Melsomby Road will then be resurfaced and used to create much-needed car park space for local tenants.

Some of what we’re changing. Transformation next issue

We joined forces last December with building partner Connaught to bring some Christmas cheer to the Wythenshawe Hospital children’s ward. Throughout December, the Connaught team rallied round with raff le tickets to raise £190.

Kate Kenney, Connaught customer experience manager, said: ‘It is especially important at this time of year to support the local community in any way we can and we were therefore delighted to be able to spread some festive cheer to children on the ward who may unfortunately be spending Christmas in hospital.’

Gaynor Whiteley, our Investment Manager, said: ‘This was a really good and important initiative that I was delighted to be involved in! It was

great not only to see the children’s faces light up when they saw Santa, but the ward manager when Connaught presented them with the cheque. We will always support the local community and a massive thank you to everyone involved in raising the money’

Of course, the work doesn’t stop after Christmas. We’re currently working with Connaught as part of Impact Manchester, which will deliver improvements to almost 40,000 homes in the city over the next f ive years.

Rejoice,rejoice,Emanuel!It was the turn of one of our partners, Emanuel Whittaker, to brighten up a local sheltered housing scheme with a beautiful big Christmas tree. Having recently completed the window and door improvement works, Emanuel Whittaker wanted to show their goodwill to the residents of Alfred Morris Court in Northern Moor.

Steve Daniels, our Senior Surveyor and Contractor Administrator, said ‘This is a fantastic gesture from Emanuel Whittaker. Residents were delighted and it really added some Christmas cheer’.

Christmas every day!We just wanted to let you know about some of the great work our contractor partners have done in the last couple of months alongside Parkway Green for charity and the local community, particularly for the festive season.

Parkway Green’s Ian Gregg (left) hands over another big cheque

for a local good cause

Christmas cheer from Connaught

Presents all round We hand out gifts with Bramalls

It was time for us to treat the children of our chosen charity ‘Wythenshawe Women’s Aid’ with a big sack of presents. And the mums weren’t forgotten - Bramalls made sure they got their presents too!

Our Chief Executive, Nigel Wilson, also handed out gift to volunteers from Wythenshawe Women’s Aid beneath the Christmas tree.

And the response? One of the volunteers said, ‘It really will make a difference this Christmas.’

‘Thank you very much, Parkway Green!’

It may have been cold outside but we made sure it was warm inside with Connaught when we ran around Old Trafford’s Theatre of Dreams dressed as a team of charitable Santas. We helped to raise over £1,500 for Francis House Children’s Hospice. A great and happy day for everyone involved!

FAMILY SANTA FUN RUN



Parkway Green staff (including Santa!)cheer up the children

Maureen Sheppard, chair

of the Bideford Tenant and

Residents Association, helped

to identify the areas that

needed work. After that, it

was time to put our plans into

action. Volunteers made sure

the stream was fflowing free

of chip paper, cans and sweet

wrappers. Huge piles of leaves

were swept up. And debris was

removed from problem areas.

Our Investment Manager, Gaynor Whiteley, said, ‘Everybody got stuck in and by the end of the day it was great to see such a big difference. We hope to do more of this type of thing in the future and make Wythenshawe a clean place for our tenants’

The Legacy Group is made

up of our own staff and

workers from Parkway Green’s

contractor partners, Bramall

Construction, Connaught,

HT Forrest and Emanuel

Whittaker. Together they

are dedicated to regeneration

and building relations

between ourselves, our

partners, and local residents.

They are involved in a variety

of projects that help to build

THE community.

If you have a community

project that you think our

Legacy Group could help with,

please call 0161 946 6315 for

an application form. Or if you

want to suggest somewhere

for us to clean up, please call

our Regeneration Team on


Funding yourcommunity

We’ve sponsored dozens of local community projects this past year and pumped more than £13,000 into activities for every age. Here are just a few of those we helped out.

We want to keep up the support, so if you run a community project that you feel would benefit, call David Thorncroft, on 0161 946 6389

Our Legacy Group has been out and about around Bideford Drive in Baguley, tidying up the area and making it a cleaner place to live.

to support a series of ‘Summersonic’ local events

three seasons of the Brookway Community Girls Football League

allowed the Royal Oak ballroom dancing group to grow ever more popular.

Twelve

months of

getting

involved

0161 946 6389

Cleaning up for

the community

£5000DONATION

£1,800

SPONSORING


Cleaning up Bideford stream

WythenshaweWelcome CentreWant to get more involved with your community? Or maybe just find a cheaper way to shop for clothes? Then why not pop along to the new Drop-In at Benchill Community Centre? It’s open every Thursday from 12:30pm to 4pm on Benchill Road. There’s free food and drink. And you’re welcome to bring your children.

If you would like to know more, or have something to offer please call BecciCunningham on 0161 998 7280. Or email her on [email protected]

During these difficult times, it’s great that we have two great local markets offering plenty of ways to beat the credit crunch. And to make the most of our local COMMUNITY.

Wythenshawe MarketRight in the heart of Wythenshawe centre, this traditional open market offers friendly service, a fantastic food hall and excellent value for money. The market is open from Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm. And on Saturdays from 9am to 5pm. While the food hall is open every day (except Sunday) from 9am to 5pm. There’s even a great second-hand market every Monday from 9am to 4pm.

Northenden Food MarketThis specialist food market is now celebrating its first anniversary of providing fresh goods and hand-made treats. It’s usually held on the first Saturday of every month between 10am and 4pm on the new slip road off Palatine Road.There’s fruit, vegetables, soup, meat, fish and poultry. Plus home-made pies, fresh bread and cakes, olives, fudge and toffee. And parking is free. Get busy

on your borders


Support your local markets

We’re calling on YOU to enter the 3rd annual Parkway Green Garden Competition. With more awards than ever, your chance of scooping one of the many prizes has never been higher.

Entry forms will be available

from 9 June. We’ll be judging on

3 August. So get planting and

pruning! Meanwhile, call Pedro

for more information on

0161 946 6315.

For more information about Manchester Markets visit www.manchester.gov.uk/markets

Last year’s winner Barbara Donnellyin her winning garden



WorkexperienceWe are more than a landlord. We’re a force for good in the community too, boosting the local economy with our investment and helping young locals prepare for working life.

We’re taking on more local

youngsters this year in roles

as varied as finance, personnel,

repairs trades, surveying,

regeneration, managing estates

and administration. Want to know

more? Call Human Resources

on 0161 946 6396.

From left: Head of Human Resources, Susan Richardson, Gina Hall, and Head of Business Support, Charlotte Gilbert

Award-winning creativityCommunity award for Gina HallA Parkway Green Housing Trust Board Member has been honoured at Manchester City Council’s Community Awards.Wythenshawe’s Gina Hall won the award in the ‘Creative in the Community’ category and was honoured at a glitzy ceremony at Manchester Town Hall, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Manchester and Gordon Burns of BBC’s North West Tonight.

Gina helped organise and run the hugely successful Wythenshawe’s Got Talent contest. She has also been a force for change at the Royal Oak Community

Centre, where she helped organise events, get rehearsal space for local dance groups, and even secure funding for an activity wall for the centre. She also helps to run the hugely popular Ballroom Dancing group, which started with just four members and now gets over 60 dancers each time!

Gina said, ‘It was really good winning this award and really unexpected. I don’t do what I do for awards: that’s not what it’s about. But I must say it felt good to win’.

You might have noticed the PG React vans are promoting the Real Lives Wythenshawe Campaign, which is designed to challenge people’s ideas of Wythenshawe and promote it as a good place to live and work.

If you would like to find outmore or get involved, visitwww.realliveswythenshawe.com

is taking off! The Manchester Airport Academy is now looking for residents interested in working at the airport. There’s training and jobs in retail, customer service, security, catering, aircraft dispatch,

driving, hotel work and more. For more information, please contact Manchester Airport Community Relations team on

0161 489 3907.

Real lives. Wythenshawe


the

money pages

Make it easyMore convenient ways to pay the rent


There’s no need to visit our offices or queue up to pay your

rent these days. With your rent payment card, dozens of

shops, post offices and even petrol stations will be happy

to take your payment. Look out for the PayPoint sign.

You can set up a direct debit or pay by phone using your

debit card. Just call us on 0161 273 5270. Or pay online at:


Let us in and you could win

From 1 March 2009, our Gas Prize Draw will be a monthly occasion!

So you have more chance of winning while protecting everyone in your home. Just let us in the first time

we come to check your gas supply and you could

win £100.

Welfare benefit changes

Last year there were some important changes to a number of benefits, which could affect you.

Backdating Housing Benefit

If you made a new claim for housing benefit on or after 6 October 2008, and are 60 or younger, you can only backdate your claim for the previous six months. If you are over 60, you can only backdate your claim for three months. Remember, if you are asking to backdate housing benefit, you need to show why you have not claimed sooner.

Employment Support Allowance Employment Support Allowance (ESA) is a new benefit paid to people who can’t work because of ill health. ESA replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support (claimed on incapacity grounds) from 27 October 2008. All claimants will have to have a new medical assessment designed to find out what people can do rather than can’t do. Claimants will also receive support finding a job.

Lone parents From 24 November 2008, if you are a lone parent with a youngest child aged 12 years or over, you will no longer be able to make a new or repeated claim for Income Support. If you are a lone parent who is able to work you will need to claim Job Seekers Allowance. If you have other reasons for claiming, you may still be able to claim Income Support.

If you need any help with your Housing Benefit claim, call the Benefits Service on 0161 219 6100. For other claims, you can call Manchester Advice on 0161 234 5678 or Job Centre Plus on 0800 055 6688.

FACE THE FINE

We take your safety

seriously. Every year, about

30 people a year die in the

UK from carbon monoxide-

related poisoning or from

fire or explosions at home.

It’s why our gas checks

are so important. If you

refuse us access you will be

ordered to pay court costs

(up to £750 per tenant).

We are also pursuing former

tenants who the courts have

said are liable to reimburse

our costs.

All gas checks are now

done by our in-house React

Team (big thanks must go to

Sure Maintenance, who’ve

done the job to excellent

standards over the last two

years). All our team are

fully qualified members of

the new Gas Safe Register

(which replaced the CORGI

registration scheme).

Don’t forget to check their identity cards! And if you have a gas card meter, please check there’s enough credit for us to do the safety check when it’s your turn.

Are You Affected?



Fighting those fuel billsGetting to grips with debt andyour prepayment meters

The cost of gas and electricity has been in the news all winter. If you’re using a prepayment meter and want to know what this news means to you, here’s some advice from Sarah Maguire, our Financial Inclusion Manager. You can also call Sarah on 0161 946 6314 or email [email protected]

Changing your supplier

Even if you are using a prepayment meter you can

change supplier to a cheaper provider, providing there

is no debt on the meter and any arrears have been paid.

Changing to direct debit

You can switch from a prepayment meter to a standard

meter, as long as you don’t owe more than £100 to your

supplier. Once you have a standard meter, you can

pay by direct debit, which means discounts and special

tariffs. If you want to switch meters, it’s free of charge.

Just contact your supplier to arrange the switch.

Increased direct debit payment

Some monthly payments have gone up even when

accounts are in credit. If this has happened to you, ring

your supplier straight away and provide them with an

up-to-date meter reading. Tell them that you disagree

with the payment increase and want it reduced to an

amount you can afford. If you are in credit you are

entitled to ask your supplier for a refund. If you have

any problems reducing your direct debit you can

change to quarterly billing but your tariffs may increase.

You can also change your supplier.

If you have any problems changing your supplier, changing your meter or any other problems with your supplier ring Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506.

Don’t get

BITTEnIf you think you’ve borrowed money from an illegal money lender

(or loan shark), we can help. Our dedicated team can take action

against loan sharks and help you find a better way TO pay. You

can also find a safer way to borrow with Manchester Credit Union.

They offer low rate loans with low weekly payments. You don’t

always have to be a member to get a handy loan that can be in

your hands within days.

To find out more about the benefits of the

Credit Union ring 0161 231 5222.

Avoid loan sharks and illegal money lenders

Energy saving survey

Cavity wall and loft insulation are sure-fire ways to cut your heating bills. So we’re determined to make sure your home is properly insulated to the latest standards. But we won’t waste time and money by duplicating work that’s already been done or isn’t needed.

It’s why we’ve employed The Mark Group to check the insulation in every home. So look out for them. They all carry official identification and will be very happy to wait outside while you check it out.

When we’ve got all the

details, we’ll make sure

every home has the best

insulation – saving money

and helping the planet.




MAKInG LIFE A LITTLE EASIERWith Manchester Equipment & Adaptations Partnership (MEAP)

Are you finding it difficult to get around your home? Do you have

problems getting in and out of bed? Do you find that your kitchen

equipment isn’t that easy to use anymore? Then please don’t worry

because MEAP can help.

MEAP is a partnership between the NHS and the council. Together they can help you to keep your independence and live happily in your own home. They can provide a whole range of equipment, including easy-to-use tin openers, stair rails and bath lifts. And it’s all for free.

If you need a helping hand to keep up your home, please give MEAP a ring today on 0161 255 8250 and they’ll talk about how they can help.

CAN YOU OFFER

SUPPORT FOR

A VULNERABLE

ADULT?

SHARE A LIFE, SHAPE A LIFEMANCHESTER ADULT PLACEMENT SERVICE (MAPS)

YOUR FREE DIVERSITY CALENDARneed to plan your hols? Keep forgetting birthdays? Like to know more about your neighbours’ religious days? We’ve teamed up with Diversiton to create the Parkway Green Diversity Calendar.

It marks all the major religious festivals throughout the year and it’s packed with famous quotes and great pictures. Download it today and print it off – just visit www.parkwaygreen.co.uk and click the ‘Celebrating Diversity’ link at the bottom of the right-hand column.

If you don’t have access to the internet, please contact our Business Support Team on 0161 946 6438 and they’ll post you a copy.

Would you share your home with someone who needs your help to live a fulf illing life? You could provide an Adult Placement and become an Adult Provider for MAPS.

An Adult Placement can mean you provide:

• somewhere to LIVE

• somewhere to go for daytime support

• suport for someone to live in their own home.

Anybody can become an Adult Provider, helping vulnerable adults. No formal qualifications or previous care experience are needed. However, there is an approval process. MAPS will also provide training and help you to develop all the skills, confidence and knowledge that you need.

If you would like to find out more, please call

MAPS on 0161 437 3953.

NEW WAYS TO BRING YOU THE BESTWe’re proud that over 80% of tenants told our Tenant Satisfaction Survey they were happy with our service. And 40% said we’ve improved on how things were before we took over. But that’s not stopped us striving to be even better. By listening to you, to residents’ groups, and to our staff, we’re already making improvements. Changes include two new teams of five Neighbourhood Officers. Each officer is now looking after a smaller patch, which will make it easier for us to get to know you and your neighbourhood. They’ll also have strong back-up from our office teams, who’ll HAPPILY deal with your queries when they’re out and about.

Your Neighbourhood Officer will be sending you a letter this March. Meanwhile, keep a look out for one of our neighbourhood walkabouts.



Kitted up

Over 80% of tenants are happy with our service.

CHECKING UPOUR RESIDENTS’ APPROVAL PANEL

Our Residents’ Approval Panel is now fully up and running, and having a great time reviewing our website, policies and leaflets. This helps us to make sure we’re saying the right things in the right way. And if not, we can change what we do.

The Panel meets in the evening every three months at Parkway Green House, Northenden. So if you fancy joining in, please call Pedro on 0161 946 6315.

The Brookland Stars sent us this picture of the brand new kit that we recently paid for. If you think we can help your local group, call David Thorncroft on 0161 946 6389.

Altogether smarter

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Join the NationalCONVERSATIONHave your say about standards in social housingThe National Conversation is a new project from The Tenants Services Authority (TSA), designed to involve you in your future, and the future of social housing tenants across the country.

Who are the TSA?The TSA is the new regulator for homes owned by housing associations and co-ops. Recently created, their first job is to draw up a brand new set of standards for all social landlords.

Joining in for changeWe want you to get involved. Not only to have your say in what happens across Wythenshawe, but to help influence the future of social housing across the country. It’s why we’re organising a whole range of events for 2009.

Local conversationsWhether it’s a get-together over tea and biscuits, or a meeting in your local community centre, anyone can get involved. To find out about events in your area, contact us on 0161 946 6312. If you’d like to organise your own event, you can order a resource pack by calling on 0845 230 7000. Or get more information on the website: www.nationalconversation.co.uk

GOT A QUESTION FOR THE BOSS? Write to: Ask Nigel, Parkway Green House,

460 Palatine Road, Northenden, M22 4DJ.

YOUR QUESTIONDear Nigel,In your latest Newsletter, you kindly offer yourself for tenants to ask questions. I have 2 questions:

1 What is the minimum age required for somebody to be offered a tenancy at Brookway Court?

2 Can children permanently stay with their parents/ aunts/uncles at Brookway Court? If yes, what is the minimum age requirement of the children?

Best wishesChristopher Jeffries

ASK NIGEL

OUR RESPONSEDear Mr Jeffries,

Thank you for your recent letter in response to our

‘Ask Nigel’ feature in our newsletter, and my apologies

for the delay in responding, but we have been closed

over Christmas and New Year. To respond to your queries: the minimum age requirement

for Brookway Court is 30, and we would not expect children

to stay on a permanent basis as the flats are not deemed to

be suitable accommodation for families. We would, however,

expect that several residents would have children to stay

over, possibly on a regular basis and we would be relatively

tolerant of this, provided that this was not causing an issue

for other residents.

If you are experiencing issues and would like to discuss

these in more detail please contact your Neighbourhood

Officer, Sue Hampson, on 0161 953 2609. She will be happy

to make an appointment to either visit you or for you to

come into the office.

Yours sincerely

Nigel

Jim Carr, winner of the last Word Worm, with his £50 cheque.The answer: we work to keep households full of life.

“I’m absolutely delighted to win!”

cont

act

us

By phone (0161) 953 2608 For any Parkway Green service, 8am – 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Phone this number in an emergency 24 hours a day, any day.Text phone: (0161) 953 2526

By email [email protected]

Website www.parkwaygreen.co.uk

By post Parkway Green Housing Trust, Parkway Green House, 460 Palatine Road, Northenden M22 4DJ.

By fax (0161) 998 8851

By appointment Arrange an appointment at a local office or in your home.Appointments are between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday and up to 6.30pm Thursdays. Make your appointment by phone.

In person Visit our local offices atParkway Green House, 460 Palatine Road, Northenden and 137 Bowland Road, Baguley. Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 8:30am – 5:30pm (up to 6.30pm Thurs by appointment only) Wednesday 8:30am – 2pm, Friday 8:30am – 4pm.

THE NUMBER TO CALLProblems with any of the following?• Street lighting• Footpaths• Street cleaning• Refuse collection• Bulky rubbish removal• Trees and hedges on public land• Fly-tipping• Untaxed or abandoned vehicles• Grass cuttingCall Manchester City Council on (0161) 954 9000

EXTRA SERVICE FOR CUSTOMERS WITH REDUCED HEARING OR VISIONIf you, or someone you care for, needs this newsletter, or any of our publications in Braille, large print or on CD:Phone: (0161) 953 2608Email: [email protected]: (0161) 953 2526



PARKWAY GREEN SPEAKS YOUR LANGUAGE. To talk to us in your language, call (0161) 953 2608 and tell us which language you speak.

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0161 953 2608

Arabic

Chinese

Farsi

French

Pour recevoir ces informations dans d’autres langues, en Braille, en gros caractères, ou sur bande sonore, prière d’appeler le numéro de téléphone ci-dessous.

Hindi

Kurdish

Si aad u hesho macluumaadkaani oo ku qoran luqad kasta, tan indhoolaha, daabacaad balaaran ama cajal ku duuban fadlan telefoonka hoos ku qoran:

Somali

Urdu

Vietnamese

Extra service for customers with reduced hearing or visionTo get this leaflet in Braille, large print or on tape:

Phone: 0161 953 2608

Email: [email protected]

Textphone: 0161 953 2526

TENANT & RESIDENT GROUP CONTACTSRoyle Green TA Steve Thompson(0161) 945 7601

Royal Oak Community Action Group Gina Hall(0161) 374 6511

Shenton TAJackie Butterley(0161) 998 6855

Baguley North T & RA Grant Higginson (0161) 945 1103

Rackhouse & Northern Moor T & RA Bernard Caine (0161) 238 4920

Newall Green T & RAWyn Casey(0161) 998 4970

Bideford RAMaureen Sheppard07929 577313

Brooklands Estate T & RA Brenda Hambleton(0161) 945 8376

Brookland Community Spirit Youth GroupPat Higson(0161) 998 4170

Documents

2009: year of transformation · ‘Home and A Way’. Now we’re looking for a new name that reflects where we are and where we’re going with Wythenshawe. And, as always, we’re